Saturday, December 31, 2011

Another Year Gone Bye

Tonight at midnight we will celebrate the entering of a new year. And another year gone bye.

People that seldom stay up late will stay up this night until midnight just to see the ball fall. To watch all of the festivities going on. To delight in all of the fireworks going off in the sky.

I wonder why we celebrate so much at this time. Is it because we consider a new year a new start? Or maybe a time to let go of some of our past? Or do we celebrate because most everyone else is celebrating?

Whatever your reason for celebrating this night I wish you a Happy New Year!

"old long since", "long long ago", "days gone by", "old times", "for (the sake of )old times"


New Year Eve's Trivia: In 1582, the Gregorian calendar reform restored January 1 as new year's day. Although most Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar almost immediately, it was only gradually adopted among Protestant countries. The British, for example, did not adopt the reformed calendar until 1752. Until then, the British Empire, and their American colonies, still celebrated the new year in March.

Lyrics to Old Lang Syne (short version):
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Chorus.-For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne. 

The song Old Lang Syne was originally set to a traditional folk tune in the Scottish language. The words are attributed to a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. The lyrics above are by no means the complete poem nor is it all of the words in the song.

"Remember that no man is a failure who has friends." A quote taken from the following great movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." One of my all time favorite movies.

To My Family, Friends and All Reading This
May your new year be full of love,
May gratitude flow from you and back your way.
 May you have good health and be free of any sickness.
May all of your resolutions be prepared with passion, strength and endurance so you will reach them all.
May you find a light to clearing up any financial problems.
May your stress be gone and never to return.
May you understand that down times are short and will end soon.
May you know within that you are thought of often.
May you feel the joy of true happiness.
May troubles escape you.
May a smile fill your face and heart.
May you be blessed through out the coming year and always.
Happy New Year to you and yours

Elaine

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Remember Those That Won't

Please remember those that won't and/or can't be home for Christmas.



Up until about the age of 22 I spent every holiday at my grandparent's house. Had wonderful times and great memories. Christmas holds many special memories for me.

We would arrive at my grandparent's house on Christmas Eve. In our family we always shared and opened presents on this night. It was special to me because I got to help my Grandmother decorate the Christmas tree. It was a proud time for me to be able to take a pine tree or whatever type happened to get cut down by my Grandfather and decorate it into a Christmas tree. Of course, Grandmother had to tell me where to put the balls and other stuff.

Christmas is a special time for many. It is a time to be with family and friends to give gifts and to share time with. To laugh and reminiscence about earlier years. To get caught up on what is going on in our life now. It is a time to be with those we love and that are close to our hearts.

But for some this isn't possible. It may be because they are a soldier and stationed far away. It may even be because there is not enough money to travel this year. Sickness could be keeping them from being with loved ones.

Whatever the reason, please remember those that will not be home for Christmas.

If you would like to listen to some beautiful Christmas music be sure to check out this site:
http://heavens-gates.com/50schristmas/

My Christmas wish and prayer for you is that you will be home for Christmas...

Elaine

Will you be home for Christmas? I would like to know what your wish is for this Christmas so please leave a comment below.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Connected For Life





 I wanted to share this article with you because it hit home for me. When my life is going through tough times I tend to do just what is brought in this article. I redraw into my own little world.






"Do you find yourself pulling away from others, especially if you've
experienced a crisis or deep disappointment? Maybe the most
difficult thing we can do is to be with people when we don't feel
like being around anybody. We need other people and we'll never
thrive as human beings in isolation.

One woman likes to say, "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry
and you cry with your girlfriends." The presumption is that men are
not empathetic, and there is probably some truth there.

But I meet with a small group of men that challenge that assertion.
We meet for one reason only - to support each other in our life
journeys. We ask embarrassing questions like, "How is it with your
soul?" And, "How are you REALLY doing?" We try to answer honestly
and to share what is good in our lives, but also relate what is not
going well. Where possible, we try to admit our failings in a
situation as well as what we think we may be doing right. We use
each other for a reality check, for support and, of course, for
friendship.

It's the only group in my life where I can be totally honest and
know that they will accept me anyway. We meet only to listen to each
other, support one another and, if need be, to occasionally
challenge one another. The point is - we need each other.

A man who lost his wife to cancer found himself wanting to be alone.
In time he dropped out of his worshiping community and curtailed
all of the activities he and his wife had shared for so many years.
He increasingly kept to himself. He quit socializing at work and
returned straight home to an empty house. He turned down invitations
from friends and co-workers. His leisure time was now spent watching
television or working in his shop in the basement.

His contact with people dwindled until friends became alarmed that
he might live out his life as a recluse. One came by to visit and to
invite him over for supper the next evening. The two old friends sat
in comfortable chairs by a warm fireplace. The visitor extended the
dinner invitation and encouraged him to come. "You may need to allow
others to share your pain."

The man responded that he figured he was better off without being
around other people. After all, others only seemed to remind him of
all he had lost. "And besides," he said, "it's just too difficult to
get out anymore."

They sat in silence for a while, watching the wood burn in the
fireplace. Then the visitor did an unusual thing. He took tongs from
a rack by the fireplace, reached into the fire, pulled out a flaming
ember and laid it down by itself on the hearth. "That's you," he
said.

The men sat in silence watching the red-hot ember. It slowly lost
its glow. Neither man looked away as the once-hot coal gradually
transformed into a crusty, black lump. After some moments, the
widower turned to his companion and said, "I get the message, my
friend. I'll be over tomorrow evening."

We cannot survive in any healthy way by ourselves. The leaf needs
the branch. The branch needs the trunk. The trunk needs the roots.
And the roots need the rest of the tree. We are connected. And in
that connection we find life and vitality."

-- Steve Goodier
Steve has produced a free newsletter since 1999. It is about life, love and laughter. http://www.lifesupportsystem.com Please check it out.

Hope you enjoyed this article. Please leave a comment.

Elaine 

Friday, December 2, 2011

Friendship

Friendship is a miracle to be held wisely.
The title of this video is "A Christmas Story - Journey Of The Angels/Silent Night". A very fitting title for such a strong story of friendship. 

Friendship is wanting the best for the other person. It encompasses trust, honesty, understanding, compassion and goodwill filled with gratitude for the other person. With a close friend you can be yourself without fear of being judged or ridiculed. You can think out loud.

"A Friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature." ~~  Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Friends come in all shapes and sizes. All ages and all styles. True, close friends are a blessing that is worth our time and effort. 

I watched this video several times and each time tears filled my eyes with happiness. It is a heart filled testament of what friendship is all about.  


I have been truly blessed in my life to have a friend that thinks I am worth the effort. I hope and pray you have the same experience.

If you feel so inclined please leave a comment on your thoughts about friendship. Appreciate it very much.

Elaine