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thank you Lynn
1/26/2000

Life is too short to let it pass you by..... IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (Written after she found out she was dying from cancer.)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy,

I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love yous.". More "I'm sorry's..But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.
Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who Do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with.

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.
                        * * .(\ *** /) * . *                          .  * (\ (_) /) *                 . (_/ ll\_) . * .             .* .   /___\                                       * .. * In memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. Here is an angel sent to watch over you... Pass this on to the people you want watched over.... PS: There's no catch to this one!!



Thank you Ginger 2/5/2000



Happiness

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life". This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again...to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thought for the day:

Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, And dance like no one's watching.







THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT THE SAME

Thank you Gadol 1/2/00


We cannot change the way we are,
We never really try,
God made us different and unique,
We never ask him why.
If we appear peculiar,
There's nothing we can do,
You must accept us as we are,
As we've accepted you.
 God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the old away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.
 So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as we and you.
 So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same
Unknown




Thank you Mary 1/2/2000

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Thank you Lloyd and Bert

E-Mail from BERT in the UK to Lloyd

Slapton Sands , South Devon in the UK, when in WW2 a large number of GI's, whilst on a training exercise for the Normandy Landing, got caught whilst at sea in landing craft and attacked by German e-boats.
Local Devon people raised a Sherman tank from off the sea bed in the bay and set it up as a memorial to those men who sadly sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

I was in Devon last month and visited the beach at Slapton Sand. While there, I took this photograph of the memorial tank. Thought that you might like a copy. I also met there the author of the book 'The Forgotten Dead' (Ken Small) about this tragic affair, which I know you have read.

Tell the people of America that these lads are not forgotten by the people of Devon. Every year there is a memorial service conducted by the local vicar at the site where the tank stands.




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THANK YOU PETER

TRUE LOVE

~ The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg. It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her. "How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

~ Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he know this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working-it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?

~ Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase.

~ Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.

~ Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways.

~ Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

~ On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to enter the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.

~ God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless! Be blessed in this thought: "God Loves You - even when you are not looking."




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Thank you Louise
THIS WILL BLOW YOUR MIND !


TWO LONGS AND ONE SHORT 7/15/99

Thank you Louise

Good News from Eastern Slavonia, Croatia Date: 5/3/99

From louise 11/10/99
a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks. I want to think M&Ms are better than money, because you can eat them. I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art. I want to lie under a big Oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summers' day. I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.

~ When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset. I want to think that the world is fair. That everyone in it is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible.

~ Somewhere in my youth... I matured and I learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation, and abused children. I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain, and death. I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only to end up living on the streets, begging for their next meal. I learned of a world where children knew how to kill... and did!! What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death? When we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball?

~ I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again. I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean. When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence and deceit. I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was. I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find. I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike.

~ I didn't worry about time, bills or where I was going to find the money to fix my car. I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worry about what I'll do if this doesn't work out. I want to live simply again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones. I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow. I want to be 6 again.

-- author unknown


thank you Lynn 1/1/00

Pregnancy Questions and Answers

Q. What is the easiest way to figure out exactly when I got pregnant?

A. Have sex once a year.

Q. I normally wear a size 34-C bra. Now that I'm pregnant, should I continue to wear a bra?

A. Not if you don't mind switching in the future to a size 34-Long.

Q. What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?

A. Childbirth.

Q. I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?

A. With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q. How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?

A. If it's the flu, you'll get better.

Q. The more pregnant I get, the more often strangers smile at me. Why?

A. Cause you're fatter then they are.

Q. Will I love my dog less when the baby is born?

A. No, but your husband might get on your nerves.

Q. How long is the average woman in labour?

A. Whatever she says, divided by two.

Q. My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labour, but pressure. Is she right?

A. Yes, in the same way a tornado might be called an air current.
(laughing here)

Q. When is the best time to get an epidural?

A. Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q. I'm modest. Once I'm in the hospital to deliver, who will see me in that delicate position?

A. Authorized personnel only---doctors, nurses, orderlies, photographers, florists, cleaning crews, journalists, etc., (Oh, if thisisn't the truth, I don't know what is!)

Q. What does it mean when the baby's head is crowning?

A. It means you feel as though not only a crown but the entire throne is trying to make it's way out of you. (Uh Huh.....)

Q. Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?

A. Yes, pregnancy.

Q. Does labor cause hemorrhoids?

A. Labor causes anything you want to blame it for.

Q. Under what circumstances should a baby not be circumcised?

A. When it's a girl, for starters.

Q. Where is the best place to store breast milk?

A. In your breasts. (Duh!!!!)

Q. Is there a safe alternative to breast pumps?

A. Yes, baby lips.

Q. What causes baby blues?

A. Tanned, hard-bodied bimbos.
(Now, this is the truth....)

Q. What is colic?
A. A reminder for new parents to use birth control.

Q. Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?

A. When the kids are in college
(Whoa, now they're talking....it's the truth, you know!!!!)



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