FOR JANUARY 1ST, 2008 HAPPY NEW YEAR !

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 1ST, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

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

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Always look to your heart for the true answer

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

 Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.

Henry Ward Beecher

 

HAPPY TUESDAY !!

AND HAPPY NEW YEARS DAY!

Today is Day 4 and the final day of my long weekend. I’ll be going off to church this morning. It is a great way to start a New Year.

This afternoon I’ll be cooking our traditional Pork Roast and Sauerkraut for New Year’s Dinner. Those of my family that are around will be coming over later for a little New Years celebration.

Happy New Year !

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

TODAY IS…NEW YEAR’S DAY 2008

The world’s most celebrated holiday, New Year’s Day, has been observed on January 1 in most English-speaking countries since 1751 when the British calendar act was passed. Before that, folks wished everyone a Happy New Year on March 25, to coincide, approximately, with the beginning of spring.

In many other countries, it is customary to wish everyone a Happy Birthday (rather than Happy New Year) on January 1st since the day is called Everyman’s Birthday; the day when everyone gets a year older whether it’s their real birthday or not.

For some unknown reason, this rule also applies to race horses. No matter when they were born, all race horses become a year older today. So, wish a horse and your friends, “Happy Birthday” today, and don’t nag them about their ages.

I wish you and yours a New Year filled with peace, prosperity and good health.

 

TODAY’S NEW YEAR’S TRIVIA

Today is New Year’s Day, Gregorian year 2008 A.D., anno Domini, meaning "in the year of our Lord." It is a Leap Year with one extra day on February 29th.

Some parts of the U.S. celebrate the New Year with foods that they consider lucky: black-eyed peas, pork, rice and even cabbage. Of course, many traditional New Years foods have been brought over to the U.S. from abroad. Hallmark Magazine has put together a list of what people from around the world eat for luck:

Holland - Doughnuts

Japan - Soba noodles

Germany - Marzipan pigs

Italy - Sausage

Spain - Grapes, 12 of them (one at each stroke of the clock at midnight)

Sicily - Lasagna

Norway - Rice pudding (with one lucky almond hidden in it)

Greece - St. Basil's cake (a sweet bread with a coin baked inside)

The six major categories of auspicious foods are grapes, greens, fish, pork, legumes, and cakes Grapes New Year's revelers in Spain consume twelve grapes at midnight—one grape for each stroke of the clock. This dates back to 1909, when grape growers in the Alicante region of Spain initiated the practice to take care of a grape surplus

Cooked greens, including cabbage, collards, kale, and chard, are consumed at New Year's in different countries for a simple reason — their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune.

Legumes including beans, peas, and lentils are also symbolic of money. Their small, seedlike appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind. There areeven those who believe in eating one pea for every day in the new year. This all traces back to the legend that during the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, Virginia, ran out of food while under attack. The residents fortunately discovered black-eyed peas and the legume was thereafter considered lucky.

The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Eat pork tenderloin roast in sauerkraut. If you have pork on New Year's you live high on the hog, but if you have chicken you scratch all year. ...

Fish is a very logical choice for the New Year's table. According to Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, cod has been a popular feast food since the Middle Ages. He compares it to turkey on Thanksgiving. The reason? Long before refrigeration and modern transportation, cod could be preserved and transported allowing it to reach the Mediterranean and even as far as North Africa and the Caribbean Cakes aren't always round.

In Scotland, where New Year's is called Hogmanay, there is a tradition called "first footing," in which the first person to enter a home after the new year determines what kind of year the residents will have. The "first footer" often brings symbolic gifts like coal to keep the house warm or baked goods such as shortbread, oat cakes, and a fruit caked called black bun, to make sure the household always has food.

In addition to the aforementioned lucky foods, there are also a few to avoid. Lobster, for instance, is a bad idea because they move backwards and could therefore lead to setbacks. Chicken is also discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past. Another theory warns against eating any winged fowl because good luck could fly away.

The conclusion? Eat as much lucky food as you can, just don't get too greedy—or the first place you'll be going in the new year is the gym

 

TODAY’S SMILE

The wheel of time keeps moving. The old year goes away and the new year claims its place. There's a reason we call it the "wheel" of time.

The word "annual" comes from the Latin annus meaning a circuit of the sun, hence a year. Flowers don't bloom any differently just because a new year has begun.

Clouds move at the same pace whether it's a new day or a new century. Yet for humans these markers along the trail of life are quite convenient.

We brood about what happened yesterday. We plan things for the next week. And with a new year, we feel our knapsack of time is replenished. Again.

What we missed doing last year we might be able to accomplish this time. And so the wheel turns. Ultimately, it's all relative. A story goes that a man prays to God.

God appears and the man says, "Lord! Our billions of years are your one second. Our billions of dollars are merely a penny for you. Could you grant me a penny?" God smiles, says "Certainly! Back in a second," and disappears.

May all your wishes be granted in the new year! .

 TODAY’S WORD

ebullient \ih-BUL-yuhnt\, adjective:

1. Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement; high-spirited.

2. Boiling up or over.

Ebullient comes from Latin ebullire, "to bubble up," from e-, "out of, from" + bullire, "to bubble, to boil

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39b Those of us raised in households of faith have heard this line to "love our neighbor as ourselves" since we were children. This is an important and true lesson.

However, we must be careful not to overlook the other thing that we are called to do – to love ourselves. Love of self is something that has become a negative in our culture. Saying, "that person is totally in love with himself or herself", is far from a good thing.

Unfortunately, the action that this phrase refers to is rarely real love. Rather, it is compensation for a lack of love for self. When you have a love for yourself, you don't need to brag, either to the person you see in the mirror, or to others.

When you have a love for yourself, there is a sense of peace because you know who you are; you recognize that you are; a child of God. As we prepare to enter into this New Year, many of us will be making resolutions. Some of these will last…most will not. The ones that will last are the ones that we are truly committed to, as opposed to just giving lip service.

I've got a resolution that I hope you are willing to take into the totality of your life, and it is this: I resolve to love my neighbor as I love myself, and I love who God has created me to be. Look in the mirror, say it out loud, do whatever you have to do to remind yourself, not only of our responsibility to others, but to ourselves as well.

It is only when we come from that place of love of self that we can truly love another. Let us make this pledge to ourselves and be amazed at how miraculous this kind of love truly is! Prayerful Living” devotional messages are found at http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

If New Year's Eve night wind blow south, It betokeneth warmth and growth.

79 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

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

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below: http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/ONTHEBRIGHTSIDE/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

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

 

FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE, MONDAY, JANUARY 31ST, 2007

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 31ST, 2OO7

 

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

Give thought and thanks for the light of day and the comfort of night.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon -instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.

Dale Carnegie

 

HAPPY MONDAY !!

AND HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!

It’s Day 3 of my long weekend and today I’m going to do a little paper shuffling and try and clean up what has accumulated around my desk. It is not a pretty site at all and I rarely use that desk other than to stack stuff on top of it. It is upstairs in my craft room and I’m too lazy to go up there very often. I find that a pile gathers on my dining room table and when that gets unsightly I take it up and put it on the desk or the area surrounding the desk or on the desk chair. The garbage man will be getting an extra bag of rubbish this week, I’m sure!

I had a wonderful time at the concert last night ! Thank you to DD and her hubby for the ticket. It was a grand Christmas gift ! If any of you ever get the chance I hope you can go! And thanks to DS#5 and his wife for the transportation!!!

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

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 2007

Today is World Peace Meditation Day

Universal Hour of Peace begins at 11:30 tonight. Until 12:30 a.m. January 1, 2008, every man, woman and child is invited to spend the hour in meditation, prayer, conversation, listening to beautiful music or whatever helps them concentrate on peace

Today is National Check the Smoke Alarms Day

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

Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played Auld Lang Syne as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time on this night in 1929. Auld Lang Syne had been the band’s theme song long before 1929. However, this night was the start of a New Year’s Eve tradition as Lombardo’s famed orchestra played at the Hotel Roosevelt Grill in New York City to usher in the new year.

Where did it Auld begin? Scottish poet Robert Burns said he heard an old man singing the words, and wrote them down; but Burns is considered the original author. The literal translation means “old long since”; less literal: “days gone by”.

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.

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

Happy New Year! May 2008 bring 366 days of love and laughter to you and everyone you love. Thank you, Lord, for: life, love, and laughter. And new beginnings

 

TODAY’S LINK

WORLD CLOCK http://www.peterrussell.com/Odds/WorldClock.php

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Cause my cup has overflowed

And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough. But I've got loving ones all around me, and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies He's bestowed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong, My faith wore somewhat thin. But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.

So Lord, help me not to gripe, about the tough rows I have hoed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage, When the way grows steep and rough. I'll not ask for other blessings,

I'm already blessed enough. And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads.

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

 

If you cannot find happiness along the way you will not find it at the end of the road.

 

BETWEEN THE YEARS

Our Lord and our God. We have our joy in Thee. Without Thy Help we could not face unafraid the year before us.

 

I stand between the years. The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come – the radiance of the Sun of Righteousness. Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorrow and disappointment.

Dwell not on the past - only on the present. Only use the past as the trees use My Sunlight to absorb it, to make from it in after days the warming fire-rays. So store only the blessings from Me, the Light of the World. Encourage yourselves by the thought of these.

Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss. Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your disappointment in others and in yourselves, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all, buried, and go forward to a new and risen life.

Remember that you must not see as the world sees. I hold the year in My Hands - in trust for you. But I shall guide you one day at a time. Leave the rest with Me.

You must not anticipate the gift by fears or thoughts of the days ahead. And for each day I shall supply the wisdom and the strength.

GOD CALLING

 

TODAY’S WORD

gelid \JEL-id\, adjective:

Extremely cold; icy.

Gelid comes from Latin gelidus, from gelu, "frost, cold

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

In Him we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28

This text is a formula for maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual energy. The tension and pressure of modern living draws wearily upon our energies. But here we have a renewal method.

The text reminds us that God created us and that He can constantly and automatically re-create us. The secret is to maintain contact with God.

Every day, preferably about midafternoon when an energy lag usually comes, try repeating this text while visualizing yourself as “plugged” into the spiritual line. Affirm that God’s recreative energy is restoring strength and power to every part of your body, your mind, and your soul.

Thought Conditions by Norman Vincent Peale

Peale Center for Postiive Thinking.com

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

In Scotland, December 31 is known as Hogmanay, the word children use to ask for their traditional present of an oatmeal cake (which is why this is also called Cake Day).

The first person to cross the threshold into one's home, called the first footer, is an indication of the year to come. Although the tradition varies, if the first footer is tall and dark, the year will be a good one.

80 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

 

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

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

 

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below: http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/ONTHEBRIGHTSIDE/

 

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6 http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html

 

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FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, 2007

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 30th, 2OO7

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.

Ann Landers

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Life is a song-sing it.

 Life is a game - play it.

Life is a challenge - meet it.

Life is a dream - realize it.

Life is a sacrifice - offer it.

Life is love - enjoy it.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.

 Paul Harvey

 

HAPPY SUNDAY !!

Here we are another SLOW start morning and Day 2 of my 4 day weekend. I’ll be going to church as always today and then this evening I’ll be going to a concert as DD and her hubby gave me a ticket to see the Transiberian Orchestra for Christmas. I’m going with them and DS#5 and his wife and a few others. This is the 1st concert I’ve ever been to and I’m excited.

Here is a link to a TRANSIBERIAN e-card that allows you to hear some of their great music. When you access the site, click on the X which is on a scroll with the message to send a card, it will close and you can enjoy the music. http://ecards.netmusicpromotions.com/tso/ecard.html

In today’s trivia you’ll see that in 1942 Mr. and Mrs. North aired on the radio. This little tidbit is special to me because my Mom always told me that is where she got my name from. She said it was an unusual name that she’d never heard before and that’s why she chose it for me.

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

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

The Festival of Enormous Changes At the Last Minute begins today

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

Today is National Antacid Day

1851: Asa Candler was born in Georgia. An Atlanta pharmacist, in 1887 he converted a medicinal tonic called Coca-Cola into a soda fountain soft drink.

1942 - Mr. and Mrs. North debuted on NBC radio. Joseph Curtin played Jerry North and Alice Frost played Pam. A typical Mr. and Mrs. North episode would find Pam leading Jerry on what seemed to be a wild-goose chase as they tracked down criminals. Pam always ended up being right and leading police to the criminals. The theme song for the show was The Way You Look Tonight. Sponsors included Woodbury soap, Jergens lotion and Halo shampoo

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

1969 - Peter, Paul and Mary received a gold record for the single, Leaving On a Jet Plane. The song had hit #1 on December 20.

 

TODAY’S LINK

RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR http://wandascountryhome.com/newyear/recipe.html

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Granny Adams made such beautiful pies! One day I asked her, "How do you get such beautiful pies with the crimps around the edge so even?"

"Well, it's a family secret," she said. "But if you promise not to tell, I'll let you in on it."

 "Okay," I said. "Tell me!"

 "Well, first, I roll out the dough, making sure it is flat and even. Then I cut out the bottom layer and carefully put in the pie plate and make sure it is firmly against the sides of the plate.

Then I slowly pour in the filling, making sure it's not too full. Next, I cut out the top layer and carefully put it over the filling.

Finally, I take out my teeth and just run them around the edge of the pie crust and they make the nicest even impressions you ever did see!

 

TODAY’S WORD

bibulous \BIB-yuh-luhs\, adjective:

1. Of, pertaining to, marked by, or given to the consumption of alcoholic drink.

2. Readily absorbing fluids or moisture.

Bibulous comes from Latin bibulus, from bibere, "to drink."

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

Mark 1:11

Notice that God says in our reading today, "With you I am well pleased." A good question to ask ourselves would be, "Is God pleased with us?"

In one of the PEANUTS cartoons, a little girl calls Charlie Brown on the telephone. "Marcie and I are about to leave for camp, Chuck," she says. "We're going to be swimming instructors." Marcie takes the phone and adds, "We just called to say goodbye, Charles. We are going to miss you. We love you."

Charlie Brown, stands by the phone with a grin on his face. Linus asks, "Who was that?" He answers, "I think it was a right number."

God believes that each of us is the right number, because God calls all of us to accept the gift of Jesus Christ and to follow in his footsteps

Daily devotions http://www.devotions.net

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Sneezing to the right is considered lucky

81 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

 

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

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below: http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/ONTHEBRIGHTSIDE/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

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

 

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FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28TH, 2007

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 28th, 2OO7

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Always look to the good you can do in every situation.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Bill Vaughan

 

HAPPY FINALLY FRIDAY !!

Yes, the New Years weekend will begin at the end of this workday! 3 days of work was quite enough for this week for sure. Starting tomorrow I’ll have a blessed 4 days off .

These 4 days won’t be as hectic as last weekend, so maybe I’ll actually feel a little rested when I go back to work next Wednesday. Thankfully I had 2 vacation days to use up to make those 2 long weekends in a row. Otherwise I would have been working on the Mondays.

Next year Christmas and New Years will be on a Wednesday, so I think I’ll consider taking the Thursday and Friday afterwards for vacation days. That will make it a 5 day weekend and that sounds great to me.

We’ll see….

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

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.

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Almanac Day. The Pennsylvania Gazette, owned by Benjamin Franklin, ran an ad for the first issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack on this day in 1732. The ad promised “...Many pleasant and witty verses, jests and sayings ... new fashions, games for kisses ... men and melons ... breakfast in bed, etc.

1846 - Exactly one year and one day after the 28th state entered the Union, the United States of America grew one state larger by adding Iowa. The 29th state’s name is derived from an American Indian word meaning ‘the beautiful land’. It is widely thought that Iowa’s nickname, the Hawkeye State, is in honor of Black Hawk, the famous Indian chief. Iowa City was the first capital of Iowa. 11 years later, Des Moines, the state’s largest city, became the permanent capital. The Iowa state bird is the eastern goldfinch, the state flower, the wild rose, and the state motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”

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

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

1964 - Principal filming of the movie classic, Doctor Zhivago, began on location near Madrid, Spain. When completed, the film was 197 minutes long and so spectacular that it received ten Oscar nominations, winning five of the Academy Awards, including Best Original Score. Remember Lara’s Theme?

 

TODAY’S LINK

DEAR ABBY’S NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS http://www.alighthouse.com/happynewyear.htm

 

TODAY’S SMILE

A few days after Christmas, my six year son and I were talking. He asked, "Mom, is there a Santa Claus?" "Well, what do you think?" I asked him.

He replied, "Well, my Playstation that I got and my gift from Santa were wrapped in the same kind of wrapping paper." He thought for a minute and said, "I'll tell you what ... you and Dad can go on buying me presents and let's just forget we ever had this talk!"

One more…

I was trying to mow the lawn before my husbandgot home from work, but our electric lawn mower refused to cooperate. It would run fine for a few seconds, then cut off, run again, cut off. Finally, I gave up and waited for my husband.

He had a good laugh when he diagnosed the problem. Instead of plugging in the mower using a three-prong adapter, I'd hooked up the cord through the Christmas-tree light blinker control.

 

TODAY’S WORD

gnomic \NOH-mik\, adjective:

Uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims; wise and pithy.

Gnomic derives from Greek gnomikos, from gnome, "intelligence, hence an expressed example of intelligence," from gignoskein, "to know."

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Above all else, you must live in the way that brings honor to the good news about Christ.

Philippians 1:27

We are surrounded by so many choices… Perhaps at this time of year, it is good to take time out to set priorities

An anonymous writer said:

• Choose to love -- rather than hate.

• Choose to smile -- rather than frown.

• Choose to build -- rather than destroy.

• Choose to persevere -- rather than quit.

• Choose to praise -- rather than gossip.

• Choose to heal -- rather than wound.

• Choose to give -- rather than grasp.

• Choose to act -- rather than delay.

• Choose to forgive -- rather than curse.

• Choose to pray -- rather than despair.

With all the temptations that surround you, now is a good time to choose your priorities. Are you willing to trust God to guide you? "If you know what you are doing, you will prosper. God blesses everyone who trusts him" (Proverbs 16:20).

From the Prayerful Living message found at http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

To avoid tough cookies, do not overmix the dough

 

83 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

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

Psalm 37:4

 

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below: http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/ONTHEBRIGHTSIDE/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

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

 

FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27TH, 2007

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 27th, 2OO7

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Every day, remind yourself of your own ability, of your good mind, and affirm that you can make something really good out of your life.

Dr. Norman Vincent

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Have the courage to climb back in and finish what you start.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

Whatever you are filled with, spills over when you are bumped.

An old Indian proverb

 

HAPPY THURSDAY !!

I made it through the 1st day back to work after the Christmas holiday. Lots and lots to do and the next 2 days will be the same. I’ll be trying to pack into 3 days what is usually done in 5.

The sun came out yesterday and the temperature made it up to 40 degrees after starting out with a heavy frost and only 27 degrees. Today we’re supposed to have a rain/snow mix.

 DS#6 and his wife’s uncle were over Wednesday morning while I was at work and fixed my bathroom plumbing problems. They had quite a time of it, but now a small leak in my sink pipes and the very slow drain in the same sink are now fixed.

I really appreciate their hard work. I could have called a plumber but DS#6 assured me they could take care of it and they did. Working full time prevents me from having service men come in during the day when they do their work, so this saved me from having to take vacation time to have the problem solved.

A big THANK YOU to them both!

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

TODAY IS…FRUITCAKE FOREVER DAY

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

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 Doody Day, marking premier of television's first successful children's show in 1947, "Howdy Doody," starring Buffalo Bob, Clarabell the Clown, Cornelius Cobb, Chief Thunderthud, Princes Summerfall Winterspring, Bison Bill, and Ugly Sam. Puppet stars were Howdy Doody, Phineas T. Bluster, Dilly Dally, Flub-a-Dub, Captain Scuttlebutt, Double Doody, and Heidi Doody

Today is Modern Medicine Day, marking the birth of Louis Pasteur, the father of modern medicine, at Dole, France, onDecember 27, 1822. Pasteur developed modern inoculation methods and the pasteurization process.

Today is National Visit the Zoo Day

Today is the Feast Day of Saint John the Apostle, son of Salome and Zebedee

1932: Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City

 

TODAY’S LINK

EMAIL SCAM ALERT http://clarkhoward.com/archives/scamalert.html

Scammers are finding new ways to tap into your e-mail account and trick your friends and relatives into forking over money. Should you receive an e-mail saying a friend is in need of help, please contact them personally, before responding.

TODAY’S SMILE

TOP 10 USES FOR HOLIDAY FRUITCAKES:

10. Use slices to balance that wobbly kitchen table.

9. Use instead of sand bags during El Nino.

8. Send to U.S. Air Force, let troops drop them.

 7. Use as railroad ties.

6. Use as speed bumps to foil the neighborhood drag racers.

5. Collect ten and use them as bowling pins.

4. Use instead of cement shoes.

3. Save for next summer's garage sale.

2. Use slices in next skeet-shooting competition.

1. Two words: pin cushion.

(I really do like fruit cake. I just put the list in because it’s ‘Fruitcake Day’)

TODAY’S WORD

hermitage \HUHR-muh-tij\, noun:

1. The habitation of a hermit or group of hermits.

2. A monastery or abbey.

3. A secluded residence; a retreat; a hideaway.

4. (Capitalized) A palace in St. Petersburg, now an art museum.

Hermitage is from Old French hermitage, from heremite, "hermit," ultimately from Greek eremites, "dwelling in the desert," from eremia, "desert," from eremos, "solitary; desolate

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Everything man creates will eventually go out of date. Everything gets old. Everything, that is, but the gospel. The gospel is over 2,000 years old. And though there have been a lot of updated Bible translations, the gospel is still as relevant today as it was when it was written.

The gospel is this: Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, gave up His life by being sacrificed on a cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was raised from the dead 3 days later (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Because He took our punishment for sin on Himself, He can forgive our sins and make us children of God if we put our faith and trust in Him (Acts 13:38-39).

Let the greatest story ever told make you brand-new—forever. It’s the story that never grows old.

OUR DAILY BREAD http://www.rbc.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Grow African violets in an east window and water with warm or tepid water

84 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

 

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

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below:

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

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

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

 

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FOR CHRISTMAS DAY, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25TH, 2007

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 25th, 2OO7

 

Our Family Christmas Celebration 2007

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

The heart goes home at Christmas, across the miles and years.

Alice Leedy Mason

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Remember to value people before things.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger.

LK 2:10 - 12

 

HAPPY TUESDAY !!

And A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU !

It has turned very cold here, but no snow to speak of. We had some flurries but nothing accumulated on the ground. I suppose that we will be seeing plenty of that white stuff in days to come as Winter really has just begun. January, February and March will be 3 long months of bitter cold and snow and ice with very little sunshine at all.

These will be days of making my own ‘SUNSHINE’ for sure. In the midst of dark and dreary days, we have been blessed with a wonderful gift – a Savior was born and because of that wonderful event we will always have a ‘bright light’ shinning forth to bring us all happy days.

No matter how dull the days may seem, each one is a gift from God and I will be celebrating each and every one to come for sure. As the end of another year is coming to a close, I’ll be reflecting a bit and also making my list of New Year’s Resolutions.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

TODAY IS…MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas is celebrated all over the world as both the most religious and most commercial holiday of the year. It wasn’t official, until sometime between the years 337 and 352 A.D. This means that the date celebrated as the birth of Christ was not set until the time of Julius I, Bishop of Rome. To that time, the day known as Christmas was celebrated on one of three dates in the first 352 years of the Julian calendar: January 6, March 29 and September 29. January 6th, the Day of Epiphany, is still considered Christmas Day to many folks around the world; especially those who are Eastern Orthodox. Some of us receive gifts on both days, some on January 1 -- right down the middle. Others celebrate for days, beginning December 6, 13th, 16th or 21st and ending on January 6th. You’ve heard of the twelve days of Christmas? Well, it’s not just a song! It’s a schedule.

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing today, we wish you HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !

 

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

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.

1949 - Dick Tracy got married on Christmas Day. The comic strip hero married Tess Trueheart. The couple later became parents of a daughter. The little girl’s name was Bonnie Braids.

1985 - Ending the year, hot hits included: Swatches, those trendy Swiss-made watches, and Cherry Coke, which grabbed about four percent of the total beverage market after being reintroduced in the early spring. Back in the 1950s, there was a lot of Cherry Coke sipping; especially at the corner drugstore.

 

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS TRIVIA…

Yule is awinter festival associated with the winter solstice celebrated in northern Europe since ancient times. Its Christianized form is called ‘Christmas’, whis is essentially the symbolism and traditions of Yule with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth superimposed upon it.l Yule traditions include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts and general celebration and merriment.

 

TODAY’S LINK

MY WISHES FOR YOU http://hometown.aol.com/marainey1/myhomepage/wishlist.html

 

TODAY’S SMILE .

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...

How to live in a world that's politically correct? His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",

"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves. And labour conditions at the North Pole Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul. F

our reindeer had vanished, without much propriety, Released to the wilds by the Humane Society. And equal employment had made it quite clear That Santa had better not use just reindeer. So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh; The ruts were termed dangerous by the C.A.A. And people had started to call for the cops When they heard sled noises on their rooftops. Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.

His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened." And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows: Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife, Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life, Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz, Demanding from now on her title was Ms. And as for the gifts, why, he'd never a notion That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur, Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her. Nothing that might be construed to pollute. Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot. Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise. Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys. Nothing that claimed to be gender specific. Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth. Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth. And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden, Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden. For they raised the hackles of those psychological Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological. Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passé; And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed; He just could not figure out what to do next. He tried to be merry, tried to be gay, But you've got to be careful with that word today. His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground; Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might Give to all without angering the left or the right. A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision, Each group of people, every religion; Every ethnicity, every hue, Everyone, everywhere...even YOU.

So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...

 "May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

 

ONE MORE !

One beautiful December evening Huan Cho and his girlfriend Jung Lee were sitting by the side of the ocean. It was a romantic full moon, when Huan Cho said "Hey baby, let's play Weeweechu."

 "Oh no, not now, lets look at the moon" said Jung Lee. "Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I play Weeweechu. I love you and its the perfect time," Huan Cho Begged.

"But I rather just hold your hand and watch the moon." "Please Jung Lee, just once play Weeweechu with me."

Jung Lee looked at Huan Chi and said, "OK, we'll play Weeweechu."

Huan Cho grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas,

Weeweechu a Merry Christmas,

Weeweechu a Merry Christmas,

and a Happy New Year."

 

TODAY’S WORD

amity \AM-uh-tee\, noun:

Friendship; friendly relations, especially between nations

Amity comes from Old French-Medieval French amistié, amisté, ultimately from Latin amicus, "friendly, a friend," from amare, "to love."

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Joseph went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

 Luke 2:5-7

The presence of Jesus in the world is God’s ultimate gift of love, for out of that gift that started out with the lowliest of beginnings comes that which humanity could never attain on its own: a right relationship with God for all eternity. What a miracle! What a miracle that we are loved so much that God would be willing to make such an offering.

We didn’t deserve it. Nothing we could ever do would make us worthy of such love; and yet there it is, freely given and, hopefully, gratefully received. God loves you so much!

I pray that this Christmas season you will be open to experiencing the love of God, and just how miraculous it is! Receive the miraculous love of God!

“Prayerful Living” devotional messages are found at http://www.ourprayer.org/inspirition

Bethlehem became the link between heaven and earth; God and man met there and looked each other in the face. Archbishop

Fulton J. Sheen

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

If you count eight seeds in your apple, it denotes true love.

86 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

 

Christmas day is a day of joy and charity.

May God make you very rich in both.

Phillips Brooks

 

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

Psalm 37:4

 

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below: http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/ONTHEBRIGHTSIDE/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

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

 

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ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 24th, 2OO7

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Once again we are weaving the tapestry that is Christmas.

Polly McKinstry

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Pursue righteousness and kindness.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

And so we come again to Christmas with all its color and joy, its magic and wonder, its spirit of good will and warmth. But how do we come to Christmas? What it means to us depends on what we bring to it, not in gifts and outer display, but in the inner offerings of love and faith that abide in the heart.

Ester Baldwin York

 

HAPPY MONDAY !!

And HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!

BrrrChill ! We had an artic blast come our way and we are once again down below freezing here.

Sunday after church we went to visit the ‘CHRISTMAS STORY’ house in Cleveland. It was loads of fun and I put some pictures in my journal if you want to see them.

My babes love that movie and have watched it over and over again and will recite word for word the lines of the movie too. Since DS#5 got a Red Rider for Christmas this year from DDIL#4 it was appropriate that we went to see the site of the house in the movie.

Today will be a little quieter as the ‘Newlyweds’ will be off to stay now a few days with DDIL#6’s folks and do Christmas with them, as will my other babes be celebrating with the other half of their families. When you are married you have two families to celebrate with. It will be a double celebration for them.

I will be home just loving the peace and quiet and resting up to go back to work on Wednesday morning.

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

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.

 

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

 

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

 

TODAY IS…CHRISTMAS EVE DAY

Excitement and anticipation can’t get any better than this…

Hope Christmas is EVERYTHING you want it to be !

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Egg Nog Day

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

PEACE ON EARTH DAY . The moon seemed a little closer to Earth this day ... and the world got a little smaller. It was 1968 and three astronauts, James A. Lovell, William Anders and Frank Borman, had reached the moon. It had been just three days earlier that Borman, Captain of Apollo 8, and his team left Cape Kennedy.

Before their return to Earth, the three astronauts would orbit the moon ten times, paving the way for the first Earthling to walk on the lunar surface some seven months down the road. People all around the globe were able to see (via direct TV transmission) the most important parts of the Apollo 8 mission.

This night proved to be one of the most emotional moments of the space flight. It was Christmas Eve, and Lovell, Anders and Borman, 250,000 miles from home, were reading verses from their bible and transmitting a message to all mankind calling for “peace on earth.”

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

1948 - For the first time ever, a midnight Mass was broadcast on television. St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City was the locale.

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

 

TODAY’S LINK

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

 http://holidays.blastcomm.com/

 

TODAY’S SMILE

It's Christmas in America There's carols in the air The snow is falling on the ground There's holly everywhere The people they're all different too Their troubles put aside They smile a little brighter It seems at Christmas time

It's Christmas in America Let the angels sing

It's Christmas in America Let freedom ring

Let peace resound throughout the world Especially on this day It's Christmas in America God bless the USA The kids get so excited Preparing for the day Their letters to Santa have all been sent The cookies have been baked The creche under the Christmas tree Awaits the baby child

It seems to mean so much more this year Than it has in a while Because it's Christmas in America Let the angels sing

It's Christmas in America Let freedom ring

Let peace resound throughout the world Especially on this day It's Christmas in America God bless the USA So keep your babies close tonight Hug your husband, kiss your wife Be thankful for this way of life We're fortunate to share And not forget the ones we've lost Their memory lives on in our hearts They'll be forever in our thoughts And always in our prayers

Unto this world a child is born His gift was meant for everyone The light of peace shines on and on And never fades away America, America indivisible we are One nation under God And that will never change Because it's Christmas in America

Let the angels sing It's Christmas in America

Let freedom ring Let peace resound throughout the world Especially on this day It's Christmas in America God bless the USA It's Christmas in America

GOD BLESS THE USA!

Author Unknown

 

TODAY’S WORD

persiflage \PUR-suh-flahzh\, noun:

Frivolous or bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether serious or otherwise; light raillery.

Persiflage comes from French, from persifler, "to banter," from per-, "thoroughly" (from Latin) + siffler, "to hiss, to whistle," ultimately from Latin sibilare, "to hiss (at), to whistle

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Even youths grow tired or weary, and young men stumble and fall.

Isaiah 40: 30

Holiday season brings pressure! If you are a business woman or man, the extra holiday chores add to the day’s work. If you are a teacher, the children seem and probably are over-excited. If you are a student, the work is tiring and the days drag by.

Age seems to make no difference, for we all cangrow tired or weary, as today's scripture indicates. Isaiah also gives us the good news: "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom" (vs. 28).

God is always nearby to give us strength and refresh us. Jesus said to the disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest ("Mark 6:31).

No matter whether you're a busy parent, a business person, a teacher or a student, you can find a few moments to be quiet and be with the Lord. It may be for a very few moments, but that time can refresh your spirit, so that you are able to get a second wind and finish the day successfully.

O Lord, show me how to take advantage of your wonderful promise, so that I will be able to be a blessing to others. Amen.

“Prayerful Living” devotional message ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

One today is worth two tomorrows.

Poor Richard's Almanack, 1757

87 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

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

 Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

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/

To see archived ‘On the Bright Side’ Newsletters click on the link below: http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/ONTHEBRIGHTSIDE/

BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6

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