ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 1ST,2007

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Begin each day renewed, refreshed and glad to be alive.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

TODAY’S ACTION

Lose yourself in your efforts.

TODAY’S QUOTE

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty.

John Selden

HAPPY MONDAY!

AND A VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

TO ALL OF YOU !

I wish you all the happiness your heart can hold !

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

A happy New Year!

Grant that I

May bring no tear to any eye

When this New Year in time shall end

Let it be said I've played the friend,

Have lived and loved and labored here,

And made of it a happy year.

Edgar Guest

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

God Bless You !

TODAY IS…NEW YEARS DAY

A brand new year

A whole new you …

CELEBRATE THE POSSIBILITIES !

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is New Year’s Day, Gregorian year 2007 A.D., anno Domini, meaning "in the year of our Lord."

Today is Get A Life Day.

January is Get Over It Month, a time to let go of the past and get over whatever is bugging you.

January is Clean Up Your Computer Month, Family Fit Lifestyle Month, Financial Wellness Month, International Creativity Month, National Hot Tea Month, National Get Organized Month, National Radon Action Month, National Skating Month, National Cancer Prevention Month, Walk Your Pet Month, and Oatmeal Month.

Celebration of Life Month begins today, celebrating a new beginning and new hope.

1892: The Ellis Island Immigrant Station in New York formally opened.

1902: 1st Rose Bowl game held in Pasadena, California.

1908: For the first time, a ball dropped in New York City’s Times Square to signify the beginning of a new year. Of course, it started dropping in 1907.

2000: The arrival of 2000 saw no terrorist attacks, Y2K meltdowns or mass suicides among doomsday cults, but instead saw seven continents stepping joyously and peacefully into the New Year.

TODAY’S SMILE

Happy New Year, this is God.

This year, as with every year, I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember, I do not need your help.

If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it Kindly put it all in the SFJTD BOX. (Something for Jesus to Do) It will be addressed in my time, not yours. Please be patient.

Once the matter has been placed in the box, do not hold onto it. Do not become impatient and take it back to see if you can find a solution. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem.

You must surrender the problem to Me for proper resolution. If a situation you think you cannot handle arises, please consult Me in prayer.

Together we will come up with proper resolution. If you do not receive what you anticipate as proper response from Me, remember--some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayer.

 Because I do not sleep, there is no need for you to lose any. Rest, my child...if you need me, I am but a prayer away.

Author unknown

TODAY’S WORD

Beginning

Be gin ning (noun) [bi ginning]

1. first part

The point in time or space at which something starts, comes into existence, or is first encountered.

2. start

3. plural early conditions

TODAY’S REFLECTION

I trust in You, O Lord . . . . My times are in Your hand.

Psalm 31:14-15

The times and seasons and years, including this new year, are in God's hand (Psalm 31:15).

 As Christians, we have nothing to fear, for God's goodness is great (v.19). We can walk with Christ each day and join the psalmist in saying, "As for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God' " (v.14).

The future is as bright as the promises of God.

From Our Daily Bread

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

When you pack up your holiday decorations, add cinnamon sticks or whole cloves to the boxes.

78 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 31ST, 2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Then sing, young hearts that are full of cheer,

with never a thought of sorrow;

the old goes out,

but the glad young year comes merrily in tomorrow.

Emily Miller

TODAY’S ACTION

Be assured God is ever near

TODAY’S QUOTE

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

Bill Vaughan

HAPPY SUNDAY

We are off to church this morning and will have our Chicken n’ Dumplin’s for dinner later then all of my children will gather at DD’s for their New Years party and I’ll be staying at home with the grand’babes’ and we’ll have our own celebration. I got some paper hats and noise makers for our party.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way!

Remember….

Nothing is worth more than this day

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

God Bless You !

TODAY IS…SMOKE ALARM DAY

Most fatal fires occur at night when people are asleep. Often, victims never wake up. A working smoke alarm will detect smoke and sound an alarm to alert you, giving you precious time to escape.

CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARM!

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is New Year's Eve, the final day of 2006.

Tonight is First Night, a non-alcoholic alternative New Year's Eve celebration of the arts, planned tonight in over 140 U.S. and Canadian cities. The first First Night in 1976 was in Boston, where 1-million are expected to attend 250 shows today and tonight

1879 - Thomas Edison delighted an audience in Menlo Park, New Jersey. He gave his first public demonstration of incandescent lighting with the words, “Now it’s on. Now it’s off.” He did this for hours and hours. Well, not quite. But he did turn the lights on and off a few times just to show folks that he could do it.

1929: Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians played their theme song, "Auld Lang Syne," to usher in the new year at New York City's Hotel Roosevelt Grill, the beginning of a tradition. It means "old long since" or days gone by.

1947: Movie co-stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were married on horseback. Roy died in 1999, Dale in 2000.

1975: Elvis Presley performed for 60,000 fans at the Silverdome, in Pontiac, Michigan. He earned $800,000, a single concert record by a single artist.

1986 - The State of Florida passed Illinois to become the fifth most populous state in the U.S. In the lead: California, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

The song, "Auld Lang Syne,", is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

 Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?

And here's a hand, my trusty friend

And gie's a hand o' thine

We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne

TODAY’S SMILE

NEW YEAR CHEER

At the sound of the tolling midnight bell a brand new year will begin. Let's raise our hopes in a confidant toast, to the promise it ushers in.

May your battles be few, your pleasure many, your wishes and dreams fulfilled.

May your confidence stand in the face of loss and give you the strength to rebuild.

May peace of heart fill all your days may serenity grace your soul.

May tranquil moments bless your life and keep your spirit whole.

Author Unknown

TODAY’S WORD

Toast

Noun / tost

1. Call to honor somebody or something

2. Raising of glasses to honor somebody 3. Somebody or something honored

4. Admired person

Here’s to a bright New Year

And a fond farewell to the old

Here’s to the things that are yet to come

And to the memories that they hold

TODAY’S REFLECTION

I press toward the goal . . . . Brethren, join in following my example.

Philippians 3:14,17

In his painting "An Allegory of Prudence," 16th-century Venetian artist Titian portrayed Prudence as a man with three heads.

One head was of a youth facing the future, another was of a mature man eyeing the present, and the third was of a wise old man gazing at the past.

Over their heads Titian wrote a Latin phrase that means, "From the example of the past, the man of the present acts prudently so as not to imperil the future."

We need that kind of wisdom to overcome the anxiety created by our past failures and the fear of repeating them in the future—an anxiety that keeps us from living to the fullest now

Standing at the portal

Of the opening year,

Words of comfort meet us,

Hushing every fear. —Havergal

Never let a bleak past overshadow a bright future.

From Our Daily Bread

http://www.rbc.org

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

When things go wrong, don't go with them.

 79 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 30TH,2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

A new year is unfolding – like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.

Anonymous

TODAY’S ACTION

Kindness is appreciated now and anytime of the year.

TODAY’S QUOTE

Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you've met your New Year's resolution.

Jay Leno US comedian & television host (1950 - )

HAPPY SATURDAY

This weekend will be a busy one.  Today I'm catching up on a few things around home and tonight we'll be visiting my dad as usual. 

Tomorrow after church I'm making some Chicken and Dumplings .DS#2 asked me to make them while he was home.  In the evening DD and her hubby are hosting a New Year's Eve party and I'm staying at home babysitting.

On New Years Day I'll be making a nice pork roast ' n sauerkraut dinner for those that can come.  It's a tradition in our family to always have this meal to bring good luck in the New Year.

Next week I'll start taking down the Christmas decorations.

Have a great day !  Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

TODAY IS…BICARBONATE SODA DAY

Bicarbonate soda (baking soda) is a naturally occurring substance that is present in all living things. Besides being use in baking, it is good for cleaning, deodorizing, and even indigestion. Mother Nature knew what she was doing with this one! For everything you ever wanted to know about baking soda,

click here: http://www.armandhammer.com/

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Falling Needles Family Fest Day, a time to gather around the Christmas tree and watch the needles fall. Live it up! Dance barefoot!

1951: "The Roy Rogers Show" debuted on NBC-TV, starring Roy, Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Trigger, Buttermilk, Bullet, and Nellybelle. Nellybelle was a jeep. Dale wrote the theme "Happy Trails to You." The show lasted six years.

1995: Procter & Gamble announced it would resume Mr. Whipple’s lifetime supply of free Charmin bathroom tissue immediately. Actor Dick Wilson, who had urged shoppers for 25 years not to squeeze the Charmin, had suddenly stopped receiving monthly shipments to his home in Nevada. A company spokesman said it was a goof-up, not intentional.

TODAY’S SMILE

Wishes for the New Year!

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber, and the IRS.

May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there may you find a parking space.

May Sunday evening, December 31, find you seated around the dinner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the New Year ahead. You will find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.

May you wake up on January 1 finding that the world has not come to an end, the lights work, the water faucets flow, and the sky has not fallen.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them.

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may your checkbook and your budget balance, and may they include generous amounts for your church and charities.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, and your parent(s). You can say it to your secretary, your nurse, your butcher, your photographer, your masseuse, your seamstress, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor, but not with a "twinkle" in your eye.

May we live as intended, in a world at peace with the awareness of the beauty in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.

And, may you forward this on to someone that could use a smile and a laugh to brighten their day.

TODAY’S LINK

Just Because

http://asandboxgreeting.com/justbecause.html

TODAY’S WORD

RESOLUTION

res o lu tion (noun) rezze loush ‘n

1 resolving of something

2 joint formal expression of opinion

3 Decision

4 Determination Firmness of mind or purpose

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

I am sure that each of us desires to do God's will, but this is very difficult to do. It would be excellent if every morning God could provide a "Honey, do" list and we could go through the day, checking off the items as we perform them.

As we study his Word, we learn of things good and evil. We learn of saints who have made terrible mistakes and suffered the consequences, even though they were forgiven. His will may come to us through this kind of study or we may see his guidance through the events in our lives.

He gave us the opportunity to study his Word, pray, listen for his answer, then make a choice. He gave us common sense, if we will use it.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Don't forget to fill the bird feeder when winter storms are forecast.

80 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR F R I D A Y , DECEMBER 29TH, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 29TH,2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake...

Marie Beyon Ray

TODAY’S ACTION

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

Napoleon Hill

TODAY’S QUOTE

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.

Reba McIntyre

HAPPY FINALLY FRIDAY

I'm just glad the end of this week has come.  Since I went back to work on Wednesday, I feel like I'm only really half here.  The other half of me wants to be at home--not work.

Just a few days left of DS#2's visit.  The time has gone way to fast and my grandson is disappointed that we had no snow to play in.  He had been so excited to come here thinking he'd finally get to see snow and what happens??? Rain! 

I tried to explain that I had no control over the weather, but that didn't help much. 

Guess Grand'ma' is in the doghouse.  That's about par for the course.

Have a great day all !  Another wonderful one on the Way!

 

 

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

TODAY IS… TICK TOCK DAY

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

All those plans you made, dreams you had for 2006…

it’s time –just do it !

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Ice Skating Day

1848 - President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House.

1851: The first American Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was organized, in Boston

TODAY’S SMILE

GOD’S CAKE

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me". Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake." "

Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!" "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way.

Many times we wonder! why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good!

We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you.

 He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk,

He'll listen.

He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

I hope your day is a "piece of cake!"

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

TODAY’S LINK

SEE THE GLORY

http://www.seetheglory.com/

TODAY’S WORD

uproarious (adjective)

[up-ROR-ee-ahs]

1. marked by noise and tumult: "Our upstairs neighbors always threw uproarious parties, and while in the past we had banged on the ceiling with broom handles, this New Year's Eve we decided to join them."

2. loud and boisterous; 'uproarious laughter'

3. extremely funny, causing loud and hearty laughter; 'uproarious stories'

adverb form: uproariously

noun form: uproariousness

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you're worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Luke 10:41-42a

When family and friends visit during this season, we tend to get very busy making sure the house is neat and meals are served.

Like Martha, we become worried and upset and thus miss out on the joys that surround us

Take time to enjoy your family. Don't let chores to be done or food to be cooked spoil your disposition. Don't miss out on the joys of Christmas, for lost time is never found again.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

A whispering grove tells of a storm to come.

81 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28TH, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 28TH,2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

TODAY’S ACTION

Live with hope in your heart.

TODAY’S QUOTE

In some families, please is described as the magic word. In our house, however, it was sorry.

Margaret Laurence

HAPPY THURSDAY

We made it through Wednesday, so I guess I’ll make it the rest of the week. Wednesday is usually the hardest day at work. It was nice and quiet though as both my bosses were out of the office most of the day and I got to catch up with the piles on my desk. When I’m away, they just keep piling up things for me to sort out when I get back.

Went out to dinner last night…two in a row that I didn’t have to cook! WOW!!!

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

 Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

TODAY IS…EAT CHOCOLATE DAY

Chocolate comes from cacao trees that grow in the rain forests. The fruit on the trees is mild tasting, with a bittersweet chocolate flavor. Inside the pulp are dark, purple-colored seeds that are the "chocolate beans." These beans were one more thing Christopher Columbus discovered in the new world. When he took them back to Spain, the chocolate was used as a drink with hot pepper spices.

ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/school/csingred/chocolate.html

TODAY’S TRIVIA

The Pennsylvania Gazette, owned by Benjamin Franklin, ran an ad for the first issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack on this day in 1732. Franklin earned so much money with his almanack that, for the first time in his life, he could enjoy the luxury of leisure time. He began to fly kites (experimenting with electricity) and you know the rest of that story...

Today is National Call a Friend Day.

Tonight is Take a Drive and Enjoy the Christmas Lights Day, for those who were too busy to do so before Christmas.

1869: William F. Semple of Mount Vernon, Ohio, patented chewing gum.

1902 - The first World Series of pro football was played -- at Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York and Syracuse played in the indoor football game before 3,000 on this day.

1945: Congress officially recognized the patriotic "Pledge of Allegiance" to the U.S. flag.

TODAY’S SMILE

Wisdom for the Road

By : Author Unknown

Cherish things while you still have them, before they're gone, and you realize how precious they really are.

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.

Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy it because it won't last forever. And if things are going bad, don't worry because it won't last forever either.

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Never cross a bridge without knowing how to swim the tides.

If you could not add years to your life

Add life to your years.

TODAY’S WORD

Family

FAM I LY fammalee (NOUN)

1. people living together and functioning as a single household

2. group of relatives

3. other members of family to which somebody belongs

4. lineage

5. offspring

6. group with something in common

7. related languages

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:6

One of the great joys of the holiday season is having the grandchildren visit.

"Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built."

James C. Dobson

When Christ is the head of the house, love fills the house from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Parents consider children their most priceless blessing. Children revere and respect their parents, even when they don't agree. Today's scripture describes that kind of family.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

 Use clean, empty milk jugs to store sand or commercial ice-melting products.

 82 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

 BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 27TH,2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, the joy you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.

John Greenleaf Whittier

TODAY’S ACTION

Choose kindness as a reaction

TODAY’S QUOTE

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

Theodore Roosevelt

HAPPY WEDNESDAY

 BACK TO WORK !

Time does fly when you are having fun ! Joyous days of celebrating Christmas have left me a little tired, but it’s a good kind of tired. I probably won’t have the chance to see DS#2 and his family after this visit for quite a long time. They’ll still be here at my house for a few more days, but my vacation days have run out and I have to go back to work

For today I’ll just be happy and very grateful that we did have this chance to be together.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

TODAY IS…FRUITCAKE LOVERS DAY

If you've still got fruitcakesitting around your house, you didn't make our Super Easy Fruitcake recipe. It won't stay around long enough to start any jokes! 

 EASY FRUITCAKE

 1 pound candied cherries, halved

5 candied pineapple slices

 6 cups golden raisins

1 1/2 cups candied mixed fruit peel

1 cup pecans

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

6 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup orange juice

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 pecans

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line the bottom and sides of two greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans with brown paper. Grease the paper. In a large bowl, stir together cherries, pineapple, raisins, mixed peel, 1 cup pecans, and 1 cup flour. Mix until the fruit is coated with flour. In another large bowl, cream the butter or margarine and sugar together. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in orange juice and vanilla. Combine 5 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Stir in floured fruit and nuts. Mix. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Fill each pan 3/4 full. Arrange pecans over tops. Bake for about 3 hours, until toothpick comes out clean. Cover with foil if top gets too dark while baking.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Watch the Children Day, and learn again how to enjoy life

Today is National Visit the Zoo Day.

1903: The barbershop quartet favorite, "Sweet Adeline", was sung for the first time -- in New York City. The song was composed by Henry Armstrong with the words of Richard Gerard. The title of the song came from a theatre marquee that promoted the great operatic soprano, Adelina Patti.

1947: The children's television program "Howdy Doody," hosted by Bob Smith, made its debut on NBC. It showed under the title "Puppet Playhouse." It was aired for 13 years.

1951: A Crosley automobile, with a steering wheel on the right side, became the first such vehicle placed in service for mail delivery. It was used in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1968: "Apollo Eight" and its three astronauts made a safe, nighttime splashdown in the Pacific.

1989: The album Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy was certified gold.

1999: Space shuttle "Discovery" and its seven-member crew returned to Earth after fixing the Hubble Space Telescope.

TODAY’S SMILE

Here is a touching story to help you decided how to to approach life.

She is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed, and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is legally blind. Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, where I am employed, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…just wait,” I said. Then she spoke these words that I will never forget: “That does not have anything to do with it,” she gently replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not, does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arrange my mind.

I have already decided to love it. It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and all of the happy memories I have stored away…just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have already put in.

TODAY’S LINK

Silent Night (a beautiful reflection)

http://asilentnightmovie.com/

TODAY’S WORD

po·sa·da noun

A Christmas festival originating in Latin America that dramatizes the search of Joseph and Mary for lodging. [American Spanish, from Spanish, lodging, from posar, to lodge, rest

TODAY’S REFLECTION

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

Many of us have celebrated with our family and now that it is over, there is a letdown. But when we remember the real cause for celebration, we can rejoice in the birth of our Savior. We can sing "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Make the day after Christmas or any day bright for yourself and everyone around you.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

If in December a robin sings on the barn, the weather will be very warm

83 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 26TH,2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale

TODAY’S ACTION

Cherish your purpose in life.

TODAY’S QUOTE

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

Roy L. Smith

HAPPY TUESDAY

LAST DAY OF MY CHRISTMAS BREAK

Tomorrow I go back to work and I am really going to make the most of this day! The house and the laundry need a bit of TLC

It won’t be all work and no play the Newlyweds are spending the day with us and DD is supposed to have dinner for us. Her hubby cooks up a special Puerto Rican Dish that we all love. It’s always a nice treat to have someone else fix dinner.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

TODAY IS…BAH HUMBUG DAY

Whether you are sick of the holidays or sorry they are almost over, today is officially Whiner's Day. And nobody was a bigger whiner than Ebenezer Scrooge, so here he is to say...

BAH HUMBUG!

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Second Day of Christmas, observed as a holiday in many countries.

Today is National Whiners' Day, a day dedicated to people who return Christmas gifts.

Kwanzaa, a week-long American black family observance, begins today. "Kwanzaa" means "first fruit" in Swahili.

Today is Boxing Day, a legal holiday in Canada and Great Britain, a day to give Christmas boxes to sanitation workers, mail carriers, and others who serve the public during the year.

Today is National Candy Cane Day

1519: Tapestries, designed by Raphael, first hung in the Sistine Chapel

1931: George Gershwin’s musical, "Of Thee I Sing", opened at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The show became the first American musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize

1963: Capitol Records rushed to release its first single by the Fab Four, otherwise known as The Beatles. "I Want to Hold Your Hand", backed with "I Saw Her Standing There." The record reached #1 on February 1, 1964.

Q: Assuming this is an average year, how many American pet owners bought their pets clothing for Christmas: (a) 9%; (b) 19%; or (c) 29%?

A: 9%.

TODAY’S SMILE

What do you say when you get a gift you *Really Don't Like*. (And does this work for Fruitcake too?)

10. "Well, well, well, now, there's a gift!"

9. . Would you just look at that! What will they think of next?!"

8. "Hey, as long as I don't have to feed it, or clean up after it, or put batteries in it, I'm happy!"

7. "No, really, I didn't know that there was a Chia Pet tie! Oh, wow! It's a clip-on too!"

6. "You know, I always wanted one of these! Jog my memory -- what's it called again?"

5. "You know what? -- I'm going to find a special place to put this!"

4. "Boy, you don't see craftsmanship like that every day!"

3. "And it's such an interesting color too!"

2. "You say that was the last one? Am I ever glad that you snapped that baby up!"

And the number one thing to say about the Christmas gifts you didn't like is: "You shouldn't have! I mean it -- you really shouldn't have!"

You Know You Overdid Christmas Dinner

When . . . Paramedics bring in the Jaws of Life to pry you out of the EZ-Boy.

The "Gravy Boat" your wife set out was a real 12' boat!

You receive a Sumo Wrestler application in your e-mail.

Pricking your finger for cholesterol screening only yielded gravy.

A guest quotes a Biblical passage from "The Feeding of the 5000."

That rash on your stomach turns out to be steering wheel burn.

Representatives from the Butterball Hall of Fame called twice.

Your arms are too short to reach the keyboard & delete this

TODAY’S LINK

CHRISTMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2006/index.html

BUILD A SNOWMAN

http://www.xmasfun.dk/christmasgames/playonline/snowmansalvage/snowmansalvagegame.php

THE SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE

http://wilstar.com/xmas/xmasjuke.htm

TODAY’S WORD

lu·mi·nar·i·a noun

1. Southwestern U.S. A votive candle set into a small, decorative paper bag weighted with sand and placed in a row with others along a walkway, driveway, or rooftop as a holiday decoration. Also called Regional: farolito.

2. New Mexico. A bonfire built in front of each house in a pueblo to celebrate Christmas Eve.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy

 Job 8:21

Laughter may indeed be the best medicine after all. In his Anatomy of an Illness, published in 1979, Norman Cousins recounts how ten minutes of solid belly laughter would give him two hours of pain-free sleep.

Laugh-ter stimulates heart and blood circulation and promotes respiration; it produces deep relaxation, thereby breaking up our tension. Just putting on a happy face can be rewarding. "if we just assume facial expressions of happiness, we can increase blood flow to the brain and stimulate release of favorable neurotransmitters."

So when I smile I am releasing neurotransmitters, and giving others–and myself–a better day in the process!

So let's rattle those funny bones today and praise our heavenly Father for the wonderful gift of laughter. One more bit of advice: Don't stick around negative people. These are what one writer calls "energy suckers."

Do yourself a huge favor and find some-one positive and funny, and enjoy life.

God won't get us for laughing with Him and His!

From Daily Miscellany

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Thunder during Christmas week indicates that there will be much snow during winter.

84 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2006

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 25TH, 2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Christmas is a golden chain that binds a family in faith, hope, and love... drawing each to open the hearth of togetherness.

Juanita Johnson

TODAY’S ACTION

Support one another with the spirit of strength and peace.

TODAY’S QUOTE

You will find the road to Christmas Where your hopes and dreams come true, And your heart will know the magic That the season brings to you.

Garnett Ann Schultz

HAPPY MONDAY

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL !

Christmas day has come and it will go by much too fast ! We have church this morning and then I’ll be fixing a nice roast beef dinner for those that can make it.

I’m not sure just how many will be here. I always try to do our family celebration before the date so that they all can spend time with the other half of the families.

Here is a special Christmas Prayer for you all today

A Christmas prayer

Light of Bethlehem,

burn brightly in our homes this Christmas.

Light of Peace,

heal the bitter wounds of sin in our lives.

Show us the path of forgiveness and love.

Light of Joy, fill our hears with happiness.

Light of Comfort strengthen the sick,

the needy and those who need our prayers at this time.

Light of hope,

gently guide us through each day.

Light of the World,

teach us to love you more each day.

Light of Bethlehem

shine in our lives this Christmas and every day.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU !

TODAY IS…MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY!

Christmas is celebrated all over the world as both the most religious and most commercial holiday of the year. Christmas is a holiday in at least 105 nations..

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing today,

we wish you HAPPY HOLIDAYS

TODAY’S TRIVIA

1223: St. Francis of Assisi assembled one of the first Nativity scenes, in Greccio, Italy.

1896: John Philip Sousa wrote the melody to a song that had haunted him for days. On Christmas Day, that melody was finally titled, "The Stars and Stripes Forever."He had hoped the song would be a ballad - but alas, another march.

1939: The Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol", was read by Lionel Barrymore on "The Campbell Playhouse" on CBS radio. The reading of the tale became an annual radio event for years to come.

Q: Where did the word "Christmas" originate?

A: The Nativity of Christ was introduced as a special feast in Rome about the middle of the 4th century. The word "Christmas" can be traced back to 1038 to the "Mass of Christ," in old English pronounced "Cristes Maesse."

Fact: More than 30-million Americans had presents under their Christmas tree this morning for their dog.

TODAY’S CHRISTMAS SMILE

Where can we find Santa?

We can find him everywhere.

In thoughtful deeds

Friendly smiles

And the gifts and joys we share.

Where can we find Santa?

We can find him all year through

In the hearts of special people

And the kind things that they do.

Author Unknown

Christmas Star...

A diamond shines no brighter than that lovely Christmas star.

It shines in all its brilliance; it's seen from near or far.

A symbol of the Christ child as He lay upon the hay,

It tells to all the waiting world a King was born that day.

O Bethlehem Star keep shining - give us faith and hope and love.

Keep our thoughts forever turning to the Savior up above.

Give us strength and hope and courage to do our best by far

And never falter in our faith as we watch that Christmas star...

Author Unknown

Keep life simple.

At this time of year it's easy to get caught up in the rush of the season.

Remember this season is of love.

As long as you think, act and speak of love every moment you are in the spirit of Christmas all through the year.

Unknown Author

TODAY’S WORD

car·ol noun

1. Music. A song of praise or joy, especially for Christmas.

2. An old round dance often accompanied by singing. car·ol·ing --

intr. 1. To sing in a loud, joyous manner.

2. To go from house to house singing Christmas songs.

--tr. 1. To celebrate in or as if in song: caroling the victory.

2. To sing loudly and joyously.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

All those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luke 2:18

One dictionary defines wonder as “a cause of astonishment or admiration.”

It’s a word that captures the experience of all the people surrounding the events of the coming of Jesus into the world—the angels, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and all the people they told.

As we celebrate Christmas, may we be filled with wonder at His love and His coming!

From Our Daily Bread

http://www.rbc.org

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

It is a good practice to leave a few things unsaid.

85 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

graphics by:

 

CHAPTER 12, PAGE 24

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 24TH, 2006

TODAY'S THOUGHT

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.

Garrison Keillor

TODAY’S ACTION

Reflect and enjoy this wonderful time of year.

TODAY’S QUOTE

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Author Unknown

HAPPY SUNDAY

The morning after is always hard to take. After all of yesterday’s festivities, I’m moving very slowly and sipping the good hot coffee here. I still have DS#2 and family and the ‘Newlyweds’ here at my house and hopefully we’ll all get ready soon and be off to church as usual.

I seem to be the only one awake so far, but if they don’t get up soon, I’ll have to roust them out of bed. I do still have to be the ‘MOM’ here and can’t slough off on my duties, I guess.

Christmas Eve will be a busy day for all and I know that many are just starting their festivities, while we have one that is on going here at my house.

Take good care all ! I’ll be praying for you all and may all your travels be safe ones!

Have a great day ! Another wonderful one on the Way!

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

God Bless You !

TODAY IS…FAMILY CAREGIVERS DAY

Sharing The Caring

We acknowledge with deep appreciation the family caregivers who give their love and support in the care of others.

Learn More From The National Family Caregivers Association http://www.nfcacares.org/

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Christmas Eve.

Today is National Egg Nog Day.

Today is Last Minute Shoppers' Day

Tonight is Silent Night, Holy Night in Austria, commemorating composition of the Christmas carol in 1818 near Oberndorf.

Tonight is Remember To Read The Instructions First Night, a night for assembling toys.

1818: Franz Gruber of Oberndorf, Germany composed the music for "Silent Night" to words written by Josef Mohr. The traditional song was sung for the first time during Midnight Mass this night.

 1931: New York City construction workers, at the future site of Rockefeller Center, dragged in a 12-foot Christmas tree and decorated it with tin cans and paper. The first official Rockefeller Center tree, with 700 blue and white lights, appeared two years later.

1955: The lovely Lennon Sisters debuted as featured vocalists on "The Lawrence Welk Show" on ABC. They became regulars with Welk within a month and stayed on the show until 1968.

1968: The "Apollo Eight" astronauts (Lovell, Anders and Borman), orbiting the moon 250,000 miles from home, were reading verses from their bible and transmitting a message to all mankind calling for "peace on earth."

Q: Does the name Bethlehem mean: (a) house of life; (b) house of bread; or (c) house of light?

 A: House of bread (The Bible refers to Jesus as "the Bread of Life.").

Q: What did "The Little Drummer Boy" give to the Christchild: (a) a poinsettia; (b) a prayer of thanksgiving; or (c) a song on his drum?

A: A song on his drum. Merry Christmas, and may we not go so overboard on the festivity we forget about the Nativity

TODAY’S SMILE

CHRISTMAS EVE IS HERE

All the children's eyes are smiling,

Christmas Eve is finally here!

Outside my window snow is falling,

This brightest evening of the year.

The children dream of Christmas morning;

Santa Claus is on the way!

And I, a father, watch it snowing,

And drift back to another day

When I, a child, watched in wonder

As magic filled the world with joy.

I see myself, in ghostly shadows,

 Long ago a little boy.

The house is quiet, dark, and still,

And I can't sleep although I'm trying.

The children's dreams are filled with visions

Of Santa Claus and reindeer flying.

In the silence of this evening

I watch the winter snowflakes fall;

For time is such a precious gift...

And love the greatest gift of all.

Author Unknown

May the blessings of this Christmas Season

Be with you and yours everyday of the year.

May the love of our Lord

light your light

And bring you peace, love, and good cheer.

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas!

TODAY’S LINK

THE SLED GAME http://www.xmasfun.dk/christmasgames/playonline/sledgame/snowgame.php

TODAY’S WORD

Eve

Eev / Noun

1. in the Bible, the first woman created by God, and Adam’s companion

2. day before festival the day, evening, or night before a religious festival or public holiday

3. period before event the day or days immediately before an important event or special occasion

4. evening On a cold winter’s eve

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they're doing.'

Luke 23:34

Christmas is the time when we sing carols of "peace on earth, good will to men." Yet many a Christmas is spoiled because family members are not able to forgive one another for past hurts.

Christmas is a time when we open the gifts under the Christmas tree. We are thankful for them, but if we don't accept them, we are unable to enjoy them.

God sent us the greatest gift, his only Son Jesus the Christ.

Merry Christmas!

May God shower you and your family with many blessings.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

An early winter, a surly winter.

86 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MA

MY HOMEPAGE

I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

MY JOURNALS

http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html