God Bless America!! Happy 4th of July!!

Quote for the Day

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it.  It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."

                                                                                         ~C.S. Lewis~

Happy Father's Day!!

Amazing Acts of Kindness

So lately, I have been feeling super nostalgic.  Do any of you every feel that way?  At times, you find yourself pondering memories from your childhood, or thinking about friends you once knew.  And you wonder what they are up to, and if life turned out the they wanted it to.  I have known so many people through the years--too many to keep up with (even though I really wish I could)--and I often think about random people from time to time.  These are the moments I take the time to pray for these individuals, because why else would I be thinking about them?  God must be bringing them to my mind for some reason.

And then I also consider--I wonder if other people are randomly thinking about me?  I know the answer to this is yes, because I have had people tell me so.  How amazing it is to leave that kind of mark on someone's life--that years down the road someone is thinking of and remembering you.  How imperative it is that we strive to leave that kind of impression on others.

All of this said, there are times that I do get discouraged or frustrated in my life, and I just do not feel like leaving that healthy impression.  Yet, the kindness of others reminds me to reevaluate this type of thinking.

A friend of mine from college moved states away after graduation, and so we don't see each other at present, nor do we get to talk much.  However, I had a few things I wanted to send her, and in turn she sent me a few items.  I was not expecting anything from her, and that is not why I sent her something.  But the gifts she sent me were priceless, because they reminded me of compassion.  When you are discouraged--and then someone sends you a ray of sunshine--it just completely turns your world around.  Immediately, I felt energized and ready to pass this gift of compassion on to someone else.

I was reminded of how important it is to continue to show love and grace to others--no matter how I may be feeling on a particular day--because others have given those precious gifts to me.

Unfortunately, sometimes these thoughtful events can be quite rare in a person's life, but they are so lovely and inspiring when they do happen!

So go and show compassion to someone today.  The long term benefits are amazing!

 

Laugher for the Day

As writers, we all understand the pains of writer's block.  So here are few laughs to enjoy which surround that very topic. Have a great day! 

Tea Time!

I was talking with a friend today about one of my favorite things--tea!  :)  She was telling me about the Tazo tea she was enjoying for the day (Darjeeling), and I was telling her about some of my favorite teas and sweets to go along with my cup of tea.  My favorite is probably Earl Grey, but most hot tea flavors are good.  :)  Of course, teas are broken down into three main categories--black teas, green teas, and herbal teas.  So you can pick which group you prefer, and then select a favorite tea from the bunch.  Earl Grey is a black tea, yet Darjeeling belongs to several of the tea categories. 

What types of tea do you enjoy?  What sweet treats do you like to add to your cup of tea? 

Happy Mother's Day!