The 23rd Day of Advent - The Shepherds and the Angels

I love today's passage! As a mother, I think my favorite verse is the one that says, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." That's just what moms do... remember all the special times in their children's lives so they can save those precious memories and think of them throughout their lives.

The Shepherds and the Angels - Luke 2: 8-20

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angels said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Monday Inspiration - Let us be Grateful

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
~ Marcel Proust

Monday Inspiration - Keep Love In Your Heart

"Keep love in your heart. 
A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. 

The consciousness of loving and being loved
 brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring."

~ Oscar Wilde



"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other."

~ 1 Thessalonians 3:13

Monday Inspiration - Let Every Dawn

"Let every dawn of morning be to you as the beginning of life,

and every setting sun be to you as its close;

then let every one of these short lives leave its sure record

of some kindly thing done for others,

some goodly strength or knowledge gained for yourself."

~ From an article "Little Bits of Life", February 2000,

"The Old Country News" periodical

Monday Inspiration - Blessing of Home

"A home is truly a blessing, a treasure more precious than we realize. Whatever home we have been blessed to own or rent or otherwise inhabit is quite simply a gift, and the simple-hearted among us realize that good gifts are meant to be shared. Our homes should stand ready to welcome friends, kin, strangers, and pilgrims."
- Claire Cloninger from "Simple Joys - Finding Happiness in Your Own Backyard"

Monday Inspiration - Just One

Laughing Gull in Flight, Joanne Thayer

Just One
Author Unknown

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what’s true,

One life can make a difference,
You see, it’s up to you!

Monday Inspiration - Moment by Moment

"Make the least of all that goes and the most of all that comes." 

Don't regret what is past. 

Cherish what you have. 

Look forward to all that is to come. 

And most important of all, 

rely moment by moment on Jesus Christ.

~ Gigi Graham Tchividjian, 'Weather of the Heart'

Twelve Things to Remember

This is from my daily calendar, and I thought I'd share with all of you.... Joanne

TWELVE THINGS TO REMEMBER ~
by Marshall Field

1. The value of time.
2. The success of perseverance.
3. The pleasure of working.
4. The dignity of simplicity.
5. The worth of character.
6. The power of kindness.
7. The influence of example.
8. The obligation of duty.
9. The wisdom of economy.
10. The virtue of patience.
11. The improvement of talent.
12. The joy of origination.

Monday Inspiration - Faith

"...my faith has always given me strength. The sun has set on yesterday. I have been given the gift of today and the hope of tomorrow."
~ Alda Ellis

I love this quote and don't remember which book I found it in (I have several with writings by Alda Ellis).  As soon as I saw it I knew it was one for me to keep since this is exactly how I feel about faith and the strength it provides, no matter what the situation.  I also love the idea of being given the gift of today, and the hope of tomorrow... something wonderful to ponder, and a tomorrow full of all sorts of possibilities.

Monday Inspiration - Morning Thoughts

Photo: Joanne Thayer, Tubac, Arizona, September 2014

I wake each morning glad that I

May know the sun, the rain, the sky,

The gentle twittering of birds...

The joy of creatures without words.

Dear Lord, Your wonders bring to me

A deep sense of humility;

And I am awed each time I wake

To the beauty of the days You make!

So, thank You, Father, for every hour

I live to see a tree, a flower,

A bird in flight, a sunset hue,

That I may share, dear God, with You.

(Author Unknown)

A Psalm for Sunday - Psalm 25:4-5

These are two of my favorite verses in the Bible and I have them written in the front of all my Bibles.  I think they're a perfect way to start each day!  This is the NIV translation.

Psalm 25

⁴ Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.

Monday Inspiration - Influence

Influence
By Joseph Norris

Drop a pebble in the water,
And its ripples reach out far;
And the sunbeams dancing on them
May reflect them to a star.

Give a smile to someone passing,
Thereby making his morning glad;
It may greet you in the evening
When your own heart may be sad.

Do a deed of simple kindness;
Though its end you may not see,
It may reach, like widening ripples,
Down a long eternity.

A Psalm for Sunday - Psalm 24

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 

2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.  

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?  

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.  

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. 

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. "Selah" 

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 

8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  

10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty-- he is the King of glory. "Selah" 

(NIV)

No Little Events In Life

"There are no little events in life;

those we think of no consequence may be full of fate, 

and it is at our own risk if we neglect the acquaintances and opportunities that seem to be casually offered, and of small importance."

~ Ameilia Barr

"Every encounter we have, even if brief and seemingly unimportant,

may have more significance than we know. 

A brief encounter may begin a greater ripple that reaches its intended purpose years later. 

Everyone who comes into our lives may be part of our mission, and we, a part of theirs... 

By being positive and helpful towards others, even in casual moments, 

we can make the most of our time on earth."

~ Author Unknown 

I love these two quotes and wrote them in one of my notebooks years ago so I'd always have them.

They really give you much to think about as you go about everyday life.  You never know if that casual acquaintance in something as simple as talking to someone in a grocery line, or letting someone else go ahead of you as you're at a traffic stop, or just a simple smile, can be something important to another person as they go about their day.  It's something worth thinking about, isn't it??

Of course, there are more significant meetings, too.  Someone you meet at one point in your life, and then years later that person is back again in a completely different way and still a friend and willing to help you.

I've always thought about these types of encounters, but as I get older and realize I've experienced many of these moments in my own life, it makes me pay even more attention to little moments in a day and the people I encounter.

Joanne

Making Plans

I've had so many thoughts on my mind lately that when I woke up I decided to get dressed, drive thru Starbucks for a Cinnamon Dolce Latte, and then take a long ride through country roads, rivers, and small towns.  That's always a sure way to give me time to think and make plans -- much better than when I wake up in the middle of the night thinking of these things, or can't fall asleep because my mind is busy working :)

It's a beautiful, breezy, sunny and blue skies day with some white puffy clouds, and we were just in the low 70s when I was out.  A nice day for a country ride.

The thoughts and plans I had on my mind??

First, Christmas.  Believe it or not, I have most of my shopping done, with the exception of a few people.  I've been doing it throughout the year when I've been traveling, which is always a great way to find just the right thing for someone.  I know what we're giving the other people on our list, so I just need to get those things over the next month and I'm all set to get things mailed.

I'm in an annual handmade Christmas exchange with several friends from an online group (we've been friends since 1999, and doing this exchange since 2005).  I think I'm pretty sure what I'm making, but will visit the crafts store tomorrow.  I'll either buy what I *think* I'm going to make, or I'll get a completely different idea. 

Also for Christmas... I have some needlework projects that are all stitched but need to be finished (framing, made into pillows, ornaments, wall hangings, etc.), and a few of those will be done for Christmas and used as gifts.  I'm also making a list of some baking ideas for friends and family, which will more than likely end up being a variety of shortbreads :)

The other thing I've had on my mind, which has actually been there for a few years, is a publishing project.  I've been making a lot of notes recently and working on plans and goals, contacts, and everything else needed, and after my ride today I've decided on a March 1st goal for this to begin.  Now that the date has been determined, I just need to start working backwards from there to have everything else fall into place, plan some meetings with friends/contacts, do more research, and get going!  This is a project I'm excited about, and will share more as time goes on.  

I'm curious... what does everyone else do when they have things on their mind and need that special time to do the planning?  Taking a ride?  A walk?  A bath?  Talking it out with someone else?

Joanne

Monday Inspiration

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.
Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”

Pamela Vaull Starr

On Mother's Day

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; 

her husband also, and he praiseth her. 

Many daughters have done virtuously, 

but thou excellest them all."

Proverbs 31: 28-29

Wishing Joyful Blessings to all mothers and daughters today!!

Joanne

Goal Setting

I've recently been busy going over the annual goals I had set for my business, Of Generations Past.  I had several deadlines recently (which have been met... yay!), and now I'm going back over what I had planned for goals for the 1st quarter of the year to see how real life actually compared.  I'm also making several changes for the rest of the year from what I had originally set... I have lots of different creative ideas that have popped into my head recently and want to incorporate those into the planned goals.

It's funny that I just came across a quote I had written down several years ago on setting goals.  Since it goes with my current tasks, I thought I'd share it with you...

"Not having a goal is more to be feared than not reaching a goal. I would rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed."

~ Alda Ellis from "Heart Full of Happiness"

If you'd like to keep up with my goals, work, and new creative ideas, please visit my Of Generations Past blog!!

The Blessing of Spring

It's been a long time since I wrote that last post!  I thought it would be a good time to share a beautiful quote about spring.  I found it in one of my notebooks where I copied it down in 2006.

 

It is not the variegated colors, the cheerful sounds, 

and the warm breezes which enliven us so much in spring; 

it is the quiet prophetic spirit of endless hope, a presentiment of many happy days,

the anticipation of higher everlasting blossoms and fruits, 

and the secret sympathy with the world that is developing itself.
 
~ Martin Opitz

A Little Beach Relaxation

Well, for me relaxation at the beach isn't swimming... it's walking along with my camera, taking pictures of the sea and the seabirds.  I'm not a great photographer (and a better camera is on my Christmas wish list), but I love talking to the laughing gulls and having them pose for me,

sitting on the sand and watching the brown pelicans fly above the water, dive for their dinner, and then body surf on the waves. 

People look at me with strange looks on their faces (I guess since I have a habit of talking to the gulls), but for me, it's relaxation at its best.

I have a few big deadlines coming up so this little overnight trip to the sea was all about relaxing and letting creative ideas flow.  Fortunately I have a great husband who understands me and doesn't mind my solo adventures :)

I'm working on a book (non-fiction) with a friend which is currently coming in at around 284 pages.  I'm doing the layout, formatting, copy editing and proof reading.  I've hired my daughter (who does this type of work) to help out since I've set a deadline for the first of September, giving the printer plenty of time to have things finished in time for October sales.  It's going to be a busy several weeks!!

I've also been working on several new cross stitch designs and sent two of them over to my friend Linda this evening - she'll be doing the model stitching on these two as I work on a few more. 

I'll be updating my Of Generations Past blog in a day or so with more information on the new designs.  Be sure to check in there!

Joanne