My Little Flashlight

I am writing my first e-books. What a learning experience! Every time I think I have the first one ready, I find out I must learn something new. When I started, I read an uplifting article that said you could walk across the USA in the dark with just a flashlight -- going a few steps at a time. So I mentally grabbed a flashlight and told myself that I would take this project one step at a time. Each day I try to move forward with things I know to do. Sometimes I seem to receive Divine Inspiration on what to write. Sometimes I receive an e-mail or a phone call that gives me the next step. On other days, I will receive encouragement to continue. And somehow it is happening. Most of the time I feel really in the dark about what I am doing, and yet........my little flashlight keeps leading the way. I am learning. I am growing. It is an adventure! My first free e-book should be available within a week or two. You will also be noticing some changes in this blog -- we may even change location. So be aware!

and if you have an "impossible" task ahead of you, I'll be glad to share my flashlight!

Black Friday

It has been a wonderful restful day. I have never understood why the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday for the media. For me, it is a day of rest and reflection, a time to think, read, make new lists, and prepare for the upcoming holidays - on paper. I have no desire to shop today -- not even on line. That chore can be done later. Today feels like a "snow day". The world is in slow motion and all is well. The refrigerator is filled with leftovers. There is more than enough for dinner. I am thankful.

Tomorrow is soon enough to start decorating for Christmas. I choose to relish this day and its quiet as a day of completion and thanksgiving that Thanksgiving Day was such a joy! And again, I am thankful.

A Delightfully Magic Afternoon

Saturday afternoon, the grands came to visit. Jessica is 5 years old and Zachary is 4 years old. They were immediately attracted to our front yard which is filled with bright yellow leaves. Jessica made leaf bouquets, and Zach set about making leaf piles. Within a few minutes, both of them were running and jumping into the pile of leaves. Grandpa (Poppy) soon joined them and within minutes, he was lying face down on the ground and the children were covering him with leaves. Then they all took turns covering each other and jumping out of the leaves like a jack-in-the-box! I saw little Jessica press a leaf against her cheek in absolute love and appreciation. What a beautiful sight! A picture of fall blessings! I watched and grinned from the front porch. Is there anything more joyous than happy children playing with nature's gifts? Children seem to know instinctively how to play in nature's bounty. Leaves, snow, beach sand -- all provided, it seems, for children's play. The activity is the same, whatever the season -- pile it up, pick it up, roll in it, make a hill, jump on it --I can imagine children around the world play exactly the same way, don't you think?

I am thankful to live in a part of the world that allows all four seasons -- and especially thankful for the joy and laughter of children. Have you noticed the awesome colors of the leaves this year?

Have a gloriously happy Thanksgiving Day and remember the Thanksgiving blessing that is posted here--just in case you need it. and as always, I am so thankful for you all!

Thanksgiving Blessing

Our first Thanksgiving after our brother's death in 1988, my sister gave this blessing to us. We have all treasured it since and would like to share with you now. Nancy found it in an old Ideals magazine that mom had kept. I hope it will mean as much to you as it does to us.

Grace for Thanksgiving Day
Alice Kennelly Roberts

Dear God, wherever we may be
On this Thanksgiving Day
Gathered with loved ones in our homes
Or many miles away--
We bow our heads, remembering those
Who shared Thanksgiving past
Those who have walked with us awhile
Whose love will always last.
We thank Thee for the joy of friends,
The food before us set
And for a tiny Pilgrim band
Whose trials we can't forget.
Help us to sift the good and bad,
The hatred and the strife.
Grant us the wisdom and the strength
To lead a useful life. Amen.

A Lesson in Courage and Letting Go

All this talk about laughter reminded me of our friend, Joann -- and yes, she will laugh when she sees this blog! A few years ago she sold her lovely home on the coast of SC and bought herself an RV! She travels the country visiting her children and grandchildren! And having fun! At this moment, she is somewhere in Texas, I think, with a group of single RV'ers having the time of her life. Everywhere she goes, she makes friends. She laughs easily and often.
I tell her all the time how courageous she is--A single lady, about my age, with a bumper sticker that reads "Homeless Granny on the Run!" She sold practically every material thing that she had, and is simply enjoying herself, her RV, her kids, her grandkids, and her friends.
Joann came to town for our daughter's wedding last August. I walked into the Hospitality Room at the hotel to find Joann steaming tablecloths! She had already met my sisters and become a part of the festivities! All weekend, she was right there, helping my sisters in the hospitality room, visiting with other guests--we even took a crazy ride in my car to find sparklers! She simply "goes with the flow" and enjoys every minute! What a gift!
We do learn from each of our relationships and Joann has taught me so much! But tonight I am thankful for her courage -- she jumped into that RV and took off, and is making a happy and interesting life for herself. I am starting a new career writing on line -- and tonight -- well, tonight, I just need to focus on Joann's courage! She went after her dreams full steam ahead -- and I am sure she is improving life for everyone that she meets along the way!
Thank you, Joann! I treasure your friendship!

Laughter and Dear Friends

We had company this weekend -- Margie and Billy, our dear friends, probably our oldest friends. We met in 1970 when we moved to Wagener, SC. We always enjoy their company - relaxed and easy for all of us -- old friends are such a treasure.
I was thinking though, of my last visit to their home. It was in the summer. My sister and I had attended a nephew's wedding near Wagener. As I rode through town, remembering our days of living there, over and over I was reminded of laughter. In those days, it seems, we laughed a lot -- a whole lot! I remember laughing at Granny Ruby's kitchen table; I remember laughing in the churchyard at the Baptist Church; we laughed at Linna Sue's house and we laughed at Listene's house and we laughed at my house and we laughed at Mary Dale's beauty shop. Wherever we went, we laughed. One time, preparing Thanksgiving dinner, Margie and I laughed so hard we were literally rolling in the floor, hollering, crying we were laughing so hard. Maybe it was because we were all so young and life did not seem as serious. I am not sure of the reasons why -- but oh, how I cherish those days of laughter! That's really important stuff-- to laugh hard and laugh often. I think I don't do that enough anymore! I am resolving right now to do better.
One of the "bedtime" books that I read to the grandchildren says "what happened today to make you laugh?" I think I will start asking myself that question each night. Want to join me in that??

A Plan of Action

I was talking with a friend last night about a problem in her life. We developed an action plan that I think might be helpful to you. These are simple ideas that have helped me in the past. When you are "frozen", stymied, stuck with a problem, you simply want a way out. Certainly it is better to take an active stance than to sit and muddle over your problem over and over. Again, I remind you to take any of these ideas and adjust them to your belief system. I can only write what I know about, for sure.
Action Plan:
1. Write a letter to your angels. If you are worried/concerned about a particular loved one, write a letter to their angel. Simply start your letter "Dear Susie's angel" or "Dear Jacob's angel". Then pour out your heart. State the situation, your feelings about it, and ask for angelic help. When your letter is ready, put it in a special place -- in the back of your Bible, on your prayer alter, under a small angel figurine. Simply stating your problem, and placing it in the hands of the angelic hosts will relieve you.
2. Get on a prayer list. There are many of those on line. I use www.silentunity.org . Those folks are wonderful and will hold your concern in their prayers for 30 days. Get yourself some prayer partners!
3. Make an imaging page. At the risk of repeating this too many times in one blog, this is the most effective prayer technique I have ever used. See details in earlier blogs. Grab some old magazines, and sit down and cut and paste like a child for a couple of hours. Put the page where you will see it daily. My pages are in back of my prayer journal. I use them as prayer guides.
4. Find a suitable affirmation and repeat it at least 20 times a day -- when your concern pops up in your mind. Give your problem a positive affirmation. It will relieve your mind to do so. An affirmation is just a positive prayer. For example, if a loved one is suffering an illness, you can repeat, "Susie, you are whole, well and free". In other words, you are knowing and believing in your heart of faith that Susie is healthy and you are picturing her healthy in your prayers. For more about affirmations, simple google that word. There are thousands of affirmations on line. I am sure you can find one to fit your problem.
5. Let it go. You now have an action plan. You are doing everything you can. Let go and let God. How many times have you heard that? Well, this is the time to do it. And do let me know how this works out for you. You, my readers, are in my prayers daily. Peace.

A Little Education

If you are new to blogging and reading blogs, you might wonder "What is all the stuff on the right hand column?" On my blog, you will notice several squares with my picture and "I am a member of". These are called nings. They are social networking sites and fun to read and fun to join. Anytime you want to visit one of the nings, simply click on my picture and you will be taken to the site. After you visit a few, you might want to create a ning of your own. It's all free. Give it a try!

You will also notice listings of other blogs. When you look at another blog listed under Blogosphere, then my blog will be shown in someone else's blogosphere. This is a great help to me increasing readers. And there is some great information there.

The Blogroll listing is a list of blogs from folks who are taking the Portable Empire course with me from Pat O'Bryan. I have found these folks to be of the highest integrity, and I think you would enjoy visiting their blogs.

and so your inspiration note today is an urge to explore and learn on the Internet. More of this later. and again and again, Thank you for reading my blog. I am learning and having fun expressing myself on line. I appreciate YOU!

A Life Well Lived

"If you don't know my midnight, don't be jealous of my morning." That is a quote from Mr. Willie Boulware, my former employer. What he meant was that we should not be envious of others' success if we did not know the troubles those people had been through. In the 70's, I was the school secretary and he was the principal at the Alternative School, a school for children with discipline problems. He was a man of great wisdom, and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to work with him and learn from him.

He was a poor black kid in the south in the 40's and 50's. He became a talented musician and played in those wonderful first soul/rock and roll bands. And oh, the stories he loved to tell! During his adult life he taught school and was a principal, a preacher, and served on community boards all over town. He ended up with six college degrees, in everything from English literature to education to ministry.

According to today's local paper, the Rock Hill Herald, Mr. B used to also say to his children "Do your best and strive for more". He not only said that to his children but to his students and his employees. Most people who were around Mr. B for any length of time improved their lives -- either by going back to school, seeking a better job, or broadening their thinking. He was forever encouraging, actually pushing everybody to do more, to go for their dreams.

Mr. Boulware died Monday after some years of illness. I am so very grateful for the impact he had on my life. He was a good man who made this world a much better place. Oh, what a legacy! Thank you, Mr. B!

P. S. Thank you to the Rock Hill Herald for information.