My Birthday Surprise

Well my kids "surprised" me for my Birthday!!  Of course they waited until 4 days afterwards to get me, lol!!  This is what they got me - rooster place setting (8 of ea. - dinner & dessert plate, bowl, coffee cup & glass) LOVE THEM, they are so me!!  Now I have to crochet me some placemats to go with them! 

The Door

Good to know, I thought it was age!!

This proves it’s not Alzheimer's!

 

This is an interesting factoid for us.

Ever walk into a room with some purpose in mind, only to completely forget
what that purpose was?

Turns out, doors themselves are to blame for these strange memory lapses.

Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing
through a doorway triggers what's known as an event boundary in the mind,
separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next.Your brain files
away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate
for the new locale.

Thank goodness for studies like this. It's not our age, it's that darn door!

I Wish You Enough

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

Please Share this with your friends. It has the potential to inspire alot of people.

Be Blessed Of Divine Light.

(Found this on Facebook & just had to share!)

Update on Bentlee (EDIT)

Please keep Bentlee in your prayers, they've put him in the NICU last night and he won't be able to come home with Mommy & Daddy today. Mommy & Bentlee both had a fever after delivery, so they're having to give him antibiotics and keep running tests.  He has to stay in NICU for at least 48 hrs.

 There is nothing seriously wrong w/ Bentlee, they are just taking precautions!!  He is doing well on the antibiotics & as of now will be released from the hospital on Sunday.

A New Edition

Bentlee Isiah Stiefel is HERE!!! He was born on 1/2/2013 at 9:57 p.m. in Chattanooga, TN. He weighed a whomping 9 lbs. 2 oz. & he is 21" long. Sorry I have no pics I suffering from old timer's disease & forgot my camera. I will try & remember my camera when I visit him again, lol :-)

A New Year!!

Well today is the first day of 2013!!  It's cold, rainy & foggy today, a good day for a fire in the fireplace, movies, crocheting & coffee!!  We will be going to my daughter's for dinner later, her & her hubby are leaving at 3:30 a.m. for the hospital to get induced.  I know why is she cooking - I offered but she insisted & I know not to upset a pregnant woman, lol!!!  We will be babysitting her furry baby while they are gone & my granddaughter (their daughter) is going to be staying with her great aunt & great grandmother (my sis-in-law & mom-in-law).  They want to keep her so that I can be free to go to the hospital when Bentlee arrives!!  I'm really excited for Bentlee to get here, will post pics when I get some :-)  Youngest son & his family are in the process of moving out (AGAIN) so we will be empty nesters once again!!  This time we have told ALL the kids "The Inn & Bank" are CLOSED permanently!!  Now if I can just keep Hubby to it, lol!!!  Well I better run, baking cookies to take to daughter's.  That's all from the mtn. for now, take care & catch ya later.

God Bless,

Gretchen

Just had to pass this along!

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air,

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say,
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."
Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA