How to love your summer

Here are 17 creative ways to make the rest of your summer a season to cherish... courtesy of oprah.com.  May you find a few.. or all... that will spice up your lifestyle.

Have a delightful summer... whatever is left of it.

Fun Summer Activities

Live the life you want

One of my life's many blessings is regularly receiving electronic nuggets of wisdom from oprah.com, Opra Winfrey's cyber newsletter.

Below is one example... Martha Beck's 7-step map that can lead to an awesome lifetime journey.

Cheers to those who would like to venture on such a trip.  Good luck!

How to Live the Life You Want

Burned Biscuits

From Ken in the Gold Coast comes this story about burned biscuits... and the lesson we should all learn.  Thanks, Ken!

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When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then.  I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.  On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.  I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!
All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school.  I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit.  He ate every bite of that thing...never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits.  And I'll never forget what he said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.  He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired.  And besides--a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!" 

 

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times.  Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.

 

I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.  But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to celebrate each other's differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

 

And that's my prayer for you today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God.  Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

 

We could extend this to any relationship.  In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

 

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket--keep it in your own."

 

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.   And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life--I just did!  Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

 

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil--it has no point."

 

 

 

 

Life's surprises‏

My gratitude to BFF Josie for sharing this wonderful piece.  The pictures tell the story!

* * *



This is wonderful…and the thought
at the end is so true! 



  

Never look down on anybody, unless you're helping them up.

Please read the following quietly then send it back on its journey

To realize the value of a sister/brother ask someone

who doesn't have one.

To realize the value of four years:  ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year:  ask a student who

has failed a final exam.

To realise the value of nine months:

ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize the value of one month:  ask a mother

who has given birth to a premature baby..

To realize the value of one minute:  ask a person

who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second:  ask a person

who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when

you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,

but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Do not keep this letter.

Send it to friends & family to whom you wish a good, long, happy, life.

 

Calming colors

For anyone who has taken for granted the beauty of a well-landscaped garden or the soothing sight of a sunset, just to name a few, take a moment to appreciate the blessing of seeing colors.  My BFF Josie who forwarded this piece (thanks, amiga!) and I found the momentary calm we needed from our busy world.

* * *

To see the transition from black and white to color - WOW - This is beautiful to watch and if you feel any stress with getting things done or not having enough time, this will relax you and make you appreciative of all we have.

Turn up your sound too! Enjoy!

Click here: Colors

An adorable two-legged dog

The following is a dog story everyone will love.  It illustrates that even furry creatures can rise to the occasion despite their handicap.  Thanks to my friend Kenneth in the Gold Coast for sharing this lovely story.

* * *

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002.  He was born with only 2 legs.  He of course could not walk when he was born.  Even his mother did not want him. 

His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. 

But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. 

She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself. 

She named him 'Faith'. 

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement.  Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around. 

Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk. 

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. 

After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.

 

Faith loves to walk around now. 

No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. 

There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him. 

He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul.

In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.

I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each & every beautiful day. 

'Faith' is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.
A small request:  All you are asked to do is keep this story circulating.

Lethal gas

I never thought that passing gas could inspire an act of violence.  Obviously, life is stranger than fiction as the following story demonstrates.

Thanks to BFF Josie for sharing this material and bringing some laughs to my day.

Man pulls gun on neighbor for farting

The Typewriter Song

The Underwood manual typewriter was my first serious toy as a child.  Therefore, this piece shared by Kenneth in the Gold coast is quite endearing to me.  Thanks, Kenneth!

The Typewriter Song

by Leroy Anderson

The power of visualization

Visualization, or what I love to call manifesting our dream, is a powerful tool that many people can take advantage of, if they so desire.  Our mind has the magnetic force to make the realities we want come to pass.  Instead, human nature nurtures the tendency towards negativity.

Let us not forget that thoughts have the power to fulfill our destiny.

The following material expounds on the subject of visualization... from a psychic's point of view.

4 Secret Keys to the Power of Visualization

Agree or Delete

My wish is to see the return of Godliness and God-fearing citizens in our society. But as it turns out, the separation of church and state has become the rule, rather than the exception, in our way of doing things.  America is a free country... so be it!

Nevertheless, I really believe that if every man and woman in our world will believe in a Supreme Force, adhere to the Golden Rule, and live each day being an asset to the community, there will not be a reason to Agree or Delete. 

Thanks to my friend, Lina, for sharing this piece.

* * *

AGREE OR DELETE

This is by a daughter of a murdered couple in Raytown , MO , who had a Bible and Bookstore on 63rd street .. She says:

When I had to testify at the murder trial of my parents a week ago, I was asked to raise my right hand... The bailiff started out "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

I stood there and waited but she said nothing. She said "Do you?"

I was so stunned I blurted out "What happened to "so help me God'?"

She came back with "Do you?" I replied yes, but I was perplexed.

Then the judge said . "You can say that if you want to."

I stopped, raised my right hand, and finished with "So help me God!"

I told my son and daughter that when it came time for them to testify, they should do the same.

I don't know what can be done about it, but it's time for us to step up and DO something.

NBC this morning had a poll on this question.. They had the highest number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the percentage was the same as this:  86% to keep the words, 14% against... That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed... or delete if I didn't.

Now it is your turn. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.

Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Why is America -- our nation -- catering to this 14%?  If you agree, pass this on, if not, simply delete....

In God We Trust

If You Choose To Delete
Perhaps Then You Are Part Of The Problem 

Me? I'm Passing It On. 
It seems to get worse daily.

AGREE OR DELETE (although I pray that you will forward this...)

TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

HONOR GOD. MAKE DISCIPLES.

Lina

Burning human greed

The burning inferno in some parts of my world has overstayed its welcome.  Weather conditions such as triple digit temperatures, unpredictable high winds, and lack of moisture have contributed to the proliferation of wildfires in many places.

When finally it was deemed okay for the fire evacuees to return to their homes, many found their houses burglarized.  The vehicles of those who stayed in hotels were broken into and robbed of possessions.

Burglaries in the fire zones?  Talk of rubbing salt to the wound!

Really, people... how much lower can anyone go?  The fire victims were already worried sick over the possibility of losing their home and security, what kind of sick mind would have the nerve to take advantage of their belongings?

While good souls have come forward during these challenging times, the cult of satan also saw it as an opportunity to unleash their wickedness.  Kicking people when they are down is not only cruel, it is a surefire way of getting a first-class ticket to hell.

Saluting the Brave

Like my BFF Josie who shared the following piece, I felt touched while reading this story.  There have been military folks in my life.  Josie's father was a WWII veteran while her husband served in Vietnam.

We both are saddened by the fact that despite the courageous sacrifices of our military people who went overseas to risk their lives, they come home and hardly get the respect and honor they deserve.

The veteran charities are among my favorites... always will be!  Supporting them is the least I can do to say Thank You for the awesome work they have done, and continue to do, for our country.

* * *



Sack Lunches

 

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight.  'I'm glad I have a good book to read.  Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.  'Petawawa.  We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars.  It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.  Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.  I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.  None were buying lunch.  I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.  'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'  She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.  Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.  'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated.  She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'  'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.  She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it.  Here, take this.'  He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'  Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand.

With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'  I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.

Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.  I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars.  'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich.  God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.  These soldiers were giving their all for our country.  I could only give them a couple of meals.  It seemed so little....

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.' 

 

Beyond disrespect

My friend Lina forwarded the following via e-mail to me and a bunch of friends.  Being a good Catholic, I raise eyebrows at the ridiculous depiction of my Forever Friend in this upcoming film, "Corpus Christi."   Some filmmakers simply shove shameful productions down our throats!  It is up to you to pick up the cause and share with the folks you know.  Thank you.

* * *

Abraham asked the Lord to spare 50 righteous people. God responded to Abraham's plea "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all".... Genesis 18:16-33

The movie "Corpus Christi" is due to be released this June to August. A disgusting film set to appear in America later this year depicts Jesus and his disciples as homosexuals! As a play, this has already been in theaters for a while. It's called "Corpus Christi" which means "The Body of Christ". It's revolting mockery of our Lord. But we can make a difference.

That's why I am sending this e-mail to you. If you do send this around, we just might be able to prevent this film from showing in America and the Philippines. Let's stand for what we believe in and stop the mockery of Jesus Christ our Savior. Where do we stand as Christians? At the risk of a bit of inconvenience, I'm forwarding this to all I think would appreciate it, too. Please help us prevent such offenses against our Lord. There is no petition to sign, no time limit, or minimum number of people to send this to.. It will take you less than 2 minutes!

If you are not interested and do not have the 2 minutes it will take to do this, please don't complain when God does not have time for you because He is far busier than we are. Hey it's worth a shot!

Apparently, some regions in Europe have already banned the film. All we need is a lot of prayer and a lot of e-mails.

JUST GET THE WORD OUT!

....Will God be able to find at least 50 righteous people who are willing to express their concern and voice their opinion against this act of blasphemy.

 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

HONOR GOD. MAKE DISCIPLES.

Lina

Elephant bath

Ever seen elephants take a bath?  If you haven't, below is a link that gives you an idea, thanks to some Dutch tourists who happened by a bunch of elephants on their way to a bath break.

Thanks to Kenneth in the Gold Coast for passing this on!

Elephant Bath

Products containing aborted fetal cells

The following shocking piece was shared by my long-time chum, Lina.  The information is mind-blowing, but it is good to be informed specially about products that find their way into our bodies.

Thanks, Lina!

* * *

Avoid Any Products Containing Aborted Fetal Cells

Many opposing viewpoints have been raised on the morality of using consumer products which are cultivated on aborted fetal cell lines. Regardless of your position on abortion, the fact that there is an entire industry around the manufacture of foods, beverages and medical products which routinely utilize aborted fetal tissue should be a cause for great concern.

There has always been a great deal of excitement within the medical community regarding the use of fetal tissue for transplantation and for the manufacture of vaccines.

Fetal tissue technology has evolved tremendously in the two decades especially in the area of treating various neural and endocrinal diseases.

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/1873/528/Avoid_Any_Products_Containing_Aborted_Fetal_Cells.html

However, serious ethical questions are being raised as to the source and procurement of the necessary tissue. While some experts in the medical community forecast unlimited potential for fetal tissue technology, others have expressed deep concern as to the limits to the ethical and moral dynamics of the issue. Where is the line drawn?

The Economic Drive of Abortion
The world of economics runs on the basis of supply and demand. And this is perhaps the largest fear to approving fetal tissue research and transplants from elective aborted fetuses. While it is claimed that supply is sufficient to meet current demand - which is a tragedy in itself - what is to happen when researchers discover that the fetal tissue products can effectively treat a broader assortment of disease and illnesses? What happens when there is still not enough supply? While these questions may seem overstated, we should not underestimate the advances of medical technology or the moral corruption of modern society. Several proposals were brought to the National Institutes of Health Panel to protect babies from being procured for the motive of profit. Yet with an estimated annual income of six billion dollars, the potential for abuse in fetal tissue industry would be substantial, not to mention very difficult to regulate and enforce. ‘With the anticipated profitability of the industry once the technology can alleviate a larger number of diseases, there will be increasing pressures to "share the wealth" produced by these transplants.’ (Scott Rae, ibid)

Related to the supply of the fetus, is the supply of fresh and more mature fetuses. The timing of abortion becomes an important consideration to the researchers and medical community who benefit from a more matured and developed fetus. The majority of abortions procedures are performed between the sixth and eleventh weeks of pregnancy, however delaying until the fourteen to sixteenth weeks will yield fetal tissue that is usable in pancreatic transplants. Simply put, the older the fetus the more valuable! A subsequent concern of delaying the abortion procedures until the ‘ripe’ time period, is the emotional effects this will have for the mother. Aborting the unborn baby at four months old (as opposed to 6-11 weeks old) will compound the emotional impact on the mother resulting in a significant increase in post abortion trauma.

Avoiding Foods, Beverages and
Vaccines Containing Aborted Fetal Cells

As recently as May, Pepsi ignored concerns and criticism from dozens of pro-life groups and tens of thousands of pro-life people who voiced their opposition to PepsiCo contracting with biotech company Senomyx even after it was found to be testing their food additives using fetal cells from abortions.

“The company’s key flavor programs focus on the discovery and development of savory, sweet and salt flavor ingredients that are intended to allow for the reduction of MSG, sugar and salt in food and beverage products,” the Senomyx web site says. “Using isolated human taste receptors, we created proprietary taste receptor-based assay systems that provide a biochemical or electronic readout when a flavor ingredient interacts with the receptor.”

Debi Vinnedge, of the pro-life group Children of God for Life, explained, “What they don’t tell the public is that they are using HEK 293 -- human embryonic kidney cells taken from an electively aborted baby to produce those receptors. They could have easily chosen animal, insect, or other morally obtained human cells expressing the G protein for taste receptors.”

In August 2010, PepsiCo entered into a four-year agreement with Senomyx for the development of artificial high-potency sweeteners for PepsiCo beverages. Under the contract, PepsiCo is paying $30 million to Senomyx for the research and future royalties on PepsiCo products sold using Senomyx technology. When the prolife group wrote both companies requesting they use one of several non-objectionable, viable cell lines listed in their patents, Senomyx did not respond. PepsiCo did reply however and insisted that its use of the research from Senomyx would produce “great tasting, lower-calorie beverages.”

The following products are manufactured using aborted fetal cells:

PEPSI BEVERAGES
- All Pepsi soft drinks
- Sierra Mist soft drinks
- Mountain Dew soft drinks
- Mug root beer and other soft drinks
- No Fear beverages
- Ocean Spray beverages
- Seattle's Best Coffee
- Tazo beverages
- AMP Energy beverages
- Aquafina water
- Aquafina flavored beverages
- DoubleShot energy beverages
- Frappuccino beverages
- Lipton tea and other beverages
- Propel beverages
- SoBe beverages
- Gatorade beverages
- Fiesta Miranda beverages
- Tropicana juices and beverages

NESTLE PRODUCTS
- All coffee creamers
- Maggi Brand instant soups, bouillon cubes, ketchups, sauces, seasoning, instant noodles

KRAFT - CADBURY ADAMS PRODUCTS
- Black Jack chewing gum
- Bubbaloo bubble gum
- Bubblicious bubble gum
- Chiclets
- Clorets
- Dentyne
- Freshen Up Gum
- Sour Cherry Gum (Limited)
- Sour Apple Gum (Limited)
- Stride
- Trident

CADBURY ADAMS CANDIES
- Sour Cherry Blasters
- Fruit Mania
- Bassett's Liquorice All sorts
- Maynards Wine Gum
- Swedish Fish
- Swedish Berries
- Juicy Squirts
- Original Gummies
- Fuzzy Peach
- Sour Chillers
- Sour Patch Kids
- Mini Fruit Gums

OTHER CADBURY ADAMS PRODUCTS
- Certs breath mints
- Halls Cough Drops

NEOCUTIS PRODUCTS
This company produces anti wrinkle creams that
contain cells from a 14 week gestation aborted male
baby. Following is the list of the creams, but we
recommend a full boycott of all Neocutis Products.

- Bio-Gel Prevedem Journee
- Bio-Serum Lumiere
- Bio Restorative Skin Cream

VACCINES
MMR II (Merck)
ProQuad (MMR + Chickenpox -- Merck)
Varivax (Chickenpox -- Merck)
Pentacel (Polio + DTaP + HiB -- Sanofi Pasteur)
Vaqta (Hepatitis-A -- Merck)
Havrix (Hepatitis-A -- Glaxo SmithKline)
Twinrix (Hepatitis-A and B combo -- Glaxo)
Zostavax (Shingles -- Merck)
Imovax (Rabies -- Sanofi Pasteur)

OTHER MEDICINES:
Pulmozyme (Cystic Fibrosis -- Genetech)
Enbrel (Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Amgen)

Dave Mihalovic is a Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in vaccine research, cancer prevention and a natural approach to treatment.

Pepsi stops using aborted fetal cell lines to test flavors



TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

HONOR GOD. MAKE DISCIPLES.

Lina