I said a ....

I said a prayer for you Today.

I know God must have heard,

I felt the answer in my heart

although He spoke no word.

I didn't ask for wealth or fame,

I knew you wouldn't mind.

I asked Him to send treasures

Of a far more lasting kind.

I asked that He'd be near you.

At the start of each new day.

To grant you health and blessings

And friends to share your way.

I asked for happiness for you

In all things great and small,

But it was for His loving care

I prayed the most of all.

Author Unknown

Thoughts of a Mom

Thoughts of a Mom

By Maureen K. Higgins

Many of you I have never even met face to face, but I've searched you out every day.
I've looked for you on the Internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores.
I've become an expert at identifying you.
You are well worn.
You are stronger than you ever wanted to be.
Your words ring experience.
Experience you culled with your very heart and soul.
You are compassionate beyond the expectations of this world.
You are my "sisters."

Yes, you and I, my friend, are sisters in a sorority, a very elite sorority.
We are special.
Just like any other sorority, we were chosen to be members.
Some of us were invited to join immediately.
Some not for months or even years.
Some of us even tried to refuse membership, but to no avail.

We were initiated in neurologist's offices and NICU units, in obstetrician's offices,
In emergency rooms, in hospital rooms and during ultrasounds.
We were initiated with somber telephone calls, consultations, evaluations, blood tests, X-rays, MRI films, and heart surgeries.

All of us have one thing in common.

One day things were fine.
We were pregnant, or we had just given birth, or we were nursing our newborn.
We were playing with our toddler.
Yes, one minute everything was fine.
Then, whether it happened in an instant, as it often does,
Or over the course of a few weeks or months, our entire lives changed.
Something wasn't quite right.
Then we found ourselves mothers of children with special needs.

We are united, we sisters,
regardless of the diversity of our children's special needs.
Some of our children undergo chemotherapy.
Some need respirators and ventilators.
Some are unable to talk, some are unable to walk.
Some live in a different world.


We do not discriminate against those mothers whose children's needs are not
As "special" as our child's.
We have mutual respect and empathy for all the women who walk in our shoes.

We are knowledgeable.
We have educated ourselves with whatever materials we could find.
We know "the" specialists in the field.
We know "the" neurologists, "the" hospitals, "the" wonder drugs, "the" treatments.
We know "the" tests that need to be done,
We know "the" degenerative and progressive diseases
And we hold our breath while our children are tested for them.
Without formal education, we could become board certified in
neurology, endocrinology, and psychiatry.

We have taken on our insurance companies to get what our children need to survive,
and to flourish.
We have prevailed upon the State to include augmentative
communication devices in special education classes
And mainstream schools for our children with cerebral palsy.
We have labored to prove to insurance companies the medical necessity of gait trainers
And other adaptive equipment for our children with spinal cord defects.
We have sued municipalities to have our children properly classified
So they could receive education and evaluation commensurate with their diagnosis.

We have learned to deal with the rest of the world,
Even if that means walking away from it.

We have tolerated scorn in supermarkets during "tantrums"
And gritted our teeth while discipline was advocated by the person
behind us on line.

We have tolerated inane suggestions and home remedies from well-
meaning strangers.

We have tolerated mothers of children without special needs,
Complaining about chicken pox and ear infections.

We have learned that many of our closest friends can't understand
what it's like
To be in our sorority,
And don't even want to try.

We have our own personal copies of Emily Perl Kingsley's "A Trip To Holland"
and Erma Bombeck's "The Special Mother."
We keep them by our bedside and read and reread them during our toughest hours.

We have coped with holidays.
We have found ways to get our physically handicapped children to the
neighbors' front doors on Halloween,
And we have found ways to help our deaf children form the words, "trick or treat."
We have accepted that our children with sensory dysfunction
Will never wear velvet or lace on Christmas.
We have painted a canvas of lights and a blazing Yule log with our
words for our blind children.
We have bought white chocolate bunnies for Easter.
And all the while, we have tried to create a festive atmosphere for the rest of our family.

We've gotten up every morning since our journey began wondering how
we'd make it through another day,
And gone to bed every evening not sure how we did it.

We've mourned the fact that we never got to relax and sip red wine in Italy.
We've mourned the fact that our trip to Holland has required much more
Baggage than we ever imagined when we first visited the travel agent.
And we've mourned because we left for the airport
Without most of the things we needed for the trip.

But we, sisters, we keep the faith always.
We never stop believing.
Our love for our special children and our belief in all that they
will achieve in life knows no bounds.
We dream of them scoring touchdowns and extra points and home runs.
We visualize them running sprints and marathons.
We dream of them planting vegetable seeds, riding horses and chopping down trees.
We hear their angelic voices singing Christmas carols.
We see their palettes smeared with watercolors,
And their fingers flying over ivory keys in a concert hall.
We are amazed at the grace of their pirouettes.
We never, ever stop believing in all they will accomplish
As they pass through this world.

But in the meantime, my sisters, the most important thing we do, is
hold tight to their little hands, as together,
We special mothers and our special children,
Reach for the stars.

Worry

10 Steps to Overcoming Worry
1. BREAK THE HABIT. The worry habit develops over a long time, but a bad habit can be broken. The first step is resolving to break it.
2. AIM TO BREATHE AND THINK FREE. Worry cuts of your natural energy and effectiveness.  Do not strangle yourself with worry thoughts.
3. PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. It has been computed that 40 percent of your worries concern the past, 50 percent is related to the future and 10 percent deals with the present. Ninety-two percent of worries never happen.
4. FORGET IT. An effective way to stop worrying about past mistakes is to become skilled in forgetting. Each day, say aloud: "Forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark" (Philippians 3:13:14).
5. OVERLOOK IT. "The essence of genius is to know what to overlook," said the great psychologist-philosopher William James. When the worrier learns to overlook, tension disintegrates.
6. SEE A BRIGHT FUTURE. Instead  of looking for tomorrow's dark spots, look for a future full of light, one in which God watches over you. Don't worry about what may happen; create good happenings through faith.
7. STAY CALM. You will not be a worrier when you cultivate the attitude of imperturbability. Regardless of your anxiety or stress, say and believe, "God is keeping me calm and peaceful.".
8. DUMP THE TRASH. If you have  filled your mind with worry thoughts, you can empty them out. One way to do this is to declare with authority: "I am now emptying my mind of all worry, anxiety, fear and insecurity."
9. THINK POSITIVE. The mind is so constituted that it will not long remain empty. It must be filled with something positive, or the negative-worry thought pattern will return. So each day, deliberately practice filling the mind with strong, healthy thoughts. Say aloud, "God is filling my mind with courage, strength, peace and assurance."
10. FEEL GOD. One of the greatest techniques for courageous living is to feel God's presence. Learn to know that God is with you every minute, day and night. Affirm daily, "God is with me now and always. God will never leave me. I am never alone. His presence protects me."
These ten steps were adapted from Help Yourself with God's Help (Peale Center for Christian Living, Pawling, NY 1976)

.Misc

Misc. thoughts & rambles

A Military Spouse’s Prayer

A Military Spouse’s Prayer

Author Unknown


Lord,

Give me the strength of heart to see

The difference in duty and his love for me

Give me the understanding to know

That when duty calls, he must go

Give me the patience to know in my heart

That he is serving his country and doing his part

Give me the strength to carry on

When he’s working late or must be gone

Give me a task to do each day

To fill the time while he is away

Give me others who can share

The ups and downs and who’ll really care

Give me the wisdom to get me through

When I’m not quite sure of what to do

And Lord, while our family is here

Keep us healthy, safe and full of cheer.

Friendship

Friendship is…..   A friend hears the song in my heart & sings it to me when my memory fails—Pioneer Girls Leaders’ Handbook   A true friend laughs at your stories even when they’re not so good, & sympathizes with your troubles even when they’re not so bad—Irish proverb   A true friend never gets in your way—unless you happen to be on the way down. –Arnold H. Glasow   A real friend helps us think our best thoughts, do our noblest deeds, be our finest selves.—Unknown   Friends will not only in harmony, but in melody.—Henry David Thoreau   The friend who holds your hand & says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away. –Barbara Kingsolver   The language of friendship is not words, but meanings. –Henry David Thoreau

Cowboy's Guide to Life

Cowboy's Guide to Life

* Your fences need to be horse high, pig tight and bull strong.

* Life ain't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

* Meanness don't jest happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

* You cannot unsay a cruel word.

* Every path has a few puddles.

* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.

* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.

* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

* The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm, 'cause the colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.

* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

* It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every mornin'.

* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

* Always drink upstream from the herd.

* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it in.

* Don't squat with you'r spurs on.

Perspectives

PERSPECTIVES   Count not your age by the years you have But by the Happiness you give The friends you make, the good you do The confidence that is placed in you The little things that day by day Bring cheer to others on life's way and count your birthdays one more mile Upon the road of things worthwhile!

'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING

'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep. I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep. The leftovers beckoned -- the dark meat and white,  But I fought the temptation with all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation,  The thought of a snack became infatuation. So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door  And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore. I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,  Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round, 'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky, With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie. But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees....
Happy eating to all, pass the cranberries, please.
May your stuffing be tasty, your turkey be plump.
Your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious, your pies take the prize.
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your
thighs.

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING
AND GIVE GOD THANKS FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE.... 

Christmas Poems-Enlightenment

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning,; the
surface meaning plus the hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The  six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
The seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy
Spirit; prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership and mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.
The nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostle's Creed.

while this may be in error it has a nice sentiment to it and was shared with me by a very dear and very elderly friend. It's one of the few emails that I received from her as she died the day after Christmas. I save this in memory of my dear friend Mac Kate

Kindness Counts

Kindness Counts

That best portion of a good man’s life, His little, nameless, unremembered, acts Of kindness and of love. William Wordsworth

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Ralph Waldo Emerson

How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it. G. Elliston

Kind words are the music of the world. F W Faber

‘Twas her thinking of others made you think of her. Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. Albert Schweitzer

Help your brother’s boat across, and your own will reach the shore. Hindu proverb

Do not forget little kindnesses and do not remember small faults. Chinese proverb

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Plato

Stop and Smell the Roses

An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth- Bonnie Friedman

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop- Ovid

A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books- Walt Whitman

When you take a flower in  your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. -George O'Keeffe

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.- E.B. White

Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.- Will Rogers

Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.- Abraham Lincoln

He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate.- Henry David Thoreau

Little Things.

Little things

After Sept. 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their available office space. At a morning meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were alive..... and all the stories were just:


L I T T L E things
As you might know, the head of the company got in late that day because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone .. all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where I am supposed to be at this very moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated.  You are being taken care of.

May you continue to be blessed with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

Ice Cream

Ice Cream

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all!
Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it
wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the
table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.
"Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), " Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice
cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

The End.

I loved this story! Please keep it moving. Sometimes we all need some ice cream. I hope God sends you some Ice Cream today.

The Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE   >When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the coffee... > >A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. > >So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the >jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas >between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was >full. They agreed it was > >The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of >course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar >was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." > >The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and >poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space >between the sand. The students laughed. > >"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to >recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the >important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, >and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only >they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other >things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is >everything else-the small stuff. > >"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room >for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all >your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the >things that are important. Pay attention to the things that are >critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get >medical checkups. Take your wife out to dinner. Maybe even play another 18. There's >always time to clean the house and fix the disposal." > >Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your >priorities. The rest is just sand." > >One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee >represented. > >The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no >matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups >of coffee with a friend." > >Please share this with someone you care about.

HOPE

“Without hope men are only half alive. With hope they dream and think and work.” 
Charles Sawyer

“The important thing is not that we can live on hope alone, but that life is not worth living without it.” Harvey Milk

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.” John Lennon

“We should no let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.” John F. Kennedy

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” Dale Carnegie

“To eat bread without hope is still slowly to starve to death.” Pearl S. Buck

“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.- Henry Miller

 

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.- Indira Gandhi

 

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.- Anonymous

 

The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.- Marianne Williamson

 

Peace is not a passive but an active condition.- Mary Roberts Rinehart

 

To love God Truly, one must first love man.- Hassidic saying

 

Let us know peace. For as long as the moon shall rise, For as long as the rivers shall flow, For as long as the sun will shine, For as long as the grass shall grow, Let us know peace.- Traditional Native American Prayer

 

Peace, like charity begins at home.- Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

Better than a thousand hollow words Is one word that brings Peace.- Buddha

 

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Good Emergency Numbers:


When in sorrow, call John 14.

When men fail you, call Psalm 27.

If you want to be fruitful, call John 15.

When you have sinned, call Psalm 51.

When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.

When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.

When God seems far away, call Psalm 139.

When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.

When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23.

When you grow bitter and critical, call 1 Cor. 13.

For Paul's secret to happiness, call Col. 3:12-17.

For idea of Christianity, call 1 Cor. 5:15-19.

When you feel down and out, call Romans 8:31

When you want peace and rest, call Matt. 11:25-30

When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm90.

When you want Christian assurance, call Romans 8:1-30.

When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121.

When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call Psalm 67.

For a great invention or opportunity, call Isaiah 55.

When you want courage for a task, call Joshua 1.

How to get along with fellow man, call Romans 12.

When you think of investments and returns, call Mark 10.

If you are depressed, call Psalm 27.

If your pocketbook is empty, call Psalm 37.

If you're losing confidence in people, call 1 Cor. 13

If people seem unkind, call John 15.

If discouraged about your work, call Psalm 126.

If you find the world growing small and yourself great, call Psalm 19.

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines are open to Heaven 24 hours a day! Feed your Faith, and doubt will starve to death!  

 

 

When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears. Anthony Robbins 

 

" Nobody is entirely useless. Even the worst of us can serve as horrible examples." Mark Twain

"The begining of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." George Muller


Speak good words, kind words, words of wisdom, words of encouragement. Like gentle rain upon a dormant field. Eventually, they will coax the seeds beneath the soil to life.
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman 

"It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop."
Confucius  


The one who is truly wise, and who uses the forces and powers with which they are endowed, to them the great universe always opens her treasure house.
Ralph Waldo Trine 

The best way to predict your future, is to create it.
Stephen R. Covey

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything,

but still I can do something;

and because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something I can do."

~ Edward Everett Hale~

(1822-1909-Author, Clergyman, Chaplin of U.S. Senate)

 
  

LUCK

"Combine common sense and the golden rule, and you will have very little bad luck." Anonymous

 

"I don't know anything about luck....Luck to me is something else; hard work and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't." Lucille Ball

 

"I was born lucky, and I have lived lucky. What I had was used. What I still have is being used. Lucky." Katharine Hepburn

 

"People always call it luck when you've acted more sensibly than they have." Anne Tyler

 

"Everything in life is luck." Donald Trump

 

"You don't just luck into things....You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities." Barbara Bush

 

"Get as much experience as you can, so that your're ready when luck works. That's the luck." Henry Fonda

 

"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." Oprah Winfrey

Nature & Beauty

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."

 Rachel Louise Carson

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."

Aristotle

"Nature has been for me...a source of solace, inspiration, adventure and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion."

Lorraine Anderson

"Nothing is more Beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise."

 George Washington Carver

"Thre true beauty of nature is her amplitude; she exists neither for nor because of us, and possesses a staying power that all our nuclear arsenals cannot threaten."   Stephen Jay Gould
"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside...amidst the simple beauty of nature."                                                                                Anne Frank
"Climb the mlountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you...while cares will drop off like autumn leaves..."                                                                John Muir
"Earth laughs in flowers."                                                                                    Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today Is....

Anonymous Quotes

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Life is about choices. Choose to live each day to its fullest.

Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Relax, reflect and recharge each day.

Don’t waste today worrying about yesterday.

The best accessory is a smile. Wear one often.

Share your blessings when you’re feeling blessed.

Fill your to-do list with things that make you happy.

Remember that some things are urgent and others are important. Know the difference.

If you want something out of your day, put something into it.

Share your thoughts to uplift, not undermine.

Never let a kind word go unsaid.

Teach what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Love is...

Keep your heart open for as long as you can, as wide as you can for others and especially yourself. Morrie Schwartz

Love lights more fires than hate can extinguish. Ella Wheeler-Wilcox

May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart till it flows like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it and also a friend. Irish Blessing

Kindness in words creates confidence; kindness in thinking creates profoundness; kindness in feeling creates love. Lao Tzu

We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can fly only by embracing each other. Luciano De Crescenzo

In order to love simply, it is necessary to know how to show love. Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Love is love’s reward. John Dryden

No, the heart that truly loved never forgets, But as truly loves on to the close. Thomas Moore

Love the moment and the energy of the moment will spread beyond all boundaries. Corita Kent

Love is the tact of every good, The only warmth, the only peace. Delmore Schwartz