Thanks dear Mona!

A friend of mine, Mona puts out a Friday email 

filled with wonderful things,

quotes, poems, points to ponder,

recipes. It is just wonderful.

The last few weeks I have missed her emails.

Like my blog, people may not look at it every day

but if a few days go by without a blog, someone

will contact me in one of many ways to ask what

is my problem.....lol

Friday this was in her newsletter and I fell in love

with all of its words and simplicity.

Simple but jam packed with so many words of wisdom.

40 Rules for Living

Give people more than they expect.
Memorize your favorite poem.
Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have, or sleep all you want.
When you say, "I love you," mean it.
When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
Love deeply and passionately.  You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
Don't judge people by their relatives.
Talk slow but think quick.
When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
Call your mom.
Say "Bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
Smile when picking up the phone.  The caller will hear it in your voice.
Marry someone you love to talk to.  As you get older, conversational skills will be as important as any other.
Spend some time alone.
Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Read more books and watch less TV.
Live a good, honorable life.  Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
Trust in God but lock your car.
A loving atmosphere in your home is so important.  Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.
In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation.  Don't bring up the past.
Read between the lines.
Share your knowledge.  It's a way to achieve immortality.
Be gentle with the earth.
Pray -- there's immeasurable power in it.
Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
Mind your own business.
Don't trust a lover who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss them.
Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living.  That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
Learn the rules then break some.
Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
Remember that your character is your destiny.

There is one sentence up there,

"If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living.  That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

It stands out for me.

Not all agree nor live by this but nothing

makes me happier, makes me complete than

giving away money whether it is in a gift or 

buying, doing something special for others.

It may be taking that one special child for a day

of pampering and clothes shopping...

To see the joy giving to someone you love,

especially when they do not expect it is my joy.

HOBL sometimes asks, "where did your money go"

Usually I won't answer...

Does it matter? If it does, I assure him each time I use money

for the good of others, I most often add his name.

So to answer the question....

WEll, there were the nieces and nephews birthdays

and all the new babies born that I sent money to.

There was that family member of ours who would never

ask for money but is struggling and I send unexpected

money that way. There are the visits with little kiddies,

usually neices and nephews that I shower with my

time and money when they visit me.

There are the gatherings in our home that either you 

or I prepare for paying for all the things we need

to make the visit special like snacks, pretties....

There is that hundred dollars I sent to one child or two that

we love for something positive in their lives that their

parents may need a little help with.

Movies and eating out with dear ones who I treat.. being

able to pick up the tab...

Then there was that awesome painting or piece of furniture

that "spoke" to me where it was stored, told

me a story that made me have to take it home.

I am different from HOBL. Doesn't make me better or 

worse nor better than him, just makes me different in that

he likes to save, I like to "spread the wealth"

I often say, want to leave a legacy when I leaver this place.

. When I see someone we helped with our monetary

contribution succeed in the goal they were trying to accomplish

I have this sense of pride knowing we helped them in a very 

small way. When I see one we love dancing on a stage or

cheering at a game knowing we helped in some small way,

well I smile, I love. When one of the kiddies I love 

share with me memories past from time spent with us,

I can burst with pride. When I walk into a room 

of our dream home and see something I purchased to 

make it even more beautiful or make it a home

rather than a house, I am happy for the monetary contribution

I have made. I often tell HOBL we can't take it with us

and yet I know when he says "yeah, but we may be here for 

a while" he is also right.

I am thankful for how he saves for our older age.

How he has always, always taken care of us never

wanting for much, how our needs have always been met,

even when he had two jobs so I could stay home with 

our young children, that does not go forgotten nor

unappreciated. Yet, our balance of him saving and I giving

to those who need it the most is part of what makes

us, us. A good blend I think. 

Happy Tuesday as I plan on having HOBL come home this

week and a weekend filled with family and friends that we love.

HOBL adding more ink, I spoiling a niece this weekend.

 (My 50th bday party given to me by these great nieces and nephews)

 ( my sweet Lillian, napping with me, scrapping with me)

( always full of art supplies, always well stocked for loads of fun)

(Visit this weekend at our home with some of

those nieces and great nieces and nephews

and of course, My bean)