Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Change

I had to share this video with all of you because it spoke volumes to my heart. Tears formed in my eyes from the goodness portrayed by the homeless man. A smile came across my lips and inside of me.

The title of the video is Change For A Dollar. A great play on words.

When I first read the title I saw 4 quarters in my mind - or any amount of coins that would come out to a dollar. I have a feeling that you probably thought the same thing. Our minds are so focused on $dollar$ that we miss the word 'Change' and how many meanings is in this one word.

Change For A Dollar


Written and directed by Sharon Wright
http://www.imdb.me/sharonwright
http://www.shesalwayswright.com

Winner - Best Short Film - Maryville Film Festival
Winner - Audience Choice Award - Gateway Film Festival
Winner - Audience Choice Award - Moonlight Film Festival
Nominated - Best Female Filmmaker Award - Action On Film Intl Film Festival
Nominated - Sirrocco Award - Action On Film Intl Film Festival
Nominated - Best Silent Film - BareBones Intl Film Festival

Thanks to my cousin for sending me this video. Please share this with everyone. It needs to be seen by all.


If your heart was touched by this video please leave a comment and let me know. Thank you.

Elaine

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Day of Gratitude - 2011

I have such fond memories of Thanksgiving from the days of my youth. Thanksgiving was always spent at my Grandparent's house. I got to see my uncles and their wives, my cousins and many other family members. My Grandfather never missed going squirrel hunting early on Thanksgiving Day. Funny thing, I can't remember ever seeing a squirrel that he brought home.

Like most Grandmothers mine was also an excellent cook. Food was always sitting around just for the picking. Thanksgiving Day was no different. Food every where and if you didn't eat all that you could possibly get down my Grandmother was right there asking if you wanted more.

My least favorite food at Thanksgiving was, believe it or not, pumpkin pie. Never have developed a taste for the stuff. I can eat it if I load up the top with whip cream - and I do mean mountains of whip cream. Because of this my Grandmother would always make me a butterscotch pie. Now I could eat a whole butterscotch pie in one sitting with no problem. One of my uncles liked butterscotch as much as I did so Grandmother would of course make two pies - one for me and one for my uncle. Of course she would tell us not to tell anyone about our pies because they were for us only. As a matter of fact she would hide them away in a cabinet - out of sight.

Lovely, thankful memories.

Wikipedia tells us that Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. As a federal and popular holiday in the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year.

The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 13 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. The feast consisted of fish (cod, eels, and bass) and shellfish (clams, lobster, and mussels), wild fowl (ducks, geese, swans, and turkey), venison, berries and fruit, vegetables (peas, pumpkin, beetroot and possibly, wild or cultivated onion), harvest grains (barley and wheat), and the Three Sisters: beans, dried Indian maize or corn, and squash. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.
Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_%28United_States%29

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth
by Jennie A. Brownscombe. (1914)
 

"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"  ~Erma Bombeck

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."  ~Theodore Roosevelt

I had to add some humor because Thanksgiving should be a happy day for us all.
 


Let's take the meaning of Thanksgiving and live it every day. If we all will do this then peace will engulf the world. No one would be alone, our soldiers would be home, no one would be having to live on the streets and we would all be full of love. No child, no adult would have to go to bed hungry from lack of food.

Thanksgiving is about giving Thanks for all. Thanksgiving is about sharing what  each of us have been given whether it be a lot or a little. In sharing we commemorate the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

If you enjoyed this post please leave a comment. I would appreciate knowing what you think.

Elaine



Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans Day 11-11-11



"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?"  ~Eve Merriam

Thank you for serving then and now. To all that have served. To all that gave their all. To those that are serving now. Freedom is won by the sacrifices and giving of so many brave men, woman, and animals known as War Dogs.

You may hate war but never dishonor yourself by hating the soldier. Our gratitude lives within us each day of our life not just today.



Lyrics:
There is still a land where freedom rings
In hearts of people young and old.
Life and liberty and happiness
Protected by the strong and bold.

Through the years you have looked over us,
To keep our golden land secure.
Gave your lives for such a worthy cause,
Let freedom ring forevermore!

CHORUS
This is still the land of the free
Because you gave so unselfishly.
Your sacrifice means all to me,
‘Cause this is still the land of the free.

The flame still burns inside of each of us
Our hearts beat red, white and blue.
We will carry on the torch of hope,
A beacon proudly shining through.

When I see the stars and stripes unfurled,
The torch of Lady Liberty,
I am thankful for America,
And those who keep her safe for me!
CHORUS



"And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me."
Lee Greenwood

History of Veterans Day
http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp


Too many military war dogs are euthanized after they are retired from active duty. Help stop this practice. Go to http://www.save-a-vet.org


"Lord, bid war's trumpet cease;
Fold the whole earth in peace."
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
 
 
THANK YOU
Elaine
 


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Steve Goodier On Faking It

I have been a subscriber of Steve's for a while now. Also, I have read many of his books and have given them away as gifts. Why? Because he approaches life with humor, clarity and love. Be sure to check out his blog at the end of this post and you might want to subscribe to his newsletter.

Enjoy... Oh!, by the way, you might want to read it more than once.


SOMETHING YOU CAN'T FAKE
By Steve Goodier

"One person writes: "I have been in many places, but I have never
been in Cahoots. Apparently you can't go there alone. You have to be
in Cahoots with someone. I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no
one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. You have to
be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my
family, friends and those where I have worked."

I find myself in some interesting places - like Love. Have you ever
been in Love? It can be a hard place to leave. Occasionally I find
myself in Fear, in Doubt and, at times, in Capable. I don't like to
spend a lot of time there.

But what about Sincere? Have you been in Sincere, lately? I've been
there and it is not an honorable place to go.

A guy was in Sincere when he bought his wife a beautiful diamond
ring for Christmas. Well, not quite a diamond, but it looked like
one.

A friend of his said, "I thought she wanted one of those pretty
4-wheel drive vehicles."

He shrugged his shoulders. "She did. But where in the world was I
going to find a fake jeep?"

Is there such a thing as a fake relationship?

You remember comedian Tommy Smothers old line? "The best thing about
getting older is that you gain sincerity. Once you learn to fake
that, there's nothing you can't do."

I heard a true story of a teenager who got a tattoo on her hip - a
delicate little Japanese symbol. At her friend's house she showed it
off. The friend's mother commented on it and the girl begged,
"Please don't tell my parents."

The mother assured her that she wouldn't say anything about it. Then
she asked, "By the way, what does it stand for?"

"Honesty," she said.

I love irony.

When I am sincere, there's nothing to hide. I am just me. It's
something I can't fake. And if I'm the best me that I can be, then
what can I be that is any better?

The Wall Street Journal once printed a little piece titled
"Sincerity." It is one of my favorites.

"I wish I were big enough honestly to admit all my shortcomings;
brilliant enough to accept praise without it making me arrogant;
tall enough to tower above deceit;
strong enough to welcome criticism;
compassionate enough to understand human frailties;
wise enough to recognize my mistakes;
humble enough to appreciate greatness;
staunch enough to stand by my friends;
human enough to be thoughtful of my neighbor;
and righteous enough to be devoted to the love of God."

I am really not all that strong. I don't always act with courage. I
am certainly not as brilliant as others, as charming or as wise. But
today I can be me. And when I lie down tonight, I'll sleep easy
knowing it will have been enough."

-- Steve Goodier

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http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/