WHAT ALOHA MEANS

BLACK BEACH IN MAUI

It's more than just an easy word for a casual goodbye,

It's gayer than a greeting and sadder than a sigh.

It's all the tender messages that words cannot convey.

It's tears unshed and longing for a loved one gone away.

It's welcome to Hawaii and it's lingering farewell.

It's all the dear and silent things that lovers lips can tell.

It's frailer than the spider webs and strong as leather thongs.

It's fresh as dew on ginger blooms and older than the moon.

It's in the little lullaby's that native mothers croon.

It's said an hundred different ways, in sadness and in joy.

"Aloha" means I love you so I say ~~

Aloha Oe....

MAHALO

This is especially for Matt and Dayna. They are planning a well deserved trip to Hawaii. Ned and I received this poem from the pilot of the airline when we went on our island tour.

P.S. : Our pilot's name was Fred and he was Hawaiian

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

Women have strengths that amaze men, they bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream, they sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up for injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have. The go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideas. The give moral support to their family and friends.

They bring hope, joy and love. They have compassion and ideas. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

"SOMETHING GREAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY

BECAUSE I AM GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN"

MISERY

A small child outside a tent city during the Great Depression !!

• Use "I" as often as possible.
• Always be sensitive to slight.
• Be jealous and envious.
• Think only about yourself.
• Talk only about yourself.
• Trust no one.
• Never forget criticism.
• Always expect to be appreciated.
• Be suspicious.
• Listen greedily to what others say about you.
• Always look for the faults in others.
• Shrink your duties whenever you can.
• Do as little as possible for others.
• Never forget a service you man have rendered.
• Sulk if people are not grateful for your favors.
• Insist on consideration and respect.
• Demand agreement with your own views on everything.
• Always look for a good time.
• Love yourself first.
• Be selfish at all times.
  

IF GOD SHOULD GO ON STRIKE

How good it is that God above has never gone on strike, because He was not treated fair in things he didn't like.

If only once He's given up and said, "That's it, I'm through! "I've had enough of those on earth, so this is what I'll do.

"I'll give my orders to the sun~cut off the heat supply! "And to the moon~give no more light and run the oceans dry.

"Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on, "Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone!" You know he would be justified.

If fairness was the game, for no one has been more abused or met with more disdain than God, and yet he carries on, supplying you and me,

With all the favors of his grace, and everything for free. Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go, but what a deal we've given God to whom all things we owe.

We don't care whom we hurt to gain the things we like; but what a mess we'd all be in, if God should go on strike.

APRIL

When was the sky ever as blue as today?

When was the earth quite so mellow?

When was the song of the robin so gay?

Or the daffodil so yellow?

How did we ever emerge from the snow?

March really was rather frightful.

When did April achieve such a glow?

When was the sping more delightful?

CONTENTMENT

This past Thursday, our local chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) participated in a Single Mothers Seminar. The keynote speaker, Kirstan, gave us some valuable information I would like to share with everyone. The keynote speaker was a single mother for a number of years, and is now married with a blended family of ten children.

REMEMBER

Remember who you are.

DREAM

The first step to creating your dream is experiencing it in your thoughts and heart.

DISCOVER

Each and every individual was born with unique qualities. It is up to us to discover those qualities.

BE

Be aware of your surroundings. Use all your senses and listen to your heart.

BELIEVE

Believe in who you are.

CREATE

Create the life you have always wanted. Live your dream each and every day.

******************

A thought Kirstan left us with was this:

SOMETHING GREAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY,

BECAUSE I AM GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN !!!

SUCCESS

To laugh often and love much...

To win the respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children...

To earn the approval of honest critics...

And endure the betrayal of false friends...

To appreciate beauty...

To find the best in others...

To give of one's self without the slightest thought of return...

To have accomplished a task, whether by a healthy child,

a rescued soul, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition...

To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation...

to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived...

THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED.

TO ALL PARENTS

" I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine He said.

For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.

It may be six or thirteen years or twenty-two or three,

But will you, 'til I call him back, take care of him for me?

He will bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,

you'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

But there are lessons taught down here I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over in search of teachers true,

And from the throngs that crown life's lanes, I have selected you.

Now will you give all your love, nor think the labor vain?

Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done!

For all the joy Thy Child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll have him while we may,

And for all the happiness we've know, forever grateful stay.

But should the Angels call for him much sooner than we'd planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."

I WILL FOLLOW HIM

Tonight my husband and I were in the mood for an old movie, and chose "Sister Act". This is a old-timer, clean, funny and good music. Thought this might spark some nostalgia for someone....as it did us. Enjoy !!

SPRING EQUINOX ~ MARCH 20, 2009

The word "equinox" is derived from the Latin word meaning 'equal night' and refers to the time when the sun crosses the equator. Day and night are equal everywhere in the world. The March equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, and the start of autumn in many parts of the southern hemisphere.

SPRING

In emerald shoes Spring pirouettes

Upon a crystal stage;

Then lifts enchanting hands to free

A singing scarlet page.

From barren stalks she draws bright flags

As sun spotlights her art.

And with a violet-scented kiss

She melts King Winter's heart.

by: Louise Hajek

DAWN SONG ~~ ST. PATRICK'S DAY

St Patrick's Day it is ~~ it is

And rates a perfect morning.

Dull gloom be off; go chase yourself ~~

Drab trouble, take like warning.

St. Patrick's Day it is ~~ it is...

Come, sun, be up and shining.

Clouds, spill no rain but merrily

Reveal your silver lining.

St. Patrick's Day it is ~~ it is

And rates a perfect morning.

For everywhere the Irish are,

Much gayety's aborning.

HABITS

I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the tasks you do you might as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easy to manage, you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men and women and alas of all the failures as well. Those who are great I have made great. Those who are failures I have made failures as well. Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I? I am habit......

MY BROTHER

This is my brother Tom. He had a heart of gold and he was a sweetie. Can you see the Irish in him !!! He was ten years younger than me. He loved to fish and was an expert at tying flies. He worked for Dan Bailey for one summer in Montana, and Dan is who taught him to tie flies. Tom left us in 2002, and I miss him lots. Love you Tom.

MOM, SANDRA AND ME

This is a picture of my beautiful Mother, Margaret Elizabeth (an Irish lass for sure), cute sister Sandra and me as a baby. Mom was so beautiful and was such a good Mother. Believe it or not, I was baby of the year for 1939 in the small town in Minnesota, where we lived. Mom always told me I had a happy heart. Mom and Dad were always there for us kids. My sister Sandra is a Nurse Gerontologist, and is still working in her profession at the age of 73....I also had a younger brother Tom. I will post a picture of him next. He came along 10 years after I was born, so I guess you would call him the "caboose". Tom passed away in 2002 at the very young age of 54. He had serious heart problems. Guess you would say his 'heart was just too big.'

AN OLD IRISH PRAYER

Wishing you always ~~

Walls for the wind ~~

And a roof for the rain ~~

And tea beside the fire ~~

Laughter to cheer you ~~

And those you love near you ~~

And all that your heart might desire ~~

LITTLE THINGS

I have but to close my eyes

And in memory I see

The little things, the Irish things

That are so dear to me;

The shamrocks we used to gather

At dawn on St. Patrick's Day.

The books we used to read by candlelight,

My father's pipe of clay;

And though I've traveled many lands,

Nowhere did I find

Little things to stir the heart

Like those I left behind.




Mary R. Hurley

THINGS YOU CANNOT RECOVER

Be thankful and look to every new day with a positive hope.
Take time to pull yourself away from all the noise and just look around you.
Take inventory. Appreciate those who have enhanced the quality of your life,
and remember that they have been a gift to you.
And remember that you're an gift to them too.

Be grateful for the choices you've made, both good and bad.
Accept your mistakes; you can't change them anyway.
Apply what you've learned and go on.
Use these lessons to help you with your other decisions in life.
Appreciate yourself and your own uniqueness.

Go outside and look at the sky. Soak in the atmosphere.
Enjoy the colors of the landscapes.
Feel the textures of every place you are that you are thankful for.
Smile at the world.
Don't allow any negative feelings to creep into your consciousness.
Feel the power of your own acceptance.
Put a positive spin on every thought you have.

Make every day special. Own it. Enjoy it. Bask in the glory of life.
Appreciate the gift of your own life

~Doris Fargo~


So many times in my life, I have met people that have tried to make me feel less than I am. Now I try very hard to understand them, and I realize they may be the one with the problem. Many, many times, these are the people that judge when they shouldn't be judging. Criticize when they shouldn't be criticizing, and not tell the truth. These are the things I have now found out, that bug me. Insecure people are simply insecure people. My Mom used to tell me I wore my heart on my sleeve. Now I know what she meant. Thanks Mom and Dad for raising me with an open mind, and a loving and trusting heart. Our family has had some very traumatic hits, but now I am finding out, we just don't go around and dump our heartaches and troubles on others. I would guess that would be where the pride we have as a family comes in. We were always taught to take care of your own, make your own way in this life, and not take from others. It is a comforting feeling to know "I did it my way".

Seussism's !!!!

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss~

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you want. You are the guy who'll decide where to go. ~Dr. Seuss~

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. ~Dr. Seuss~

Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way. ~Dr Seuss~

And when they played they really played. And when they worked, they really worked.

~Dr. Seuss~

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lots, nothing is going to get better. It's not, It's not. ~Dr. Seuss~

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try !! ~Dr. Seuss~

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Help us do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good;
In all we do at work or play
To grow more loving every day.

IRISH AMERICAN

I'm proud to be an American and I'm proud that I'm Irish too.

For I love the wearin' of the green, and I love the red, white and blue.

I love to watch the marchers as they go parading by

Whether it's on the St. Patrick's Day or on the Fourth of July.

And what could be more beautiful than a shamrock, goodness knows,

Unless your heart is captured by an American Beauty Rose?

Hot dogs ? Yes, I love 'em and watermelon too,

But I'll always have an appetite for good ole Irish Stew.

No it isn't blarney when I proudly say, "It's true

that my heart is pledged to America and to dear old Erin, too!"