respite

This "It's Saturday" might make you AAA-CHOO!  Beware!

It appears to me that our culture is a very unhappy culture. It’s hard to be positive in a negative society (i.e. our environment). There is soooo much stimuli that tries to drag us down (i.e. seems like constantly).

When I was a kid on the farm a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN, we would butcher friers each fall for meat for the winter. My mom would put the friers’ heads between two nails on a log behind the chicken house and with one whack she would cut their heads off with a hatchet. The friers would jump around on the ground for a while with no head and blood squirting out (i.e. that’s where we get the expression, we ack like chickens with their heads cut off!). I wonder if we act that way sometimes.

It appears to me that our minds, souls and relationships are suffering from this constant. contagious thinking. Maybe we can’t fix everything but maybe we can manage it better. It appears to me that we all need a respite from this constant bombardment of negativism. For me, it’s being in a quiet place by myself for periods of time. I like to study scripture, pray, meditate, and most importantly, just be still and quiet. I like the early morning (i.e. for me it’s a decompression chamber). God says in scripture--“What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who listen to him.”

Many of you are celebrity models to me a.k.a. a respite. Yes, you are and you don’t even know it. I tie my boat to you! I hang my hat on you! You’re as good as gold! I really enjoy real folks and you are real folks! My kind of folks. You are a respite to my soul and mind. And some of you, not soooo much!

Flip the pancake! I say one thing about relationships but do another! What kind of person am I!  I just bought some wireless earbuds with the purpose of not having to listen about some person’s hemorrhoids while working out at the work out center at our 55+ community here in AZ. Or another person telling me how great their grand kids are or another complaining about the neighbor’s dog peeing on their rocks in their front yard. I can listen to what I want or just fake it and have quietness! A great investment! Well, jumping Cholla! 

But there is hope! There is no medicine like hope, no incentive sooo great, no tonic sooo powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow. And I believe that God is our hope. It appears to me the folks who believe this are much happier with a much more positive attitude. It’s sad when we have no hope. That is my opinion but look around folks, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

Do you think this is the first  time humans have experienced a world full of evil? Do you think you and I are the only ones who ever struggle with good vs. evil in our minds? It sure appears that this attitude has been around from the beginning of time. Yes, some periods of history sure seem to have been more positive than others; that’s for sure. Greek scholars remind us in this phrase—the evil day—refers to a particular hour when evil will be manifested in an unusual way in the thoughts, activities, and pursuits of humanity. Yikes! I don’t care much for that! I need a respite. Soooo, maybe we need to manage it better. What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Yes, for me, I don’t care to see evil win over good (i.e. it really hurts me). It appears to me that is what is happening a lot now; mass confusion; a major trend! Where is Babylon today? Where is the great Roman Empire today? Why did they disappear? What happened to them? History should tell us something!

A deceased friend would argue—Why would God allow all this evil on this earth if He is really God, the sovereign God? That’s an age-old question that folks have struggled with forever. For me, I think that God is God and I’m erv—His understanding I cannot fathom. And that is a large piece of my faith. I think that is sorta kinda what God told Job.

As for me, I’m going to try to do good!  I encourage you to do the same. The problem that many folks have is that we disagree what good is, it appears. There seems to be differences of opinions on that! VioletStillwater says--But we all know what good is now don’t we. C’mon! An acquaintance seemed to be struggling with his purpose in life. He asked for some counseling and was told he needs to think about volunteering (i.e. think about other folks). It has affected his life. Maybe!

CoachB sorta kinda says this about a respite, my opinion. He says—"A right heart makes right decisions.”  Sooooo, as I see it, if we make right decisions then our lives are much more enjoyable and useful; I don’t think I’m overcookin’ this! SusieQ asks—Sooooo, how do I know I have a right heart? Good question! SusieQ, there are ways. CoachB also says—Wake up and do the right thing; not just (some)thing but the right thing!  Yikes!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone. 

protest

AverageJoe, who is big on weekends, says—I protest how my life is going!  A friend of mine who is probably about 45 now who when she was a little girl would stomp her feet and pout and get mad and put on a huge massive temper tantrum in protest cause she wasn’t getting her way. She wanted her way! I don’t think her temper tantrums every helped very much! But it seemed to make her feel better!

When I look at the newspaper there are folks protesting all over the world about anything and everything. There sure seems to be a lot of protesting. Soooo there are some folks who are unhappy about something it seems everywhere.

There was a protest in Yakima where people marched and made a lot of noise. I had no idea what they were protesting. I read in the local paper that the reporter asked some of the protesters what they were protesting about, and they all had a different thing they were protesting about. They were just mad how their life was going maybe. But not all protesters; a friend told me he asked a protester in London while on vacation what he was protesting and they said—I have no idea, I just like to protest; it’s fun. BUT there was another article in the Yakima paper about the apple growers’ association who are not happy how the situation is for the folks who pick their apples and are aware that they will need to be part of the solution in solving it. They just aren’t making a lot of noise but are being proactive with a solution.  They know they need them to make money. It’s all about the money!

Of course there are folks that just don't care. I have friends that don't pay any attention to the news. They tell me they just don't care; I can't do anything about it anyway, It's less depressing and doesn't confuse my mind. When I was in IA recently I went back to Aplington to wrap up some business and ran into this guy/long time friend at the bank who played basketball on the high school team that I coached about 55 years ago. His tee shirt says it all.

Ok, I have internal conflicts in my mind that I struggle with; we all do without exception. Some folks’ struggles are more severe than others and some folks’ minds are wired differently it appears (i.e. from genetics, past environment or current environment). I have had one person sincerely tell me that we don’t think alike. I agree with that person. We live in America and we have that privilege. I can pretty much accept other people but might not agree with them. Some folks protest when others don’t agree with their thinking cause they think they are right and everyone should be like them.

It's like I have a black dog and a white dog in my mind. One is for good and one is for bad. They are constantly fighting. The fight goes on. And which one is winning? Answer is easy, the one I feed the most. No question. And where does that dog food come from? There is a lot of dog food out there to choose from alright.

History shows that there has always been and probably always will be differences of opinions. And it appears that most have been settled with wars. Wars were during early history and have continued in many forms. Usually, the side that wins is the one that has the most power and might. The loser usually has to surrender and be taken over by the winner. Casualties are usually huge massive on both sides. MissPerfect says--Wars are of many varieties from in our own mind to world wars. Such is life.

A friend gave me this advice—"erv, your grown children are not going to ask you for your advice as they already know what you are going to say!  They don’t want to hear it again. If they didn’t agree with you before they aren’t going to now! You might just as well not talk about it and save your relationship.” Parents can protest all they want but I doubt if it will make much difference. Off course maybe the children are right, and the parents are wrong. Could be! I was told that the demographics of our U.S. population is going to really change in age and other aspects. Now that will change the market! Now that will be interesting. ItchieBitchie says--It’s really hard to protest ageing; I guess we can protest, but it doesn’t do any good!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--A critic is the person who knows the route but can't drive the car.

hot sauce

SlimySlick thinks he is really hot sauce and thinks he’s really something but his slim is just slim but he doesn’t know it. Our human knowledge is limited; yes it is. There is soooo much that we have no idea about (i.e. even about ourselves); some stuff is way beyond our human mind.

There is an old concept I seem to understand better these days. And that concept is to not throw the baby out with the bath water. I think there is good in everyone (i.e. some seem to have more good than others maybe it seems). The bath water might not be all sooo clean, but I don’t want to throw the baby out with the dirty bath water. CadillacJack says--BUT sometimes it seems easier! I had to take a bath in the same water that my sister used when I was a kid. I would guess some of you did as well. I'm gad my parents didn't throw me out with the bath water!

I think the human mind is unfathomable! We cannot comprehend it with our human mind. Impossible. It’s just amazing! You talk about hot sauce! Dr.J says--“The human brain is arguably the climax of God’s creation, the most incredible invention in His universe. It’s a fabulous, living super-computer with unfathomable circuitry and unimaginable complexity, a collection of billions of neurons, each as complex as a small computer. They’re all inter-connected, and one scientist said that the number of connections within one human brain rivals the number of stars and galaxies in the entire universe.” We really are hot sauce!

I’m looking for some hot sauce! Something that has some real zing to it! I’m not talking about some hot sauce at Taco Bell but some sauce for my life that will be exciting, effective, lasting, fun and worthwhile. I’m looking for an opportunity! Now what will that be? I don’t know 100% for sure yet but….! I don’t want it to be something that just fills my time, but something more than that. Actually, I have a pretty good idea what that hot sauce is going to be! I don’t want it to be like worry-- Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it isn’t good for anyone. I’m sorta kinda excited about this hot sauce thinking I have.  I think it will zing up my life!

Here is some hot sauce for us to use to build relationships. “A Psychology Today article tells the story of a man struggling with alcoholism who resisted attending Alcoholics Anonymous for decades. When he finally went to his first meeting, he said: “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! People were talking about things I thought and felt, it was as if they knew me, knew my problems, and had answers I couldn’t get anywhere else.” Sharing our testimonies reminds us we’re not alone when life is hardest. There is a particular kind of encouragement given when someone vulnerably shares their story of loss or distress and then tells what (or who) rescued them. I believe that we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works.”  I think that is hot sauce!

We as a grandparent can be hot sauce, maybe even when we don't even know it or ever will soooo don't get discouraged. When traveling we were looking at a restaurant for dinner and were talking to the café director, that is what he called himself. He was in his late 20s. We had a nice talk and then I asked him if he was a believer as he had on a cross around his neck—he said—sometimes I am and sometimes I’m not, some of the stuff I believe and some of the stuff I don’t; I’m rather confused. I wear the cross honoring my grandmother who was a believer and helped me a lot in life. That’s hot sauce!

Flip the pancake! We were talking to some friends who were going to drive over and see a grand daughter play in a golf tournament and called her mom (i.e. their daughter) and asked if she would want to walk with them to visit--no, I can't, I'm taking care of my grand daughter--soooo, when will you be done--in a couple of hours--well, maybe you can join us for her back nine soooo we can visit some--well, not really, I'm taking care of another daughter's family dog--you mean now we are behind a dog!

When we were in NY, we stayed in Jersey City and the light rail was close to our motel. We decided to take it to the port for Elis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We were somewhat confused soooo we asked a NY businessman who was dressed very NY business proper carrying a expensive briefcase. He helped us and we thanked him. Later he came back to us in the train and gave us more information. I said to him—You are a good person. He looked at us like he never was told that before and had no idea what to say (i.e. maybe that was hot sauce to him).  After a couple of stops he left the train and as he walked past our train window, he gave us the thumbs up to us.

My Daddy, Chester, taught me—Test it against the worst possible scenario and if it passes, it’s probably a good deal!  My new opportunity passes the worst possible scenario soooo it’s a good deal (i.e. I like the odds in my favor). Or maybe I don’t know what the worst possible scenario is!  Now that could be! Such is life. BUT how do I know if it will work if I don’t try! I'm on it! ItchieBitchie says--erv, throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch and do something!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--The secrets of success won't work unless you do.

worldview

RickyRick says—"All our ideas, the thoughts that settle in our mind, come together to make up our worldview, the beliefs we build our life on…Our worldview determines our choices.” I’m guessing that none of us have exactly the same worldview as we have different genetics and have different past environments and have different current environments. 

M Scott Peck, M.D. in his book The Road Less Traveled said (i.e. soooo maybe it's his opinion but probably he is correct, maybe)--"It is not so much what our parents say that determines our worldview as it is the unique world they create for us by their behavior."

A young man and I were having a hotdog together at Costco. I get a big kick of Costco’s environment. We had a great discussion about how some retailers are now going away from self-check outs as they are being stolen blind. He said that his generation always uses self-check outs. He also said his age spends a lot of time on social media and many think it’s ok to steal from large corporations. Now that might be a change in a worldview.

Are you a cosmopolitan? The term cosmopolitan refers to someone who is familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. A cosmopolitan person typically embraces diversity, is open-minded, and feels comfortable interacting with people from various backgrounds. It can also describe cities or environments that are characterized by a mix of cultures, ideas, and influences from around the world. I don’t think I am really a cosmopolitan. I have found a difference between The Great Northwest and the Midwest soooo how can I be a complete cosmopolitan? But it appears to me that with all the unrest, different opinions and wars going on, many folks have a hard time being a world cosmopolitan. Their worldviews seem to be different!

During our recent travels we have talked to folks from all over the world and the U.S. They all seem to be concerned about the future of our world. They told us about their countries, the good and the bad, and also about what they think of the U.S. It is very interesting to us. There are really many nice folks in the world. World travelers might not be a true cross section of the world, we understand that.

I have seen once again that kindness is always a common denominator with folks. Yes, it is. Here is a story, an analogy, about kindness to prove my point. Erin, our teenage granddaughter, likes animals. The neighbor’s cat climbs the six-foot backyard fence and comes in their back yard. Erin plays with the cat, gives it kindness, feeds it, etc. The cat sits on the backyard furniture to look in their house and paws at their door for Erin. And that is an animal!

Our pastor said Sunday, he was surprised that the major costume theme of the kids for the church's trick and treat was evil. And the probably #1 costume was that of a serial killer. He said--"What does that say of our world! Is that the worldview of our country or community?"

My world view can change and sometimes I get out of whack, and I don’t function well when I get my head missed up. Maybe to sum that up, it is when I’m not humble, I’m not a very good person when I get that way. And it’s hard to stay humble in the world we live in. Ok, we can be confident but still be humble I think and that is a great combination, my opinion. Sometimes I have events and situations in my life that really humble me. They really do affect me. I also am learning that certain things in life need time to develop, to play out. I need to give some things basically time to work out! I sometimes try to force things. It is hard to be patient. I also realize again that I'm not in charge of the universe; in fact I think I'm in charge of very little!

Marcus Aurelius said—He who lived in harmony with oneself is usually in harmony with the universe.

While eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it I read this:  Pride says, “Forget you, God. I have my plans, dreams, and ambitions. I’m going to do what I want to do.” But the Bible urges us over and over again to choose humility over pride. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (GNT). And Proverbs 18:12 says, “Before honor is humility” (NKJV). Then James 4:10 promises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (NLT).  

But then again, sometimes we don’t care what others say or think as we think we know everything! Yikes! Such is life!

In an essay titled “First and Second Things,” C. S. Lewis once observed: “...You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.”

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--A person deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on them.

overhaul

3-Finger Jack says--Makeover, redo, detailing, rebuilding, slight alteration, cosmetic alteration are all forms of overhauling.

We do overhauls! The company, WeFixYou, has several choices to choose from and different price ranges.   Positive rebuild $29.99 Appreciative rebuild $49.99, Bitchie rebuild $19.99 Joyful rebuild $39.99  TotalCompleteSurpiseOverhaul a.k.a. BigTimeRebuild is free but they don’t do it in house as they have a specialist that does it and He does it free and gives a money back guarantee. I have a friend who was an engineer for General Motors. GM brought in a hypnotist to hypnotize folks. My friend got hypnotized to quit smoking and it worked. The hypnotist offered to hypnotize him again for $10 and the hypnotist would make him a scratch golfer. My friend decided not to do it as it cost too much. As smart as he is, that was a dumb choice! What was he thinking! hahaha

I have never had our vehicle detailed but it can really make a car look a lot better. It sorta kinda like staging a house that folks want to sale. They are both forms of overhauling with a purpose. Maybe we should clean up our car, house or life to make it better! I don’t know but…! Friends listed their house and the person who took the pictures put furniture in their house with AI. Now that is just amazing. It made it look great! Is that being real?

We went and saw Superman a while back. It was entertaining to us even though we didn’t get it all! Some of it was really funny, some of it sorta kinda philosophical, some of it sorta kinda futuristic maybe, and some of it we had no idea but it was all loud and fast moving!!!! I did get a kick out of Robot #4. He wanted to be overhauled with a name and a personality. He got his wish and got the name of Gary! It made me think that some folks are like Robot #4. They really do need to be overhauled with an update! Reality is I think I might be one of them! Such is life.

Remember the TV program called Extreme Makeover maybe where they took a lady off the street and gave her complete make over a.k.a. overhaul. Then they showed her to her friends, and they couldn’t hardly recognize her.  I always wondered how she looked in three days! Hey, I have seen both men and women sorta kinda clean themselves up when they are looking for a man or a woman (i.e. make themselves more sellable). It works I think in many cases. CadillacJack says--But some after a couple years look the same again after they find their partner! Such is life!

PrecherManFriend says—"Contentment is the secret to inward peace. Soooo how can we get and have a contented life?  Life is a journey from one moment of vulnerability to another. So we should travel light and live simply.” My observation of folks is that some are much more content than others. Why is that do ya think? I really think there is a common denominator. It’s a pretty simple overhaul!

Here is an interesting experience we had. We had a plumbing problem. We called a friend from IA a.k.a. the IA-Wizard, a new friend here in Yakima, and a neighbor who we have become friends with and a family member for their advice and opinions. All of them contacted us back after a few days and asked how we were doing. That is the kind of folks they are. I guess that is why we like these folks! We got the problem resolved and saved probably a couple of hundred dollars or more!

Heads-up! Think about what a friend tells me--There is a difference between price and value (i.e. and this friend has a $100,000+ job--I know cause he told me soooo)!  Personally, I like value for my dollar! I think it's good stewardship. 

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Fair weather friends are useless in a stormy world.

two-edged sword

CrazyMarvin says—This It’s Saturday is crazy but a good kind of crazy, maybe! It’s Saturday and that means that it’s game day! Sooo pull up your pants and let’s get going!

I have learned from Dr. Peck that the difference between a pet and a spouse or child. Folks say they love them all. BUT a child we love them in a way to teach them so that they can leave the house and be on their own and not like a pet which is controlled. Yes, some parents mother hen their children and that is not love but they treat them like a pet (i.e. always have them under their thumb). Some call them helicopter parents. Unlike love for a pet, we should give them their independence and freedom to learn and grow up. That is what I read. It’s a two-edged sword! AverageJoe says--Yabut, folks like their pets!

Bar Harbor, ME voted to ban all cruise ships to come to their city. They were sick of all the folks of about 284 cruise ships that came to their port annually. BUT it was a two-edged sword as those cruise ships produced about 80% of the income for the city. Now the taxes had to go up and some businesses went broke and many folks are unhappy. It’s in court and will be for some time.

JoeBlow says--Money can be a two-edged sword. It seems like everyone wants a lot of money and some of you have a lot of money and others of you don’t. Money can solve a lot of problems but can also cause a lot of problems toooo. It always has and always will. Don’t kid yourself, it’s all about the money!

I read this as I was eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Through the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke familiar words and moved hearts: Indeed, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,” piercing until it divides “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Saturday question—What are the thoughts and intentions of our hearts?

I was walking in Randall Park on a beautiful fall day and met an older couple who where maybe in their late 80s who were walking arm in arm. I stopped and talked to them. They were from a nearby assisted living. They told me that that they were in an advance phase of their life but are enjoying it as much as they can. Our next phase will be heaven—are you believers—with all our heart, soul, and mind. We know where our eternity will be. Dr.J says—"Today the concept is no longer science fiction. Doctors can replace organs, bones, corneas, hands and arms, joints and hips, and even faces. Still, only one thing eventually takes care of the aging process—death!” Is earthly death a two edges sword?

I read this story recently--Holly LaFavers of Lexington, Kentucky, was stunned when 70,000 Dum-Dum lollipops arrived at her doorstep, along with a bill for $4,000. It turns out her second grader had ordered them on her phone when she wasn’t watching. It’s remarkable what one child can do! I think it is remarkable what you and I can do!  Yes, it is! Our life is a two-edged sword; we can do with it what we want. Such is life.

I/we had/have the opportunity to visit our children and grandchildren in Morrison, CO and Waukee, IA for long weekends (i.e. we are in Waukee today). We got to visit and see the grandkids in their activities (i.e. which seem to me can be two edged swords at time as most of you know). We get along, it appears, with our family and there seem to be no major problems. Many family relationships can be a two-edged sword as some of you know. Some kids really enjoy their parents or grandparents coming to see them and others not soooo much (i.e. and vice versa). That is just reality folks (i.e. if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's a duck)! And reality can be a two-edged sword as well! Such is life.

Saturday question--Are you or were you your mother's favorite child? Now that explains a lot of things!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.

about face

Roger Miller in the lyrics of a song of his, says—Ya can’t roller skate in a buffalo heard! But you can be happy if you've a mind to!

Dr. Scot Peck says—'We must continually expand our realm of knowledge and our vision through the thorough digestion and incorporation of new information.” Saturday question—How do we obtain new information? It appears to me that new information has been found forever. Sometimes we have to do an about face (e.g. like the world is flat—we’ll never go to the moon—the Titanic builder said in Hailfast “This ship can never sink”). Now even grandmas have tattoos! The culture is changing! Oh yes!

Ya can’t take a shower in parakeet cage! But you can be happy if you've a mind to!

"November 20, 1798, in his Last Will and Testament, Patrick Henry wrote: ‘If they had [faith in Christ] and I had not given them one shilling, they would have been rich; and if they had not [faith], and I had given them all the world, they would be poor indeed'.” My opinion folks—If we have faith in Christ everything else just falls into place. It’s like a breakthrough! Like an insurance umbrella policy! Sooo what is faith? Has faith changed with time? About face!

You can't go swimming in a baseball glove! But you can be happy if you've a mind to!

About face! I asked JoeFromEastport,Maine if I could take a pic of his cap—Sure, go ahead! Then we saw a guy walk past with a tee shirt on that said—I know a lot more when I drink!  Then a guy walked past who had a tee shirt on that said—I don’t have the answers but know a Guy that does! Then another person walked by with a tee shirt that said, change the tide!

You can't change film with a kid on your back! But you can be happy if you have a mind to!

People don’t have nightmares during the day, do they! How come everything seems worse at night when it’s dark (e.g. some folks with Alzheimer’s have sundown syndrome which causes them to do strange things when it starts to get dark; something happens in their brain; they don’t know what they are doing). About face, it seems when the sun comes up in the morning it’s a new day and life seems way better! That is why I really enjoy early mornings! About face!

You can't drive around with a tiger in your car! But you can be happy if you've a mind to!

This is an about face interesting experience:  We met and had dinner with a lady who came to the U.S. from Twain as a young woman. She learned how to speak English, got a M.A. and spent her business life as a financial advisor/broker in CA but recently moved to FL (i.e. she has become very financially successful). ANYWAY she has a legal Twainish name but changed her name to street names during her life. When she was in business, she wanted a more powerful name soo she changed her name to Jessie. After she retired, she has changed her name to a name she made up which has a special meaning to her. She said it has taken her two years to live up to that name but is accomplishing it. Isn’t that interesting. Sorta kinda an about face. She now wants to travel the world 120 days of the year to enjoy life and expand her knowledge of life. She is an amazing, unique lady! We enjoyed her company

You can't go fishing in a watermelon patch! But you can be happy if you've a mind to!

Early one morning, I met this gentleman from Maryland who was an athletic director with this tee shirt. We talked about the importance of leadership and direction. At St. Johns, New Brunswick we walked up the hill to an old church (i.e. it was Sunday). It was Thrinty Church, a loyalist church established many years ago. Jeanne and I knelt and prayed together. It felt good. When we got back to the ship, we talked to a staff member who was from South Africa. She was 21 and she told us she was the youngest employee on the ship. She told us she walked up to the same church during her break and prayed as well—we asked her if she was a believer—of course I am; it is the foundation of my whole life—You seem really happy—you know where I get that happiness!

All you gotta do is put your mind to it! Knuckle down, buckle down! Do it, do it, do it!

About face—ItchieBitchie says, The important thing is whether we can slow down, be still, and appreciate life! Maybe we can do both at the same time. What do you think? That is what I thought!

I read this in one of my morning devotions from my PreacherManFriend –"In the movie Apollo 13, Flight Commander James Lovell radioed back to planet Earth after observing smoke and debris emitting from the space craft, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ In like manner, we too have a problem. It is a problem as old as man and as destructive as any we have ever seen. There is no greater need than when we think we have no need. The Greeks called this arrogance hubris; the Bible calls it pride.”

About face! Eating breakfast one morning the guy next to us had this tee shirt on and I asked him if I could take a pic of it and him—Sure, my granddaughter gave it to me. He was from Harlem, NY. Now that sums up this It’s Saturday. Take that into consideration when digesting what you just read!

Don’t take any of this It’s Saturday toooo serious! Remember, you get what you pay for! I’m just another bozo on the bus! If you can read French, you know what the sign says that this nice lady bought who sat next to us at an afternoon break in Quebec City.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--A smile is a language that even a baby understands.

courage

A new friend in Yakima told us—Once I got a spine my job went a lot better!

Here are a couple of questions for you to answer. Why are some folks much more courageous and tougher than others? And, how come at times all of us are more courageous and tougher than at other times?

I know many folks who are courageous and tough, and I know many folks who are wimps! I want you to think of folks who you know who fit into both of those categories. Do you think there is a common denominator in folks in both of those groups do you think?

Long time friends of Jeanne told us about one of her favorite books of all time called Follow the River by James Alexander Thom.  She is a big reader with a house full of books! The book is about courage and being tough. It’s a historical novel on the true story of a pioneer woman. They suggested that I read it; sooo I did. I suggest you try it. It made me feel like a wimp! 

Coach Frentz, who is the head football coach at Iowa, set a record of winning more games than anyone ever in the Big Ten. I always don’t like his coaching philosophy, but I like him as a person, I think he is class. ANYWAY, I listened to his interview after setting the record. Again, he gave a lot of credit by being surrounded by good folks. I hear that over and over and over again. Soooo there must be some truth to that! It really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out! Flip the pancake, I have read many times that we should get rid of folks in our lives who are bad influence on us. That is just common sense, isn’t it! That might take a lot of courage to do, maybe! I wonder if we sometimes “buy into" the philosophy of folks with bad attitudes or actions which could really affect us negatively and we don’t even know it. I wonder!

I read an old timeless classic book, The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck. It’s another book I suggest you read. In the preface of the book he says, “As a psychiatrist, I feel it is important to mention that I make no distinction between the mind and the spirit, and therefore no distinction between the process of achieving spiritual growth and achieving mental growth. They are one and the same.” Soooo I wonder if that has anything to do with courage and toughness! Mumm! I think it could. What do you think?

An old 84-year-old coffee drinking friend is courageous and tough but not really. He buys all his meals at Costco that are frozen so that he can just microwave them. He buys six weeks supply at a time. But he says--Once a month I buy a pint of ice cream; I like ice cream; I eat the whole thing in one day; I can’t help myself. Sometimes if there is a special on a quart of ice cream for about the same price, I buy it, but I also eat it all in one day as well! I can't help myself!

There is an old saying--You can’t teach a person something that they think they already know! That is probably true I would guess. I have relearned that it’s hard to change a person’s thinking if they have it instilled in their mind. It is very hard to change and if it ever changes it will have to be done by the person themselves and that just doesn’t happen very often. Soooo my conclusion, I pretty much give up on them (i.e. pretty much throw the idea of changing them out the window). I will be much happier in just accepting them as they are. Their thinking has been formed by their genetics, their past environment and their current environment and it is what it is. It appears to me that certain patterns in different folks produce certain results, and they are hard to change (i.e. both good patterns and bad patterns). For me I have to be courageous and tough to accept that!

The one and only SusieQ says--I want to be courageous and tough, but I don’t want to! I mean I want to face reality, but I really don’t want to face reality. I talked to a friend who lost his wife. He has been a caregiver to her for years. He told me that his reality has changed once again. Reality keeps changing for me. And now once again I have to face the new reality. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. I told him to be courageous and tough; you can do it. I believe he will as he has an internal strength (i.e. guess what that is).

I read about this concept of life that is exciting. We are to kill part of our old life and replace it with a new life a.k.a. rebirth like forming a new part of our life (e.g. if we are bitter about everything so we kill that attitude and have rebirth with looking at everything positive). Do you know how much happier that would make us. Another example, we can’t run anymore or don’t want so we replace it with walking with friends. We can’t walk anymore soooo we start reading and form a book group or a friendship group or something. Now that might take courage and toughness to do. And it might make life much more exciting! Just sitting on the couch eating chips does not cut the mustard!

Jeanne has found some renewed friendships at church. It appears that some folks go back to church when they get older. It’s sorta kinda a rebirth. I have found, it seems, that some of my best new relationships are at church. Is that a surprise to you folks?

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.