It's a wonderful life. . .

 

"Look, Daddy.  Teacher says every time a bell rings

 

an angel gets his wings."  ZuZu Bailey, "It's a Wonderful Life"

 

"Remember, George:  no man is a failure who has friends."   Clarence, the angel,  "It's a Wonderful Life"

 

"Strange, isn't it?  Each man's life touches so many other lives.  When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"  Clarence, the angel,  "It's a Wonderful Life"

"A toast to my  big brother, George:  The richest man in town."  Harry Bailey,  "It's a Wonderful Life"

I love this movie and enjoy watching it every year at Christmas.  It teaches so many wonderful life lessons.  It is good to be reminded of the importance of love and friendship and family all year round.  Wishing you all the happiest of Christmases.  You are a blessing to me.

O little star, you hold so many memories~

 

 

The above star was on my parent's first Christmas tree in about 1936. So, it is a little over 70 years old. My mother told me she thinks they paid about ten cents for it. It has hung on every family Christmas tree since 1936. My parents were married during the Great Depression so they had very little material things. My mom told me that my daddy worked all one autumn digging up tree stumps from a farmer's field so that they could afford a winter coat for my sister. What my parents lacked in material wealth, they had an abundance of wealth in what really matters: love and devotion for each other and for their family. After my parents went to heaven, I made sure that we carried on with the tradition of our Christmas star. When I put up my tree each year, the little gold star is the first ornament I put on. It always has a place of honor on our tree. This little star has seen the ebb and flow of life and the love that a family has for each other over these past 70 years. When my grandchildren come for Christmas Eve each year, I show them the Christmas star and tell them the story of our mom and poppie and the love they have for each of them. My dear sweet friends, thank you for letting me share the story of our Christmas star with you.  

 

 

It is not happy people. . .

 

who are thankful.

 

It is thankful people

 

who are happy.

 

I love this time of year, don't you, dear friends?  It is a wonderful time to think on all of the many blessings we have especially the blessing of living in freedom in our wonderful country of America. Today, on Veterans Day, I take my hat off to all of our veterans, my two sons included, who have served so faithfully.  I have found it to be true, the more thankful I am the more I realize I have so much to give thanks for.  I hope you are having a blessed day today.  I am very thankful for each one of you.  Love and blessings to you!

Black and Gold. . .

 

Everything is black and gold,

Black and gold tonight:

 

Yellow pumpkins, yellow moon, yellow candlelight;

 

Jet-black cats with golden eyes,

Shadows black as ink

 

Firelight blinking in the dark

With a yellow blink

 

Black and gold, black and gold

Nothing in between

 

When the world turns black and gold

Then it's Halloween!~Nancy Byrd Turner

 

This poem brings to memory many Halloweens passed:  Trick or Treating as a young girl in New Mexico,  then getting my sons ready for Trick or Treat and always reading this very same poem year after year with my students in school.  Today, I look forward to Trick or Treat with my precious grandchildren.  What autumn memories do you have, dear friends?  Many happy ones I hope!

Be encouraging. . .

 

to all you meet.

 

You never know

 

who is having a hard day.

 

Hello, my friends.  I hope you are doing well this fine autumn day.  We are having some cooler temps here in Central Texas for which I am truly thankful.  I am counting my blessings today, and you, my friends, are right at the top of my list!

Ms. Naomi, my gardener friend

I was a young wife and mother raising two young sons and working full time as a school teacher.  Not a lot of time for tea parties and gardening.

 

 

And yet, even then I loved pretty delicate china tea cups and lovely roses.

 

I longed to have a pretty garden but knew very little about gardening. 

 

I was very fortunate, however, because a friend of mine that I had known all of my life, Ms. Naomi, was a gardening expert!

 

She graciously offered to come to my house and help me prepare my soil for a garden and even brought seeds and flowers for me to plant.  She came on Good Friday.  She said she always planted on this blessed day.

 

I was very excited to have her help.  She showed me how to plant and water and my love for gardening had begun.  I will always be thankful for this sweet lady.

 

I had a very pretty garden that spring and summer and into the autumn.  Even though Ms. Naomi has been gone many years now, not a spring goes by that I don't think of her and her gift of gardening that she presented to me.

 

Do you love to watch things grow?  I sure do.  I think I have my daddy's farming blood in me.

The most beautiful people we have known. . .

 

are those who have known suffering, known struggle, known loss

 

and have found their way out of the depths.

 

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life

 

that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

 

I dedicate my post to you, my beautiful friends and family, who have experienced life's struggles and losses but still choose to live your life with joy and compassion.  I hope you are having the loveliest of days!

 

There is no charm. . .

 

equal to. . .

 

tenderness of heart.~Jane Austen

 

I long to have a tender heart willing to see the best in others, willing to see when others are hurting, and willing to help when I can.

 

Dear friends, I am wishing for you a day of tender hearts.  Hope you are doing well.  Sending hugs and best wishes to you!

I learned at a young age. . .

 

that naps are a very good thing.  My mother always wanted me to take a nap in the afternoon.  However, she was a very smart lady, and she never said the word "nap".  She would always say, "Let's go lie down on the bed.  I will read to you, and we will rest."

 

She would read about the adventures of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy.

 

The poetry of Eugene Field~Wynken, Blynken and Nod~I can still recite most of this poem today.

 

I had  the Little Golden Book, "My Teddy Bear" by Eloise Wilkins, memorized word for word.  Mother would read this one over and over again to me at my request.  Needless to say, before too long my eyes became very heavy, and I was fast asleep.  I still love books, poetry and our language very much.  I attribute this love to my mother.

 

Dear friends, I hope there is a nap in your near future along with a favorite book to excite your imagination!  Have a happy September week!

Remembering "back to school days" in my little hometown of Carlsbad, New Mexico

 

By the end of the summer, I was ready to start back to school, ready to walk to school with my friends on cool September days, not a care in the world.

 

Back to school meant new school supplies:  a big chief tablet, jumbo pencils and crayons, blunt tipped scissors, and school paste in a jar.

 

These, of course, were carried to school in a cigar box, our school supply box!

 

My momma always made me a new dress each year.  Little girls (nor big girls either) never wore anything but dresses to school.  Such beautiful clothes I had all made by momma.

 

The outfit was usually topped off by a new pair of Keds!

 

I remember "reading circle" where we all sat around the teacher and read about "Jack and Janet" and "Tip and Mitten".  Many memories come flooding back today as a new school year is beginning for many children, my grandchildren included.  I pray for them many happy memories such as the ones I had during my childhood.  Wishing you all a blessed September week!

Sometimes the smallest things. . .

 

take up the most room

 

in your heart. . .

 

I am thankful for the "small" things in life that take up so much room in my heart:  singing to my grandchildren before they go to sleep, a breathtaking sunset, the flutter of a tiny hummingbirds wings, so many things to be thankful for today.  Sending loving thoughts to you, each of my friends.  Please have a blessed week ahead focusing in on all of the small things in life.