New Year's Eve

At the sound of the tolling midnight bell
a brand new year will begin.
Let’s raise our hopes in a confidant toast,
to the promise it ushers in.

May your battles be few, your pleasure many,
your wishes and dreams fulfilled.
May your confidence stand in the face of loss
and give you the strength to rebuild.

May peace of heart fill all your days
may serenity grace your soul.
May tranquil moments bless your life
and keep your spirit whole.

~ Author Unknown ~

Welcoming 2013

If it didn’t bring you joy

                                                                  just leave it behind
                                                              Let’s ring in the new year
                                                              with good things in mind

                                                                 Let every bad memory
                                                      that brought heartache and pain
                                                             And let’s turn a new leaf
                                                            with the smell of new rain

                                                             Let’s forget past mistakes
                                                          making amends for this year
                                                           Sending you these greetings
                                                           to bring you hope and cheer
                                                                       Happy New Year!

                                                                    ~ Author Unknown ~

my goal

“As I live each day may I do my part
to make one difference, to touch one heart.
And through each day may it be my goal
to encourage one mind and inspire one soul.” 

How much love?

It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. - Mother Teresa

Peace and Blessings

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!  ~Author Unknown

A woman wants

Although every woman wants a guy who shows interest in her life, appreciates her on ordinary days and loves her with all her imperfections. But deep in her heart she wants a guy who is completely faithful to her and who is not scared of commitment and marriage. A guy who can promise to give his best to hold her hand for the rest of her life

Heart of a woman

Sometimes the heart of a woman can go beyond human perception. Its astonishing and beyond understanding that how women manage to carry every pain and sorrow inside their hearts and still manage to say 'It okay.'' This is the moment when there is a divine spirit that lives within their souls. This is when the entire universe radiates its power through a woman and gives her the emotional strength to face the world..

A mess of life

When you want them, they don’t want you. When they want you, you don’t want them. But when you both want each other, someone will always try to mess it up.

Wish you lots on Christmas

May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. Wish you lots of love, joy and happiness. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas's special gifts

Christmas is full of shiny things
That sparkle, gleam and glow,
These holiday pleasures dazzle us,
And yet, deep down, we know...
That Christmas has its special gifts
But our year-round joy depends
On the cherished people in our lives,
Our family and our friends.

Christmas time

Christmas is the happiness that lights our children's eyes. Christmas is a song of bells ringing through the skies. Christmas is a time of peace, of contentment deep within, A time of love and silent hope that years will never dim.

Glow of Christmas

Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show.
The secret lies in an inner glow.
It's lighting a fire inside the heart.
Good will  and joy a vital part.
It's higher thought and a greater plan.
It's glorious dream in the soul of man.

The best gifts

Deep down inside we know that the best gifts don’t come from catalogs or shopping malls. They don’t come in brightly-colored packages or fancy envelopes and they're not hiding in a closet for you to open on Christmas morning. The best gifts come from the heart. They come when we look at each other, REALLY look at each other and say: "You mean a lot to me or I’m so glad you're part of my life". A gift like that will never go out of style or be forgotten or be returned for a different size. A gift like that can make someone's day, change someone's life or even save a life.

Christmas wish

I wish you peace and Happiness for your holiday, - Hope you get all you desire on this Christmas day. Christmas is the season of giving to the ones you love, Helping those in need and giving thanks to the God above. I am sending you my heart filled with love and joy, May God grand that special wish within your heart, even though we are miles apart. Have a Joyous Holiday.

Christmas Recipe

Blend equal parts of Faith and Hope mixed well with charity; stir in Good Will and Sweet Content and Precious Memory. Add Kindness, Helpfulness and Joy; of Gratitude don't spare; Then drop by drop Love's Essence sweet, and Praises freely share. And don't forget such spices rare as Laughter, Smiles and Fun, Taste often for the best results, Now add a Thankful Heart and then, the recipe's complete, your "Merry Christmas" all will like... so try the season's treat.

The spirit of Christmas

Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.

Christmas Wish

Christmas Wish

My Christmas Wish for you, I wish you love and friendship. Lots of laughter and happiness. May you count your blessings. May you find all you've been given to be more than what you asked for. May your spirit never grow old and all your clouds have silver linings. Know that each of you are in my heart and thoughts throughout the year, not just holidays. May you be truly blessed in all that you do and may you share your joy and happiness with others. May you be a joy to all around you and may your love abound! May you each find peace in the season. Remember, it is what comes from the heart, not the wallet. May your dreams come true. I wish this and so much more. Have a Merry Christmas and a Safe Happy New Year too.

Will this be a good Christmas?

Will this be a good Christmas?
How will you measure it?

Of course, Christmas is a profoundly important day of worship to devout Christians, so a "good" Christmas must include a meaningful religious connection with the teachings of Jesus. But for many Christians and non-Christians, there are other dimensions to this day.

In fact, Christmas is more than a single day; it's a season involving weeks of preparation and celebration devoted to family, friendships and most important of all, a grand vision of " Peace on earth and goodwill toward men."

To me, a good Christmas is one that helps us become better people so we can have better lives and a better society. On a personal level, the optimism, good cheer and goodwill embodied in the Christmas spirit are antidotes to selfishness and superficiality. They can help us find purpose and meaning in love, kindness, charity, gratitude and forgiveness.

On a social level, a good Christmas is one where we can say we've made meaningful progress combating homelessness, hunger and poverty. It would also be a good Christmas if we truly overcame the fears, suspicions and prejudices that may be hindering our expression of goodwill to all men, regardless of their ethnicity, national origin or personal religion.

So I hope you'll make this Christmas a good one!

My child

You changed me.
You changed who I am,
You changed who I will be
I am forever changed because of you.

You've taught me that love has no boundaries
You've taught me that there is more to life than what I know
You've taught me to really truly count my blessings.
You've taught me the strength of a bond between a mother and a child.

Life is unpredictable
Life is about the love you share, and the people you share it with
Life isn’t easy and there is pain beyond measure
But my life must continue, even though your life is gone.

I must continue, so that I can change the lives of others
the way you have forever changed me.

~ Author Unknown

Painting by Claire Szalay Phipps

My gift to you from me

(click image to enlarge)

The gifts I'd leave beneath your tree,
Aren't those that you can touch or see,
Not wrapped in Christmas tissue gay
But gifts to bless you every day.
The gift of friendship warm and true,
is one that I would leave for you!
Good health and happiness and cheer
To keep you smiling through the year.
The gift of peace that comes from God,
With prayer to guide each path you trod
And when your heart has lost it's song
The gift of hope to cheer you on.
These are the gifts I'd leave for you
To bring you joy your whole life through.

that's life

Life changes every minute of everyday. You lose friends. You gain friends. You realize your friend wasn't ever really your friend and the person you used to hate can make a really good friend. You look for love. You find love. You lose love. You realized all along that you've been loved. You laugh. You cry. You laugh so hard that you cry. You do this. You do that. You really wish you hadn't done that. You then learn from that and you're glad that you did. You have your ups. You have your downs. You see good movies. You see bad movies. You wonder if your life is just a big movie. You look at others and wish you were them. You then realize who they are and glad you're you. You love life. You hate life. In the end you just find yourself happy to be living life no matter what's being thrown at you.

Let your light shine

Does the light of your soul still shine?

Is it still a beacon that others can find?
Or does a guilty conscience cover it like a film
Dulling its rays and causing it to look dim?

Do you tell yourself everything is just fine
Ignoring the needs of others as if blind?
What about those who have gone astray?
And those who are lonely and afraid?

Search your heart and see what you find
Ask yourself if you have been unkind
Good deeds alone will not get you into Heaven
Extend a helping hand to your fallen brethren

It will clear your conscience and erase your sins
And the light of your soul will be bright again
Others will look upon you as a beacon of hope
As down life's road they struggle and cope

by Ellen Bailey

A friend

A friend is like a flower
A rose to be exact,
Or maybe like a brand new gate,
That never come unlatched.
A friend is like an owl,
Both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
Whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like those blades of grass,
You can never mow,
Standing straight, tall and proud
In a perfect row.
A friend is like a heart
That goes strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world,
If we didn't have a friend.

To all my haters... Thank you!

To all the people along 

the way who hurt me, 

lied to me, 

betrayed me, 

disappointed me, 

broke my heart... 

You unknowingly pointed 

me in the direction of my 

own North Star. 

Without the messes, 

I wouldn't have a message. 

You taught me more than 

you could ever take from me. 

Thank you!

Love is....

Love is not a Joke, Love is not a game
Once u fall in Love, you will never be the same,
Love is never ending, Love is never wrong,
Love can make u weak, Love can make you strong..
Love is more than words, Love is more than giving,
Love can make u cry, Love can make you sing..
Love is always true, Love is always kind,
Love is something that happens,
not something that you find..

I survived

Sometimes you have to fall from the mountain to realize what you are climbing for. Obstacles are placed in our way to see if what we want is really worth fighting for. From every wound there's a scar and every scar tells a story, a story that says, "I was wounded but I survived."

Start Over

When couples first get together, everything is new and exciting. They overlook the little annoying things the other person does. However, after time, the nagging starts, instead of hearing, You look beautiful, they might hear Why are you wearing that shirt? If this sounds like your relationship, first, the two of you need to sit down and be honest that things have changed. Identify the things each other did in the beginning of the relationship that created the attraction in the first place. Then together, make a commitment to start over. The truth is, both of you will have to work on this. It will not automatically be easy but it is possible. Start by forgiving each other, forgetting the past, and then start over with the flirtation. Focus only on the special things your mate does and relearn to put the unimportant things aside. It will take some time so be patient.

Good Life

When you really want something, sometimes you have to swim a little deeper. You can't give up just because things don't come easy. You have to overcome the obstacles and face your fears. But in the end, it's all worthwhile. Life is full of ups and downs, but if you believe in yourself, you will always come through with flying colors. Value friendship, love and faith. Never underestimate yourself. Believe in yourself. Have a good life!

The couples

The couples that are meant to be are the ones who go through everything that's designed to tear them apart and come out even stronger.

simple person

I'm not the most popular person, but I have good friends. 

I'm not a rich person but I have, but I have the important things I need.

I may not be liked by all, but I'm love by those who matter to me. 

the strongest people...

Sometimes the strongest people are the ones who love beyond all faults, cry behind close doors and fight battles that nobody knows about.

Enjoy the world around you

Nature cannot heal and help us while we are rushing about. We must stop and relax if nature is to work her magic. There is little value in a hurried glance at a mountain brook, but to take off our shoes and socks and wade in the brook or to sit on the bank and watch it for an hour, is to feel its peace and music flowing through us.

-Wilferd A. Peterson

Take a day away from it all

Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours or aimless wandering or spates of time sitting on the park benches, observing the mysterious worlds of ants and the canopy of treetops. A day away acts as a spring tonic. It can dispel rancor, transform indecision and renew the spirit.

be thankful

There is no need to wait until Thanksgiving Day to give thanks. Today, look around you and give thanks for all the gifts that you have. You'll surprise yourself, as you start to actually list all that there is to give thanks for. We, sometimes, focus on all that we don't have, that we forget to really notice all that we do have.

crazy life

The crazy thing about life is that though we make plans of the future, even plans that may sometimes include people in our lives in which we may really care about at the moment; there are many things in our lives that we simply cannot plan for. One important fact of life is that no matter what we do, sometimes things just change. Sometimes the people that we once cared so much for will become the people that we can no longer be around, and sometimes the friends that we think will be in our lives forever somehow leave out of our lives before we can ever get a good chance to say goodbye. We must all remember that life isn't going to stop just because our plans may fall through, and just because we are heartbroken over someone leaving out of our lives. We must be able to pick up the pieces that our life shatters into sometimes, do our best to hold things together, and continue working hard towards the goals and dreams that we have set in our minds and hearts. Even though things change, and even though friends leave, we have to realize that life doesn't stop for anybody, and to never stop moving forward.

my choice

“There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts.”

Attitudes

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a school, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90 % how I react to it. And so it is with you.. we are in charge of our ATTITUDES.

moving on

Moving on is very hard for every one of us that has experienced a troubling break up in our lives, but it is actually our best revenge. Instead of antagonizing, begging, or giving a person the satisfaction of knowing that moving on is causing us to be miserable, most times it is in our own best interests to try our best to move on. Instead of focusing on making a person who is no longer with you know the way that you are feeling after you have already let your feelings be known, focus on who you are, and where you want to go. Life is too short to waste on someone who obviously didn't work out in your life for a reason or reasons. Focus on becoming a better more whole person. Focus on living your life out of love, and being able to bless others instead of wasting energy on someone who more than likely doesn't deserve it. The world is a great place in need of people who are willing to serve, be bigger than your situations in life, and try your hardest to spread love and inspiration to everyone that you can.

Angel Wishes

I'm sending you loving Angel wishes,

for beautiful blessings to come your way.

And for you to have peace and tranquility,

as you travel through your life each day.

May all of your days be filled with love;

your nights be filled with wonderful dreams.

And may hope and faith be your strength,

no matter how impossible something seems.

I wish for you happiness and laughter,

and for good health to always be with you.

May you find your wealth in the gifts of love,

yet, enough money to see your way through.

These Angel wishes I am sending to you,

are because you are so very special to me.

They come to you filled with God's love,

for your life to be everything you wish it to be. 

I promise myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone I meet.

To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny-side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

Find pleasure in little things

Take the scenic route to work, find an exotics takeout restaurant to challenge your senses, or scout out a new spot to watch the sun set. Design a different pamper-yourself afternoon, read a whole new genre of books, learn about a foreign culture, or listen to a category of music you’ve never really explored before. Ask someone you’d like to meet to lunch, join a new chat room on the internet, or call someone you love on the middle of the day. Take up yoga or medication; join a cycling club or a rowing crew. Run a marathon, build a birdhouse, or paint your front door red.

living a life

Life changes every minute of every day. you lose friends, you gain friends. you realize your friend wasn't ever really your friend and that person you used to hate can make a really good friend. you look for love, you find love, you lose love. you realize all along that you've been loved. you laugh, you cry, you laugh so hard that you cry. you do this, you do that. you really wish you hadn't done that. you then learn from that and are glad that you did. you have your ups, you have your downs. you look at others and wish you were them. you then realize who they are and glad that you are you. you love life, you hate life. at the end, you just find yourself happy to be living life no matter what's thrown at you.