Stormy Days

In life there are many sunny days, which keep a smile on your face.  At other times, there are the clouds and rain, which make it difficult to see what lies ahead and would try to bring your spirits down.  Yet, these days don’t last too long, and we are able stay positive and make it through.

However, it is the stormy days which seem so overpowering, like an onslaught of rain, hail, flooding, and other forms of severe weather.  These days come in the form of one difficult event after another unrelentingly crashing into us and compiling problem after problem, which need one to deal with.  These are the days that attempt to cause us to feel off-balance; to destroy our faith and our positive attitude.   This is what I am going through now.  I think my Higher Power is testing me to see if what I write about here on my site is something I actually do in my life.

Recently there are some unforeseen issues to deal with, which include family issues, health problems and, most recently, a car accident.  The accident has left me with some bruised and broken ribs, so this makes doing much of anything painful and tiring.   I have not been able to keep up with my regular posting schedule because of these recent events (stormy days).   I have been somewhat negligent with my meditation time, which is one thing I really want to get back to.  For some reason it is difficult to go there, and I am still working on this one.  Any suggestions are welcome.

How To Get Through The Stormy Days

      Family And Friends-A Life Jacket During Stormy Days

During the last few months, I have discovered how easy it is to fall into the ‘poor me’ mentality, and wallow in misfortune.  However, I have some wonderful family and friends, who are always quick to remind me of just how blessed I am, and to quickly and lovingly reprimand me when I become negative.  They are my life-jacket during the stormy days, and I am so grateful for each and every one of them.

    Readers-A Wonderfully Supportive Community

I haven’t forgotten all of my wonderful readers, and wanted to let everyone know how much you are appreciate.  My readers have continued to support me, so I want to let you  what is going on with me.  I haven’t abandoned my blog, but have taken a break to deal with the things I’ve described above.  I will post when possible until this the stormy days are over and things are somewhat normal again.

My readers have also given me much-needed support during this time.  Just like the rest of the world, I also go through my share of heartache and pain.  I am working at staying positive and looking at the good things.  I don’t deny that bad things happen; I’m just dealing with them in the best way I know, realizing that there are better days ahead.

Prayers and positive thoughts are much appreciated so that I can get back to doing what I love to do, which is to write. Thank you for all your support.  I will soon be seeing the rainbow in the sky bringing blessings of hope, joy, peace and happiness.

Please feel free, as always, to leave any questions, comments, opinions, ideas you want.  Also, any stories you would like to share about similar experiences would be helpful to me, as well as my readers.

 

Till next time, may Light make your path clear, may Wisdom be your guide and may Love lead you in this journey called “Life”.

Remember To Smile

Do you remember that song, “When You’re Smiling” by Louis Armstrong?  Click on the song, and you can read the lyrics and hear the song.  I love this song!  It makes me smile just listening to it!

A Reason To Smile

On my birthday this year, a friend of mine gave me the most precious gift.  It is a book, ‘1,033 Reasons to Smile’ by Elizabeth Dutton.   This little book is so great because it reminds you that there is always a reason to smile.

As I was thinking about the book and this post, I wondered what reason could I give for smiling.  Well, here is my reason:

“Because I can.”  “I love how just the act of smiling gives me a positive and overall good feeling.  It opens up the door to my inner being so joy can brighten my day and color my world with wonder!”

Note To Readers

Hi to all my readers!

First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who has left me such kind messages and wishes for my speedy recovery.  I think I must have the best following of readers than any other blogger on the web!!

Now for an update on how I’m doing after my surgery.  My shoulder has given me more discomfort this week, so have taken some pain pills, which I hate because they leave me kind of fuzzy.  I don’t know how anyone could be addicted to narcotics since it interferes with one’s clarity of mind.

Anyway, I have an exercise chair that moves my arm, and it takes about three hours a day of sitting in this chair to get the right amount of exercise.  I realized the other day that my settings on the chair were wrong and today found out that the arm holder was not right. I was beginning to have more pain, back spasms and neck pain so I had the company come out and check out the chair. They corrected everything and said no damage happened to my arm or its mobility, so that was good. No wonder I get so tired. I expect I will recover fine and be better again soon.

I have really missed not being able to post as regularly as I before my surgery to. Hopefully, the worst is behind me. Please continue to come visit my site and leave your comments.  

Don’t Forget To Smile!

 

Till next time, may Light make your path clear, may Wisdom be your guide and may Love lead you in this journey called “Life”.

I just wanted to remind my readers that I am limited on writing very much since I have had shoulder surgery.  I see my surgeon on Thursday and hope to have more use of my left hand.

The surgery went well, and pain is not too bad.   I sleep a lot, and am hoping I will get better quickly.  When the sling is removed perhaps I will be able type more without pain.

Till next time, may Light make your path clear, may Wisdom be your guide and may Love lead you in this journey called “Life”.

 

This story was shared on Facebook by a high school classmate of mine. Researching who the author is to this story, showed no known author. I did find that the story has been put into book form by Bert Dodson, who the illustrates of this wonderful story by an unknown author.  If you want to purchase this illustrated version of the story, you can do so at Amazon.   

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she jeered. “Even dummies know that!”

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her “world-famous” cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. “No Santa Claus?” she snorted….”Ridiculous! Don’t believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let’s go.”

“Go? Go where, Grandma?” I asked. I hadn’t even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. “Where” turned out to be Kerby’s General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. “Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I’ll wait for you in the car.” Then she turned and walked out of Kerby’s.

I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock’s grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn’t have a cough; he didn’t have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

“Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied shyly. “It’s for Bobby.”

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn’t get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker’s house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa’s helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby’s house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker’s bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were — ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: it reads “$19.95.”

May you always have LOVE to share,

HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care…

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this story. As always, be leave your ideas, stories, comments and any questions you may have.

Till next time, may Light make your path clear, may Wisdom be your guide and may Love lead you in this journey called “Life”.