The Best Within You!!! Worth Reading!!

csp

Quietly amongst us they walk in gentle peace

Reaching out to touch us with love they all release

Knowing we will feel them in a gentle breeze

Lovingly caress us and hear our heartfelt pleas





Walking in procession coming too and fro

Even though we're hurting ~ we feel courageous glow

These the wings of Angels arriving here on earth

Gift sent from the Heavens that gives us greater worth



Wings are here for journey to calm us in our grief

Love is of the essence and their time is never brief

Soft winds are now upon us with love that's like a prayer

Softly hear the whispers of Angel's wings in air



All of you now burdened with journey of great fear

Their wings are here to guard you ~ always very near

Each day in life an Angel ~ they always fill the sky

Strength all filled with courage ~ an Angel's gentle sigh



They are always with you ~ the gift of life they share

Always and forever their wings are everywhere

Sharing in the footsteps that both of you have placed

Imprints made together ~ they never are erased

Joined with you in battle as you climb the hills so tall

Guarding and protecting you with encouragement for all

For God has sent His Angels to help to get you through

No greater gift in all the world ~ an Angel's love for you.


~ Francine Pucillo ~
Dedicated to those going through the struggle and

pain in the battle they are waging against cancer. May

they know and feel the love of gentle wings that surround

them and form a circle of love and protection each

day as they forge ahead in their journey for life.


Carrie

csp

You cannot tell a Survivor
By looking in the eyes.
Some pain leaves no bruises,
Some tears bring forth no cries.

The first sign of a Survivor
Is a loss that hurts so deep,
Be it illness, fear, abuse, despair,
Or a loved one gone to sleep.

A Survivor is one who's faced hell
And come back still able to smile.
A Survivor is one whose eyes see the dark
Or whose heart has been broken awhile.

Survivors come in all shapes and worlds,
And their ranks are not limited by age.
They may have been children abandoned
Or forced to turn an unwilling page.

Like the flowering vine torn asunder,
The Survivor of times blooms the most,
Protecting and sheltering others
From the sight of a horrible ghost.

You cannot tell a Survivor
By looking in the eyes.
The face and the smile may lead you
To completely miss the disguise.

If you watch by the road in your travels
You may see a glorious sight:
A Survivor there hugging another
To blossom away a dark night.

Dorothy Acton


Carrie

beachcottage

Winners

Winners are people like you.

Winners take chances. Like everyone else, they fear

failing, but they refuse to let fear control them.

Winners don't give up. When life gets rough, they hang

in there until the going gets better.

Winners are flexible. They realize there is more

than one way and are willing to try others.

Winners know they are not perfect. They respect their

weaknesses while making the most of their strengths.

Winners fall, but they don't stay down. They stubbornly

refuse to let a fall keep them from climbing.

Winners don't blame fate for their failures

nor luck for their successes.

Winners accept responsibility for their lives.

Winners are positive thinkers who see good in all things.

From the ordinary, they make the extraordinary.

Winners believe in the path they have chosen even when

it's hard, even when others can't see where they are going.

Winners are patient. They know a goal is only as worthy

as the effort that's required to achieve it.

WINNERS ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

THEY MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO BE.

~Author unknown







xoxo

Patti

csp

One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream, and listen to the chirps of birds and the rustling of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully to their upright or original position after the wind had died down.

When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce back or return to it's original position, the word resilience comes to mind. When used in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person's emotions.

Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.

During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained, mentally exhausted and you most likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms.

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point, bend but don't break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.

A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don't break!
author unknown

Carrie

beachcottage

beautiful Carrie

csp

The Wise Woman's Stone
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

Sometimes it not the wealth you have but what's inside you that others need.


-author unknown


Carrie

csp

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps
or stumbles along the road,
unless you have worn the shoes he wears
or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
thought hidden away from view,
or the burden he bears, placed on your back
might cause you to stumble too.
Don't sneer at the man who's down today
unless you have felt the blow
that cause his fall or felt the shame
that only the fallen know.

You may be strong, but still the blows
that were his if dealt to you,
in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,
might cause you to stagger too.
Don't be too harsh with the man who sins
or pelt him with word or stone,
unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,
that you have no sins of your own-
for you know perhaps if the tempter's voice
should whisper as softly to you
as it did to him when he went astray,
it might cause you to stumble too.

Carrie

csp

Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.

Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate, be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little more.

Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Worship your God. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still again. Speak it still once again.



~~author unknown

Carrie

csp

It's not always the red-flag crisis days that are hardest to take. It's the "oatmeal days." The ordinary, "zero" days of little or no consequence. The ho-hum days filled with nothing of any particular interest. Colorless. Uninteresting. Unfascinating. Unspectacular. And unfun. The days everyone deals with.
We cope. We wend our way through the tangle of tedious activity and sandpaper people scattered through our day and get no applause, because coping is expected.

Not so during the red-flag crisis times. People tend to rally behind us with loving support. We're lifted above the crisis and enabled beyond human comprehension at times.

On oatmeal days, after a crisis has peaked, it may seem as if friends have forsaken us, as if God doesn't care. But reality will be that life has merely pushed us and our friends one step further in the Christian growth-walk.

The God of the crisis times is the God of the oatmeal days, too. Because He said He is. Because He keeps His promises -- always. Because we can't get along without Him. And because we wouldn't want to if we could.

-source unknown


Carrie

csp

It's easy and pleasant to sit back and watch the world. It's even better to jump in and participate.
There is so much you have to offer. There are so many beautiful gifts you have to give.

Weave the thread of your own special perspective into the fabric of life. Become an active part of your world and all will be richer for it.

Get up, get out, get going and get involved. Every day, in all sorts of ways, there are opportunities to make a difference in your unique way.

Put real meaning into life by participating fully in it. Put real value into your world by giving of the value that is within you.

Don't just sit there and watch life happen. Make yourself a vital and positive part of it, and you will make it great.

-- Ralph Marston

Boop

I woke up this morning,
And stretched my hands over my head;
I asked the Lord to bless us all,
As I jumped out of the bed.


I ran to put the coffee on,
And turned up the local news;
Opened up the door,
And laced up my walking shoes.



As I walked around the garden,
And looked down upon the ground;
I saw upon a dewy flower,
A butterfly safe and sound.



From flower to flower it tasted,
And flapped it's little wings;
Then I looked up in the trees,
And the birds began to sing.



I looked up in the sky,
On this the first day of May;
I knew right from the start,
It was going to be a "blue sky day".



I walked among the flowers,
And picked a few here and there;
I smelled the sweet fragrances around me,
And felt the warm sunshine in my hair.



I knew that God was watching,
I could almost hear Him say;
I'm giving you my blessings,
With a "God-filled" blue sky day.

By Shirley Jean Pickens


Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

csp

Trust Him
Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all
Trust Him, He is ever faithful;
Trust Him for his will is best;
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.

Trust Him, then, through doubts and sunshine
All thy cares upon Him cast,
Till the storm of life is over
And the trusting days are past.


-source unknown-


Carrie

Boop

Life is filled with new beginnings

From the break of each new day

To the step we take from our front door

To meet a neighbor on their way.



And with each of these beginnings

Comes opportunity, great or small

To touch a life with kindness

If we heed the Master's call.
So as you turn life's corners

And new beginnings face

Listen closely to the Master

With His steps, keep pace.



And you'll find those new beginnings

Opened doors you couldn't dream

The awesome challenges of today

Become tomorrow's healing stream.

--Leola Boyd--





Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

csp

People That Support Us
Behind each of us stands at least one supporter. This was once thought to be the spouse who ran the home while leaving the other spouse free to work. While this is still one valid scenario, most of us will find that we have other kinds of supporters in our lives. In some cases, our supporters are the people whose help allows us to do the things we're best at, see to our obligations, or pursue or dreams. In other cases, our support may come from the people who are there to help us through life's challenges by offering us their strength and bolstering our spirit.

Our support may come from our families and friends or from the people we hire-nannies, assistants, gardeners, healers, therapists, and advisors. Our supporters may be the mentors who help us express ourselves by listening to us as we share our thoughts and feelings. Our supporter can be the person sitting next to us at a networking meeting or the teacher from our childhood whose words still resonate in our minds. We have always had supporters around us whether we noticed them or not. No matter where the support comes from, few of us can make it through life without assistance.

As we take the time to acknowledge everyone that has every supported us, we can't help but feel grateful. Understanding our place in our human support system helps us see that just as there are people that support us, we are a supporter to many people. By gratefully accepting the expertise and assistance of our supporters, we can consciously and more easily build a life that we love. Thanks to our staff, groups, friends, and loved ones for all their support. We all need each other's support to thrive this world.



Carrie

csp

http://wonderofitall.com/

Take in the beauty of this moment and let it fill you. But do not try to hold it.
For as soon as you seek to possess it, the beauty is lost. When you grasp it too tightly, you lose the ability to experience it.

Let this beautiful moment flow toward you, and then let it flow away from you as the next moment comes to take its place. Allow the beautiful experience of life to be born again and again.

The real value of this moment is in the way you live it. Live it fully, lovingly, gratefully, and there is no need to hold on to it, for the best of it will always be a part of you.

Each moment offers its own special treasure. Let go of your need to judge, to analyze, to possess, and simply experience the wonder that is yours right now.

You are free in this moment to live, to create, to give, to grow. Lovingly open your eyes to the abundant possibilities, and dive gently into this beautiful moment.

-- Ralph Marston

Hugs,
Carrie

beachcottage

So happy
to see this thread
has lasted~~

This was one of
my first post here...thought it was time
to bring it to the top

To the women
who walk with me
ever day here
the women who post
on the boards
I say thank you

Special thanks
to Carrie..Cherie
Sierra
and all who post here
you bring smiles to my
face often with your
wonderful words of encourgement
and hope

Special
thoughts
and love
for our angels
and their families today

xoxo
Patti

Warrior Women-Author Unknown...

You join an army of wounded women, who wear pretty clothes that conceal the scars and the pain and who summon brave smiles to camouflage anxiety. We each share a touching, intimate memory of a day that changed our lives forever.

A memory of a morning shower when we touched our breasts and cried. A long last look in the mirror, as we said good-bye. Good-bye to vanity. Good-bye to self pity. We haven't the time. We measure life in moments, and momentum.

We are the meaning of lifelong friends. Bosom buddies gathering strength from one another. We are courageous. We are proud. A circle of women, we span the globe, and we have touched eternity.

There is a word that strikes fear in our hearts--the word is recurrence. We try endlessly to search the reason. We valiantly fight to find the cure. We do so for daughters, granddaughters and for friends and ourselves.

We do so for the women who have gone before us. With each loss we feel tremendous anger. We rage. We taste fear. But with each loss our capacity to love deepens. It grows, it ripens, it blooms.

Each precious moment on this earth is a gift. We will not leave this gift unopened. We will not leave one smile undone. We will not leave one hug forgotten. We will not miss one opportunity to make a difference.

We are Women Warriors. Our casualties are high. The women who have gone before us have lost a battle with breast cancer, but they haven't lost the war.

We honor these women, we feel them, we remember them. We carry them with us, and we made each one a promise. A promise to never again look the other way.

We have breast cancer. We are alive.
Author Unknown

csp

Oh Patti that is beautiful!

Thank you so much for bringing it back up.
I think it belongs as an intro for the survivor wall
at crazy pants. Can I send it to them in your name?

Hugs and Love,
Carrie

beachcottage

no i did not write it
the author is unknown

I agree about the wall~~
and I think I will post
it on the angel wall here

Great idea
Hugs Carrie~~
xoxo
Patti

Boop

She turned me to the sunshine
And encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem . . .


And when the winds and rain came,
She protected me enough,
But not too much because she knew
I'd need to stand up strong and tough.


Her constant good example
Always taught me right from wrong--
Markers for my pathway
That will last a lifetime long.


I am my Mother's garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.


Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

csp

Dear Lord, when things get hectic

And living seems so hard,

I just go out and sit awhile,

Within my own backyard.




For there it's quiet and peaceful,

Beneath the shady trees,

And sunlight through the branches,

Accompanies every breeze.

***


There are a dozen shades of green,
Designed to please the eye,

Chubby squirrels and humming birds,

....A golden butterfly.




The honeysuckle's perfume,
Permeates the air,

And though I do not see Him,

I know that God is there.



The sky above my head,
Is electric blue,

And there are lazy cotton clouds,

With nothing else to do,

But sail across the heavens,

And yet I know that I

Was given hope whose sturdy wings

Were also meant to fly.

This old world we inhabit,

Is much the worse for wear,

Beauty fades so quickly

And hearts forget to care,


But somehow I've discovered,

Within my own backyard,

A peaceful sanctuary,

.... In which I find the Lord.

Grace E. Easley

Sierra

HI Carrie:

tks for this
so soothing

Hugs.. )

csp

New life springing
From death and decay
Leaving behind
Fear and dismay

Shadows changing
As Earth revolves
Viewpoints shift
The spirit evolves

Butterflies lullabied
By crickets’ song
Aware in the moment
No right, no wrong

The mist settled in
Quieting the abyss
In gratitude
For a day such as this.

Dan Coppersmith.


Hugs,
Carrie

csp

"It's a funny thing about Tiggers," whispered Tigger to Roo, "how Tiggers never get lost."
"Why don't they, Tigger?"

"They just don't," explained Tigger. "That's how it is."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me. ~Winnie-the-Pooh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. ~Christopher Robin

hugs,
Carrie

Anonymous

I'm so glad I decided to read through this thread today. I was thinking about this poem last week, couldn't remember exactly how it went, who wrote it. I'm so glad that you posted it. I was meant to come here today! Thank you!!

nowheregirl

Carrie, you've got me started!!!





Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.



A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.



Things are always so much more grand and wonderful when your friends are there to share them.



The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops.
Eventually.



A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.

csp

Sherry,
I am so glad I posted Pooh ponderings for you too!

Fumi,
I love pooh such a funny wise bear here is my favorite you posted :The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually.

love and hugs,
Carrie

csp

~*~The Journey~*~



To gaze upon the moon's light
Disregarding the source
Is to whisper the secret
Of that solitary moment when
Caught within the innocence of a child
Emerging as a woman
Reminding herself
She is a gift
As she climbs
The mountain path
Treacherous with it's unending twists and turns
Stretching to beyond
Until it disappears
Unless she walks
One step in synchronicity
Taking pause in awareness
To enjoy the flowers...
and the dragonflies...
and the very path itself
With all the little colored pebbles
Resembling microscopic boulders
To realize this is the mountain
And I am the stuff of the mountain
And all that lies beneath it
And all that lies above it
Such that in darkness
There is light and joy
In that moment
Where she breaths
The moonlight

TytaniumK

Excellent Patti...loved 'em all. I've written quite a few poems--these are several years old, yet somewhat timeless IMHO--perhaps some of them will be well-received here!!
Simply visit this website: http://www.pencilstubs.com/magazine/authorbio.asp?AID=28
and click on any of my titles [in blue]! Bon Appetit!
Ty-K

beachcottage

Hey Ty-K Welcome~~

So glad you like
this thread~~

Several
of us post here...

Please feel
free to join in and post here anytime~~

Thank you for your
link~~Can't wait to visit
your poetry site

xoxo
Patti

csp

"Your silent tents of green We deck with fragrant flowers; Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours."
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



As we stand here

As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days.

Michelle R. Christman