FOR MONDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 31ST, 2008

TODAY'S THOUGHT

You can read all the manuals on prayer and listen to other people pray, but until you begin to pray yourself you will never understand prayer. It's like riding a bicycle or swimming: You learn by doing."

Evangelist Luis Palau

TODAY’S ACTION

If you want to grow closer in your relationship with God, talk to Him. Share your desires and needs and entrust them to Him. Then keep your eyes open and notice how He moves in your life to answer your prayers to His glory and for your best interests

TODAY’S QUOTE

Life is a roller coaster. You can either scream every time you hit a bump or you can throw your hands up in the air and enjoy it. Author Unknown

HAPPY MONDAY !!

It was a great quiet Sunday so once more I should be ready to start a new work week. I’ve got a busy day ahead as it is payroll day and the boss is back from his two-week vacation so I’m sure he’ll be around the office catching up too.

I think we may see some showers today but at this point that is better than snow.

 I saw DD at church yesterday and she is on vacation this week. She starts her new job next week and it’s good she has a week off in between.

DS#1 called to say they had a pretty quiet weekend and he’s looking forward to camping season. It will be just a few short weeks now and we should be able to spend the weekends at the campers.

If the weather is nice I know DD and her hubby want to be able to at least get their new camper down to the campground next weekend. I’ll be going along too so I’ll finally get to see the new campground and my campsite!

DS#5 and his wife were out of town for the weekend and they’ll be back to work after their spring break today as school starts again.

I didn’t get a spring break but I’m back to work too…

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…COLORING CRAYONS DAY

In 1903, Binney & Smith, Inc. put crayons on sale for the first time. Their brand name "Crayola" was made by putting the French word for chalk (craie) with "ola" (for oily). The first Crayola crayons came in a box of 8 and sold for 5 cents. Today, Binney & Smith produce about 7 million crayons every day in 120 colors. The average American child uses 730 crayons by his 10th birthday. It's no surprise that a study shows the smell of Crayola crayons is one of the twenty top scents recognized by adults in the U.S.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Buy Some New Socks Day. Go ahead, you’re worth it

Today is NationalClams on the Half Shell Day

The Eiffel Tower was named after its designer, architect, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel who built the structure for the Paris Exhibition of 1889. It was on this day in 1889 that the structure opened in Gay Paree

1943: The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" opened on Broadway.

1954: Leica introduced a revolutionary new 35-millimeter camera with dialed shutter speeds, interchangeable lenses, and a film-winding lever.

1985: "The Love Boat" celebrated its 200th TV episode by honoring its 1,000th guest star, Lana Turner.

TODAY’S SMILE

Ever tried to trace your family tree?

Even if you aren't into genealogy, these are fun.

Every family tree has some sap in it.

Friends come and go, but relatives tend to accumulate.

Genealogists never die, they just lose their roots.

Genealogy: A hay stack full of needles. It's the threads I need.

Genealogy: Collecting dead relatives and sometimes a live cousin!

Genealogy: Where you confuse the dead and irritate the living.

Heredity: Everyone believes in it until their children act like fools!

I think my family tree is a few branches short of full bloom.

My ancestors are hiding in a witness protection program.

My family tree is a few branches short!

Take nothing but ancestors, leave nothing but records.

Theory of relativity: Ifyou go back far enough, we're all related

TODAY’S WORD

 obsequious \ob-SEE-kwee-us\, adjective: Servilely attentive; compliant to excess; fawning Obsequious comes from Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium, "compliance," from obsequi, "to comply with," from ob-, "toward" + sequi, to follow.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7

I have heard it said, “It is amazing what can be accomplished when we don’t care who gets the credit.” This is certainly true of Christian service. Paul told the church at Corinth, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

Paul had learned that great lesson of the servant’s heart. It’s entirely about God.

What we do is accomplished by

His power and grace, and all the glory must go to Him.

God often uses lowly things His purpose to fulfill,

Because it takes a humble heart

To carry out His will. —D. De Haan

Our Daily Bread http://www.rbc.org

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Check birdhouses for damage and give them a spring cleaning before tenants arrive for the season

81 DAYS TIL SUMMER !

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 SUNDAY, MARCH 30TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 30TH, 2008

 

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person.

C. Neil Strait

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Remember that remarkable achievements begin as thoughts

TODAY’S QUOTE

We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors . . . but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

Author Unknown

 

HAPPY SUNDAY !!

Today is my R & R day once again and I’m thankful for it for sure. Yesterday I really got a lot done so today is down time for me. There are few towels to fold left in the dryer from yesterday, but that will be the extent of my work today.

As always I’m off to church a little later this morning and then I think I must dosome shopping as the cupboards are bare and I’ve eaten all my Easter left overs.

Yesterday I made do with some cereal and a turkey sandwich…maybe today I’ll actually cook something for the week ahead. 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.

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…FROZEN FOOD DAY People have been freezing food in artic regions since pre-historic times - and weren't they smart! We now know that freezing is safer than any other form of food preservation since bacteria can't grow on frozen food. This industry grew rapidly during the 20th century because it saved people time (and storage space) in their kitchens. An added benefit is that frozen food loses less flavor and vitamins than other methods during processing

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Check For Change in Every Coin Return You Pass Day

Today is National Badminton Day

Today is National Hot Dog Day

Today is Take A Walk in the Park Day

At the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) in 2000, Pope John Paul II designated the Second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. The Polish nun began the spiritual movement of Divine Mercy. The essence of St. Faustina's mission was to proclaim God's mercy toward every human being

Holy Humor Month begins today, to recognize the healing power of Christian joy, humor, and celebration, and to celebrate today as Holy Humor Sunday, the Sunday after Easter

1858 - Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania patented the writing device we call the pencil. Yes, it did have an attached eraser as well

1867 - Alaska was purchased from Russia for two-cents an acre

1964 - “This ... is ... ‘Jeopardy’!” One of television’s best known game shows, Jeopardy, developed by Merv Griffin, aired on NBC-TV for the first time on this day

 1974: John Denver reached the top of the music charts with, "Sunshine on My Shoulders," his first number one song. 1993: In "Peanuts," Charlie Brown hit his first home run

TODAY’S SMILE

What Dogs Do for Us

Catch Frisbees

Keep a night alone from being truly lonely

 Get us outside on beautiful fall days, rainy days and snowy winter days

Listen to our singing

Treat us like celebrities when we come home

Warm up our beds on cold nights

 Make our hearts more vigorous

Alert us to the arrival of mail

Help us live a little longer

Make us smile

Agree with everything we say

Warm our knees with their chins

Provide a use for old tennis balls

Signal when a thunderstorm is coming

Pull sleds Help lower our blood pressure

Test how fast we can run

Keep the squirrels from overtaking our yards

Teach us the meaning of unconditional love.

 Published in Ann Landers Newspaper column

TODAY’S WORD

excrescence \ik-SKRESS-uhn(t)s\, noun:

1. Something (especially something abnormal) growing out from something else. 2.

A disfiguring or unwanted mark, part, or addition

 Excrescence is from Latin excrescentia, "excrescences," from excrescere, "to grow out," from ex-, "out" + crescere, to grow

TODAY’S REFLECTION

The LORD loves you.

 Deuteronomy 7:8

God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so. He loves you when you don’t feel lovely. He loves you when no one else loves you. Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you.

Always.

No matter what.

This is his sentiment: “I’ll call the nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved” (Rom. 9:25 MSG).

This is his promise: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jer. 31:3 NLT).

Do you know what else that means? You have a deep aquifer of love from which to draw. When you find it hard to love, then you need a drink!

Drink deeply! Drink daily!

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2

By Max Lucado

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Snow in March is bad for fruit and grapevine

82 DAYS TIL SUMMER !

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

Graphics by: www.cutecolors.com

 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_17

FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 28TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Aesop

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Concentrate on your talents and use them to help someone

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

Remember... Worry never robs tomorrow of sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.

Leo Buscaglia

 

HAPPY FRIDAY !!

Finally the end of the week has come and the end of my boss’ two week vacation too. The office is pretty well cleaned up, but I know it won’t stay that way. When our guys come in the office they are very often bringing a load of dirt along with them. It’s a constant battle and one that I loose most of the time

Tomorrow I’ll be taking the ‘silver streak’ in for 60,000 mile maintenance at the car dealer ship. She’s covered under a warranty til she reaches 75,000 so I always make sure to take her in when the reminder comes in the mail. I’ve an early 8:30 appointment so that I can get it over and still have most of the day to do some things around here.

This is the last weekend in March so hopefully nicer weather will soon be here.

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…GARDEN SEED DAY

Mistress Mary, quite contrary. How does your garden grow?

 Fine for a nursery rhyme, but gardening is lots of fun. Just get a spade, a pair of gloves and a good hat. Check out your growing zone. Decide what to plant, where to plant it and when. There won't be a single contrary gardener in sight.

Hot Tip: Easy seeds to grow.... Cosmos!

LINK TO BURBEE SEEDS http://www.burpee.com/home.do

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Black Forest Cake Day

Today is Weed Appreciation Day. Find a weed you think you could like. Think of it as a wildflower and see if that helps

Today is Hot Tub Day

1797 Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patents a washing machine

1881: P.T. Barnum and James Bailey merged their circuses to form "The Greatest Show on Earth."

 

TODAY’S SMILE

The Easter Parade There was to be an Easter parade in their town and the two young boys were working hard on their small float for the parade in the basement of their church.

They decorated their small wagon and placed a wooden cross right in the center of it. They put flowers on and around the cross and draped it with purple strips of cloth.

The pastor happened to stop by the the room. He looked at the boys' float and said, "I am sorry boys, but you have it all wrong. The cross was not beautiful like you have made it. It was rugged, hard, and ugly. You will have to change your float."

The boys stood silent for a moment. Then one of the boys looked up to His pastor and responded, "But pastor, I thought that Jesus never touched anything and left it the same!?"

 

TODAY’S LINK

A NEW DAY http://www.my-tgif.com/anewday.htm

 

TODAY’S WORD

acrid \AK-rid\, adjective: 1. Sharp and harsh, or bitter to the taste or smell; pungent. 2. Caustic in language or tone; bitter Acrid comes from Latin acer, sharp

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

That night they caught nothing

John 21:1-14

After human beings have suffered some kind of trauma or loss and then try to resume their routine, often they find that things simply don’t go right. If we have not given ourselves sufficient time to heal spiritually, psychically or physically, to adjust to the new reality, we can come unstuck.

Perhaps this explains why the disciples were out in their boats and why these once successful fishermen caught nothing. They had abandoned their leader to be brutally executed and then witnessed him appear to them offering peace and the Holy Spirit. They had much to deal with.

And so the risen Jesus comes: calling them children, offering gentle advice, and cooking breakfast for them. The disciples are experiencing healing: they know it is the Lord. May we experience the healing touch of the risen Jesus this Easter season

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

I leave this rule for others when I'm dead: Be always sure you're right, then go ahead.

Davy Crockett

84 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !

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, MARCH 27TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 27TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Into each life some tears must fall,

Our hearts may sometimes break,

And sorrows come to one and all,

 For all must give and take.

But God never leaves us hopeless;

He listens to each prayer,

And when we're filled with peacefulness,

An Angel has been there.

Clay Harrison

 

TODAY’S ACTION

 Find your heart today. Sit quietly with your heart.

No matter what it's shape, welcome your heart.

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

If you do your best, don't mind the rest.

Irish Proverb

 

HAPPY THURSDAY !!

And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO DS#4 AND HIS WIFE TODAY May the dear Lord bless you today and always !

We had a pleasant surprise yesterday in the form of sunshine. It managed to get up to 48 degrees too ! I came home from work and found my next door sister on the patio reading her book…of course I joined her. It felt good to sit in the sunshine, at least for a little while.

Cooler temps and rain will be back today. The weather man said north of the turnpike we could even see snow…well, at home I’m south of it and at work I’m north of it… 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.

 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…CHERRY BLOSSOM DAY

On March 27, 1912, 1st Lady Taft planted a cherry tree on the bank of the Tidal Basin. This was the beginning of Wahington D.C.'s famous Cherry Blossom Festival. 3,020 trees were planted over the next 7 years - grafted from trees on the bank of the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward (a suburb of Tokyo). This gift from Japan has come to symbolize the U.S. capital. Thousands of visitors travel there each spring to see them in bloom.

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Education and Sharing Day, by presidential proclamation

Today is Kite Flying Day, a great day for families to go fly a kite

1512: Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted Florida

1945: Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys recorded "It’s Only a Paper Moon." Ella had previously recorded the song in 1938

1952: "Singing in the Rain" premiered at New York's Radio City Music Hall. It starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor and Jean Hagen

1972: The comic strip "Funky Winkerbean" debuted in newspapers. Creator Tom Batiuk was from Medina, Ohio

 

TODAY’S SMILE

On Taxes… Albert Einstein once admitted that figuring out his U.S. income tax was beyond him - he had to go to a tax consultant. "This is too difficult for a mathematician," said Einstein. "It takes a philosopher."

There is always death and taxes; however death doesn't get worse every year.

A Dutchman was explaining the red, white, and blue Netherlands flag to an American. "Our flag is symbolic of our taxes. We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bills, and blue after we pay them." The American nodded. "It's the same in the USA only we see stars, too!"

 

TODAY’S WORD

misnomer \mis-NO-muhr\, noun:

1. The misnaming of a person in a legal instrument, as in a complaint or indictment.

 2. Any misnaming of a personor thing; also, a wrong or inapplicable name or designation.

Misnomer is from Medieval French mesnommer, "to misname," from mes-, "wrongly" + nommer, "to name," from Latin nominare, "to name," from nomen, a name

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Now is the acceptable time

2 Cor 6:2

How often we hear about keeping our feet in the here and now. There are so many options and possibilities out there today that it’s easy to think a lot about the future and what we could be doing. It is much more difficult concentrating on what is just before us. A quick glance at any section of our scripture readings will point to God being present in the here and now.

Our lives do not exist in yesterday or in tomorrow. Now is the only time God gives us for doing anything. Now may not always be the right moment, it may not always be the easiest but it’s all we can work with. Easter is all about maximizing the potential of the here and now. We ask God’s help this Easter in making the most of everything that has been given to us, especially all that has been given to us today

 http://www.todayismygifttoyou.ie

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

If a bluebird flies into your house, it brings wealth with it

85 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER!

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, MARCH 26TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 26TH, 2008

TODAY'S THOUGHT

When we believe in each other, we act as angels, giving our confidence and the power of our faith. It is no small thing to look into another's eyes, straight and true, and to say with sincerity, "I believe in you."

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Bring home a hug

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

How beautiful a day can be

When kindness touches it!

George Elliston

 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY !!

 OVER THE HUMP DAY!

Yesterday when I got home from work I noticed our Pussy Willow tree had buds on it…Little fuzzy nobs are all over the tree branches. That is a sure sign that Spring is really coming our way.

Our daffodils along the sunny side of the house and where the snow has melted have some buds coming on them too. That is encouraging for sure. They must be extremely hardy as they’ve been covered in snow a few times since they started coming up.

In the front of the house we still have snow mounds so it will be a long while before we see any signs of spring there. It did get up to 45 and lots of that white stuff did melt yesterday. Maybe today we’ll see the piles go down a few more inches.

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…BE A MIME DAY!

Celebrating Marcel Marceau’s birthday which was actually March 22nd, 1923

Mime is a Greek word that means "imitation of life". In the early days of theater, a mime did whatever was needed - sang, danced, juggled, held a branch. But as performers started to specialize, the art of mime was lost. It was revived in 1947 by Marcel Marceau and his silent character BIP.

People now relate this style of portraying a character only with body movements as mime.

 "Bip" the clown, who in his striped pullover and battered, be flowered silk opera hat — signifying the fragility of life — had become his alter ego, even as Chaplin's "Little Tramp" became that star's major personality. Bip's misadventures with everything from butterflies to lions, on ships and trains, in dance-halls or restaurants, were limitless.

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Baltimore Oriole Appreciation Day, focusing attention on one of nature's most beautiful bird

Today is National Nougat Day

 1951 - The U.S. Air Force flag was approved on this day. The flag included the coat of arms, 13 white stars and the Air Force seal on a blue background

1953 - Dr. Jonas Salk announced a new vaccine -- to prevent poliomyelitis

1968: The TV movie "Marcus Welby: M.D." drew such a large audience it would return in the fall and become a long-running series, starring Robert Young, James Brolin, and Elena Verdugo

 

TODAY’S SMILE

Words of Wisdom By Fred Rogers, TV's Mr. Rogers

From a Speech at Marquette University - May 20, 2001

 

Early in the morning of every work day, before I even get to my office, I see someone who influences me greatly. This person has a job which many people might consider unglamorous and tediously mundane. He's the locker room attendant in Pittsburgh where I swim each day. His name is Jeff.

We recently celebrated Jeff's 25th anniversary working at the pool - 25 years cleaning sinks and sorting towels and caring about everybody. For his anniversary, some of us regulars got him a cake and a book about New York because Jeff loves New York. "Honk, honk, honk," he says when he talks about it, and he loves to watch the "Today Show" with people lined up on the streets around Rockefeller Plaza.

Well, a few weeks ago, I told Jeff about writing this commencement speech, and I asked him what he thought I should say. "Tell them to be glad of who they are. They might get to be president or a teacher or a doctor or just themselves whoever they are. Everybody can do something." And he went right back to scrubbing the showers.

"Blessed are the pure in heart . . .," to appreciate our life - and do what we can so others might appreciate theirs.

 

TODAY’S WORD

repine \rih-PINE\, intransitive verb:

1. To feel or express discontent.

2. To long for something.

Repine is re- (from the Latin) + pine, from Old English pinian, "to torment," ultimately from Latin poena, penalty, punishment

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.

2 Corinthians 12:9

What is grace? It’s what someone gives us out of the goodness of his heart, not out of the perfection of ours. The story of grace is the good news that says that when we come, he gives. That’s what grace is…

Grace is something you did not expect. It is something you certainly could never earn. But grace is something you’d never turn down. You know what happens when someone sees the grace of God? When someone really tastes the forgiving and liberating grace of God?

Some one who tastes God’s grace is the hardest worker, the most morally pure individual, and the person most willing to forgive.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2

By Max Lucado

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Cut pussy willows now for indoor blooms

86 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER!

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 TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 25TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

There is no greater invitation to love than loving first.

St. Augustine

 

TODAY’S ACTION

Allow yourself to be loved and to love all that you meet

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

If Easter is about the cross why all the chocolate eggs? Because no matter how broken or hard boiled you are, once you taste the true meaning of the cross, life is a whole lot sweeter'

Intercom magazine

 

HAPPY TUESDAY !!

A little wintry mix will be starting our day and then rain they say. The good thing is that it will be a little warmer. I got a lot done at work yesterday, but by the time I got home I was very tired and managed to get to bed early. I guess I was still catching up on the sleep I didn’t get Saturday night.

It is not completely dark here til 8:30 now and that helps. At least I don’t feel like going to bed at 6:30 any longer. I got a real treat as DD and DSIL stopped by Monday evening with some beans and rice and meat pies that he makes so I’ll be having that for lunch today. I’m not sure if they are Puerto Rican or Mexican but they sure are good.

I also heard from DS#6 and they managed to remove the wallpaper in their dining room and were on their way to look at paint. They are having a work at home vacation this week.

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.

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…PECAN DAY

Commemorating this date in 1775 when George Washington planted pecan trees at Mount Vernon. A gift from Thomas Jefferson, some of the trees still survive today

Happy Pecan Day !

Why don’t you go pecan someone your own size?

:)

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Diabetes Alert Day, a day to realize the risks of diabetes

Today is National Lobster Newburg Day

Today is Old New Year's Day, the beginning of the new year in Britain and the U.S. Colonies until 1751, when both adopted the Gregorian Calendar and the new year began on January 1st

1634: English colonists sent by Lord Baltimore founded Maryland.

1954 - Radio Corporation of America (RCA) began commercial production of TV sets that were equipped to receive programs in living color. To buy one of those huge sets, television buyers spent $1,000 -- and more

 TODAY’S SMILE

This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.

He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said no and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.

George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again. "Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."

Then he hung up. Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!" George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

 

TODAY’S WORD

plethora \PLETH-uh-ruh\, noun:

1. An abnormal bodily condition characterized by an excessive amount of blood in the system.

2. Excess; superabundance.

Plethora comes from the Greek plethora, "a fullness," from plethein, to be full

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised.”

Matthew 28:5-6a

Every time that we hear that there is an angel in a scripture verse, we can be guaranteed of one thing: fear will ensue. This was certainly the case for the women who went to the tomb of Jesus on that first Easter morning. They were afraid, not only of being in the presence of something not quite human but also at where the body of their friend, family member, and master could possibly be.

The ground they were standing upon must have felt no more secure than a rapidly evaporating sand. And yet it is with this backdrop that we hear those familiar angelic words, "Do not be afraid".

Fear is one of those emotions that will drive us to think, do, and say things that, in our right mind, we never would… I hope that, as you hear the words of that angelic messenger, that you might be able to understand that God's messengers are not just of the angelic variety.

In fact, God is speaking through people like your spouse, your family, your friends, and co-workers. Each one of these voices is imploring us to know that we should not be afraid; that we can rest secure in the knowledge that in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have become heirs of the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.

…please remember that you are not alone, and that in God, there is nothing that should cause you fear, for even the bondage of death has been broken.

http://www.ourprayer.org

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

To avoid bad luck, never carry a hoe into your house

87 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !

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 MONDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 24TH, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.

Rose Kennedy

TODAY’S ACTION

Make the most out of today

TODAY’S QUOTE

Where man sees but withered leaves,

God sees sweet flowers growing.

Albert Laighton

HAPPY MONDAY !!

I took a look, as I always do, at the long range forecast for the week ahead and it looks like we’ll be having snow and rain and somewhere in between all week long.

The only sunshine I saw in the line up was this coming Saturday. It will truly be a week of making my own sunshine for sure ! Our attitude makes a lot of difference in the way we feel some times so I’m going to try and enjoy this last week of work before my boss come back to work. The days will be long ones once again, but the overtime is nice.

I managed to put in 6 hours last week and will probably do about the same this week. The week ahead looks to be a pretty quiet one…nothing is planned after work this week…just coming home and trying to do a few things around home that didn’t get done the past 2 weekends.

I did talk with DS#2 and #4 last evening and both are doing well and DS#4 is once again traveling for work this coming week and the week after too. I’ll be praying for safe travels for him and all those traveling for that matter. May the dear Lord bless your coming and going for evermore.

DD and her hubby had a good Easter celebration with his folks, I talked to her when I got home and DS#6 and his wife spent the weekend with her folks. I didn’t see him, but He did come by my house while I was gone and put up a new curtain rod in the spare bedroom for me and I appreciated that very much.

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter Weekend!

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…HARRY HOUDINI DAY

Houdini is the most famous magician in history. He was born Erik Weisz on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary - and 4 years old when his family emigrated to America. His worldwide fame came from making amazing escapes. Early routines included getting out of straitjackets and handcuffs. He eventually performed an act where he was shackled with irons, placed in a box that was locked, roped, and weighted - and then submerged under water. Abracadabra!

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is See If You Can Remember How to Play Parcheesi Day

Today Easter Monday, a holiday in many places, including North Carolina

Today is St. Gabriel’s Day, the feast day of Gabriel the Archangel. Gabriel appeared with a message from God to Daniel, Zacharias, and the teenager, Mary. Some believe Gabriel will announce the Second Coming of Christ

Today is National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

Egg Salad Week begins today, always the week after Easter

1820: Frances Crosby was born in Putnam County, New York. Blinded by illness at age six weeks, "Fannie" grew up to teach English and history for 35 years and to write 9,000 poems and songs. Some of her biggest hits included "To God Be the Glory," "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior," "Jesus Is Tenderly Calling," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," "Rescue the Perishing," "Blessed Assurance," "I Am Thine, O Lord," and Tell Me the Story of Jesus

1882 - Professor Robert Koch announced the discovery of the tuberculosis germ -- in Berlin, Germany

1898: Alexander Winton sold his first automobile, built in Cleveland, to mining engineer Robert Allison for $1,000. It was the first car built and sold in the U.S.

1958 - Elvis Presley reported to local draft board 86 in Memphis, TN. He became US 53310761. Oddly, since Elvis was now ‘government property’ serving his time in the Army, Uncle Sam stood to lose an estimated $500,000 in lost taxes each year that Private Presley was in the Army.

 

TODAY’S SMILE

A friend of mine recently received a gift from a neighborly farmer... in the form of a pet pig! They were quite thrilled, and decided to name their new pet Peggy. They didn't waste any time spoiling their new pet, and they taught it several tricks. A few weeks after they received Peggy, my friends had to go on vacation.

They made arrangements with the farmer to keep her while they were gone, and thus they left her happily playing with the farmer's other piglets. However, when they returned, they discovered a slight problem: all the piglets looked alike! They couldn't tell which piglet was Peggy, and they began to despair. Then my friend got an idea: "Sit!" he yelled, and one little pig sat down.

Are the individuals that surround your life able to identify you as a child and disciple (follower) of God?

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. -John 13:34

From the archives of a Good Clean Joke of the Day

 

TODAY’S WORD

Elysium \ih-LIH-zee-uhm; ih-LIH-zhee-uhm;\, noun:

1. A dwelling place assigned to happy souls after death; the seat of future happiness; Paradise.

2. Hence, any place or condition of ideal bliss or complete happiness

Elysium comes from Latin Elysium, from Greek Elysion, short for Elysion pedion, "Elysian fields," the ancient Greek heaven. The name of the famous avenue in Paris, the Champs-Élysées, means Elysian Fields

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen.

Romans 1:20

The apostle Paul said that God has sovereignly planted evidence of His existence in the very nature of man. And creation delivers an unmistakable message about His creativity, beauty, power, and character.

Although God has revealed His majesty, many refuse to acknowledge and thank Him. But God will hold everyone responsible for ignoring who He is and what He has revealed: “They are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful” (Rom. 1:20-21).

All creation is an outstretched finger pointing toward God

Our Daily Bread http://www.rbc.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Wear a sprig of rosemary in your hair to improve your memory

88 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !

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 FRIDAY, MARCH 21ST., 2008

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MARCH 21ST, 2008

 

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future; but faith is having the courage to dance to it today!

Author Unknown

 

TODAY’S ACTION

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

Charles Dickens

 

TODAY’S QUOTE

Indoors or out, no one relaxes in March, that month of wind and taxes, the wind will presently disappear, the taxes last us all the year.

Ogden Nash

 

HAPPY FRIDAY !!

For many many years Good Friday was a Spring Break day for my family. It was a day that we all had off from school and from work. So my family would pack a lunch or plan to get take out some place and off we’d go. Sometimes we’d go to the Zoo or one of the parks and spend the day hiking around. All in all it was always a ‘good’ Friday.

I had kept up the habit of taking a vacation day on Good Friday until the last 2 years and now my boss has decided to take vacation at that time so there is no more Spring Break days or me. My first vacation day will come in April when hopefully we can get our campers opened up for the season.

I really do have 3 weeks of vacation time it is just that I have to spread it all out over the year taking some long weeks here and there. That is life in a one gal office. T

he weatherman says we are under a WINTER STORM WATCH starting this afternoon through Saturday morning. We’ll just have to wait and see which way the wind blows as to how much more snow we’ll be having.

I plan to leave for DS#’s house Saturday morning; however it may not happen til afternoon.

TAKE GOOD CARE ALL !

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

 

TODAY’S PRAYERS

I have received two prayer requests from a dear friend. Her daughter’s friend is currently undergoing chemo and is having a really hard time. Please join me in praying for her. Also the same daughter is going though some rough times right now as her husband is deployed over seas and it is not an easy life for sure. I will be praying for them both that the dear Lord aids and comforts them in their time of great need.

I always pray… Thy Will Be Done Lord !

And as always….

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…GOOD FRIDAY

The title for this day varies in different parts of the world: "Holy Friday" for Latin nations, Slavs and Hungarians call it "Great Friday," in Germany it is "Friday of Mourning," and in Norway, it is "Long Friday." Some view the term "Good Friday" (used in English and Dutch) as a corruption of the term "God's Friday."

This is another obligatory day of fasting and abstinence. In Ireland, they practice the "black fast," which is to consume nothing but black tea and water. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the rigid austerities of the Lenten fast had been greatly relaxed

Hot Cross Buns. The familiar hot cross buns are sweet rolls with the sign of the cross cut into it, and they are one of several traditional European breads marked with a cross for Good Friday. According to tradition, these buns originated at St Alban's Abbey in 1361, where the monks gave them to the poor people who came there. (You may have your own recipe for sweet-rolls to which you can add currants or raisins before shaping and cut a cross in the top before baking; or you can buy them.) These Good Friday buns were very popular, and were sold by vendors who cried, Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, give 'em to your sons! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns!

EASY HOT CROSS BUNS

4 cups biscuit mix (like Bisquick®)

1/2 cup seedless raisins

1/2 cup diced candied citron

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup milk (approximately)

3 Tablespoons heavy cream

2 Tablespoons sugar

Confectioners' Sugar Icing

Combine biscuit mix, raisins, citron, cinnamon, and sugar. Add enough milk to make a soft dough, mixing with fork. Knead several minutes, until dough is elastic. Form into balls and place close together on greased baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from oven. Whip cream with fork; add remaining sugar. Brush over tops of biscuits. Run under broiler to glaze. If desired, cool buns, then decorate with crosses of Confectioners' Sugar Icing

Good Friday was thought to be a good day for planting seeds (a reference to the Gospel about the seeds which must be planted in the ground to bear fruit as a metaphor for Christ's necessary death and His burial on this day) so if the weather permits, this could be a worthwhile activity

In the symbol of the Cross we can see the magnitude of the human tragedy, the ravages of original sin, and the infinite love of God. Lent is a particularly appropriate time to attempt to penetrate the true meaning of this sacred image represents through prayerful contemplation; and to study the traditions surrounding the Christian symbol of the Cross.

Looking at the Cross in prayer helps us to truly see it. Most Christians have crosses in their homes. Many wear a cross around their necks. Some of these are very beautiful, perhaps made of precious metal and embellished with jewels. The beauty of these devotional objects may emphasize the glory and the victory of Our Lord's Cross

 

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Fragrance Day and Flower Day, always the first full day of spring.

Today is Good Friday (God's Friday), commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus, the oldest Christian celebration

Today is National Common Courtesy Day

Today is National French Bread Day

Today is National Memory Day

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, sponsored by the UN

1747: During a violent storm at sea, 22-year-old English slave ship captain John Newton dramatically became a Christian. He abandoned the slave trade and became an Anglican minister for 43 years. He composed the song Amazing Grace

1790: Thomas Jefferson reported to President Washington in New York as the new secretary of state

1939: Singer Kate Smith recorded God Bless America

 

TODAY’S SMILE

I received this in an e-mail from one of my nieces the other day and thought it was worth sharing with you all.

A member of a certain church who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, let him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.

After some minuetes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.

As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the iniatial greeting.

The preacher glaced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

 

TODAY’S WORD

acerbic \uh-SUR-bik\, adjective:

Sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone

Acerbic comes from Latin acerbus, bitter, sour, severe, harsh

 

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.

Luke 22:8

God gives hope to each of us, and we are reminded of this hope each time Protestants celebrate Communion, or Catholics celebrate the Eucharist or Jews celebrate the Seder. Jesus had a special message for his disciples, as they celebrated this Last Supper together •

He warned them that he must suffer in the days ahead (Luke 22:15).

• He gave his disciples symbols — the bread and the cup — of his sacrifice for all of us (Luke 22:17-19).

• He gave his disciples hope for a glorious future in his kingdom (Luke 22:29-30). "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

That is the message Jesus would convey to each of us, each time we celebrate The Last Supper

The Last Supper is a constant reminder of the blessed gift of grace given to us by God

Guideposts http://www.ourprayer.org

 

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

It is good luck to break a dish on Good Friday

91 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !

March 21st – FULL WORM MOON

As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter

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