Balloons

“Nobody can be un-cheered with a balloon.” ~Winnie the Pooh

Today, I picked up a book called Pooh's Little Instruction Book and among various other whimsical and enjoyable tidbits of advice for life, I found this quote.  And it made me smile, because I know how true it is.  I now have half a notion to fill my room with balloons, as I'm sure they would cheer up this rather gloomy day.  Perhaps I will...

If you can...

“If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food each day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when something goes wrong through no fault of your own and those who love you take it out on you,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, or politics,
Then, my friends, you are almost as good as your dog.”




God certainly knew what He was doing when He gave us dogs. :)

Study break... :)

I found these on a blog somewhere and enjoyed answering them, so I thought I would share. :)

questions for a bookworm

1. imagine you sit in front of a fireplace. you read and beside you there is a cup with something hot in it. what would that be in your case: tea, coffee or hot chocolate?   It could be any of the three, but I'll go with hot chocolate. :)
2. if an author gave you the chance to rewrite or to change the fate of a book character, who would you chose? Hmm...Dustfinger from Inkheart comes to mind, but I can't remember how the story ends, so I think it might have ended happily for him.  I don't remember.  
3. did your parents read stories to you when you were little? if yes are there any special ones you remember the most? I remember my dad reading stories to my sisters and I when we were little.  Our family liked to work on puzzles, so dad would read to us while we did that. The Chronicles of Narnia inspire the most fond memories, just because they are such wonderful stories.  But we also read Ben Hur, Moby Dick, and others. 
4. what do you like more the smell of old antiquarian books or the smell of new fresh ones you just bought?  The smell of old antiquarian books, for sure.  :)  
5. you get the opportunity to chose between to secret talents: either to be able to make things come to life through reading them or the gift to read yourself into a book. which one would you like to have?  I would love to be able to read myself into a book.  That would be so cool/wonderful!!!!!
6. do you have a favorite children’s book or a favorite fairy tale? Hmm...my favorite fairy tale would probably be either Rapunzel or Beauty & the Beast.  Or Snow White & Rose Red.  Okay, maybe I don't have a favorite; I like a lot of them! 
7. someone would talk to your friends and ask them to compare you to a book character. with who do you think would they compare you?  I don't know...maybe Blanche from the Fairy Tale Novels.  Or some character who loves animals.  
8. tell me the name of a writer who you would like to have as a friend. G.K. CHESTERTON!  
9. you can hide in a written down world for only one night into which world do you escape?  Hobbiton, the Shire.  Or Rivendell.  :) 
10. something terrible happens: you have to flee to an unknown place and all you can take with you are three books of all the ones you own. which three ones do you put into your bag?  The Bible, The Ballad of the White Horse, and The Chronicles of Narnia.  

Gratitude

“Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father’s love — difficulties, contradictions, humiliations, all the soul’s miseries, her burdens, her needs — everything, because through them, she learns humility, realizes her weakness — Everything is a grace because everything is God’s gift. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events — to the heart that loves, all is well.” ~St. Therese of the Child Jesus

This is a beautiful quote from a beautiful saint that really stuck out when I read it today.  "Everything is a grace."  I found this to be a very profound statement; maybe it is because today's burdens seemed to outnumber its joys.  But whether they are burdens or joys, they are all blessings.  They teach me humility and gratitude and patience and love.  They help me realize my own weakness.  And where humility and weakness are found, there is beauty and there is God.  And thank goodness!  Without Him, my life would be a mess.  He picks me up when I fall, He mends what I break, He smiles when I can't, and He loves when I don't.  Tonight, I just wanted to say thank you, Jesus.  Teach me to love. <3  

"To the heart that loves, all is well."