UPON THE WINGS OF EAGLES

Upon the wings of eagles, build your every dream....

Don't back down if they appear and sound, to be a bit extreme....

Focus all your energy in a good and positive space....

And you'll be ready for anything that will meet you face to face....

Some will always tell you, you can't do this or that....

But the ones who tell you things like this,

Will stay exactly where they are at....

So build your dreams, they're yours to build,

And open up your skies...

And when they start to be fulfilled is when you'll realize....

You're the only one who'll hold you back;

Your attitude will make or break you...

So if upon this life you feel, you want to make your mark,

Go for it friends, cause you hold the light,

That will guide you through the dark.

The above poem was provided courtesy of the Purple Heart Service Foundation. My grandson Kort, received two Purple Hearts, along with the Bronze Star and Medal of Valor for his two tours of duty in Iraq. 'Lest we forget....

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2010 !!!

10 RULES FOR BEING HUMAN

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's your to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called "life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately work.
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. There is not better place than here. When your there has become a here, you will simply obtain another there that will look better than here.
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all of this !!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

There is something in the very season of the year that gives a charm to the festivity.

Our thoughts are more concentrated; your friendly sympathies more aroused.

We feel more sensibly the charm of each other's society, and are brought more closely by dependence on each other for enjoyment.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING. AND PLEASE BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE BOUNTIES WE ENJOY AS A NATION.

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR MILITARY STATIONED SO FAR FROM THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES. THEY ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

A POSITIVE THOUGHT

I am posting the final positive thought today, because tomorrow we will be out of town. We are going to our daughter's house to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with her family. I hope who ever saw these cute posts enjoyed them as much as I did. To me, they all send a message of how to treat one another in a world that sometimes forgets we are all struggling in our daily lives, just with different issues. Let him who is without fault, cast the first stone.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He could live anywhere in this universe, and He chose your heart.

What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary.

FACE IT, HE'S CRAZY ABOUT YOU !!!

7. LIFT UP !!!

your prayers........'Do not worry about anything;

instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.'

Philippians 4:6

6. REACH UP !!!

For something higher. 'Trust in the Lord with

all your heart, and lean not unto your own

understanding.

In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He

will direct your path.'

Proverbs 3:5-6

God answers Knee-Mail !!

5. LOOK UP !!

to the Lord. 'I can do everything

through Christ who strengthens me'.

Philippians 4:13

GOD ANSWERS KNEE-MAIL !!!

4. STAND UP .....

for what you believe in. Stand for something or you
will fall for anything.

'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper
time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good.'

Galatians 6:9-10

GOD ANSWERS KNEE -MAIL !!!

3. SHUT UP !!

Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.

'He who guards his lips guards his soul.'

Proverbs 13:3

God answers Knee-Mail

2. DRESS UP !!!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'

I Samuel 16:7

GOD ANSWERS KNEE-MAIL !!!!

THE SEVEN UPS !!!

For the next week, I will be posting the Seven Ups !! They are meant to be uplifting and send a positive message.

1. WAKE UP !

Decide to have a good day. 'This is the day he Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

GOD ANSWERS KNEE-MAIL

STRENGTH

Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

Inaction breeds doubt and fear.

Action breeds confidence and courage.

If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it.

Go out and get busy.

NOVEMBER

November is a lonely waif

With wistful wide-eyed ways,

Subdued by the flamboyance of

The bright October days.

And feeling very small before

December's sparkling glance.

Never mind, November, twirl

Your tattered skirts and dance,

Dance a bittersweet ballet

With the leaves that fly away!

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then 4 minutes later, the violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 6 minutes later a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes later a 3-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but his mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. After 1 hour, he finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

And now for the rest of the story....

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars (no doubt a Stradivarius). Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. The question raised: "In a common place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

This story made me stop and think. How many times in our daily lives do we see someone and judge them. This is the way it is with mental illness. People really don't take the time to look at the person, but judge them by their appearances. People with mental illnesses (and their families) face challenges every day. Many times they are shunned by society. From experience, I can tell you first hand, that people with mental illnesses are kind, talented, and giving. They are simply folks that have been dealt a different card in life. The stigma surrounding mental illness can be overwhelming. Even some mental health providers don't understand the dynamics of the person suffering and their family members. How many fine musicians are out there...how many artists....how many potential doctors, had mental illness not struck? Many times family members of a person suffering from mental illness, have to be content to simply hear the small sounds, the small gifts, the small contributions that somone with mental illness has to offer. It is a very lonely walk.........

THE CLOTHES LINE

A clothesline was a news forecast to neighbors passing by,

There were no secrets you could keep, when clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link for neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by to spend a night or two.

For they you'd see the "fancy sheets" and towels upon the line;

You'd see the "company table cloths" with intricate designs.

The line announced a baby's birth from folks who lived inside-

As brand new infants clothes were hung, so carefully with pride!

The ages of the children could so readily be known

By watching how the sizes changed, you'd know how much they'd grown!

It also told when illness struck, as extra sheets were hung;

Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe too, haphazardly were strung.

It also said, "Gone on vacation now" when lines hung limp and bare,

It told, "we're back" when full lines sagged with not an inch to spare!

New folks in town were scorned upon if wash was dingy and gray,

As neighbors carefully raised their brows, and looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past, for dryers make work much less.

Now what goes on inside a home, is anybody's guess!

I really miss that way of life, it was a friendly sign.

When neighbors knew each other best, by what hung on the line.

HAVE I DONE ANY GOOD?

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad, and made someone glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone's burden been lighter today,

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they reached for my hand, was I there?

There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying "sometime I'll try",

But go and do something today.

"Tis noble of man to work and to give;

Love's labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something, helps others to live.

To God each good work will be known.

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of a mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

Yesterday Ned and I went to the funeral services for a friend, and we sang this song. It made me think of the people with mental health issues, who are struggling every day to just survive. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) http://www.nami.org/ is there to help. I feel it is my duty to help the best I can. I always say "for the grace of God, go I."

OCTOBER

Where are you going, my children?

Down autumn's leaf-strewn lanes.

To find Jack Frost who tiptoed by

And touched our window panes.

I see storm windows that must be hung,

You see frost tracings in early sun.

I see the leaves to be raked in a mound.

You see tumbling mats on the ground.

Where are you going my children?

Just down the road a way

To see the tree where the hoot owl sits

And a field where rabbits play.

I see small boots to be marked and mated,

You see a world newly decorated.

Oh, let me come with you down that lane,

And see October as a child again.

The trees in this picture are in our front yard. The trees are right outside our kitchen window. When we eat meals, we are able to partake of their beauty. Every fall, the leaves turn the most beautiful colors for us to enjoy. Fall is my favorite time of year....there is peace in the air....and a sense of anticipation of the fun holidays ahead. Oh! to be a child again..but the older I get, the more I realize that the secret to real happiness is to keep the child in your heart no matter how old you are.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Whoever is open, loyal, true; of humane and affable demeanour; honourable himself, and in his judgement of others; faithful to his word as to law, and faithful alike to God and man...such a man is a true gentleman.

I have a plaque hanging in our family room which says:

INTEGRITY is doing what is right even when the only one who will know is God.

TRUST ~ TRUTH

I was browsing through the dictionary and came upon these two words Trust and Truth. They are right together in the dictionary....so they must complement each other. I wonder sometimes if society today understands that trust and truth are so important. I also wonder why is it some people can get by with not telling the truth. Don't they understand they are hurting people. If someone does not want to do something, then have enough integrity to say so, but don't kill the messenger !!!

The dictionary says TRUST is the firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.

The dictionary says TRUTH is consistently telling the truth, being honest.

I have been reading the book by Sheri Dew 'Telling It Like It Is. ' A writing in her book made me think:

"Every relationship-husband and wife-parent and child-best friends-colleagues-is dependent on trust. It is not possible to have a relationship with someone you cannot trust. The only thing you can have with someone you can't trust is a strategy."

• Why do we have to develop a strategy?
• Why do we have to always feel like we need to watch our backs?
• Why do we have to feel distrust in our daily dealings?
• Why do we always have to be on guard?

My parents always taught us kids that our word was our bond, and that when you say will do something, carry through. These are the childhood lessons that have guided my footsteps in this life. Have I made mistakes ~ OH YES ~ but I realize we are merely humans and carried on. Every day I thank my Dad and Mom for the lessons they taught us.

Blessed are those who have been given Holy Parents.

NAMI WALKS FOR THE MINDS OF AMERICA

Tomorrow is the NAMI WALK. I want to thank those who supported me: My sweet hubby Ned, Lura, Janet, Allyson, Everett, Marcy, (Ward S, Dale D, Bob H, Bob T. These are my hubby's coffee buddies), Anonymous, and my daughter Debby. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated so much. As I walk, I will be thinking of you.....God Bless...and thanks again.....

On September 26, 2009, I will be walking for the minds of America. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI state sponsors the yearly walk. I will be walking for our daughter, as many of you know, who suffers from Schizophrenia. This is a cause I am committed to, and participated in for the last 3 years. It is a major fund raiser for NAMI State, so they can continue to provide our FREE EDUCATION programs, such as Family to Family class, BASICS, Bridges, Support Groups, and many more programs. The walk is a fun event, even in the rain.

We found out we didn't melt !!

Mental Illness is a medical illness. No one is immune. About 60 million Americans experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious illnesses, such as Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar.

Treatment works, but it can take 10 years, between the onset of symptoms and getting help. Half of cases begin at age 14, but less than half of children or adults get help when they need it. People with serious mental illness (SMI) live 25 years less than other people. (NAMI-NIMH)

I would like to share some facts and numbers published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

• One in four adults-approximately 57.7 million Americans-experience a mental health disorder in a given year. One in seventeen lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder, and about one in ten children have a serious mental or emotional disorder.

• About 2.4 million American, or 1.1 percent of the adult population, lives with schizophrenia.

• An estimated 5.2 million adults have co-occurring metal health and addiction disorders. Of adults using homeless services, thirty-one percent reported have a combination of these conditions.

If these statistics don't raise awareness of mental health issues, nothing ever will. People would never discriminate against someone who has cancer, diabetes or similar diseases. Mental illness is a disease of the brain, the most important part of the whole body.

Please support me as I walk on the 26th of September. Simply click on the link below to make an on-line donation. Any and all amounts are welcome. Thank you for lightening my steps as I WALK FOR THE MINDS OF AMERICA, and for helping me along the way. God Bless...

http://www.nami.org/walkTemplate.cfm?section=NAMIWALKS&template=/customsource/namiwalks/walkerpage.cfm&walkerID=100213

HAPPY LABOR DAY 2009

Have a wonderful Labor Day 2009. Let's all pray that soon everyone has a job, that the economy turns around, that people start to feel good about our country.

OH HAPPY DAY !!

Your smile brightens my day !!

SEPTEMBER

The goldenrod is yellow,

The corn is turning brown.

The trees in apple orchards

With fruit are bending down;

The gentian's bluest fringes

Are curling in the sun;

In dusty pods the milkweed

Its hidden silk has spun;

The sedges flaunt their harvest

In every meadow nook,

And asters by the brookside

Make asters in the brook.

From dewy lanes at morning

The grapes' sweet odors rise;

At noon the roads all flutter

With yellow butterflies~

By all these lovely tokens

September's days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.

LIFE'S MOUNTAINS

Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life.

Rather by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed.

WHEN YOUR HUT'S ON FIRE

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

****The moral of this story****

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember, that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

TREES

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree the looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

When I was growing up, Dad and Mom had so many little bits of wisdom, poetry, and other thoughts around the house. This little poem was framed and hung on the wall. As I look back now, I realize these are the things that have shaped my life. Mom loved poetry, especially Emily Dickinson, and shared that love with us kids. I was fortunate to "inherit" these special gifts.

QUOTE FOR TODAY

No one can go back and make a brand new start, my friend, but anyone can start from here and make a brand new end !!

This brings to my mind another poem that I think of often:

You cannot changes yesterday,

that is quite clear.

Nor begin on tomorrow

until it is here.

So all that is left, for you and for me,

is to make today the best that can be.

MY SISTER SANDRA

My sister Sandra, was born October 25, 1936, in a small town in Minnesota. She and I were born 3 years and 4 days apart. My sister and I were friends, and I can remember going ice-skating together in the cold Minnesota winters and coming home. Mom would have hot chocolate and cookies for us, playing softball, climbing trees, and just having fun playing together. Yes, and we did get into our fair share of mischief. I guess you could say we were "best buddies".

My sister worked at a LPN for a number of years, then decided she wanted to become a registered nurse. She enrolled at Westminster College in Salt Lake City and graduated with her Bachelor Of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1991. This is my sister at her pinning ceremony. Sandra graduated with high honors.

Sandra and me at after the graduation ceremony from Westminster College. And now the story begins. About a year after my sister received her BSN, she had a stoke. She was in the hospital and rehabilitation for about 6 months. She wondered if she would ever be able to work again, but then that old "Irish and German" extract kicked in, and she began her journey towards recovery, which was amazing to watch. My sister decided the way to challenge her mind to recover, was to enroll in college again, which she did.

My sister Sandra when she graduated with her Master of Science in Gerontology from the University Of Utah in 1999. Again, my sister graduated with honors. She challenged herself every minute, while still recovering from her stroke. If this isn't amazing, nothing is. I have never seen anyone overcome obstacles like she did, but she did it....and WITH HIGH HONORS. My sister Sandra is still working as a registered nurse. Ned, Sandra and me.

Once again, thank you Mom and Dad for raising us kids with the values you did, the tenacity to carry on when the going got tough, and the ability to rise above obstacles. You did an amazing job !!! Blessed are those who have been given good and holy parents.

CONTENTMENT

Nine requisites for contented living:

Health enough to make work a pleasure

Wealth enough to support your needs

Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them

Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them

Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished

Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor

Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others

Faith enough to make real the things of God

Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

AUGUST

Above the slowly moving stream,

Half-sleepily on leaning boughs

Through midday hours

As in a dream

The tired leaves drowse.

Stirring, half-wakeful, now and then

To send a yellow leaf to ride

In onward and unconscious course

Upon the listless water tide.

MY BROTHER TOM

My brother Tom was born August 6, 1945 and passed away in 2002 from a massive heart attack. He was such a sweet man (as you can tell from the picture.) He had a heart of gold. When Irish eyes are smiling !!

Tom and me in Sioux Falls, SD. I loved my brother. He was good hearted and kind. But he did have a bit of an Irish temper, but then Mom was a true Irish lass, and Dad was of German extract. It is nice to say my brother was my "friend" as well as my brother.

The little horse with Tom is one I have. The horse is probably around 60 years old, and our great-children love it to pieces. All the pictures I have of Tom, he was always smiling. He did have his share of heartaches, but I can never remember him hurting anyone. Guess he just kept it all inside. As I age, I appreciate my family more and more. They were good people, kept to themselves, never broad cast their problems and as all families do, they had their share. Mom and Dad loved life. Our parents taught us to give to others, to take people at their word. The older I get, I find out how smart they were.

Mom and Dad

Dad and Mom were married August 1st, 1934, in a small town in Minnesota. August 1st was the birthday of Mom's mother, Emma. Mom dearly loved her Mother and Father so chose her mother's birthday as her wedding day. Mom was a beautiful bride and Dad was her handsome prince. Wouldn't you agree they were a lovely couple. Sure do miss them.....

A NEW OUTLOOK

Deck of Cards

It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard

The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week.

As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of cards and laid them out across his bunk.

Just then an army Sergeant came in and said, 'Why aren't you with the rest of the platoon?'

The soldier replies, 'I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord.'

The sergeant said, 'Looks to me like you're going to play cards.'

The soldier said, 'No sir. You see, since we are allowed to have Bibles or other spiritual books in this country,

I've decided to talk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards'

The sergeant asked in disbelief, 'How will you do that?'

'You see the Ace, sergeant? It reminds me that there is only one God.

The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments

The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Five is for the five virgins, where were ten but only five of them were glorified.

The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.

The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation.

The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives--the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth.

The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy. He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.

The Ten represent the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone.

The Jack is a reminder of Satan, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of Heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell.

The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.

The King stands for Jesus, for he is King of all Kings.

When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with 365 total, one for every day of the year.

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week-52 weeks in a year.

The four suits represent the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Each suit has thirteen cards--there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter.

So, when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this deck of old cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for.'

The sergeant just stood there. After a minute, with tears in his eyes, and a pain in his heart, he said "Soldier, can I borrow that deck of cards?'

Please pray for our military.

' US HUMANS '

"Self-worth is not a thing; it is a perception. Just as a gymnast begins a routine with ten points and receives deductions for each mistake, so you begin life with a natural, complete sense of worth. But as you grow, you serve as your own judge, deducting points when you misunderstand the nature of living, and learning...when you forget you are a human-in-training and that making mistakes and having slips of integrity and mediocre moments are a part of life, not unforgettable sins"

Dan Millman from: Everyday Enlightenment

George Bernard Shaw once remarked that "the ignorant are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt."

This quote really got me thinking...which am I...I am full of self-doubt, but this 'Long Journey' through the mental illness with my daughter, has made me question many things about life. No, mental illness is not fair....yes, it i difficult to deal with.... would we have chosen this for our daughter, her family and our family....quite possibly not...but then I reflect back, see far more difficult situations and am then thankful for our troubles. The old say "walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticize me" has much meaning. My feelings are; we are given troubles in this life to grow as human beings. I would pray that my troubles have made me grow as a human being, that I have learned hard lessons, and in doing so, have become more compassionate towards my fellow man.

There have been a couple of times in my life, when things got eye-brow level, I have simply stepped back from the situation. The step back was due to the actions of certain people. People that should have known better. Some people have judged me because I did so, but they didn't know all the facts about why. I made the choice a couple of years ago, to step back and re-group. I did so for myself and my family. I do know that you can come back with a renewed sense of self-worth, inner peace, and strength. It is a feeling I cannot put into words...but the inner peace is there

TROUBLES

"THE LONG JOURNEY"

A trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eyes and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.

Hold it at the proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified.

Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway of life.

This is how I feel about life. Too many times when one has troubles, your troubles can take over your life, instead of you taking control over your own life. All the years I was growing up, Mom and Dad had a little plaque on the wall that read:

"SUCCESS COMES IN 'CAN', FAILURES IN 'CAN'T ' !!"

Dad and Mom were very wise. They taught my sister Sandra, brother Tom , and myself about life. They taught us to be honest, trustworthy, have carry through, and that our word was binding. These are positive character traits.

My daughter has Schizophrenia and this has been a difficult card to be dealt, both for her and our family. But it is alright.... I firmly believe that we are given obstacles in this life, to help us grow. These obstacles were determined long before we journeyed into this world. These difficulties, and how we handled them, how we treated people along the way, is how we will be judged on our journey out of this world.

Yes, life is like the title of my blog "The Long Journey". The STIGMA associated with mental illness is over whelming. Even agencies and people that should know better, throw in the towel when the going gets rough. They leave families and people suffering high and dry...is there possibly an element of self-service.

Answerable to a higher power some day.....oh yes !!!

This is the reason I am so dedicated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I guess you could say "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade".... One thing I have noticed is people with disabilities are treated differently. Some people are given loads of help, while others have to fen for themselves. I guess it depends on which way the wind is blowing....

HAPPY JULY 4TH, 2009

The 4th of July is truly a holiday to celebrate our Independence for so many reasons. It is the date we give thanks for our freedoms. The meaning of Independence is: the state of being independent. The 4th of July is a legal holiday celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Our freedoms have been quite evident throughout the years !! Our country has more freedoms than any other nation and we should appreciate each an every one of them. I am happy I live in this country, where we are able to make our own choices, vote independently, worship as we choose, and all the other freedoms we enjoy.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!

~ JULY ~

The summer harvest day begun

With cloudless dawn and flaming sun;

Ripe grain the sickle flashes through;

The sweep of scythes in morning dew;

The nooning underneath the trees

Made cool by sea or mountain breeze;

The thundershower, the clearing sky,

And sunset splendor of July !

This poem reminds me of the summer days my sister Sandra and I would spend on the farm with our grandmother. We would go up to the farm in northern Minnesota when Dad was stationed at different air bases. I can remember the times when the grain was cut, loaded on trailers pulled by horses, and riding to the farms in the surrounding area. This was such a fun time. At noontime, the cooks would have huge dinners and the food was yummy.

Grandma always made sure my sister and I did our chores, pulled weeds, and fed the chickens. These are memories I go back to now. The days were always full of fun things to do, lots of work, and then at the end of a day, Grandma always made her wonderful meals. She was from Germany and was a wonderful cook and pastry maker. To this day, I can still "taste" some of her goodies !! Yum...I have often heard that childhood memories stay with us throughout our lives. I am thankful I have such good ones.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful father's past, present and future. May your day be special. You are the father's that have stayed with your children, not walked away when it suited you. And even if you did leave, you made sure your children knew they were loved. Many father's simply leave a family, mostly through divorce, and never look back. This is exactly what my first husband did. He left his two daughters without giving them a thought. This leaves a child with the feeling "what did I do wrong." The child didn't do anything wrong. It is just a selfish man that thinks only of themselves, their wants and their needs.

A father is so important in the life of a child. He gives them direction, guidance, knowledge and stability when the children are young , growing and developing.

My second husband Ned is the perfect example of a good father. He is hard working, loving, caring, supportive and always there when needed. He still worries about his daughters to this day.

A special thanks to my dad for the values and lessons he taught my sister Sandra, brother Tom, and me.

IT TAKES BOTH PARENTS TO RAISE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHILD

TO MY DAD ~ WITH LOVE~ON HIS BIRTHDAY

This is a picture of my Dad, sister Sandra and me. I am the one in the middle. You know what it's called...the middle child syndrome !! Dad and Mom would always take us on picnics (the simpler things in life) and we had a ball. Dad was always there for us kids. He was the disciplinarian and Mom was the buffer. My sister and I, and later on our brother Tom, had the best of all worlds with the parents God gave us.

Dad doing the thing in life he loved the most. His beloved flying. Dad taught pilots from all over the world how to fly. Flying was Dad's first love...and he was very good at it. One of his students ended up teaching at the Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, CO...then went on to reach the rank of General. Another was a Captain for Delta Airlines. Dad knew flying, and passed on his knowledge to his students.

Dad was born June 13, 1911, in Kanaranzi, MN. His parents were of German extract (in case you haven't figured that one out.) Dad was an only child, and began flying his very own airplane at age 16. Dad was born with flying in his veins. Dad left us on July 8, 1974.

There is a little poem I posted earlier in my blog about having good parents. The title of the post was 'My Mom and Dad', and the poem was: 'Blessed Are You Who Have Been Given Holy Parents'. The old I get, the smarter I find my parents were. Now isn't that life !!!!!

DOING GOOD

JoJo had his big cast taken off and replaced with a walking cast. This is his foot where the surgery was. Notice the pins and all that good stuff.JoJo sporting a brand new, blue walking cast. He will have this cast on through July. What a brave little boy to go through all this..

JoJo is doing really good. He was quite sick right after the surgery, but seems to be bouncing back quite nicely. He is in a full cast right now, and Matt and Dayna are having to pick him up and carry him around. In about four weeks his cast will be changed to a walking cast.

I have to admit to having a really bad senior moment !!! Ned and I gathered up lots of goodies for both Joel and Emme, and I sent the package. Well, guess what.....and guess who !!! ..put their prior address on the package. ME !! I put the address for Colorado Springs CO where Matt and Dayna were stationed prior to their transfer to Las Crusas NM. Needless to say, the package sat in Colorado Springs for about a week before it got routed properly. It's a good thing there weren't any perishables in the package, just toys and other goodies. So much for having a serious senior moment !!!

Sorry JoJo and Emme...but enjoy the package when it arrives this coming Friday, June 19th. Love you lots. G & G

A PERSONAL MESSAGE

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. Psalm 18:16

Each life is a journey ~~ a uniquely personal passage through time. As you travel through difficult places, you need not give in to hopelessness. God is able to bring you safely to your destination when you place your trust in Him.

God is the Author of each journey. He knows the way through every dark and frightening valley. He knows the safest path along each high and treacherous mountain trail. God knows where the cool, refreshing waters flow and where you can find the provisions to meet each of your needs. He shares the weight of the burden you carry and causes you to lie down and rest in lush green meadows. He gives you hope and courage as you walk with Him, step by step, day by day.