Wednesday, January 25, 2012

51 Years Ago today at 8:00 p.m.

I graduated from this High School.  West Technical High School, Cleveland, Ohio.
Commencement ceremonies were held at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium.
I graduated 12th in a Class of 250+ with honors, and an honor key.
This year, 2012 is the School's 100th anniversary.  Many festivities are planned.
The school is now made into Loft Condos.
Many, many memories.
We are the Warriors, mighty, mighty Warriors.
Yeah!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

...and the last ten lessons

41.  Make some else's dream come true
42.  Triage
43.  A saint is someone who knows how much God loves them.
44.  Don't quit before the miracle happens.
45.  Make amends as soon as you can, while you still can.
46.  Silence the noise.  In times of doubt or indecision, pause and make room for God.
47.  To be a channel of peace you have to stay open.
48.  God wil not have his work made manifest by cowards.
49.  Leave a legacy time can't erase.
50.  If you woke up today, God isn't through with you yet.

"Be the Miracle:  50 Lessons for Making the Impossible Possible."
 Grand Central Publishing.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

still continued

31.  Carry as you climb.
32.  Be an original.  Forge your own path.
33.  Harness the power of hope.
34.  Watch well your words, practice restraint of tongue and pen.
35.  No matter what happens, don't take it personally.  Take it spiritually.
36.  The world needs your Yes!
37.  Empower your power by joining forces.
38.  You are a child's most important teacher.
39.  What you think about, you bring about.
40.  Aim higher.

Monday, January 16, 2012

continued from Saturday

21.  Dream big.
22.  Consult your own soul.  Deep inside you already know the answers you need.
23.  Get in the game.
24.  God doesn't always call the strong.  Sometimes you have to be weak enough to serve
25.  When you have nothing but faith, you have enough.
26.  Be a good monk.  Make your life a prayer
27.  Believe in abundance
29.  Shine your light, no matter how dark the world around you appears.
29.  Comfort the sick.  When everyone else flees, be the one who stays.
30.  You have an endless supply of abundance from a wealthy Father who loves you, and so does every else!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

...Continued from yesterday

11.  Everyone matters to somebody
12.  Speak up for others, especially when they aren't present to speak up for themselves
13.  Give birth to yourself every day
14.  Sometimes it's enough to make one person happy.
15.  The secret of life is no secret.  It's sprinkled all over your life.
16.  If you can't be the rock, be the ripple
17.  Give as if the world is your family, because it is.
18.  Everyone is either your student or your teacher.  Most people are both
19.  Pray like you mean it.
20.  Arrive early...more tomorrow!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Miraculous results from small steps, Regina Brett

I have been so moved and motivated by her words in this column that I am going to run the steps, a few each day or week.
We need a miracle.  How often have you heard people say that?  How often have you said it?
In times of trouble or despair, we want someone else to take action, someone stronger, smarter, more poweful than ourselves.

The truth is we all have just enough strength, smarts and power to make a difference, to be the miracle for someone.

We pass by miracle workers every day.  They're often disguised as ordinary people -- teachers, barbers, nurses, secretaries, cashiers, cab drivers and sheet-metal workers like her dad.

People in all walks of life who don't just go to work to bring home a paycheck.  People who go to work to make a difference in the lives of others.  People who remind us that no one is too small to make a big difference.

We're all her to matter for others, to be the miracle someone else needs.  How do you do that?  All you have to do is make a beginning:

1.  Start where you are.
2.  Get busy on the possible.
3.  You can make a big difference, no matter how little you make.
4.  Magnify the good.
5.  Do your best and forget the rest.  It could simply be too soon to tell.
6.  We all do the same things.  It's how we do them that makes the difference.
7.  Interruptions are divine assignments.
8.  Adjust your own oxygen mask before helping others, or you'll be of no use to anyone --including.
9.  Instead of treating people the way you want to be treated, treat people the way THEY want to be treated.
and
10.  If you want to see a miracle, be the miracle.

More later!

Friday, January 13, 2012

A sad state of the state

Ohio foreclosures still at crisis level


(Jan. 4, 2012) New housing foreclosures remain at historically high levels in Ohio and seem to be stabilizing at peak levels of about 80,000. In short, Ohio homeowners are drenched, with one-in-three “under water”...owing more on their homes than current market value.

Housing foreclosures remain at historically high levels in Ohio. Urban counties continue to lead the state in foreclosure filings, even as smaller and less urban counties are experiencing larger growth rates. In 2010, the number of new filings grew in 30 of Ohio’s 88 counties; 24 of those counties had populations below 100,000.

However, foreclosures continue to plague urban areas as well

Cuyahoga County remains at the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis. For the fifth year in a row Cuyahoga County topped the list of foreclosures per 1,000 people (10.05) and overall new foreclosure filings (12,825).

While rural counties are facing more foreclosures than past years, urban counties still carry the brunt of new filings. The 10 biggest urban counties accounted for 60 percent of filings in Ohio last year but represented only 53 percent of the population.

Court mediation, housing counseling, and outreach by community groups have slowed foreclosure filings. Working with a HUD counseling group or the court system dramatically increases the likelihood of a successful mortgage workout.

Source: Policy Matters Ohio, author David Rothstein

Friday, January 6, 2012

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, how does your garden grow?

How to plant your garden for daily living...


First, you come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses.


PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS :
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO COMPLETE OUR GARDEN, WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.

THERE IS SO MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN, BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.


Thank you Carol!






Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Best Friends!

I love this photo!  I took this on New Year's Day.  "Nana, can you take a picture of Toby and Me before the party starts?"

You Bet I can!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Starting the New Year right!

Just before the guests started to arrive, four tables or counter tops filled with food and drink!
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Artichoke/Spinach Dip
Shrimp
Crab Mousse
Vegetable Tray
Fruit Tray
Crackers/Sausage/Cheese w Grapes
Kielbasi
Sauerkraut
Roast Pork Loin
Swedish Meatballs
Punch/Bloody Mary's/Champagne/Wine/Beer/Sodas
assorted munchies
Pumpernickel with spinach dip
and
Pumpkin Rolls, Cookies, Chocolates, Cheesecake, (did I say cookies?)
Wow, it was Fun!

My favorite thing to do...cook and entertain.  Last of the guests left at 8:00 p.m.

Not bad for an Open House that was over at 5:00!

Happy  2012 to all of our friends!