Are You Laughing?

"Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity."

Charles R. Swindoll

 I Love Dogs Facebook page

Early this morning, Thanksgiving day, I read words that I needed. The words told me to laugh! I must confess, I haven't done a lot of that recently.

The best advice is found in Proverbs 31:25: "She is clothed in strength and dignity; and she can laugh at the days to come." New Living Translation and American Standard. My Bible says "rejoice." Laugh is the word I needed!

"Modern scientific research has confirmed that a cheerful outlook is powerful medicine," and Proverbs 17:22 confirms it: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

 A little kiss always helps!

"Laughter promotes healing, eases pain, lowers blood pressure, boosts immune-system functioning, relieves stress, and promotes a general sense of well-being." The One Year Women of the Bible

We all know this is true. But sometimes we have a hard time finding it. We certainly have many reasons to laugh and rejoice. "A sense of humor is important for our physical and emotional health, and it is an important asset in relationships." The One Year Women of the Bible

Laughter adds richness, texture, and color to otherwise ordinary days. It is a gift, a choice, a discipline, and an art."

Tim Hansel

I like this quote from Pepper Schwartz: "Spend time each day talking with your friends. Even a 15 or 20 minute conversation can help reduce stress, create emotional bonds, and give objective insights."

A good definition of laughing is: "to make spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are instinctive expressions of lively amusement." Think of a baby's laugh, a child's laugh. Oh to be that free to laugh out loud!

  Come here Abby and Jo! I need to see if you're really chocolate!

"Laughter or tears, both derived from God."

Sophocles (c. 496-406 B.C.)

"There is nothing in this world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

"Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it."

Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"It is cheerful to God when you rejoice or laugh from the bottom of your heart."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

So, my friends, as we go through this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, may you find many opportunities to laugh! And I hope to as well!

From Redneck and Country Facebook page

I Found Fall

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

 Albert Camus

Yes, I finally found fall. It was a long time coming. Last week I found some stunning yellow in Cook forest and wondered if that was all I was going to see. It was lovely walking around the camp grounds snapping pictures.

Then Monday went near Pittsburg for a doctor appointment. Two of the small towns we  drove through were gorgeous with bright yellow leaves. So early this morning I drove back down to get a few snaps.

All the yellows were bright and beautiful. The sun shone. It was a beautiful morning driving around.

Everywhere I turned there was another beautiful picture to be taken.

I also stopped several times on one of the main roads down to Pittsburg. That's where I found lovely forest scenes and ponds.

I found dirt roads that I'd love to be walking through.

"The heart of autumn must have broken here, and poured its treasure upon the leaves."

Charlotte Bates

"Each moment of the year has its own beauty . . . a picture which was never seen before and which shall never be seen again." 

 Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

"How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days."

 John Burroughs

I found very few red leaves to snap and was delighted when I saw this tree.

Delicious orange!

"I love autumn, the season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beautify of it."
Lee Maynard

I hope you've enjoyed my drive with just a few of the lovely snaps I took. How refreshing it was to be out and about enjoying God's creation!

November Joy

As we begin the month of November, I'm sharing a post I wrote in November, 2013. All the pictures were taken at that time. I hope you enjoy it!

Who are you thankful for?

Although I've become lazy in recent years in accomplishing this practice, "November Joy" is an action I highly recommend! It began many years ago in my heart and always brought a smile to my face. When I would turn the calendar over to November, I began to consider those people who made a different in my life that year. Then I'd write them a note thanking them for being in my life.

Many of us see Thanksgiving as a "family" celebration, and that's a good thing. I encourage you to expand that view and show thankfulness to those folks in your life who've brought a smile, helped in a time of need or just made you feel good. It could be a phone call, a visit, a gift of food or an item you make, even an email message. Anything to say, "Thank you for being in my life!"

Right after I decided "November Joy" would be my next blog post, I pulled up an email from Linda, an old friend. She wrote, "Last night on the CMA awards, Kenny [Rodgers] sang a song that reminds me of our life-long friendship." I pulled the video up on You Tube and was teary-eyed before it was over. "You Can't Make Old Friends" is the song he sang. I encourage you to pull it up and listen.

It is beautifully sung with his friend Dolly Parton. Allow me a moment to endorse this thought. Linda and I began our relationship in elementary school, and by God's grace have remained friends to this day. We had a few years of no contact after high school until her son and my daughter ended up in the same third grade class. We've been through thick and thin, sorrow and happiness, fun and somber moments.

Old friends. I'm fortunate to have three friends that were in my early school days: Linda B, Paula and Linda D. And many other girlfriends through all seasons of my life. Friends are one of my greatest blessings, and I don't take it lightly. You need to be a friend to have friends. Thank you dear ones!

Please indulge me as I once again share one of my favorite poems on friendship by the poet Edgar Guest, 1881-1959:

"I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you each minutes of the day,
As you have meant, old friend of mine, to me along the way.

"I'm wishing at this time that I could but repay,
A portion of the gladness that you've strewn along my way;
And could I have one wish this year, this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me."

So, what do you say? Has your heart been touched to consider "November Joy" as you go through this month of thanksgiving? Have I encouraged you to say thank you to the special people who have made a difference in your life? And what about your old friends?

Who are you thankful for? Why don't you find an old swing like the one below and consider how to celebrate "November Joy!"

In closing, I want to thank my God for my 35 years of salvation on November 14th. A new life was born, and I'm eternally grateful to be a part of the family of God because of what Jesus did for me. I celebrate my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! 

 

I hope you liked the repost. Maybe it gave you a new idea to start. Remember that someone or three who's made a difference in your life this year or any year! You're heart will be full of joy if you do!

I now will celebrate 40 years of salvation on November 14th this year. My heart is grateful!!!!