Forty-Five Lessons Life Has Taught Me

Back home from California and trying to get back into my normal routine. Having the 4 TLC's over for the weekend and then Sunday when their mom and dad come to pick them up we will all have tacos for supper :-)

I have had the following in a draft for several months and this morning I read it again in an email from my favorite cousin so thought I better get it out of draft and on its' way for you to be encouraged by it too.

Have a great weekend.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.  So stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry..
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now... Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business..
29.. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35.. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere..
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

California in Pictures

After outliving 3 husband my 87 year old mother has lived the last 5 years in a beautiful independent living complex but recently suffered a physical injury and reluctantly decided to move into assisted living.  In order to help with her care and move I came to California 3 weeks ago.

While here we had our annual family reunion on my father's side of the family.  The temperature that day was 108* nearly hot as it is at home in Arizona.

On my birthday Mom was feeling pretty good so Precious Husband and I took a 30 minute drive to Three Rivers and had lunch on the river at Gateway Restaurant.

Precious Husband took this picture of him giving me a birthday kiss while we waited for our lunch.  See him sneaking a peek as he adjusted his phone for the picture.

After getting Mom settled in here new abode Precious Husband and I headed to the coast.  We have a lovely place here in Cambria for two nights.  Today we walked around the little town and snapped lots of pictures on my IPhone.  Tomorrow we will head back to Arizona and home sweet home after we have some more seafood and clam chowder of course.

Morning coffee on our patio overlooking the creek.

We had brunch at a great little restaurant called Creekside Cafe where I took this picture of the birdhouse.  We ate on the patio.

The rest of these pictures were taken as we walked down the streets of Cambria, California and also the  Pacific Ocean here in Cambria.  I am always amazed at how beautiful the flowers and vegetation are here at the coast.

Cambria by the sea!

The Face in the Mirror

No matter how long or how closely we walk with the Lord I believe there are times we need to hear this message.  I ran across this on Face Book and it encouraged me.  Hope it encourages you too.

My Own Secret Garden

In Arizona it is rare that you find a secret garden.  Lots of cactus yes, but not too often a secret garden.  My Precious Husband has begun to give me the next best thing - a special little niche.  I thought it would be fun to take pictures so when the plants mature and it all becomes gorgeous I can have pictures of how it all began.

The butterfly bench was purchased in honor of Aunt Jo after she passed away.  It is very special to me because we shared a love for butterflies.  The trellis we purchased on a recent trip to Prescott and hopefully soon it will be covered with jasmine or honeysuckle vines and flowers.

As always I am thankful for my Precious Husband and his loving ways of making me happy.  I am looking forward to sitting with him on our butterfly bench in our very own secret garden.

Quite Simple Actually!

      

Yellow Bowl Stories

 

If you have read my blog for long you will know about my love of yellow bowls and the tradition I have of collecting them to give each of my grandchildren.

This morning as I cleaned my kitchen and moved around the yellow bowls to clean I wondered about what stories my friends might have about a favorite piece in their kitchen.  Would love to hear your story.  When a friend saw my nesting bowls she shared how she remembered as a child her father eating popcorn out of the green Pyrex bowl in the evenings.   Please share with me a "yellow bowl story" or other favorite kitchen piece you have.

I Can Relate!

Boy does this cute comic hit home.  With 4 and soon to be 5 grandsons whose names starts with T I can really relate.  My oldest son laughs so hard at me when I do this because it reminds him of his grandmother who does the same thing!

Quotable Friday - Worry

 

These are take home pages my grandson was given when he went to church with us one Sunday.  Good stuff!

Give all your cares to Him,

because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Teacup Thursday - Tea & Toast

Tea and toast anyone?

Lately I have been drawn to these little cuties.  Tea and Toast they are often referred to as.

 

This one I found recently while out junking.  I love that it is just a little different in that the "goodie" side is small.  Would only hold a small indulgence.  The roses on this are so pretty.  I love anything with cabbage roses on it.

 

Precious Husband bought these for my birthday this year in Prescott.  I just wanted to buy one but he insisted on bringing both of them home.  They are just so sweet.  I love the colorings on both of them.  They would hold considerably more "indulgences" as the toast side is bigger.

 

Then below is one of my dessert pieces in the Sandwich Glass pattern.  I have several of them now picked up also while junking.  I can serve cake and punch to quite a few now.

 

Here is a closer look at the pattern.  I have collected quite a few serving pieces of this Sandwich Glass including full size plates with cup indention for snacks or a meal really.  I have several bowls and also a punch bowl and cups.  One of the grandchildren broke the punch bowl base when they were little so that gives me something to look for now when I am out and about.