I have had a request to keep posting. (Thanks my dear friend)

New project: Inspirational quotes.

“When words become unclear,
I shall focus with photographs.
When images become inadequate,
I shall be content with silence.”
~Ansel Adams

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This evening I recieved an email from a dear friend that means the world to me. This email might be something you have seen before — but this was a new one for me.

As you know I am such a sucker for a great story… just had to share!

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A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door……….

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture. Jack stopped suddenly…

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,’ Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said. “I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.”

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day, Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. “Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days,” the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. “Mr. Harold Belser” it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside……

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart raced as tears filled his eyes. Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

“Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser.”

“The thing he valued most was…..my time.”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” Janet, his assistant, asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

“Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!”

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.

1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.

3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

4. You mean the world to someone.

5. If not for you, someone may not be living.

6. You are special and unique.

7. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won’t get it, but if you trust God to do what’s best, and wait for ‘His time’, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.

8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.

9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

10. Someone that you don’t even know exists loves you.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know, and you’ll both be happy .

13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that you think they are great.

Now send this on to all the people you care about. If you do, you will certainly brighten someone’s day and just might change their perspective on life…..for the better.

And to you, to whom I sent this, Thanks for your time

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*hand me a hanki*  Thank you for taking YOUR time to stop by!  I really do appreciate it.

Not being the biggest fan of hot weather, summer is typically a season that is not my favorite.  But I have always been thankful to the person who invented air conditioning.

The Nat King Cole song, Lazy Hazy Days of Summer always seemed spot on to me!

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

Just fill your basket full of sandwiches and weenies
Then lock the house up, now you’re set
And on the beach you’ll see the girls in their bikinis
As cute as ever but they never get em wet

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You’ll wish that summer could always be here

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

Don’t hafta tell a girl and fella about a drive-in
Or some romantic moon it seems
Right from the moment that those lovers start arrivin
Youll see more kissin in the cars than on the screen

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Youll wish that summer could always be here

Youll wish that summer could always be here

 

The other day my dear friend Deanna wrote a post about “hanging“  — it was perfect and got me thinking.

How much “just hanging” is happening this summer?

Back before technology enhanced my life, I recall saying I  was “bored” often.  But being bored got me to stretch my creative side that now I appreciate more and more. Summers were spent listening to crickets at night.  Waiting for the ice cream to finish churning on my Uncles porch.

Playing outside till dark.

My children had more TV to watch and “videos” but they were very busy with things we thought were important in their lives. Basketball, soccer, baseball camps filled their summers. Of course we did spend hot days near the pool or running through the sprinkler.  But I wonder, did I offer “just hanging”  enough?

Is being alone too scarey? Is being bored something that still happens?

When I watched this gentleman fishing the other evening, I wondered if he had taught his children to enjoy “hanging by themselves?”

Ha!!  Just the right size to toss back!

I loved the color of the water reflecting the sunset.

Hope you are enjoying just hanging this summer.

Hugs!

This years Tippy Pot example.  My mother’s works very hard in her yard to be one of the blocks SHOW case gardens.

With the lovely Spring rains — an early beauty display lives just out side her porch.

Garden Magic This is the garden’s magic, That through the sunny hours The gardener who tends it, Himself outgrows his flowers.

He grows by gift of patience, Since he who sows must know That only in the Lord’s good time Does any seedling grow.

He learns from buds unfolding, From each tight leaf unfurled, That his own heart, expanding, Is one with all the world.

He bares his head to sunshine, His bending back a sign Of grace, and ev’ry shower becomes His sacramental wine.

And when at last his labors Bring forth the very stuff And substance of all beauty This is reward enough. -MARIE NETTLETON CARROLL

Happy Spring and Beauty all around.

Change Your Thinking

It’s been said that it  will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking..

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall..

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have money can’t buy.

‘Today is a gift, this is why it is called The Present .’

The origin of this letter is unknown, and I have read it several times.

It doesn’t change how my heart feels every time I read it.

Hugs.

We have choices every day. We can focus on the negative, the hiccups, the doom and gloom or we can turn our energy to the beauty and wonderful we have around us.   Being conscious of what we’re saying or thinking can set our life on a much more affirmative path.

My computer files have been in total disarray and I have been working on categorizing them better, so that my work flow will be must faster. Rather than hunting through tons of files or folders I am simplifying the process. Clear cut titles and dates. (if you have a wonderful filing system that you could share, please do so)

While doing this simple task, it made me realize that just like my disjointed files this is a lot like life. Being able to focus on simple positive actions will make my life/ work better.  And isn’t that what we all want?  At least for me, I am working on the positive and beauty that is around me. I don’t even want to go to look at the dark side ANY more! I’m not looking at life through rose colored glasses, I know there will still be disjointed “files” that will come my way and I will take care of them. But I will not spend any more time on the negative than is necessary.

For the next few posts I will be sharing some of the grand positive quotations I have found. Thoughts become things. Please be sure and chime in with your comments. I love hearing from you!

QUOTE:  A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.  ~Herm Albright

Driving the other day I noticed this fabulous bush aside the road.

I have not a clue what this is.  Any one??

Hope you are enjoying your Spring.

Stop by our Focusing on Life blog — we have some wonderful examples of spring!

Hugs

And remember:

“If friends were flowers, I’d pick you!”  unknown

I’m sharing a Mr. Linky party over at Focusing on Life — our collaborative blog. 

Come join us as we have some fun sharing our wonderful Spring photos.

Hope you are finding the beauty in your life.

Speaking of — I have edited my original post — I couldnt help but share this FANTASTIC video– CLICK HERE

Hugs!