It is gratitude! You bet it is gratitude that has sparked this increase in my life and I am happy that it seems to have passed onto a part of you and your lives as well. From from the indictators that have evolved from the last challenge, I am of the firm belief that we can all strike a chord in the lives of many others, given the opportunity. And, WE have that opportunity. The door is opened to us, each and every day, we just have to use it!

It goes without saying that, yes, the Pilgrims did cultivate a habit of being grateful, so we have the perfect example, right there. Remember how we have strived through our child-rearing days of the importance of teaching our children those two simple words that are so vital to proper behaviour? 'Say "Thank YOU". Of course. So important. Nothing more inspiring then to see a little child, before he can even speak, nod his head, in a bowing nature, when you repeat those familiar words to him. 'Say "Thank You" and that little head nods right down. Makes the ole heart do a little extra pitter patter, doesn't it?

I seem to recall an incident, happening quite a few years ago, when a huge department store, familiar to many, name unspoken, opened at a nearby town. My parents accompanied us to the big event, and our son, probably about 5 at the time, coming out of the door with his grandfather, was standing, hold the door open while people filed in and out of the door. Some were pleasant and acknowledged the fact, getting a big smile on their face when they saw this tyke child standing there holding that big door open, and were polite, saying 'Thank You', but yes, there had to be that few, who passed by, did not even see him, or if they did see him, were to me, quite rude in their behaviour. No "Thank You', not an acknowlegement of any sort, was just like they were demanding his action. After a time, we had to rescue him from his position, letting the door close slowly on the incoming traffic, but we gave him praise for his action. Bless his little ole heart, he was following the example of his father and grandfather, the advice of his elders. Gratitude flowed and ebbed at that occasion, as it does in any event, any day, any place.

The attitudes of those grateful for having the door held open overrode the attitude of those who totally ignored this little childs generousity and upbringing, and rightly so.

Thanksgiving has opened to door to "Thanksliving", because through the centuries of this celebration we have been given the unique opportunity to express love and appreciation for others. And yes, each and every one of us can continue to HOLD that door open, each and very day with just such an attitude striving for the goal of acknowledgement from each person that comes into our lives!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"Always keep the words "THANK YOU" in your vocabulary, each ane every day!"

We have a newly elected Program Chairman for the Board of Directors and she felt that maybe we could do with a little change in our activities and suggested having a party on Halloween night in place of the weekend prior to Halloween. Of course, like in all changes, seniors have a tendancy to rebel when it is even suggested that a change in venue might be forthcoming (note, here folks, I AM NOT A SENIOR)....LOL.....especially from the group of pinochle players who think that only playing pinochle constitutes a party.....but she insisted and went ahead with her plans. And, it was a success! In fact, such a big success, that she was asked what was being planned for a special Thanksgiving event, which made her feel very good about the whole project.

Remember a television show of the past, when the program opened with a couple, the wife playing the piano, her husband accompanying her in a vocal rendition of "Those Were the Days", slighly off-key but whimiscal? Can you identify them? Of course, everyone can! It was Edith and Archie Bunker! Singing about by-gone days of yesterday when things were simple, real, authenic, better. Those were the days, early days. ....HOGWASH. There is always something going on. THESE are the days!! Dispite the bumps of frustration and temptation leading to mounds and periods of discouragement which age sometimes is forced to address, we have to remember that we are young only once....but being young can last as long as we want it to last. It is our choice.

Think back to the costumes we, in our childhood, wore on Halloween. Simple. We could not go to Walmart or Alco and buy an astronat costume, we did such simple things as being a farmer. Borrowed a pair of our fathers overalls, donned a blue work shirt, tied one of dad's red handerchiefs around our neck, work a straw hat and we were ready to roll. Or, on the feminine side, we could immitate our mothers and wear one of her long skirts, tie an apron over the top, wrap a bandana around our head, and if we were lucky, buy a ten cent black half mask. Simple sam. Were we happy then with Halloween? Yes, I believe so. Is the youngester of today happy picking out a special costume at the Alco store to wear Halloween night? Yes, I believe so. So then, remember THESE are the days. Go with the flow!

Returning to the party on Tuesday night, we had a party quite similiar to parties held during my grade school days.

Started off with a costume contest. Witches, clowns, baseball players, Classy Lady, one by one they came. And, as they paraded their costumes before the judges for judging, ages ranging up to the mid 80's age group, they were not bashful. They were enjoying themselves. Maybe the witches nose fell off a time or two. The lipstick and eye makeup was getting scratchy, but they were enjoying themselves. However, as soon as the judging was over, the bathroom was heavily occupied for a bit while they changed into more comfortable clothing, washed their faces and tried to reassemble their hairdos into a more acceptable coiffure for the remainder of the evening.

I have to insert here that halfway through the evenings activities, the front door of the center opened, and in walked a bride, all adorned in an off-white gown, carrying a rather odd bouquet of flowers, complete with long veil, pushing a groom in a wheel chair, the groom adorned all in black, wearing a lap rob and carrying a plate of goodies for the finger food table. We were all taken aback for no one could recognize the couple. After a few tense minutes, they finally removed their masks to reveal a local well known beautician, Henri, and her friend Darlene. Had they been there for the actual judging, I have an idea who the top winner might have been.

So, then the fun began. Or rather, first everyone hit the table of goodies, then we found tables to sit down and start preparing for the evenings festivities.

You know, having a good time doesn't mean doing something you can't afford now, does it? Of course not. The first fun game was a purse scavenger hunt. Remember those scavenger hunts in grade school? Always fun! This one was fun too. Found the women emptying their purses of some mighty unusual items before the final winner was announced, coming down to the wire with a medicine. Yep, included a bottle of anti-diahrrea medicine. Lots of laughs and excitement.

Again, to include everyone that was there because not everyone can play pinochle, or pitch, or bridge, the game of party bridge proved a success. For those of you not familiar with this game, each player gets a sheet of paper, you play one game at each numbered table, and then the winners move up to the next table. A simple game...for instance. First hand, deuce of Clubs started the game, with hearts being trumps. Then after the move, again same start with no trumps, winners and losers trading scores, and so on. Simple but kept the interest high. As one person told the chairperson, 'I play cards here every week, but I am in the pitch group, and have never had a chance to meet the other people, and in this game I did'.

Of course, throughout the evening, the doors opened to a steady stream of Tricks or Treaters off the street, including many of the grandchildren to those attending. For those of us not blessed with having this special treat, we were given the opportunity to get a special hug from some of them, making the evening complete!

How much would you like to bet that this Halloween special will become a regular part of the center from this year forward???

Challenge of the Week:

"Making the time to be together, regardless of age, is one of the finest gifts we can ever give".

A belated 'Happy Halloween'.......and see you at the Senior Center next year. You will be glad you came!

As you may have guessed, the time came in my life that I had to say a final farewell to a family friend, our ole yeller tomcat, Nino.

Farewells are not my cup of tea. Websters dictionary describes the word farewell as ..... 'a goodby, a departure or saying "May you fare or prosper well". That definitely did not seem to appease me, so I looked further into the meaning of 'parting'. To me, this defined what I am feeling in a more appropriate way for it said..............'final attention, division, separation, leave taking'.

Just how many goodbyes have we said that did not carry sadness as the tone of the moment when those words were spoken? To me, very few, very, very few. Even though we may say, 'I love you', a common practice within my family as we bid each other a fond adiou, either on the phone or by person, and yes, even by e-mail. We never know when we will be speaking to, or seeing that person again, so each parting is basically a 'final attention' and should be addressed as such.

In the past several weeks, a close circle of friends have encountered some similiar situations, each in their own special , unique to them, way. Loss of a step-granddaughter, loss of other close relatives, neighbors and friends, loss of jobs, and yes, loss of family pets with tears of sadness shed in all instances.

At this writing, I would like to pay a tribute to our dear, departed friend Nino. Named such as a shortened version of Valentino. Reason? He was such a lover. His 'motor was running', as the kids used to say, in reference to the purring sound cats make, at the drop of a hat. And it went on and on. He loved to be held, just for a short time, as he was in tune with the feline species as having a definite mind of his own. But 'purr' he could. An outdoor cat, being indoors for anything more then an hour or so during the daylight hours kept him away from all the busy activities he could indulge in outside, so he would soon be standing at the door, regardless of the raging snow or rain which would greet him the minute the door was opened, waiting to return to his familiar habitat. He needed to be out, checking the situation out for after all, he had been doing this for nearly 20 years, or more, as near as we could tell. Still able to scale the fence between my backyard and that of his favorite neighbor and friend, Suzy, in spite of failing eyesight, lack of hearing and loss of balance, he made sure his days were filled with plenty of trips back and forth between the two familiar yards.

Imagine being 20 years old as a cat. In human years, that is 140 years old. Oh my, when I think of that, I cannot begin to imagine how much his bones must have ached, his joints creaked. Hey, I am just a little over half that age and I can sure attest to knowing what it is like! Bless his heart, though he could not talk and tell me what was going on with his body, I could tell.

Nino gave us some precious moments to cherish. Originating from New York City, he knew how to take care of himself! He was street smart. Other animals, much larger then he, knew better then to invade 'his' territory. He could stand his own ground, and stand it, he most certainly did.

Like a true friend who reaches for your hand and touches your heart, Nino could do this with a flower. He loved to smell flowers. As a matter of fact, neighbor Suzy captured him on film during one of his moments, took the entry to the local County Fair, and was the proud winner of a top blue ribbon for the entry. The picture was absolutely precious. Imagine, a cat, walking up to a flowering plant, and standing there, drinking in its fragrance. That was Nino.

It has been said that any kind of money will buy a dog but only kindness will make its tail wag and with Nino, any act of kindness would activate that motor and his purring would go on and on and on.

Even though I do miss those familiar sights of him waiting at the front step as I drive into my driveway each day, or seeing him sleep beneath the evergreens during the hot summer days for it was the only cool spot he could fine, or watching him stroll down the street following Suzy and her pet Lizzy as they went for their nightly jogs, I give you odds, at this very moment, he is an angel in 'kitty heaven', giving everyone instructions how to stand their own ground, telling them not to be afraid, and above all, he has found a beautiful flowering plant that he can sniff to his hearts content!

So, my challenge this week is going to encompass both friends and pets, for to me, they both fall into the same category!......... They are loving. They are loyal. They are understanding. They are faithful. They are forgiving. They are there when you need them.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK!

"Remember".................Sometimes the angels fly close enough so you can hear the flutter of their wings. Listen and watch for them for they are all around us. We may find them in the form of a friend, or they may be in the form of a special pet!

It has been said that 'talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand' and that is the way the prelimaries seemed to go. The mud-slinging left a lot to be desired in my books.

We had been enlightened earlier to the fact that candidates switched from one party to the next to be a running mate then another changed party to enhance his chances of more votes........PULLEEAASSEE. Loyalty. What is that?

True, I may be a little out of the ordinary, and I will be the first to admit it, but I registered a chosen party when I turned of legal age, and proudly presented myself at the local court house to be able to register and vote at the next upcoming election. I have not changed that party, and believe you me, that has been quite a few years ago. Do I vote a straight party ticket? No, I do not. Not my policy either. I try to be an intelligent voter, to the degree that I am able, by acquiring as much information as possible about a candidate. Is that always possible? No, and I realize that. The overshadowing, the mud-slinging and other obvious events which lead up to the day of election can be thoroughly frustrating, often to the point of total exhaustion. But it is our duty, as a US citizen to enjoy the freedom which we are granted in this respect.

Some of the actions of the candidates, however, do take me back to my grade school days where I recall that we had a
'bully' in our classroom that tried us each and every chance that he could. Being in a one-room school atmosphere, he would chuckle and giggle at one of the girls, as she did a book review. She was nervous, of course, and had a speech impediment, and when she became nervous, the impediment was over emphasized, sometimes to the point that she would stutter uncontrollably. Or when we would be out for recess, he would just dare one of the lower classmen to try to take his designated turn at the Jungle bars. He was, as I said, a ' big burly bully'. And, one evening, at the dinner table, I shared one of the events that occured that day in school because I was upset about a certain event that involved his actions. After listening to my description of the event, I remember what my mother said. Her words were....."it is sad that he has to act that way, but you just remember that it isn't necessary to put out the other fellows light to make yours shine more brightly". Words of wisdom.

Election is necessary and is really the unavoidable reality of life in a democratic society...........whether it is a blessing or a curse or something caught up in the middle. The stakes are high. It is virtually impossible to bring together a huge population of people sharing the same limited land mass without some kind of organized structure. Basically the way it works itself out, is in a political form. Like it or not, that is the way it is. And, I am sure, we all realize that.

We could dream of other ways. Plato spoke of the ideal situation of a kindly and wise philosopher king that was able to balance the interest of the people with justice and integrity, but it never happened. The goal, however, remains the same, to bring structure to a human community where people are safe, free and able to share life together.

And tomorrow is Veterans day, November llth. A day to honor those who have, and still are, serving our country. Giving us, among many other things too numerous to mention, the freedom to love, to enjoy families, go to church, believe in God, and yes, go to the polls and vote! We must never forget that!

I had a friend send me a note today telling me that the veterans in the company for which he worked received special recognition today for their service to our country and he was honored to have been one of the recipients! Along with it, he sent this poem which I think says so much about our country and if we can just get the information to the people who lead our country, possibly, just possibly, they may give some second thoughts to doing those mud-slinging campaigns in the future for try as we may, we all have 'skeletons in our closets'. Remember, only ONE perfect person has ever walked this earth, and it is certainly none of the inhabitants of our day.

Please allow me to share this beautiful poem with you!

"The Soldier"

It's the soldier, not the reporter
who has given us freedom of the press.

It's the solder, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It's the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It's the soldier, who salutes the flag,
serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped
by the flag, who gives the protestor the right
to burn the flag.

Character is what you are, reputation is what other people think you are. Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing, and always remember, it is not necessary to put out the other fellows light to make yours shine more brightly.

My challenge this week is a rather 'heavy one', designed to leave each and everyone one of us with a most definite challenge, and it is:

We need always remember......FREEDOM is not FREE!

And, as I write, I cannot help but feel the sense of gratitude that overwhelms my thought process as I realize that I am among the 95% able bodied workers in the United States who is getting up this early morning, either heading out to the office, school, or even the fields, to the airports to commute, get into the car, bus, train, or just staying home and cleaning the house, and yes preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful that I can still be a part of the wheels of life in our economy and be among other people who daily use their talents, their strengths and their ingenuity in return for the symbols of the same efforts of others, often times resulting in a paycheck, other times not.

My question is, why do we just have to have ONE day a year to be thankful for all these things? Why can't we have it everyday? What can't we get up each morning, and thank our Maker for our blessings? Why just on Thanksgiving does the entire nation have to emphasize being thankful? Why can't it be everyday? Would we have to change our lives?

I have heard the word "THANKSLIVING" mentioned several times, and I love it. It is very, very easy to be thankful around the Thanksgiving holiday. Thankful for family, friends, health, sharing, caring, food and love. The list is endless as to what we appreciate. We are grateful! But what if we could surround ourselves with gratitude the year around?

Think of the things for which you are thankful/grateful!

I am thankful that I have friends who call me on a daily basis to check on my personal welfare. I am thankful for the one local grocery store we have so that I do not have to drive mega miles to get my groceries. I am grateful to the people that I join each week in bridge club that give me a chance to share in fellowship with them. I am thankful for the people at the Senior Center ....some pretty regulars........who come in their walkers, canes and wheel chairs, just to be with other people. I am thankful for the people who carpool to see that the people get to the needed medicial areas, to church, to community functions. Above all...........I am thankful for my family, my close friends, my neighbors. The list is endless, and each would be different, am sure.

Gratitude enhances our happines and health. Gratitude is simply an attitude. IF I am grateful and appreciate things, people, events, places, of course I am going to be happy and when we are thankful and appreciative, it is physically impossible to be stressed. I do believe that everyone will agree that variety is the spice of life. Look at the many different colors in the trees and flowers that surround our daily lives. Look at their different patterns, sizes, shapes, just like we human beings. Variety makes our daily lives interesting. Realizing that being aware of the abundance that we have surrounding us on a daily basis is a great benefit of gratitude.

I am all for keeping Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November, but the day before, the day after, the day after that, the following weeks, months and years, why not incorporate "Thanksliving" into each day because when we give love freely, when we engage in making a positive difference in someones life, we are opening up the best part of what is within our own selves.

So, friends, neighbors, loved ones, as you gather on this Thanksgiving Day, be grateful! Retain that grateful attitude! Keep it in your hearts and minds! Not just on Thanksgiving day, but everyday! Try "Thanksliving", everyday. We may not be able to change the world, but we can change ourselves and those around us!

CHALLENGE FOR LIFE:

'Remember, GRATITUDE is simply an attitude, the one thing YOU can choose each and every day'.

God's blessing to each of you!

Nadene

I love the Spring when things start to green and I can find a good reason for all the sneezing I am prone to participate in. I appreciate the warmth of Summer, the freedom of wearing lighter clothing, the choice of whites and lighter colors. I love Fall. The Fall colors are absolutely breathtaking. Probably, my least favorite of all the seasons is Winter. The unpredictable weather patterns would seem to be the main reason for this choice. And, I have a tendancy to get cold quite quickly!

"Variety is the spice of life", by all means. And, to me, as I sort of touched on above, it is the choices we can make, varying the clothing patterns we chose for our day in and day out existenance.

I do not think there is any doubt in your mind as to what this is all leading to............it is changing the closets. It is reality time. I do not enjoy addressing that issue at all!

Time after time, in my profession, the word 'closets' has been the main topic of discussion. I would dare to say that in the showing of every house that I have ever shown to a prospective buyer, that word has entered into the discussion more times then one would ever guess. Today, closets are vitally important in the life of a family. Big closets. Walk-in closets. Multiple closets. Closets on every level of the home. Convenience closets. It is all about 'closets'. A high demand item when selecting a home, nearly as important as the kitchen is to the lady of the house, and a garage to the man.

Think back to your childhood. What part did a closet play in your home when you were growing up?

I lived in a four bedroom, 2 story home. We had one closet. ONE CLOSET! And, it wasn't really a closet, it was the space beneath the staircase that led to the second level. That was the only closet in the house. It was not all that large. But, it was the only closet, and if my memory serves me correctly, it was not large nor was it ever considered 'full' of clothes.

True, we had clothes. Clothes played a different part of our life then, compared to today. Familiar words that could be heard from your mother in those days were.....'put your old clothes on before you go out to play'.....or maybe it was.... 'hang up your Sunday School clothes, you know you need to pass them down to your sister or brother in good condition'.....or it may have been,...... 'put that pair of jeans on the sewing machine, I need to patch that hole in the knee for you'......or,...... 'look in the button box and find a matching button so I can sew another button back on that shirt for you before you wear it again'.

My closet, in my room, consisted of a length of board, probably a 2x6 size, nailed to the wall, behind the door of my bedroom, and on it were about six or eight metal hangers that dad would screw into the wood. On these we hung our clothes. A couple school outfits, a Sunday School or church outfit and then the older clothes, maybe a little too short, washed rather threadbare or faded. This was our wardrobe. The winter coats hung in the closet downstairs, where the moth balls were. UGH! Necessary for warmth in the winter months though.

I have heard the saying, "Let go of something and something better will take it's place". But as I looked in my closets (note I said the word in plural form.......) this morning, is that what was on my mind when I thought of rearranging my closet?? Replacing the summer clothing with warmer articles of apparel, longer sleeved items, thinking ahead to the cooler mornings we are experiencing, am I thinking of letting go of the over abundance of clothing with which I am blessed. Or are they burdens of clothing? Do I need a bag for Good Will or the Thrift Store? Is there someone I can pass that pink top on to? Has this pair of pants 'seen better days' and ready to be discarded for good?

Being of the female gender, I am just as guilty as the rest of my gender, I have too many clothes. Basically, if each time we purchased some new article of clothing, IF and note I said IF, we would automatically remove an old article in our closet, basically use it as a replacement, our closets would not become overrun with row after row of what we consider our 'favorites'. It is true that women have an edge over men because 80% of centurians are women, the life expectancy of a woman is 80.l, or 5.3 years longer than a man. So, does that not stand to reason that a woman can afford to buy more clothes then a man, she will live longer? After all, she will need them! A good basis for an argument if I ever saw one happening when the man of the house says, 'you don't need that, you have one in red already hanging in the closet'. Ahhhhhh..........

So what is our excuse for all the clothing we seem to harbor in our closets? Greed? Boredom? Necessity? Seasons? This is the excuse I like best of all for my overabundance....."The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement". Hey, when I could not find that white blouse, you know how important a white blouse is to a womans wardrobe, I simply HAD to have a new white blouse! I might need it tomorrow, who knows. I can't wait around until I find that other one!.................So, now I have two white blouses.

Challenge this week......a little far out, but bear with me, I am feeling the need for a little humor in my life this week. How about you?...........

"Anyone who doesn't cultivate a sense of humor in his/her lifestyle, may end up growing weeds on his/her disposition"!!!

Beauty basically is commonly defined as a characteristic present in a person, place, object or idea that provides a perceptional experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction to the mind or eyes.

I was totally amazed to learn that those words also are used to describe a trailor, a show on the Discovery Channel, is a name of a book store as well as numerous books and even several movies carry the same title. A Console Games bears the description, going on down to even bathroom accessories and plumbing appliances! Low and behold, in my personal opinion, I would have to say that what I thought of when those words were spoken to me for the first time bore no resemblance
whatsoever to these items.

The word beauty said, makes me think, first of all, of Sleeping Beauty. Something memorable, breathtaking, something my eyes would enjoy and treasure seeing. Opposite of evil, like the wicked Witches on Halloween depicted as 'ugly'.

So, I guess each of us would have, most definitely an opinion of what, when or where, we would use this appreciable adjective.

Ok, so how did all of this start anyway???? Well, here it is!

This past weekend I was granted the priviledge of spending some precious time with one granddaughter while the remaining family members took a trip out of state to investigate college locations for another granddaughter. (Can I really be old enough to have a grandchild entering college next year????) This, of course, entailed a trip to the eastern part of the state, for me, where , at this time of the year, the trees are all turning colors and shedding their leaves! Their hues and shades are absolutely out of this world! It seemed that every yard in Topeka contained a tree that was turning colors! Each was a different shade of red, golden yellow and green. I was blessed to see one tree with all of these colors on one tree! The top was a deep, deep red. The second color was a lighter shade of red, followed by a golden yellow and at the very bottom of the tree, the greens even varied in that color! Amazing. And, driving along the streets and roadways was almost to the point of total distraction in several areas as one tried to gauge which tree was the most outstanding of the lot!

The influence of the Veterans Day holiday even added to the flavors that life offered as one journeyed down the four-lane highways. It was a wonderful feeling! I could not help but glory in the fact that we most certainly do 'Live in the Land of the Free' remembering that we have this priviledge 'because of the Brave'.

I had to think about a conversation in amazing Florida last winter when one of the most ardent bridge players I have ever encountered made a remark about 'my Kansas' when told that was my home. Note, he was from Chicago, he said. "That is the most God-forsaken country I have ever driven through. There was nothing to see". Nothing to see???!!!???? I shared with him some of the facts that our area is known for, and gave him a special invitation to be sure and stop the next time he came through this area and be prepared to stay longer then a day while we showed him what beauty there is to see in this area. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe I even went so far as to say, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. I have to interject here, that I am waiting for that phone call one of these days when he and his wife travel through this area enroute to visit a family member as he most vividly recalled that I lived in 'Bob Dole's hometown'! I hope I made an impression and I welcome the opportunity of sharing the beauty Kansas has to offer.

Most folks are as happy as they chose to be, and especially enroute home after the weekend, the traffic was lighter then normal, and it was traveling at a normal speed because, it was apparent that the highway patrolmen were on duty....ahem....and with my faithful companion asleep on the seat beside me, the cruise set at 72, I could say that I just sat back, and enjoyed every minute of the three hours it took me to return home. The trees along the side of the roadways were beautiful. It was 70 degrees, and I had to open the roof ventilation for Paige was a little warm and I could not see running the AC in November! As I looked at her, sound asleep, trusting me to get her home safely, I had to think about something I had read which said that until someone loves an animal, a part of our soul remains unawakened. That, along with all the peace and tranquility I was enjoying gave me the opportunity to take a deep breath to help calm my mind and let the memory of the weekend with my family members become yet another page in the memory book of my life!

My challenge for this week is:

"Challenge of the Week"

......Remember...BEAUTY may fade, but HAPPINESS comes in the door you didn't even know you left open......

I sure do encourage you all to take a little drive, soak in the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer ....for it is the best tranquilizer in the world!

But no, that is not what my thoughts are at all, at this particular time when I wrote that line.....to me, 'The Day After' bears reference to the day after Thanksgiving, which of course, today is.

Along with being my son's birthday, comes the fact that sharing this particular holiday along with his special day, has become a familiar part of our family. We are used to it by this time, and bless his heart, he has learned to share this important day of his life along with all the festivities that occur on this day as well.

It has been said that when people get frustrated with the present or lose hope for the future, they often retreat into the sanctuary of the past "remembering the good old days" in the classic stance of the armchair quarterback of life.

Such may be the case of everyone, to a certain degree, in varying circumstances.

Take my holiday celebration this year, for example. I was asked to share the day with a dear friend's family.....she passed away some months ago........and I was delighted to share a delightful afternoon, after being able to share in the bounties of many excellant cooks. 'stuffed to the gills, so to speak', we enjoyed the afternoon in conversation, watching and listening to the children play, entertainment of Christmas songs played on the piano and the soft voice of one of the granddaughters.

Did we reminisce during the course of our being together? Did we share laughter, along with a tear or two, remembering days in the past? Did we feel the presence of those no longer with us? Were we able to appreciate the many blessings we so bountifully have received? Did we wonder what the years ahead hold in store for all of us?

Yes, Yes, Yes, a loud resounding 'YES' to all of the above!

But it did not end there, not for me and for most of you as well. It was seeing friends and family we had not seen in months, or longer. Meeting new friends, having phone calls of well wishes from those that could not be with us on this special day, it was the beautiful Thanksgiving card you received from someone special, it was the neighbor who knocked at your door with a special 'little something to share', it was the community church service you attended where church members of the entire community came together and worshiped and sang praises to the One Triune God.

That is all a part of Thanksgiving!

Be it good or bad, it is funny how certain things stay vividly imprinted in our memory, while other events seem never to have happened. But remember, life gives us back just what we give out. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.

And, then along comes that special turkey day everyone knows as 'THANKSGIVING'.

Is it necessary to sit back and wait for this special day each year in order to be thankful for things? You all know the answer to that question. There is, and always will be, a lot to be thankful for if we only take the time to look for it.

At this point, I feel I would like to interject a little about the canine world, for one of my guests this special holiday was a canine. Big, lumbering golden color, cross between a grehound and a golden retriever, and she promptly responds to the name of 'Sunflower'. A long wagging tail that will certainly give you a 'thump' if she is too close to you, and especially if she likes you! But, the reason for including the animals in this letter is what one observes as you have them in your presence. There is no way one can share in the bounty of the love of an animal with appreciation for that very fact. Loving and sharing..............that is what their life is all about!

As i observed the bonding between her and my faithful companion, Paige...............I could only marvel at their behaviour! For those of us with pets, give this some thought....We give them time we can spare....space we can spare.........and love we can spare..............AND, in return, they give us their ALL. Think about it. It is the best deal man can ever make! Is there any doubt in your mind as to the validity of the statement...."A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself"...

It is not Christmas yet, I agree, but the gift of happiness belongs to those to unwrap it. This opportunity awaits us.

So, will you agree with me when I say......'use the nice sheets and towels, wear your fancy lingerie, put on that new suit, burn those candles, invite your neighbors in for a cup of java, write that letter you been meaning to for a coon's age, get out that crystal that is sitting on the top shelf of your cupboard'....don't save these things for a special occasion.........................and why do I say this??

"Challenge of the Week"

......TODAY is special, Live each day as though it were a thankful 'Thanksgiving Day'......only YOU control the choice as to whether this day be special or not.......

November in itself, actually means 'nine' and on the Roman Calendar it was the ninth month of the year. To me, it truly is a month with a lot of meanings. I look at the scratchings on my calendar and I see many birthdays, several anniversaries (some happy, like wedding anniversaries, others sad like the anniversary of the death of my father), along with those I see a note to myself saying 'turn clocks', remembering of course, that 'Spring ahead, Fall back' applies here. Along with these events, the month begins with All Saints Day, the very first day of November, and that is the death anniversary of my father. So appropriate, remembering the saints in our lives, both dead and those still with us.

The second holiday, the infamous Veterans or Remembrance Day whereby we can all take time from our busy schedules to remember, honor, and show appreciation to the people who guard and protect our country, both in war and in peace. A wonderful granted priviledge that each and every American can rightly celebrate.

And lest we forget, there is the political aspect of our lives to be considered here. Meant to be humorous, I am sure, was something that I read recently that stated it was appropriate to have election of various offices within local, state and national positions, in the month of November because that was the time to 'pick out the best turkey'!.........accept this statement, with humor, please. I do not envy any of the people who chose to follow this profession. I agree that we are fortunate that there are those who elect to serve their people as leaders in various areas, but as the old saying goes 'that is not my cup of tea'.

Am sure you will have to agree with me that whenever I hear the month of November named, the word that is foremost and most familiar in conjunction with that utterance, is "Thanksgiving'. Always occuring the fourth Thursday of November, we can rely on that day as one that needs to be acknowledged by all! One interesting fact that I have been noting of late, and maybe it is an age thing, I do not know, but there are more and more people who tend to react with the statement, "I like Thanksgiving better then Christmas because there is a lot less hassle involved with the celebrations". There too, it is a choice we are granted in this great land of ours as to what each and everyone of us make of it. It is a wonderful family time to get together and be thankful. Thankful for what we have. And, above all, we can be thankful that we don't have everything that we want, because if we did, we would have nothing to look forward to! Gratitude grants each of us the opportunity to change negative feelings to positive feelings.

And so, with warnings of ice storm loud and vivid on last evenings news and weather predictions, I awakened this morning to find a little rain, with mild temperatures, thank goodness, and just a few minutes ago when I stepped out on my front porch, it felt almost like Spring. The temperature is now 66 degrees! One thing you can say about Kansas, if you don't like the weather, wait until tomorrow, it will certainly be different. Even though we are in the Winter months, here again, we are grateful and thankful that those traveling this weekend were not subjected to the hazards of road conditions occuring when icing is present!

So, farewell November 2007..........we will never see you again, but for each and everyone of us, it holds memories. Some memories happy, some memories sad. But, we must move on, and as we do so, we remember that the best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time!

Challenge of the Week:

....Live each day, one day at a time, and make it a masterpiece........

Good ole Webster tells us that promises are statements which bind the person who makes it; ground or basis of expectation; and promising gives promises or grounds for good hopes.

We all have moments in our lives when we are given the opportunity to help others, a great moment, some more times than others and when that opportunity presents itself, we need to grab it like we do the rings on the Merry-Go-Rounds at the carnivals, latch onto it with all our strength and use it to the best of our ability for it is at that time that we are graced with the honor of GIVING hope.

Can you recollect the last time you helped someone hope? Hope is an emotion that is essential to living and we dare not violate that emotion! It certainly is true that we cannot live by bread alone. We must hope for today and hope for tomorrow.

There are people all around us who need hope. This past week, members of our congregation have been gathering funds and groceries to help our local Food Pantry. I had to marvel at the compassion shown by the store owners of the local businesses as we made lists of needed items the director of the Food Pantry furnished to us. I spent some time at the Pantry location, visited with people coming in for groceries. Allowed to visit the location 6 times a year, I wondered what the families did the other 6 months as I learned some of the circumstances with which they were struggling. But, hopefully what they were able to get to feed their family at this one visit with give them some hope.

Some ways we might be able to offer hope today is to, be there with an open heart and ears ready to hear. You know, there are moments in our lives when we miss someone so much that we just want to pick them from our dreams and hug them for real. Well, maybe this substitue with help YOU as much as it helps others. Listen but don't make promises you can't keep.

Maybe offer support when life becomes hard. We have all been there.........done that. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Maybe help a mother learn how to stretch her food budget, use left overs, don't throw everything away. Go green, learn to recycle, but it is not always necessary to hand over money, especially when your own budget is tight and don't make promises that 'tomorrow everything will be better'. Just show them you care. Many times, a smile can make a dark day seem bright. And, remember, when you smile.......mean it!

Cry along with those in pain. Later this morning, I will be attending a cousins funeral. Yes, he lived a full life, but that is not to say he will not be missed by his wife and son and his friends and other family members. He will be missed. Tears will be shed. Somewhere I read these lines......'When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.' I found that so comforting. I hope and pray that is what happens when I 'take that final trip'. Another moment in life we share, but we need to be careful and not promise something we cannot deliver ourselves. Only give hope.

I love to cook, so as a result one of my favorite things to do, is to bake a dessert or cook a pot of soup and share it with someone else. They do not necessarily be in need a lift, I do it because I want to do it, but you know, I have found that when I have delivered a 'surprise dessert or kettle of soup', I discovered they were in need of a lift. I wonder, I just wonder, why, at that particular moment that I was led to do what I did?????

I do believe that my son-in-law has one of the neatest jobs in the world, he is a mail man, and he gets to bring all types of joys to people each and every day...........oh, with the exception of the days that the monthly bills hit the mail boxes, LOL.......but he gets to deliver the friendly greeting cards to cheer someone who is recuperating from surgery or just experienced a death in the family, or received that long awaited letter from a friend or family member. Who doesn't enjoy that special birthday greeting and surprised when it comes from a friend who does not have e-mail, but still enjoys delighting and surprising you with the fact that he or she did remember your birthday, or your anniversary!!!???

When a person asks you to pray for them, stop right then and there and pray with them. Hey, doesn't have to be a fancy prayer with all kinds of fancy words, doesn't have to be a long-winded version of what you are praying for, just say it from your heart. Say it with meanting, the meaning you feel. The sharing, the giving hope without promising them the world, is what is needed at the moment. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

I learned quite early in my childhood, as a result of training from my parents, the importance of a "PROMISE". Possibly I was to blame, I hate to think back that far, and I probably was what any child was doing at that age, saying, 'yes, mom, I promise, I will get my bed made, just let me finish this first' or maybe I would say 'I promise to finish picking those potatoe bugs after I run up to Doris's house for just a little while'. Because, 9 times out of 10, I did not follow through. Then, oh then, would come words that still haunt me to this day, 'don't make promises you can't keep or they will come back to haunt you'.................Believe you me, I have found it is a lot easier to make a promise than to keep it. Do you agree with me? Don't you wish everyone was that way? Wouldn't this world be a much better place to live in if everyone held to the promises they make or made?

So, Halloween is over. Hopefully our 'haunting' will be minimal until next Halloween when that holiday rolls around again. We can do it by just stopping, ....thinking with the God given brain we have been graced with.

Promises, promises. Remember what they mean! Remember what YOU should do when you make them!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"YOU may be the only person that can bring joy or hope to a person's life, be standing by ready to help meet the need".

It really bothers me that there is such little respect these days. Repect for many things seems to be lacking. As wee tots we were taught to respect our elders, weren't we? Is that happening today? We were taught to show them honor. Hold them in high esteem. Value them for who they were. Called them Mr. and Mrs., and then their last name, not by their first names, unless they were a very close friend or relative. Same applied to pastors, teachers and others of various professions. Why have these values disappeared along the wayside?

Respect involves recognizing differences---differences in role and function---while honoring the value of those differences. Respect is a feeling..... but more than a feeling.............. since it can only be demonstrated behaviorally. Respect is not fully respect until it moves from what we believe to how we act toward the one whom we respect...... to the thing we respect.

Possibly we need to be a master of change rather than a victim of change. I may even be brave enough to tell the local Postmaster I took special note of the Christmas wreaths that had been hung on the front steps of the post office, which I noticed yesterday for the first time, and it is not even Thanksgiving...... after all he was a wee neighbor many, many years ago and played with our son when he was a baby. But, possibly he got orders from headquarters to put up the wreaths, I do not know. But why can't we have respect for Thanksgiving? Would it be possible to have a wreath of beautiful fall colors at least from Halloween till after Thanksgiving?? Certainly would be much, much more appropriate in my books!

It is time to respect Thanksgiving!

Hasn't been too terribly long ago when this actor monopolized the TV screen with his pitiful, mournful complaint that 'he received no respect'. Remember him? Maybe those who respect Thanksgiving should be a little more verbal about their feelings for this holiday. True, it seems to be 'sandwiched' in between Halloween and Christmas, but please, let's show a little more respect to Thanksgiving!

We all want R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We all want to be valued for who we are. We want our contributions to be appreciated. We want to be heard when we have something to say. We want the roles we play and the functions we perform to be recognized. We hate to be ignored. We hate to be rejected. We hate to be patronized and we hate it when people make fun of us. Why? We are all human beings, that's why! We have feelings.

When we decide to do something with kindness, we usually do the right thing. And isn't it true that when you are right there is a tendancy for others to forget that action, but when you make the wrong decision...............WOW.....no one forgets that!

Mutual respect protects us from mistreatment and allows us to trust.

Hopefully it is not 'just me' who notices that the TV channels are announcing upcoming shows for the '25 Days of Christmas'.........the displays that pounce on you the minute you walk into a department store, laden with all Christmas momentos and gifts. Maybe it is time that we act on the advice that we give others and put it into action.............. keep your Thanksgiving displays in view until after Thanksgiving Day........... delay Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving Day. Look forward to a joyous day with your family, your friends, your neighbors. Because the day after Thanksgiving, just like the day after Christmas, you can find some of the best bargains in the world at those big department stores, if not for any other reason!!! And even a better reason, look at all the exercise you will have shopping and walk off all those extra pounds you gained the day before! (A method to our madness.)

Let's give it our best to make Thanksgiving special this year. Let's not be bothered with the fact that the stores are already promoting Christmas when it is still nearly 2 weeks to Thanksgiving. Let's get busy and cook up that pumpkin, bake a couple batch of pumpkin cookies, prepare pie crusts for the pumkin pies you plan to serve on Thanksgiving Day, buy a couple of Thanksgiving cards and send it to a special friend, a special aunt, special cousin, a shut-in, a recent widow/widower, or a sick friend or neighbor, a mom, a dad, special uncle. siblings, children. There are countless ways to give and show thanks at this special time of the year!

Join with me and let's make Thanksgiving extra special this year and celebrate that memorable holiday with respect! We will have plenty of time, starting the day AFTER Thanksgiving to make Christmas special also!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"There's no end to the good we can do so long as we don't care who gets the credit.

I am truly blessed with a variety of friends who keep me supplied with daily ideas for my weekly challenges, even though they may not realize it. This very morning, a dear friend sent me this cute picture of a scraggly dog, sitting patiently on the sidelines while a skunk is devouring the food in his food dish. The caption read, "One of the greatest secrets of live having both patience and wisdom'. So very, very true.

But this time of the year, with the fast approach of holidays, you can feel the excitement in the air. Do a little impromto shopping and hear the excitement in the childrens voices as they discover a new toy on the toy shelf. Listen to the families planning their Thanksgiving trips to other homes for the holiday next week. Enjoy the beautiful brightly colored fall leaves on the trees, bright orange pumpkins still adorning the door steps of homes up and down the neighborhood. Everywhere I have been going this week, as we departed, greetings were extended in the form of "Have a Happy Thanksgiving", some accompanied by a hug!

Being with family has always been a part of our holidays and we carry on that tradition today, even though family is scattered here and there, we get together with whomever we can and try to talk on the phone or something during the course of the holiday, with those who are scattered.

Yes, it is true....'We will be there in a minute'........time always flies faster when you are enjoying it, and those days until Thanksgiving will fly by fast, those till Christmas, just as swift, but you still have an opportunity of doing good, to make someone happy and holidays always open the door even wider for that to happen. Patience is not a virtue of a child, certainly has to be acquired, taught by a patient parent.

'For heavens sake, cool it'.....well, there is a lot to be done. If you are traveling, need to think about packing clothes. What type of weather is anticipated will determine the wardrobe you will need. Remember to pack your medications and take a few extras...just in case. Don't get too excited, plan to enjoy your trip. But, what kid does not excited when a change is in the air?

You know, all we have to do is experience illness and unproductivity to appreciate this little tidbit...."Be thankful for the weariness at the end of the day. It means you were able to be productive". Boy, I sure did learn that!

If we have not done it before, 'just around the corner' is the opportunity to give memories. Memories of happy times. Memories of time spent with loved ones, with friends, remembering that the memories we collect and give bright our lives as long as we live! Make some good ones this year!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"You can give without loving, but you can NEVER love without giving".