A little ditty from Forsyth Magazines to you!

Prayer Matters ~ 100th and Last Blog

I decided that 100 blog entries was enough for anyone to write and I wanted to end on something that really makes a difference in my life as a woman, mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.

Prayer matters, I do not really understand how it works, but I know it matters in my life and it matters in the world. Even those who do not believe in prayer or say they have never uttered a prayer ~ I believe that there is a prayer within them and when we are silent and pay attention, we will begin to recognize the prayer that is coming from the depths of our being.

What is your prayer this day?

While prayer at its best is very personal and involves ordinary words and thoughts, I have found written prayers to be of great encouragement to me. As I write my last blog, I leave you with some of my favorite written prayers.

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The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26, The Holy Bible

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God bless the path on which you go
God bless the earth beneath your feet
God bless your destination
God be a smooth way before you
A guiding star above you
A keen eye behind you
This day, this night and forever.
God be with you whatever you pass
Jesus be with you whatever you climb
Spirit be with you wherever you stay.
(Celtic Blessing)

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May you be blessed with the understanding of how much God delights in how he made you. You are one of his masterpieces. You are his song to be sung in a key of music that is unique to you, in a rhythm, a harmony, and an orchestration that God rejoices to sing inside of you. The music of heaven graces your life as others see and hear and touch God’s creation in you. (Adapted from: Blessing Your Spirit by Sylvia Gunter)

My 100th blog coming soon!

Today is the 97th blog entry I have written for Forsyth Woman Magazine.  I just can’t believe I will be writing blog 100 in three weeks!  What should this blog be about?  Should it really matter, should it be serious or silly, meaningful, reflective or should I give away something free!   Do you have any suggestions?

Historically speaking and based on website comments, hits, Face book comments and reshares, the following links are blogs that seemed to matter most to others:

The Great Silent Loss – Miscarriage

Pet Peeves

A Giant Hug from heaven (Easter)

A New Family Tradition (Christmas)

Wednesday Word Series

Hope
Priorities
Gratitude
Neighbors
Service
Breathe

The Perfect Wedding ~ NOT!

A Woman’s Stress Less List

Is A Tidy House Good Enough?

Do you have any suggestions for my 100th blog entry?

Are you dumber than a tree?

Did you know that leaves do not fall off; leaves are actually pushed off the tree by the tree! Have you noticed how quickly the leaves seem to be changing this year? Looking out my back door, it seems like I can see the leaves changing daily and yesterday I noticed the leaves are beginning to fall.

Many people think the wind makes dead leaves fall off the tree, but the truth is the tree makes the leaves fall. The tree actually knows what is best for it and even though the leaves have an important function most of the year, the tree knows when the leaves need to fall from the tree.

As you watch the leaves fall this year, perhaps we can all consider what needs to fall away from our lives. It might be ideas, expectations or things we do that do not contribute to our overall purpose in life. It might be bad habits or even people who keep us from living and experiencing life to its fullest.

Deciduous trees that fail to shove their leaves off, will actually die. Although we might not die physically, perhaps it is true that portions of our life might die as the result of things we should release or shove out of our lives.

Let the falling leaves encourage you to take an inventory your life this year. Maybe the falling leaves can encourage us to rid ourselves of certain things and welcome a season of quiet. Perhaps the falling leaves can remind us to prepare for the coming spring.

Don’t let anyone say, “You are dumber than a tree.”
(Wendee Goodman)

Spent $91.00, saved $467.24!

Fall is a great time to purchase spring and summer clothing.  Does your man need a few polo shirts or colored t-shirts?  If so, this is the week to find incredible bargains.  Yesterday I purchased 25 shirts for my husband; I seriously doubt I will purchase another shirt for at least two years!  My husband wears polo shirts everyday, he wears them to work, church and everywhere else. 

Below is a little breakdown:

St. John Bay Polo Shirts

• $4.22 (Original price:  $25.00)
• $1.67 (Original price:  $25.00)

IZOD Shirts

• $7.45 (Original price:  $44.00)

In addition to the 80% off sale, I had an online coupon for another 15% off!  I found these bargains at J. C. Penny, but you will find incredible sales in most stores right now because stores are clearing out the spring/summer merchandise and making room for winter/Christmas items.  

Good luck and comment on our Facebook page or blog if you find any great bargains!

Buying something on sale is a very special feeling.  In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me.  I have a dress that I paid so little for that I am afraid to wear it.  I could spill something on it, and then how would I replace it for that amount of money?

(Rita Rudner)

Grandparent’s Day – Sunday, September 11!

What do you call your grandmother? Are you a grandmother? If so, what do your grandchildren call you? I am looking for a special name that my grandchild might call me. My oldest daughter, Kalee, is expecting in February and I am so excited about my first grandchild.

Below is a variety of “grandmother names.” Some of which I like, some that I would rather not be called.

Grandmother names I would not prefer:
Maw Maw
Memaw (because that’s my Mom’s name)
Big Mom, Big Mama, Big G (or anything with Big connected to it!)
Granny, Grannie
Gummy (this sounds like I would be missing teeth!)
MiMi (my sister has this one)
Mombo
Mamoo, Mama-Moo, Ma-Moo (Geeze, sounds like you are cow!)
Mucka
Toots (I think the reason is obvious)
My children suggested WeeWee and TT (not going to happen!)

Grandmother names that are ok with me:
G-Ma
Nana
Lola
Lala
Muffin
Punkin & Popsi

Grandparents make the world . . .

a little softer, a little kinder and a little warmer.
(Author unknown)

Netflix Fix

In response to the price increase on Netflix, I suggest that we share our favorite Live Streaming series on Netflix.  Below are three series that my husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed this year.

• Heartland: Is a wonderful, feel-good series for the entire family. This CBC series is based on two sisters, their grandfather and their Horse farm.

• Lost: When Lost was on T.V., it just did not catch my attention. However, my husband and I enjoyed the series on Netflix, perhaps the continuity of watching the series helped us understand it. (I would not recommend this for children ~ The Smoke Monster might keep the kids awake and although the violence is minimal, I do not think this is a family friendly series. If I am being honest, it scared me a little!)

• Monarch of the Glen: I will admit it is a little silly and somewhat slow in the beginning but after a few episodes, my husband and I were hooked. This is a BBT production and it is wonderful for the entire family.

When my husband and I looked at the price increases for Netflix, we decided we could certainly live without the mail portion of the plan. If we want to see a more current movie, we will go back to using Redbox periodically.

Does anyone have a Netflix, live-streaming series you would recommend?

Quotes

Do you really enjoy quotes? Do you have a funny quote, an inspirational quote or a quote about women that you would be willing to share? Quotes encourage us, make us laugh and make us think. Below you will find a few of my favorite quotes and a few funny quotes about women.

Fear knocked on the door, faith answered, there was no one there….. (Author unknown)

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those how mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.  (Dr Seuss)

Today you are you, that is truer than true.  There is no alive who is youer than you.  (Dr Suess)

In my world, everyone’s pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies.  (Dr Suess)

Many promising reconciliations have broken down because, while both parties came prepared to forgive, neither party came prepared to be forgiven. (Charles Williams)

To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee (William H Walton)

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?  (Abraham Lincoln)

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Quotes about women

There are two things that you don’t mess with:  a girl’s man and girl’s chocolate.  (Kalee)

Women complain about PMS, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself.  (Roseanna Barr)

No man knows more about women than I do, and I know nothing.  (Author unknown)

Behind every successful man there is a surprised woman.  (Maryon Pearson)

A woman is like a teabag, you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.  (Eleanor Roosevelt)

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant’s life, she will choose to save the infant’s life without even considering if there are men on base.  (Dave Barry) 

One of the most difficult things in the world is to convince a woman that even a bargain costs money  (Author unknown)

A foolish man tells a woman to stop talking; a wise man tells a woman her lips look beautiful when they are closed. (Author unknown)

•*¨*•.¸Facebook Celebration!*¨*•.¸•*¨*

Everyone keeps asking, “How do you do that?”  Therefore, I have decided to share my secret.  Two years ago, I saw a friend write something on Facebook using different symbols to make a wave.  I just loved it and from that point on, I began to copy and paste ”Facebook art”  I liked in a message to myself on Facebook.  Over the past two years, I have gathered quite a collection and now I mix and match these symbols to communicate various celebrations. 

I have collected stars, musical notes (which I love to use when I say, “Happy Birthday”) and several others symbols.  To be honest, I have no idea how the original folks did it, but I have copied and reused these symbols regularly.

Do you know how this is done? I have found some directions on doing this, but it just did not work on my laptop . . . but “copy and paste” works just fine!

I will make a “comment” on Facebook with more “celebration symbols” so make sure you “like” Forsyth Woman Magazine and you can begin your on celebration collection.

A Clean House Confession

If you spend more time cleaning house, than you spend loving, playing and listening to your husband or children . . . you simply do not have your priorities straight!  Do you spend the best part of yourself on keeping a perfect house?  If so, you have wasted the best part of yourself!  Can I get an Amen?

Below are a few housekeeping tips:

 Telephone Housekeeping:  While on the phone chatting with your mother, sister or friend use that time to walk around the house and pick-up while you are talking.  

Dusters with a handle:   The new dusters enable you to dust quickly without moving most things.

Window and glass cleaning cloths :   The new glass cleaning cloths are wonderful!  The cloths can be purchased at the Dollar Store and after dampening them a little with water, you can clean glass doors, glass tabletops and mirrors in seconds with no streaking.   

Scenting your home:  The new candle warmers lightly scent your home and people assume that your house is very clean because it smells so good!

Remember the main thing:  Relationships, family, good health and rest are more important than a clean house!

What if someone shows up without calling?

• If it is a good friend, they do not care if your house is clean or not, they came to see you!
• If it is a complaining, nosey . . . . .(well you know), do not go to the door or put the vacuum cleaner out and say, “Oh, I’m so glad to see you, I was about to begin housecleaning ~ want to help?”

Do you have a housekeeping tip?

We labor to make a house a home, then every time we’re expecting visitors, we rush to turn it back into a house.  ~Robert Brault