FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FEBRUARY 1ST, 2008

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.

Shakespeare

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Diminish doubt and increase your faith

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.

Author Unknown

 

HAPPY TUESDAY !!

I hope those of you that live in Ohio will be careful on the roads today. Overnight snow and then rain and ice this morning are making roads treacherous and I’m wishing I could stay in and not go to work, but I will. I’ll go slow and hopefully will have no problems.

We had plenty of warning for this one so the road crews should be on top of things. I know I’ll be glad to get home tonight and stay in.

Take good care all !

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…HEALTHY HEART DAY

There are many factors that affect the health of our heart - starting with our ancestors. While we can't change who our great-grandparents might have been, we can think "healthy" today. Check out some tips for a healthy heart here http://www.health-heart.org/simple.htm

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

The word "February" comes from the Latin word februare, meaning "to purify." The ancient Romans had their annual purification ceremony during this time each year

 February is National Weddings Month. Most engagements take place between Christmas and Valentine's Day, and most future brides start serious planning in

February for summer weddings

February birthstone: amethyst.

February flower: violet or primrose

February is American Heart Month, National African-American History Month, Bake for Family Fun Month, Bird Feeding Month, Children's Dental Health Month, Grapefruit Month, Humpback Whale Awareness Month, Creative Romance Month, National Laugh Friendly Month, Library Lovers Month, Pet Dental Health Month, Senior Independence Youth Leadership Month, and in Illinois, it’s Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month

Today is National Wear Red Day, an a fun way to kick off National Heart Month

Today is Bubble Gum Day. Children at many schools will donate 50 cents or more to a school charity to be allowed to chew bubble gum at school today

1862 - The Battle Hymn of the Republic was first published in Atlantic Monthly. The lyric was the work of Julia Ward Howe. The Battle Hymn of the Republic is still being sung and to the tune of a song titled, John Brown’s Body

1920: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Mounties, were created.

1968 - Elvis Presley celebrated the birth of his daughter, Lisa Marie

 

TODAY’S SMILE

SUPER BOWL FACTOIDS

In the USA - more toilets flush at half time than any other time of the year.

Super Bowl Sunday is the most popular party day of the year - surpassing New Year's Eve. It is also the slowest weekend for weddings.

Super Bowl Monday sales of antacids increase by more than 20% over other Mondays.

Dominos Pizza sales typically double on Super Bowl Sunday.

Last year Americans ate more than 8.5 million pounds of tortilla chips on this day.

 

TODAY’S WORD

inveterate \in-VET-uhr-it\, adjective:

1. Firmly established by long persistence; deep-rooted; of long standing. 2. Fixed in habit by long persistence; confirmed; habitual

Inveterate is from the past participle of Latin inveterari, "to grow old, to endure," from in- + vetus, veter-, "old." It is related to veteran, "one who is long experienced in some activity or capacity; an old soldier of long service; one who has served in the armed forces."

The noun form is inveteracy or inveterateness.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high

Luke 24:49

This was Jesus' direction to his apostles before he ascended to the Father, and they followed his directions willingly. Let's consider what that meant. They waited one day, two days, three days — but nothing happened. I wonder if I might not have become a little doubtful at that point, for I have become so used to "instant this" and "instant that" in today's world.

But the disciples continued to be patient Luke goes on to tell us that their patience was rewarded, for they finally received what Jesus had promised. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. — All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1 & 4).

We can also have God's enabling power, if we only trust God enough to wait. http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

To cure hiccups eat a spoonful of peanut butter

48 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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ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 31ST, 2008

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.

Hugh Downs

 

TODAY’S ACTION

 Relax and think enthusiastic and positive thoughts about yourself

TODAY’S QUOTE

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.

Marsha Petrie Sue

 

 HAPPY THURSDAY !!

January has finally come to an end. I’m not sad to see it go. We did have some good days but, it just means that now Spring is a little closer. I am looking forward to it for sure !

Yesterday we started out with 11 degrees and warmed up to about 20 by evening. It was a windy one. I checked the roof shingles and the siding and everything seemed to be attached so that is a good thing.

My sinuses have gone haywire though, and my nose has been dripping in a steady stream. I hope it doesn’t develop into anything else, this is miserable enough.

Take good care all !

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…SCOTCH TAPE DAY

In 1921, a banjo playing inventor went to work for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, known as 3M. Four years later, Richard Drew walked out of his lab carrying the first roll of scotch tape. In 1930, he also created cellophane tape. Without this man, we'd still be wrapping up our Christmas packages with rope. Way to go, Dick!

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Inspire Your Heart With the Arts Day

Tonight is Play An Old Game You Haven’t Played in Years Night. Maybe Yahztee, Scrabble, Monopoly, or Canasta.

Today is Hell Is Freezing Over Day

Meterologists often reference the temperature in Hell, Michigan... they LOVE to mention that it is a "cold day in Hell."

Today is Scotch Tape Day, marking the birth of the sticky stuff to 3M Company's Richard Drew on this date in 1928

1961: A chimpanzee named Ham became the first U.S. animal sent into space. Ham traveled 158 miles above the Earth in the Mercury-Redstone-2 space capsule.

 1971: Astronauts Alan Shepard Jr., Edgar Mitchell and Stuart Roosa blasted off aboard Apollo 14 on a mission to the moon

1982 - Sandy Duncan of Tyler, Texas gave her final performance as Peter Pan in Los Angeles, CA. The actress completed 956 performances without missing a show. She flew a total of 261.5 miles while on stage

1985: The last Jeep, the military workhorse vehicle in World War II, rolled off the assembly line at the American Motors plant in Toledo, Ohio

 

TODAY’S SMILE

This and That…

Most of us can keep a secret. It's the people we tell it to who can't.

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.

I don't eat snails . . . I prefer FAST food.

We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well..

 

TODAY’S WORD

canorous \kuh-NOR-us; KAN-or-uhs\, adjective:

Richly melodious; pleasant sounding; musical

Canorous comes from the Latin canor, "melody," from canere, "to sing." It is related to chant, from French chanter, "to sing," ultimately from Latin canere

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way

I Corinthians 14:40

We all know how important time has become. Our busy lives become so cluttered that we don't have time for the important things and we become frustrated and upset. When Paul the apostle wrote the above, he was speaking to the Church, but this is also important for our daily lives, if we desire to have the abundant life Jesus promised.

 Just as the camera must focus on the subject of a photo in order to make the picture clear, we have to zero in and keep everything in our life in focus. When we don't organize financial matters, our bank accounts can become depleted and we are faced with debts that can overwhelm us. When we haven't the self-discipline to set a priority on the important tasks, we haven't enough time to get everything done. J

ust as the eye of a cyclone is a place of central calm, faith can be the place of central calm that gives you that serenity needed to organize your time, talents and treasure of your busy life http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Horsepower was a wonderful thing when only horses had it

49 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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 30TH, 2008

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Thomas A. Edison

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Lead by example

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.

Doug Larson

 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY !!

OVER THE HUMP DAY

I really think this should be a Friday, but now at least we are half way through this week. There is nothing exciting happening this weekend, it’s just that work days seem to go by so slowly and evenings and weekends tend to fly by.

Yesterday morning before I left for work I heard a strange banging noise outside. I looked up and there towards the top of the house was a piece of our siding swaying in the breeze. Thankfully, we were able to get it fixed today and when I got home all the repairs were made. Now I just need to wait for the bill to come in the mail. I sure do appreciate their promptness in getting right out and fixing it.

Over last night and into this morning we are supposed to have high winds gusting to 50 mph. At least I know that this piece of siding is securely attached. Hopefully there will not be any others.

I went out at lunch time yesterday and got my car’s e-check (which is an emission test that the state of Ohio says we must have every other year) The ‘silver streak’ passed with flying colors so then I took myself over to the License Bureau and renewed my registration and my driver’s license. My birthday is still aways off, but I had the time and figured I might as well get it all done early.

Just ordinary days here, nothing much of any kind of excitement, just things that need to be done.

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.

GOD BLESS YOU !

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…THERMOS BOTTLE DAY

Why does a thermos keep hot things hot and cold things cold? There's a vacuum between the inner and outer layers of the bottle, so there is no movement of air. And with no air movement, there is almost no change in temperature. So... you don't have to break one open to see what's inside

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Yogi Bear Day, marking debut of the Yogi Bear Show on this date in 1958. Yogi had first appeared as a cartoon extra on "Huckleberry Hound" in October '57.

Today is National Croissant Day

1958: Designer Yves Saint Laurent held his first major fashion show in Paris. He was 22 years old.

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Having a Bad Day?

Discovering that I'd overslept, I abandoned my usual morning routine and rushed out. In the van, though, I realized I had time to stop for a take-out coffee. I got my coffee and returned to the van, only to find I had not only left it running but had locked it!

The day was going from bad to worse. I returned to the shop, sheepishly explained my situation to the clerk and asked if I could borrow a broom. I managed to open a side window and pop the lock on the back door using the broom handle.

When I returned the broom, the clerk said, "I know you're having a bad day, but..." "I know, I know," I interrupted. "You want to know how I can unlock my van with a broom." "No," she said. "I wanted to tell you that your shirt is on inside out

 

TODAY’S WORD

 sylvan \SIL-vuhn\, adjective:

1. Of or pertaining to woods or forest regions. 2. Living or located in a wood or forest. 3. Abounding in forests or trees; wooded. noun: 1. A fabled deity or spirit of the woods. 2. One that lives in or frequents the woods or forest; a rustic

Sylvan derives from Latin silva, sylva, "a wood or grove

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

If any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror . . . and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.

James 1:23

CAN you imagine looking in the mirror to comb your hair, then forgetting to do it? Before you laugh, consider this: Have you ever stood in the middle of a room, trying to remember why you went there? Or found yourself holding an object, wondering why you picked it up?

All of us lose our focus at times. In the everyday world, it's annoying. But in the spiritual realm, it can be serious. Through James, God counsels us to slow down, clean up our act, and concentrate on the message of life in Christ.

If we let God's word go in one ear and out the other, we're like someone who stands before an open refrigerator door, having forgotten what brought them there, wasting energy and power. God's message is so strong that it will bring us eternal life. We are to pay attention, keep our focus, and incorporate that message into our daily lives

http://www.upperroom.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

All glory comes from daring to begin

50 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 MONDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 28TH, 2008

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

We become what we think about.

Earl Nightingale

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Focus on your blessings for they are your true worth

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

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

 

HAPPY MONDAY !!

BACK TO WORK !

We had a little more snow on Sunday morning but it is starting to warm up today. By tonight into tomorrow we’ll probably see rain. This will only last a couple of days and then another cold front is coming our way and we’ll be back to freezing.

I had a good weekend and am ready as I’ll ever be to start another work week. On my calendar this week is :

Tuesday the 29th – Our ‘Star’s ‘ eighth birthday

Thursday the 31st – Bible Study

Otherwise it will be another quiet one.

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…KAZOO LOVERS DAY

Rumors place the origins of this instrument with the Roman military Kazoo bands that led Caesar's legions against the hordes of Vercingetorix in 52 BC. True or not, blowing on a Kazoo was the way a nobelman serenaded his lady during the Middle Ages. To make your own sweet music, just put your mouth over one end and start humming your favorite tune. The louder, the better - unless the neighbors complain. To find out more about Kazoo’s click on the link below http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazoo

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is International Make Your Point Day

Today is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Today is National Blueberry Pancake Day

Today is National Serendipity Day - Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

1834: The Anglican clergyman and author Sabine Baring-Gould was born. He wrote novels, history, biographies, poetry, and the hymns "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Now the Day Is Over

1878 - The first telephone switchboard was installed -- in New Haven, Connecticut. The phone company that owned the switchboard had 21 subscribers

1902 - The Carnegie Institution was established in Washington DC. It began with a gift of $10 million, compliments of Andrew Carnegie

1956: In his first national TV appearance, Elvis Presley sang "Heartbreak Hotel" on a summer replacement show featuring Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey

TODAY’S LINK

INSPIRING MOVIE FOR TODAY http://www.inspiringword.net/daily/all-dailies.php?day_is=0128

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Be a Kid Again Today Try the following:

1. Give yourself a gold star for everything you do today.

 2. Grow a milk mustache.

3. Open a pack of cupcakes and give one to a friend even though you wanted both of them for yourself.

4. Have a staring contest with your cat.

5. Kiss a frog just in case.

6. Make a face the next time somebody tells you "no."

7. Ask "Why?" a lot.

8. Believe in fairy tales.

9. Have someone read you a story.

10. Wear your favorite shirt with your favorite pants even if they don't match.

11. Do a cartwheel.

12. Hide your vegetables under your napkin.

13. Make a "slurpy" sound with your straw when you get to the bottom of a milkshake.

14. Sit really still for as long as the dog (or cat) is asleep in your lap.

15. Find some pretty stones and save them.

16. Stick your head out the car window and moo if you see a cow.

17. Walk barefoot in wet grass.

18. Giggle at nude statues in a museum.

19. Make cool screeching noises every time you turn.

20.Count the colors in a rainbow.

21. Fuss a little, then take a nap.

22.Take a running jump over a big puddle.

23.Giggle a lot for no real reason.

24.Do that tap-someone-on-the-shoulder-while-you-stand-on- their-opposite-side-and-they-turn-around-and-no-one's- there thing.

25.Enjoy your all-time favorite candy-bar. (Forget you've heard of calories!)

26.Throw something and when it lands make a cool exploding bomb noise.

27.Squish some mud between your toes.

 28.Buy yourself a helium balloon.

29.Put an orange slice in your mouth, peel side out, and smile at people.

Be a kid again...

Author Unknown

 

TODAY’S WORD

indelible \in-DEL-uh-buhl\, adjective:

1. That cannot be removed, erased, or washed away.

2. Making marks that cannot easily be removed or erased.

3. Incapable of being forgotten; memorable

Indelible is from Latin indelebilis, from in-, "not" + delebilis, "that can be obliterated or destroyed," from delere, "to blot out, to efface, to destroy

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Delight yourself . . . in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

David encouraged us in Psalm 37 to delight in the Lord and not to envy others (v.1-4). Although he was talking about envying people who get away with evil, we can apply it to other types of envy.

Instead of comparing ourselves with others, we need to delight ourselves in God. In His time, He’ll fulfill the desires of our heart and affirm that we are in His will. We’re all in “God’s service” as believers. And serving Him is a sheer delight.

Let the joy of the Lord be your strength—

May His peace fill your heart day and night;

As you walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

You will find that He’ll lead you aright.

Hess

Contentment comes when God’s will is more important than our wants

OUR DAILY BREAD

http://www.rbc.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

After scrambling eggs, add salted water to the frying pan for easier cleanup

52 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 SATURDAY, JANUARY 26TH , 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 26TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Circumstance does not make me, it reveals me.

William James

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Face your challenges with determination and resiliency

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

Keep your head and your heart in the right direction and you’ll never have to worry about your feet.

Author Unknown

 

HAPPY SATURDAY !!

I’ll be off on my trip to central Ohio’s Stroll for Epilepsy early this morning. It is a 2 hour trip and hopefully the snow will stay away and the roads will be clear. They are saying most of us will only get a ‘dusting’ of that white stuff on the ground.

The Good Lord willing we’ll all have safe journeys there and back. Several others in my family will be joining DS#1 and his family there for the Stroll. This is all done in honor of my little granddaughter ‘Our Sweetheart’ who has had epilepsy most of her 5 years of life.

I hope not to forget my camera and plan to take some pictures to share with you all.

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…ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AWARENESS

Help raise awareness for the importance of finding treatments, preventions, and a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org/index.asp

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

1784 - Ben Franklin wrote to his daughter to tell her that he was unhappy that the bald eagle had been chosen as the national bird of the United States. He mentioned that he believed the turkey would have been a much more respectable choice.

1837 - 32 years and 15 days after Michigan was organized as a territory, it became the 26th state of the United States of America. Named Michigan after the American Indian word, Michigama, meaning great or large lake, Michigan borders four of the Great Lakes, and is divided into two peninsulas by the Straits of Mackinac that connect Lakes Michigan and Huron. Michigan is nicknamed the Wolverine State (although wolverines are very rare there) and/or the Great Lake State (its shores touch four of the five Great Lakes). The state bird is the robin; the state flower: apple blossom; state tree: white pine; state fish: trout; state gem: Isle Royal Greenstone aka Chlorastrolite. The state flag, which is blue charged with the arms of the state, waves over the state capital of Lansing.

1961 - President John F. Kennedy appointed Dr. Janet G. Travell (Mrs. John Powell) to the post of personal physician to the President. Dr. Travell was the woman to hold that post

1987 - “Things go better with Coke...” Coca-Cola was named the #1 soft drink in America. Pepsi-Cola was in the #2 position

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Driving home from her office one summer day, a woman noted that there were four places within two blocks of her home where she could stop and buy a five-cent glass of iced tea.

Each little stand had two or three youngsters behind it, all eager to serve any customer who came their way. During the next two weeks, the woman managed to stop at each of the stands to encourage the entrepreneurs. In each case the tea was very good.

Small talk revealed that all the youngsters were selling tea made by their mothers, who used tea leaves and real lemons in making the tea.

One day the woman discovered that only one stand was operating. Behind it was the new kid on the block. She stopped and ordered a glass of tea. It was served in a paper cup and it cost 10 cents.

Some conversation brought out the fact that the young man's father was a lawyer who specialized in mergers, which had inspired the boy to buy out his competitors, bartering with baseball cards, marbles, and stuff he had laying around in his garage.

His first act, he explained, was to raise the price of the iced tea, and cut costs. He was using a powdered tea mix from the supermarket, he said, which eliminated buying real lemons as well as the bother of squeezing them or putting them in the juicer.

He didn't have to brew real tea either, he pointed out. He had plans to cut costs further, he said, and with his competitors out of the market, he expected sales to grow.

Intrigued, the woman made a half dozen more stops at the stand and became aware that the tea was getting weaker and weaker. One day the young man confessed that sales were dropping and he attributed this to the fact that he was using less and less of the powdered-tea mix.

Then one day he went out of business, as attempts to turn things around failed.

The moral of this story is: 'Honest Tea' is the best policy!

Author Unknown

 

TODAY’S WORD

disheveled \dih-SHEV-uhld\, adjective;

also dishevelled:

In loose disorder; disarranged; unkempt; as, "disheveled hair

Disheveled is from Old French descheveler, "to disarrange the hair," from des-, "apart" (from Latin dis-) + chevel, "hair," from Latin capillus

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Don't be discouraged or grow weak from fear! The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.

Zephaniah 3:16-17

What a joyful, encouraging message in today's scripture! You can take discouragement and change it to encouragement because you know the Lord is on your side. He will guide you to victory and you can celebrate and sing with him!

Have you noticed that "courage" is the central point in both "discourage" and "encourage"? You needn't be burdened with discouragement, anxiety and fear. The Lord your God will give you the courage you need to bring about your victory over any obstacle in your path

http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Lemons are great for cleaning piano keys, china, glass, baby bottles, porcelain, marble, and copper

54 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 FINALLY FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 25TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.

Joseph Addison

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Grasp every opportunity to offer encouragement to others

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

It's not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it's how we handle them.

 

HAPPY FRIDAY !!

Good News! I now have a window washer in my car that works ! They fixed it ! I also have a new brake light as the old one was burnt out. I didn’t even know it. The light that is up in the middle of the rear window that comes on when you brake doesn’t let you know when it goes. The ones by the turn signal light let you know, but not this one.

This work week went on for ever and I’m one happy lady now that it’s over. Work was so quiet Thursday that I didn’t even take one phone message. Hopefully, things will perk up soon. They always do and I know I should be appreciating these quiet days while I have them.

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.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

 

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…COOKIE LEGEND DAY

A woman asked to buy a cookie recipe at Neiman Marcus and was told it cost "two-fifty" She thought this meant $2.50. When she got her credit card bill, she found out it was $250.00. Outraged, she spread the recipe far and wide for sweet revenge. True story? Who knows - but it's a great chocolate chip cookie

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

 4 ounces milk chocolate, grated

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 2) Cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs one at a time and mix well after each. Add the vanilla and mix well. Measure oatmeal into a blender or food processor, and then blend to a fine powder. 3) In a separate bowl, mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. 4) Stir dry ingredients into creamed butter and sugar. 5) Add chocolate chips, grated chocolate and nuts. 6) Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6 - 8 minutes.

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA T

oday is National Kazoo Day. Or if you don't have a kazoo, a pocket comb and paper will do. Play something upbeat

Today is not National Compliment Day, that was yesterday. But if you forgot to compliment someone yesterday, it's okay to do it today.

1959: American Airlines opened the jet age in the U.S. with the first scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707.

1961: Walt Disney's animated movie "101 Dalmatians" was released throughout the U.S. A live version was released in 1996

TODAY’S LINK

The Gratitude Campaign — support the military http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Yesterday I met a stranger... Today this stranger is my friend. Had I not taken the time to say hello, or return a smile, or shake a hand, or listen, I would not have known this person.

Yesterday would have turned into today and our chance meeting would be gone.

Yesterday I hugged someone very dear to me. Today they are gone... and tomorrow will not bring them back.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all knew tomorrow would be here? But this is not to be, so take the time TODAY to give a hug, a smile, an "I love you"...

JUST FOR TODAY

...smile at a stranger

 ...listen to someone's heart

...drop a coin where a child can find it

...learn something new, then teach it to someone

...tell someone you're thinking of them

...hug a loved one

...don't hold a grudge

...don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry" .

..look at a child, and tell them how great they are

...don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him the way out

...look beyond the face of a person into their heart

...make a promise, and keep it

...call someone, for no reason, to just say "Hi"

...show kindness to an animal

...stand up for what you believe in

...smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind

...use all your senses to their fullest

...cherish all your TODAYS

Today you were thought about by me....

 

TODAY’S WORD

pleonasm \PLEE-uh-naz-uhm\, noun:

1. The use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; as, "I saw it with my own eyes." 2. An instance or example of pleonasm. 3. A superfluous word or expression.

Pleonasm is from Greek pleonasmos, from pleon, greater, more

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Jesus got into one of the boats,…that belonged to Peter, and asked him to push off a little from the land.

Luke 5:3

Jesus claims Peter’s boat. He doesn’t request the use of it. Christ doesn’t fill out an application or ask permission; he simply boards the boat and begins to preach.

He can do that, you know. All boats belong to Christ. Your boat is where you spend your day, make your living, and to a large degree live your life. The taxi you drive,…the dental office you manage, the family you feed and transport—this is your boat.

Christ shoulder-taps us and reminds: “You drive my truck.” “You work on my job site.” “You serve my hospital wing.” To us all, Jesus says, “Your work is my work.”

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Vol. 2

By Max Lucado

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Use a sponge dampened with vinegar to clean shower curtains

55 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 THURSDAY, JANUARY 24TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 24TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

Eric Hoffer

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Appreciate the joy in this life in even its simplest forms

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

The good times we put in our pocket. The hard times we put into our heart.

Les Brown

 

HAPPY THURSDAY !!

It’s another New Day to rise and shine ! I’ll be trying to make my own SUNSHINE for sure today! A warm up is supposed to head our way maybe the beginning of next week, but today will bring more cold and snow.

After work I’m stopping in at the car dealership as it seems my windshield washers have decided not to work right. We’ll see what the problem is and hopefully they can fix it right up for me.

As I’ll be heading down to the Stroll for Epilepsy on Saturday morning, I don’t want to take a chance that they won’t work right. The interstate can be tricky enough without being able to see where you are going.

 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…SQUARE DANCING DAY

The early roots of square dancing were brought to the US by English and French settlers. America's only unique contribution was a caller to keep everyone in step.

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Belly Laugh Day, a day to celebrate the great gift of laughter. At 1:24 p.m. (local time) smile, throw your arms in the air, and laugh out loud!

Today is National Compliment Day

1848: James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of '49

1908: The first Boy Scout troop was organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell

1922: Christian K. Nelson patented the Eskimo Pie

1957: Elvis Presley recorded "Teddy Bear."

 

TODAY’S LINK

Would you like to know what your salary in 1980 is equivalent to in today's dollars -- or any other comparison? Go to:

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

-- it's totally fascinating!

 

TODAY’S SMILE

The Lord gave us two ends to use; one to think with, the other to sit on. Which one we use will determine how well we do in life. In other words, heads you win, tails you lose

 

It's almost tax time again :-)

Rabbi Schwartz answers his phone. "Hello is this Rabbi Schwartz?"

 "It is"

"This is the IRS. Can you help us?"

"I can."

"Do you know a Sam Cohen?"

 "I do."

"Is he a member of your congregation?"

 "He is."

"Did he donate $10,000?"

 "He will."

 

TODAY’S WORD

effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\, adjective

 Excessively demonstrative; giving or involving extravagant or excessive emotional expression; gushing.

Effusive, at root meaning "pouring out," comes from Latin effusus, past participle of effundere, "to pour out," from ex-, "out" + fundere, "to pour

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4:26-27

One of the greatest dangers to a joyful life is allowing a passing emotion to become a fixture in your mind. It is difficult not to become angry when someone does something to you that is unfair. But when you allow that anger to fester over a period of time, it can become harmful.

It is the same way with envy, anxiety or fear. Most everyone experiences moments when these emotions pass through the mind, but it is our choice whether or not we allow them to remain there. One of the most important, yet most difficult of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is self-control.

Prayerful living keeps us close to the Lord and if we ask, he will help us control our emotions, so that we do not allow the emotions to control us. Look to the Lord for help in controlling your emotions. Before going to bed, go to him in prayer and he will melt the hate, envy, anxiety or fear in your heart, allowing you to rest easily

 http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Cold remedy: Add a clove to the lemon slice for your tea

 

56 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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23RD, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 23rd, 2008

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.

Theodore Roosevelt

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Face your challenges with determination and resiliency

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

 

The most aggravating thing about the younger generation is that I no longer belong to it.

Albert Einstein

 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY !!

We now are promised that an Alberta Clipper will come our way bringing more cold weather and more snow by evening. I think I’m beginning to sound like a broken record. Maybe it would be better if I choose something else to talk about.

I went for gas for the car yesterday and it was $3.05 a gallon. That’s not a good subject either. Let’s see …

Good News ! Everyone in my family is healthy and mostly happy as far as I know. That is a blessing. I’ve still got a job and that’s a good thing. The car is running great even in the cold weather…so you see there really are a few things to SMILE about.

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…COLD CREAM DAY

Is cold cream really cold? Yes, it is - because it's made with a lot of water. The water evaporates when you put it on your warm face, so... it gives you a cooling sensation. It was first made by Galen, a Greek physician living in Rome, in 157 A.D. His formula was one part wax melted into 3 parts olive oil to soften the skin. The formula has changed over the centuries, but cold cream has always been one of the simplest and safest cosmetics ever made.

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Pie Day

Today is National Handwriting Day

John Hancock, statesman and patriot, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1737. Although major sources state that John Hancock was born on January 12 of that year, others were so sure hisbirthday was on January 23 that it was designated as National Handwriting Day in his honor. Mr. Hancock, as the President of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777, was the first to put his signature on the Declaration of Independence

Today is Cold, Cold, Cold Day! The coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States was at Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska, in 1971: a record 79.8 degrees below zero Fahrenheit

1789 - Georgetown College was established as the first Catholic college in the United States. The school is in Washington, DC.

1907 - Charles Curtis of Kansas began serving in the United States Senate. He was the first American Indian to become a U.S. Senator. He resigned in March of 1929 to become President Herbert Hoover’s Vice President.

 

TODAY’S LINK

 A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER http://wandascountryhome.com/reminder/

 

TODAY’S SMILE

When I was in my younger days, I weighed a few pounds less,

I needn't hold my tummy in To wear a belted dress.

But now that I am older, I've set my body free;

There's comfort of elastic Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes My feet have not forgiven;

I have to wear a nine now, But used to wear a seven.

And how about those pantyhose - They're sized by weight, you see, So how come when I put them on, The crotch is at my knees?

I need to wear these glasses As the prints were getting smaller;

And it wasn't very long ago I know that I was taller.

Though my hair has turned to silver and my skin no longer fits,

On the inside, I'm the same old me, Just the outside's changed a bit

Author Unknown .

 

TODAY’S WORD

permeate \PUR-mee-ayt\, transitive verb:

1. To spread or diffuse through.

2. To pass through the pores or openings of.

intransitive verb:

1. To spread through or penetrate something.

Permeate is from Latin permeare, "to go through, to pass through," from per-, "through" + meare, "to go, to pass

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

Over and over, the Bible tells us that God is always with us. Today's scripture assures us that we can't get away from him. We are his children and he loves us. He is always with us. Yet we constantly doubt and often cry out, "Where are you, Lord? Have you forgotten me

When life is going well, it is wise to keep in close touch with God through Bible study, prayer and fellowship with other believers. These activities increase our awareness of God's presence. We learn lessons from our Savior's life; we talk with God daily and look for his guidance; we are inspired by the faith of others. Then when tough times hit us -- and they will -- we have the faith to know that God is near and we are filled with courage and hope.

 http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Diamonds are just little chunks of coal that stuck to their job

57 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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