Thanksgiving.......

Thanksgiving.......an act of giving thanks or an expression of gratitude especially to God. Wow!  How many of us gave our gratitude to God this season?  Or, each day?  How about to your family and friends who mean so much to you - did you say "I am glad you are in my life - thank you for being my friend" lately????  If not, now is the perfect time to stop and do so!

Can the Thanksgiving holiday really be over with already this year in 2012????  This year has just flown by, hasn't it?  With all the hustle and bustle of our lives, time seems to go faster and faster as I get older.....and older........LOL

One of my favorite songs at this time of year and all year round says:
"Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks unto the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.  And now, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, for what the  Lord has done for us.
Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks."  

Let that sink into your soul for a minute..........are you grateful to have breath this day?   To see the sunshine or clouds today?  To have a roof over your head and food in the pantry?  To have responsibilities to take care of?  To love those around you?
Have you stopped to say thanks to our creator for all the waterfall of blessings He bestows on us each day?  If not, consider doing that today!  There's no better way to start a day than to say, "Thank you!"

Each Thanksgiving I send my family a saying I got in a Hallmark card years ago that says:
"Like an old country road, our Thanksgiving memories bring us to the warm familiar places we love, and the cherished faces waiting there."  

Give thanks for those faces that you got to celebrate this Thanksgiving with - whether in spirit or while being together!  It is a wonderful thing to give thanks!  It opens our hearts to all the love just waiting for us to give and receive!!  I am thankful you took the time to read this.......thank you!

Friends....

Friends.....have you ever thought about what a gift you have in the friends that are in your life?  If not, sit back, make a list of those dear friends, and thank our Creator for that wonderful relationship in your life!  Perhaps, even write them a note of gratitude or call them today and let them know how special they are to you!

Friends are trusted companions along the this journey we call life!  We know them, we trust them, and we share our lives with them.  They are our pals, chums, buddies, comrades, schoolmates, colleagues and confidants.  Treasure them.........enjoy their company and advice!  Allow their gifts to enhance your life and then offer your friendship in return!  We all need people to help us through difficult, tumultuous times in our lives, but what about just sharing the joy we feel because they are in our life as well???

Invite a friend to have coffee, lunch or brunch together!  Form a book club and get together once a month!  Take them a basket of homemade goodies (or store bought, if you don't bake!)  Set a time to take a walk together, go to a movie or watch home at home together!  Have a giggle fest!  Tell them silly riddles or jokes that you told your kids (or you) were little!  Sit down, relax and just enjoy their company!!!

We have so many gifts in the friends around us and many times, we take them for granted or worry that we are all too busy to get together.......maybe your friend needs a little cheering up and hasn't reached out to you in a while - break the pattern and get together!

F = Fun
R = Relax
I = Imagine laughing and giggling together....
E = Embrace - give them a HUG!
N = Nostalgia
S = Serendipity

Most of all ENJOY this wonderful thing called friendship!!!

Colors......

Colors that surround us are plentiful this season with all the leaves changing colors and the fall weather changing back and forth from hot to cooler....take a look at this website....sit back, relax and enjoy the many splendors of the earth given to us by our incredible creator!!!

Enjoy!!!

http://www.greatdanepro.com/Just%20Colors/index.htm

Bunches and bunches....

Bunches and bunches........have you ever told anyone you loved them like that???  If so, that is awesome!  If not, try it!  

A bunch means in a group or cluster......maybe even a tuft!  What is a tuft, you say?  Something held closely or growing close together....hmmm....love can be like that, right?

Did you ever gather a bunch of dandelions to give to your mom when you were little?  Or, did you receive a bunch of flowers on Valentine's Day in high school from that awkward boy who you had a crush on?  How about your hubby or your sister or a dear friend - has he/she ever given you a "bunch" of daisies to make you feel better when you were blue?  If not, buy yourself a bunch!  Daisies, roses, carnations, lillies, tulips or whatever "bunch" of flowers that you love - whether it is inexpensive or outrageously expensive (if you can afford it) BUY it for yourself and enjoy them...........

If you have never had that happen to you before or done that for yourself  or others before - Indeed!  Do it today!  You will reap the benefit of giving to yourself and/or others a "bunch" of LOVE!  Plus, it is just plain fun to give and/or receive!

One other thought:  have you thought about gathering a bunch of giggles??? Yep, that's right.....fun and laughter.........have a giggle fest!  Gather as many "bunches" of giggles and spread the fun!

Also, gather whatever items you might have lots of and spread the idea of "bunches and bunches" to someone else!  Hugs, kisses, chocolate hershey kisses, marshmellows - whatever suits your fancy and give yourself or someone YOU love a "bunch" today!  Sprinkle or splash that joy on those around you and see how good you feel afterwards!!!

Lighten up!  Have some fun and remember to say....I love you bunches and bunches!!!

Waiting....

Waiting........why is waiting so difficult for we humans?  To wait means to remain inactive or in a state of repose until something expected happens..........have you ever been in a state of repose?  I don't think our society even knows what that term means!!!  We live in such a fast-paced, microwave, immediate results society that we hardly have time to think let along take time to pause and be calm or quiet.

Waiting is to pause or delay, or perhaps have an interval of time in between getting what you are waiting for or not getting what you are waiting for........Hmmmmmmm,  when was the last time you thought of waiting as a positive thing?  A time to stay calm and allow something to happen in its own time? 

Think about nature:  do you think trees wait for the next season or anticipate the cold, harsh winter?  Or, expect the spring to be splendid?  What about a woman expecting a child - is waiting for the birth of a new life intolerable or beautiful?  Hopefully you think it is beautiful!
How about the father - is he in hopeful expectation of the new arrival, too?  And, those grandparents are waiting as well.........in full expectation of PURE JOY! 

Waiting in traffic, waiting in the doctors office, waiting for that next job or career, waiting for someone special to come into your life, waiting for relief from financial pressure, waiting for the end of the day, the week or the month, waiting, waiting, waiting! Our lives sometimes feel as though we are waiting for an excrutiating amount of time an yet, waiting can bring the most wonderful feeling of anticipation and give us the time to adjust to a new way of thinking, living or loving.

My sister gave me an one of the funniest ways of waiting in traffic that I have ever heard or even thought about trying:  Keep a bottle of bubbles in your car, so the next time you are stuck in traffic roll down your window and blow bubbles!!!  Isn't that a great idea?  What other ways can you think of to pass the time next time your feel frustrated by having to wait?  Gather your wits about you and do something hilarious next time you have to wait for something you just wish could be here NOW!!!

Each person's perspective will determine how they wait...........try the  state of repose next time you must wait for something!  Calm gentle, quiet state of mind........Allow yourself to realize that all things are part of the process of learning and growing - changing and developing.  Wait, enjoy and anticipate the JOY of what may be coming sooner than you think!

Friendship....

Friendship..........ahhh........what wonderful people I have in my life - how about YOU?  There are old friends, new friends, long lost friends, close friends, antagonistic friends and dear, sweet friends!  They come in all flavors, shapes and sizes!!!

Have you ever looked up the definition of friend?  A person one knows, likes, trusts....a favored companion, comrade.....one who supports a group or cause........do you have a friend like that in your life?  I hope so!  If not, can YOU be one to another person this week???

Friends bring so much into our lives:  Joy, laughter, fun, sharing, compassion, honesty, durability, companionship, warmth, comfort, and confidence.  Don't you just feel better around some of your friends?  Does your life light up when you have coffee with a friend or meet them for lunch for their birthday? 

WOW - what joy transcends between friends who have known each other for a decade or two or perhaps four!!!  Look back over your life - who has been there for you through thick and thin?  Is there a friend you KNOW you can always count on?  Someone who supports you, loves you despite any flaw or shortcoming you may have?

I have heard the saying many times:  "You may only be one person in this world, but you may be the world to one person!"  Think about that for a moment..........you may mean the world to someone that you don't even realize how much you mean to them.......stay alert for those messages from someone close to you!

Have you said thank you to that friend that drove you to your last doctor appointment or sat with you in the waiting room when you were concerned about your health?  When was the last time you wrote a note to someone who made a difference in your life?  Old or new, they need to know how much they mean to you!

Consider sending an real note to someone you haven't spoken to in a long, long time......tell them how much they mean to you!  Or, try the eCards available online, too!  There are so many resources to reach out to those we love and cherish.......NOW is the time!  Don't delay..........you never know when you might not be able to tell them again how much they mean to you!  And, besides, it is just plain fun to reconnect with someone whose company you enjoy! 

Go ahead..........make the call.........send the note.........write that email!!!  You will receive a gift as well.........the gift of their presence!!!

Unswervingly..........hold onto hope!

Have you ever thought of holding onto something unswervingly??? 

Well, if not, think about this:  Have you ever turned aside from a specific course of action - on purpose or by accident?  This could be in your job, your family life, or a relationship!  If the turn happened unexpectedly, perhaps you were meant to take a new path and did not realize it!  If you planned this new course of action or adventure - good for you!

Think about the definition of swerve....to turn abruptly from a straight course. 
Is there a path you have stayed on for a long, long time and will not deviate from?  Yes, there are certain things in this life that do become routine and/or necessary and we may not need or want to change - that is a good thing!  But, what if you have created a path with NO turns are even possible or probable?  Or at least not abruptly??? (Ha! Ha!)  Is that the right course of action for you? It may be time for some analysis or reflection.

On the opposite side of the coin, has there been a time in your life when all of a sudden, you DO turn abruptly from a path that you have always chosen?  Was this turn expected and planned or did it come out of the blue??  And, how did this change affect you and your life?  Positive, I hope, but if not, perhaps it was a needed change.  Or, is there a change about to come in your life?  Open your heart to the possibility!

Sometimes, holding onto something comfortable, familiar, or certain becomes a pattern that we develop without consciously realizing it.  When was the last time you went OUT of your comfort zone?  Turned abruptly in a positive way?
If it has been awhile, consider going down a new path!

Now, back to unswervingly............have you ever heard the saying:
"Let us hold unswervingly onto the hope we profess....." (And yes, it has a spiritual basis behind the saying......)

What is HOPE?  Hope is a desire and/or confidence  of fulfillment.  Hope against hope........to persist in something that goes against the odds....hope is a ground for expectation......something that is desired or that which is hoped for........hope is that in which one places one's confidence.

One lovely definition was given by Emily Dickinson:  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in your soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all!"  This saying has brought me and many people comfort during very painful or uncertain times in their lives....write it down, say it out loud and allow it sink into your soul..........it is a beautiful sentiment!

Do you feel hopeful at certain times in your life?  Does music help you to feel hopeful???  Music without words is one way of feeling something so deeply for me - what about you? 

What do YOU hope for?  Believe in?  What are you confident that you will receive?  Do you hold unswervingly onto your faith?  Love?  Joy?  Good will? 

What is it that you hold onto unswervingly????  NO turning back from???
Think about it - it is a great thought for reflection!!!

And, finally, if you want to look up the reference in the Bible it is found in Hebrews 10:23 - enjoy and hold on UNSWERVINGLY!!!!