My Promises

Life’s Little Instructions

Sing in the shower.

Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

Watch a sunrise at least once a year.

Leave the toilet seat in the down position.

Never refuse homemade brownies.

Strive for excellence, not perfection.

Plant a tree on your birthday.

Learn 3 clean jokes.

Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.

Compliment 3 people every day.

Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Leave everything a little better than you found it.

Keep it simple.

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Floss your teeth.

Ask for a raise when you think you've earned it.

Overtip breakfast waitresses.

Be forgiving of yourself and others.

Say, "Thank you" a lot.

Say, "Please" a lot.

Avoid negative people.

Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.

Wear polished shoes.

Remember other people's birthdays.

Commit yourself to constant improvement.

Carry jumper cables in your truck.

Have a firm handshake.

Send lots of Valentine cards.

Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."

Look people in the eye.

Be the first to say hello.

Use the good silver.

Return all things you borrow.

Make new friends, but cherish the old ones.

Keep a few secrets.

Sing in a choir.

Plant flowers every spring.

Have a dog.

Always accept an outstretched hand.

Stop blaming others.

Take responsibility for every area of your life.

Wave at kids on school busses.

Be there when people need you.

Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.

Don't expect life to be fair.

Never underestimate the power of love.

Drink champagne for no reason at all.

Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.

Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."

Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."

Compliment even small improvements.

Keep your promises no matter what.

Marry for love.

Rekindle old friendships.

Count your blessings.

Call your mother.





by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

My Hero, My Friend - Doris Jelinek

Doris & her amazing story of survival & strength
http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/03/from-darkness-and-despair-doris-story.html?spref=fb

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers...

Not intended to be posted today - found this as a draft while editing some older posts - so I set a record today - 3 posts in one day!




When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes". The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand and the students laughed.
Now, said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life."

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked. The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend."

Be Kind

Sometimes it is so darn hard!

I am a sparkle - no longer a paper bag in the wind

The words of this song scream out to me!!!
I finally let my sparkle shine about 10 years ago; before then I felt like I was just like a paper bag floating in the wind.

An Inspriational Key Note Speaker - Patti Ann McDonald

I recently attended Holy Trinity Diocesan High School's 3rd annual Women's Communion Breakfast.  It was truely an inspriational and somewhat emotional event for me. (More photos here)

Patti Ann McDonald, wife of NYC policer officer, Steven McDonald, and now mayor of Malverne, was the keynote speaker.  Their story riveted my since the time it happened.  His forgiving of his assailant and her decision to stick with and by her paralyzed husband always tugged at my heart.

She spoke of the event and their life immediately after.  She spoke of her husband's forgiving the gunman and of their new, deeper faith in God.

She also went on to speak of what it is like to live with and care for a handicapped person, whether physical or mental, and the trying and often God questioning times.  How could God have let this happen, why her, a young newlywed and eight month pregnant bride?  She was just begining her life and she was then handed a burden for her to carry on for the rest of her life.  This is when she opened my soul and looked inside - it was almost as if she was speaking directly to me .  I was moved to tears.  I realized that I am not alone in my journey, having to care for my handicapped brother, and that other people get as discouraged as I, but they get through it. 

I mentioned this whole thing to a friend of mine, who also is the sister of a mentally handicapped man and she said "you were meant to be there and hear her speak."  She was so right; I was able to look inside my soul and make room for all that my brother gives me, realizing that it will always be hard, but I can get through it.

On another note, sitting in the chapel that day, I got emotional just thinking about my son and his experiences, not only in that chapel, but in that faith filled school and how quickly life sped up to get us to this point in his life - a Sophmore in High School - and as usual I got teary eyed!

Patti Ann & Steven

Steven & Fr. Joe

The Rainbow Connection

Today the morning sky was different! It was a bright orange - so beautiful! Then it started to rain and behold a rainbow - two in fact!

This got me to thinking about this song - so many versions, but I like Kenny Loggins best!

My life's quote - by my son Guy

Guy had a reigion project to do; he had to take a quote by a famous person which would sum up his life in a 10 second advertisement.  This is what he picked:

This brought tears to my eyes, as he is one very determined and able bodied young man. He couldn't have choosen anything more appropriate. (Love you loads Guy! <3)

Those Who Bloom

Life is Good

My Advice....

Works for me................now anyway

Oh So Sweet Version of the Star Spangled Banner!

Gives me goose bumps!

Worth It......................

Things I've Learned

1.I've learned ... that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
2. I've learned ... that when you're in love, it shows.
3. I've learned ... that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.
4. I've learned ... that I feel better about myself when I make others feel better about themselves.
5. I've learned ... that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
6. I've learned ... that what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us.
What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
7. I've learned ... that one sincere apology is worth more than all the
roses money can buy. If you practice you'll have to do less of this.
8. I've learned ... that words harshly spoken are as difficult to retrieve as feathers in a gale.
9. I've learned ... that being kind is more important than being right.
10. I've learned ... that you should never say no to a gift from a child.
11. I've learned ... that I can always pray for someone when I don't have
the strength to help him in some other way.
12. I've learned ... that no matter how serious your life requires you to
be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
13. I've learned ... that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to hear.
14. I've learned ... that the things that I judge, are done by people just like me.
15. I've learned ... that simple walks with my father around the block on
summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
16. I've learned ... that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
17. I've learned ... that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
18. I've learned ... that money doesn't buy class.
19. I've learned ... that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
20. I've learned ... that once a relationship is over, if you experienced
more smiles than tears, then it wasn't a waste of time.
21. I've learned ... that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants
to be appreciated and loved.
22. I've learned ... never to humiliate another person. Always give him an
honourable way to back down or out of something and still save face.
23. I've learned ... that even the Lord didn't do it all in one day so what makes me think I can?
24. I've learned ... that if you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven't done much today.
25. I've learned ... that to ignore the facts does not change them.
26. I've learned ... that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
27. I've learned ... that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.
28. I've learned ... that a good friend is the one who tells you how you really look in your jeans.
29. I've learned ... that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
30. and...mostly, I've learned that I have good friends
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coutesy of ~http://www.poeticexpressions.co.uk/POEMS/Things%20in%20life%20I.htm

“A Woman Should Have”

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
Enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
Something perfect to wear if an employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
A youth she’s content to leave behind.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
A past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to
retelling it in her old age.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …..
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
One friend who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
A feeling of control over her destiny.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
How to fall in love without losing herself.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
How to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
When to try harder and WHEN TO WALK AWAY.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
That she can’t change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
That her childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
What she would and wouldn’t do for love or more
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
How to live alone even if she doesn’t like it.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
Whom she can trust, whom she can’t,
and why she shouldn’t take it personally.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.
where to go, be it to her best friend’s kitchen table,
or a charming inn in the woods,
when her soul needs soothing.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
What she can and can’t accomplish in a day,
a month, and a year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~by Maya Angelou

A woman should have an old quilt to wrap her troubles in ~ Grace Lovell

A Broken Sugar Bowl

I have a broken sugar bowl. My caffeine-deprived fingers fumbled its lid one morning as I was getting my coffee. My oldest son was nearby and said, "Don't worry mommy. You can get a new one."
Simple words that were meant to comfort me. Instead, they broke my heart.
My kids don't have a spirit of thankfulness. Things like toys, games, books and clothes come easily for them. They have generous grandparents, aunts and uncles. And they have a mom who is an uber-bargain-shopper. This has all lead to too much stuff. And not enough gratitude. When something breaks, we just get a new one. I decided that moment would be a teaching moment. We talked about being grateful for what we have and caring for our things because sometimes, when something breaks, it can't be replaced. Sometimes we fix what's been broken and sometimes we make due (do?) without.
And so we carefully pieced back together the lid of my sugar bowl. We found each little sliver of ceramic and super-glued it in place. Nearly 2 years later, I still have my broken sugar bowl. I could run to Target and buy a new one for $6. I could probably find a nearly new one at Goodwill for $1. But the lesson that is remembered every single time we use that sugar bowl is worth more than a new one.
We still have too much stuff and not enough gratitude. We also have a bunch of friends who probably wonder why I have a busted sugar bowl. But now we also have a reminder. Even if it's only me that gets the reminding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The above is thanks to: A Soft Place to Land http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/11/broken-sugar-bowl.html

New York City - Lady Liberty - Awesome!!!

I chaperoned Guy's 8Th grade graduation trip yesterday. We started with a 2 hour lunch cruise around Manhattan - we sailed the coasts of NY & NJ, sailed under The Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridges & right past The Statue of Liberty - a breath taking sight. I traveled to it about 30 years ago & actually climbed to Her crown - seeing it from this perspective was awesome!

This bears repeating : "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door."- Emma Lazarus

St. Barnabas the Apostle Church

I love this church! Not only for it's structural & majestic beauty, but for the love & friendship I have found here. I was married in this church, my son was baptized, received his first communion & in three weeks will be confirmed there. The church is beautifully decorated under the guidance of Father Peter - the first picture is on Ash Wednesday & the last three is how it appeared Holy Week. (pics courtesy of Tracey Clifford)

I Am Really Alive!