Achieve Your Dreams

~Life is what happens while you are making other plans.~

~A person of words and not deeds is like a garden full of weeds.~

~The key to happiness and success is to have a dream.~

~All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.~

~You always pass failure on the way to success.~

~You have to wake up in order for your dreams to come true.~

~Don't let lack of praise nip you in the bud.~

~The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little extra.~

~Count your age by your friends, Count your life by smiles.~

~Stand for something or you'll fall for anything.~

~If you don't lie down no one can walk on you.~

~Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.~

~Happiness is the journey not the destination.~

~To succeed do the best you can, where you are, with what you have.~

The Psalm Of Life

What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!--

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act,--act in the living present!

Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Small Break-God bless

I shall be taking a few days break but will be back by Tuesday(Monday in America). God bless you all and I shall miss you, but I will be back(who said that? LOL).

Peace and much love to all

Marie xoxoox PS: Do watch the Youtube. It is hysterical lol.

Happiness-The Key

In order to discover what makes us happy we must understand what it is that makes us unhappy.

Our happiness lay in what is predominant in our own thought processes.

Are you thoughts consumed with the past? A past full of mistakes where you have hurt and been hurt in return? A past that we cannot change no matter how much our thoughts linger over particular events that may have grieved us.

Do you with desperation cling to people who may not wish to continue a friendship or relationship and find that no matter how much you reach out to these people it is ultimately rejected and one is left feeling bruised and crushed?

Are your thoughts then consumed with how badly you have been treated as if noone has the right to move on and away from you.

That is not love. It is control.

A good excercise is to examine your thoughts. Does a higher percentage of your thoughts linger on what you are feeling, whether it be good or bad? Do your thoughts circle around your own person in that you have made yourself the centre of your universe? And even if your thoughts dwell on God it is a case of 'what are you doing for me Lord?' Or 'how could you allow this to happen to me God?'

That is not love. It is manipulation.

Do you worry for tomorrow when today has not ended? Are your thoughts consumed with what may happen, rather than dealing with the reality of the present moment?

That is not love. It is lack of trust.

If you wish to know the key to happiness, then let it go.

You are in charge of your own happiness. It is not God's job to make you happy nor is it the task of your family or friends neither can your enemies steal your happiness unless you hand it to them.

Authentic happiness lay in a forgetting of self.

You are in charge of your thoughts. You are responsible for the attitude you take to any given set of circumstance whether they be favourable or adverse.

The key to your happiness is not in God's Hands it is in yours.

"Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday. Either he will shield you from suffering or he will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." St. Francis de Sales

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer....Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:12 & 21)

Written by Marie

I Resign....

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult.

I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities

of an 8 year old again.

I want to go to Subway and think that it's a four star restaurant

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and

make ripples with rocks.

I want to think M&M's are better than money because

you can eat them.

I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade

stand with my friends on a hot summer day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple.

When all you knew were colours, multiplication tables

and nursery rhymes,

but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didnt care.

All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of

all the things that should make you worried or upset.

That everyone is good and honest.

I want to believe that anything is possible.

I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and

be overly excited by the little things.

I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news.

I want to believe in the power of a smile, of hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace and dreams.

The imagination, and making angels in the snow, of seeing rainbows, jumping in puddles & dancing in the rain.

So...here's my checkbook and my car keys, my credit cards and all my responsibility.

I have officially resigned from adulthood.

If you want this too then you'll have to catch me first

'Cause...

"Tag! You're it!"

Anon

Six Quirky Facts-Holy Card-Book Meme's

Quirks

1: I often wake up singing and know all the lyrics, but when fully awake I don't remember them.

2: I can do a perfect imitation of The Queen.

3: I can do a perfect imitation of a Redneck Mama and play a routine to friends. Mama and her son's Jethro, Bodine and Bubba! lol

4: I have a tendency to forget where I put things including placing the phone in the freezer!

5: I get 'saying's wrong..ie: 'dont count your eggs till they've hatched in the basket, 'you can lead a horse to a trough but it wont drink if it is empty.' These are my 'DOH moments!(Yes! I actually said those two!)

6: I argue with telephone recordings.( I know it's a grumpy ole woman thingy lol)

*******************

Holy Card Meme

Is there a Saint for 'putting your foot right in it?' Cos that would be MOI!

My this is a difficult one. I guess my Motto is and always has been 'I prefer the hard Truth over a nice lie.' Or 'Give me Truth or give me nothing.'

The Catholic Church IS the Truth. It is Life. It is Love. It is everything.

I don't know if that qualifies me but I will defend the Teachings of the Catholic Church to the end.

I would choose to be the Patron Saint for those misunderstood because they do not compromise on Truth.

Also for those who forget who tagged them lol.

Thanks Cathy,

**********************

Book Meme

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

A school teacher who encouraged me to read and then write essay's on the books. There were many books I loved and still do and some I loathed and still do, such as 'Wuthering Height's which I nicknamed 'Withering Blight.' lol

What are some books you read as a child?

What Katie did. Anne of Green Gables. Little Women. The Diary of Anne Frank.

What is your favorite genre?

Biography. Catholic Spirituality.

Do you have a favorite novel?

I don't think anything has ever beaten 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'It is simply brilliant.

Where do you usually read?

In the living room.

When do you usually read?

In the morning or late at night.

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

Absolutely. I have three on my side table next to my chair.

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

No. Same place as above.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

Buy them.

What are you reading now?

Just finished 'Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Everything is Grace-Therese of Lisieux by Joseph Schmidt

The Clintons by Sally Bedell Smith

Mrs. Beetons Household Management by Isabella Beeton.

What’s next?

Finish reading the above lol

What books would you like to reread?

Story of a Soul. An Evil Cradling. The Gospel Without Compromise.

Who are your favorite authors?

Harper Lee. Catherine Cookson. Taylor Caldwell. Edith Wharton. James Herriot. St. Alphonsus Liguori. Bishop Fulton Sheen. Catherine Hueck Doherty.

Thanks Esther.

Flowers To Brighten Your Day!

That lovely lady Easter has very thoughtfully begun 'flowers to brighten your day,' especially if you need a cheer up. Jean very kindly continued this lovely gift by sending me the flowers, thankyou Jean. So now I will pass it forward.

I send these flowers to brighten the day of my fellow team blogger, Ginny. Surprise, surprise Ginny! Thankyou for being a good friend.

I also send the flowers to Dymphna who always has cheerful and thought provoking posts.

And Jackie who so willingly shares her life and the lovely photo's of her family and faith family.

God bless you all.

Peace & love,

Marie xoxoxo

The Way to Happiness

Keep your heart free from hate

Keep your mind free from worry

Live simply

Expect little

Give much

Fill your life with love

Scatter sunshine

Forget self

Think of others

Do as you would be done

Author Unknown

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"This is one of the great challenges of this life on earth: To live and love in each moment since we never know how long we have to be with those we treasure most deeply."

Thankyou Alexsandra

Treasure life, even the painful parts...What would joy be if there wasnt a trace of sorrow..What would sorrow be if we couldnt laugh through our tears.

Life is LIFE. LIVE It. Embrace it. Enhance it. LOVE it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Recipe For A Happy Life

Take a couple of whole months, clean them thoroughly of all Bitterness, Rumors, Hate and Jealousy; in other words, make them as fresh and as clean as possible.

Now cut each month into 28, 30 or 31 different parts...

But don't make up the whole batch at once..

Instead prepare it One Day At A Time.

Mix well each day:

One part of Faith,

One of Patience,

One of Courage,

One of Work,

Add one part each of:

Hope,

Faithfulness,

Generosity

Kindness;

Blend with:

One part Prayer,

One part Meditation

Good Deeds.

Season the whole with:

a dash of Good Spirit,

a sprinkle of Fun,

a pinch of Play

a cupful of Good Humor.

Pour all of this into a Vessel Of Love,

Cook thoroughly over Radiant Joy

Garnish with Smiles

serve with Quietness, Unselfishness and Cheerfulness

And you are bound to have a Happy Life.

Author Unkown

The Power of a Smile

She smiled at the sorrowful stranger.

The smiling seemed to make him feel better.

He remembered past kindnesses of a friend

And wrote him a thank you letter.

The friend was so pleased with the thank you

That he left a large tip after lunch.

The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,

Bet the whole thing on a hunch.

The next day she picked up her winnings,

And gave part to a man on the street.

The man on the street was grateful;

For two days he'd had nothing to eat.

After he finished his dinner,

He left for his small dingy room.

He didn't know at that moment

That he might be facing his doom.

On the way he picked up a shivering puppy

And took him home to get warm.

The puppy was very grateful

To be in out of the storm.

That night the house caught on fire.

The puppy barked the alarm.

He barked till he woke the whole household

And saved everybody from harm.

One of the boys that he rescued

Grew up to be President.

All this because of a simple smile

That hadn't cost a cent.

Author Unknown.

12 Things That Make Me Happy Meme

I think this Meme originated from Marilena. I saw it on Esthers blog. So here is my response below.

1: My family

2: My friends

3: My Faith

4: Reading

5: Writing about issues that I am passionate about.

6: Collecting cook books (tho I can't cook lol)

7: Laughter, I love to laugh

8: My dogs

9: Movies

10: Book shopping

11: Second hand book shops (The musty smell as one explores the hidden treasures within and you find a masterpiece for only a few dollars.)

12: Winter and Autumn ( I love those Seasons)

Dance Like No One's Watching

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time... and remember that time waits for no one...

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy...

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thought for the day:

Work like you don't need money,

Love like you've never been hurt,

And dance like no one's watching.

Food For Thought

If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity. --- St. Ignatius of Loyola


A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. --- Benjamin Franklin


Finding the places within that illness cannot reach, and learning to honor them, can help transform the bed of thorns that is illness. ---Floyd Skloot


If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; If
we had not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ---Anne Bradstreet



The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands. --- Robert M. Pirsig


Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. --- Anthony J. D'Angelo


Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burdens behind us. ---Samuel Smiles


What we see depends mainly on what we look for. ---John Lubbock


In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. --- Blessed Mother Teresa


What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. ---Ralph Waldo Emerson

If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain;If I can ease one life the aching, or cool the pain,Or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. ---Emily Dickinson

We are each of us angels with only one wing, And we can only fly by embracing each other. ---Luciano Decrescenzo

Often we have no time for our friends but all the time in the world for our enemies. ---Leon Uris

I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again. -- William Penn

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own. ---Benjamin Disraeli

Pearls of Wisdom- Blessed Mother Teresa

People are often: unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind: people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.

----------------------------------------------------

We may wonder, whom can I love and serve? Where is the face of God to whom I can pray? The answer is simple: That naked one. That lonely one. That unwanted one who is my brother and my sister. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

We all long for heaven where God is, but we have it in our power to be in heaven with Him at this very moment. But being happy with Him now means: Loving as He loves, Helping as He helps, Giving as He gives, Serving as He serves, Rescuing as He rescues, Being with Him 24 hours a day, Touching Him in even His distressing disguises.

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? The continuous input of small drops of oil. If the drops of oil run out, the light of the lamp will cease, and the Bridegroom will say, "I do not know you." My {friends}, what are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, punctuality, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting. These are the true drops of love ... Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

---Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Overcoming Life's Disappointments

Many confuse happiness with feelings, if we were to wait until we felt happiness some of us would be waiting a long time. Many more would be waiting even longer if they are seeking that one person who will be able to fulfill their every need, for these people live in unreality who wait upon their prince charmings to sweep them off their feet and away from their trials and tribulations.

Some rely on gaining well paying jobs that carry an elitist label. While others chase fame and money as if that could compensate what every soul truly seeks, and that is to be loved for themselves alone and to give love without fear of rejection. The one Being who Loves us as we are, where we are is God. He does not seek perfection in us, instead He fills us with His Spirit so He can perfect us with our consent thereby transforming us into little reflections of the Triune Spirit.

The confusion happens when we chase after the dross in life while throwing away the Gold without ever recognising the difference. When we neglect prayer, reading the Bible or attending Mass on a regular basis we are depriving ourselves of our own happiness by living a life of unknowing. A soul that has rejected the Love of the Divine instead embraces the love of self and is left to rely upon itself hence it becomes most unhappy and embittered.

When we look at the lives of the rich and famous can we truly say that only money, beauty and position guarantee's happiness? Princess Diana had all of the above traits yet her short life was spent in tears more than cheer. In her we see that she had everything that is supposed to help us achieve ultimate happiness, yet happiness eluded her how can this be? Though Princess Diana flirted with different spiritualities, including spiritism in her desperate search for authenticity she failed to recognise the Author of Life and instead she danced on the treadmill of memories and found them malignant. This led her down the path of shadows rather than into the Light of Christ for it is only through Christ can anyone find that elusive element called contentment which brings forth peace. The same can be said of many who have reached the height of fame only to find themselves alone with themselves, a fate that many find intolerable.

Does this mean that those who are born into ordinary families and who never gain 'fame' are guaranteed happiness? Of course not! The pharmaceutical companies give lie to that theory as many more people rush out to buy anti-depressants and live lives of emotional oblivion rather than face the reality that at times life is meant to be painful.

Why do we think that life must be painless? That our paths must be full of rose petals and NO thorns? If you have not hurt at love then you have not loved at all. Or if you face a long term illness go through your own agony in full knowledge that Christ is there IN your pain. Rather than run away from our hurts and pains let us live through them and past them as we learn the price of love is worth every anguished cry every heartbreak for that is the essence of life itself, both agony and the ecstasy. When a mother goes through the agony of child birth does she refuse to endure it again and so deny herself the children that will complete the couples happiness? No! The pain is for love alone as new life is created within the same womb as the mother prepares to face the same pain as a new life enters the world.

There is no guarantee for happiness, for in order to be truly happy we must be truly loving in the spilling out of the love that lay within each of us. To love is to risk everything, but to deprive ourselves of giving that love would be to lose all. As St Bernard of Clairvaux wrote, "When God loves me, He desires nothing else than to be loved by me. He loves me in order that I may love Him because He knows well that all who love Him, find in this very love their Joy and happiness."

In the end the real meaning of love is to give it without requiring a receipt, unless we have loved till it costs we have not loved at all.