(1)
One day a guy was driving with his four-year-old daughter and beeped his car horn by mistake.
She turned and looked at him for an explanation.
He said, "I did that by accident."
She replied, "I know that, Daddy."
He replied, "How'd you know?"
The girl said, "Because you didn't say 'JERK' afterwards!"
(2)
I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of this yourself!"
(3)
A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, and looked at the old pages as he turned them. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible, and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages.
"Momma, look what I found!" the boy called out.
"What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked.
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered: "I think it's Adam's suit!"
(4)
A class professor was giving a lecture on company slogans and was asking his students if they were familiar with them.
"Joe," he asked, "which company has the slogan, 'come fly the friendly skies'?"
Joe answered the correct airline.
”Brenda, can you tell me which company has the slogan, "Don't leave home without it?"
Brenda answered the correct credit card company with no difficulty.
"Now John, Tell me which company bears the slogan, 'Just do it'?"
And John answered, "Mom."
Making That Destination
There is no skill in easy sailing
When the skies are clear and blue.
There’s no joy in merely doing
Things that anyone can do.
But there is a great satisfaction,
That is mighty sweet to take
When you reach a destination
That you said you couldn’t make.
Author unknown
You will always be Priceless
Many years ago a story was told to me and now I would like to share that story with all of you. Don’t ever forget you will always be priceless.
Here is how the story went. A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 100, he asked, who would like this $20 bill? Hands started going up. He said, I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked who still wants it? Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, what if I do this? And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. Now who still wants it? Still the hands went into the air. My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless
Personal Experiences
"Fear"
The word fear means to be afraid or frightened. It is a strong emotion often caused by expectation or awareness of danger. Sometimes, what we put off or look over because of fear, ends up costing us so much more. I know because this happen to me. When a person hears he or she has cancer fear can take over again and then it becomes hard to deal with the problems at hand.
In early December of 1980, I found a small lump in my right breast. I told my husband, and he insisted that I see the doctor at once. The next day I made an appointment with a local doctor, but after his exam he reassured me that there was nothing to worry about. He thought the lump might be connected with an estrogen or a hormonal change. He told me not to worry, but watch the lump for a week or so, should it change in size call and let him know. Well the lump did change in six days it went from the size of a small pea to the size of a large orange. I called the doctor back to tell him what was happening, but he told me to wait until I had my next menstrual cycle, and then check the lump. “Don’t worry.” I asked why the lump had grown so fast, the doctor told me he thought maybe I was watching it too much and maybe I just thought it was larger. I knew it was now time to get another opinion.
On December 20 1980 , I called and made an appointment with a doctor in a city about 55 miles away. After his exam, he told me, “You must check into the hospital for a biopsy.”
I hated to go to the hospital at Christmas time. My mother was with me that day. She strongly suggested that I follow the doctor’s orders. On December 21, 1980 I went for a breast biopsy. When I woke, there sitting by my side was my husband and eight year old daughter. My little girl said, “Mommy, are you awake?” I said, “Yes, are you being a good girl?” “Guess what, Mom? You have cancer! ” The room was silent. Being only eight years old and not having heard the word cancer before, she thought it was something very common and nothing to fear; since the doctor had talked so calmly to her father just moments earlier. I remember looking at Tom my husband, and said, “Is this true?” Tom nodded his head and said, “Yes.”
The following day I was to be taken back into surgery and was to have a radical mastectomy. My fears and emotions mounted. How do I explain to my young daughter and my family what I couldn’t and didn’t understand myself? I felt a deep shock; my body became numb, I was afraid to breathe. Tears streamed down my face, I felt cold and helpless. I never knew anyone who had cancer but I had seen several movies where people died from the disease. I had lots of questions. “How long do I have?” “How bad is it?” “Will the doctor be able to get it all?” “What’s next?” But all these questions had to wait until I had my next surgery. I wanted to be alone. The room was cool a chill kept coming over me.
I asked my husband and daughter to leave; I wanted to be by myself, to think things over. Tom hated to leave. I could see the pain and fear in his eyes. Tom kept squeezing my hand and saying “Honey, I love you.” I didn’t want anyone near me. I had to handle this new word and illness by myself for just a little while. Cancer is a blow to the patient as well as to the family. In my mind and heart I knew how I handed my cancer would determine how we as a family would share our feelings with each other, and handle my new illness.
After my radical mastectomy surgery, the doctor sat on the edge of my bed and tells me what I need to know. He answers most of my many questions the best he could and tells me I must take some very strong drugs known as chemotherapy, for a year or maybe two. The doctor explains that the cancer was in the advanced stage and that my right arm may never be the same. The doctor apologizes that he had to take so much tissue. He explains that, “Breast reconstruction surgery was out of the question for me since he had to go so deep in my chest wall, and removed extra tissue from my collar bone and upper arm in order to get most of the cancer. The doctor tells me that the cancer was also found in my lymph nodes.
I was told that within the next 2 weeks I must visit an Oncology Hematology doctor and get started immediately with the chemotherapy. I asked the doctor how long I had. He told me it was bad maybe six months to a year give or take. He suggested I get my affairs in order, but if I needed anything or if he could be of any further assistance to give him a call.
That evening, as I lay in the bed all alone with the door shut. I asked, God for strength as I made these four wishes.
1. Show me the light when I see darkness.
2. Let me walk beside you when fear enters my soul.
3. Give me hope and understanding when I feel depressed.
4. Help me feel love and strength when I feel I cannot go on.
The room became warm for the first time and I felt that close secure feeling again. Remember fear only takes over when we allow it to. Have faith, stand brave, strong, and don’t give into the emotion known as fear.
( Written By Mary D. Johnson )
New Year's Wishes
This was sent to me by a friend thought you too would enjoy these wishes. Happy New Year.
May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-entomologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S.
May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.
May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends? May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.
May what you see in the mirror delight you and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.
May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your check book and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity.
May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, and your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor.
And may we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God's love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.
Apples and Pectin
Our ancestors believed that old proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," but they didn't understand the 'Why' of it. There is evidence that verify how apples are good for our health. Apples are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber, which is effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Apples work in any form, from raw, to juice and help to maintain good cardiovascular health. Researchers at the University of California , Davis , found that apples act as antioxidants against the damaging portion of cholesterol in the blood stream. Many researchers suggest that people who eat fatty foods should, if possible, wash down their food with apple juice rather than other drinks. Researchers have found that apples are the richest of fruits in pectin. The Jonagold apple is the leading apple to other apple varieties. It has been proven that a diet of low fiber, high fat, and animal protein appears to be the leading cause of death in many people. It has been established that a diet rich in pectin can protect against these diseases. A pple pectin in any form is advocated for diabetics and those suffering from ulcer, colitis, and for regulating the blood pressure. Researchers advise that children should be taught to eat apples or drink apple juice and to keep this habit on through life. Too many people ignore good nutrition until they get old, then, it’s too late. We should try to establish good diet habits early and keep them throughout life and that means eating plenty of apples and drinking apple juice. Apple fiber also helps maintain intestinal balance by cleansing the intestinal tract with its soluble and insoluble fibers. Pectin apple fiber increases the acidity in the large intestines.
Pectin: Pectin is a natural fiber found in many fruits with apples being the richest source of pectin among all the fruits. Recent studies have revealed many health benefits from the consumption of pectin. Here is what some of the studies have shown.
• Acts as an antioxidant against the bad cholesterol in the blood stream.
• Decreases the chances of colon cancer.
• Works well as an anti-diarrhea agent.
• Reduces high blood pressure.
• Is effective in the regression, or prevention of, gallstones.
There is also recent evidence to suggest that taking Apple Pectin everyday over time can lead to a reduction in insulin requirements which may lessen the severity of diabetes.
Quercetin: May be a major reason why the old saying about eating "an apple a day" has been associated with good health. Quercetin, primarily found in apples, onions, and black tea, belongs to a group of plant pigment flavonoids that serve as a building block for other members of the flavonoid family. It combats the destructive "free radical" molecules that play a part in many diseases. Q uercetin may help to: • Reduce cancer risk
• Prevent heart attacks
• Ward off eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration
• Control asthma
• Maintain health when suffering from Crohn's disease
• Prevent recurrent gout attacks
• Speed up healing of recurrent heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
Something I try to remember; an apple a day can help keep the fat away, and apple cider vinegar helps the body get rid of toxins and nourishes the digestive system? Try eating some apples, see if you and your body feel better soon.
Did You Know
Welcome to the New Year, January 2007. Here is something interesting about each state in the U. S.
ALABAMA - Was the first place to have 911, started in 1968.
ALASKA - One out of every 64 people has a pilot's license.
ARIZONA - Is the only state in the continental U.S. that doesn't follow Daylight Savings Time.
ARKANSAS- Has the only active diamond mine in the U.S.
CALIFORNIA - Its economy is so large that if it were a country, it would rank seventh in the entire world.
COLORADO - In 1976 it became the only state to turn down the Olympics.
CONNECTICUT - The Frisbee was invented here at Yale University.
DELAWARE - Has more scientists and engineers than any other state.
FLORIDA - At 759 square miles, Jacksonville is the U.S.'s largest city.
GEORGIA - It was here, in 1886, that pharmacist John Pemberton made the first vat of Coca-Cola.
HAWAII -. Hawaiians live, on average, five years longer than residents in any other state.
IDAHO - TV was invented in Rigby, Idaho, in 1922.
ILLINOIS - The Chicago River is dyed green every St. Patrick's Day.
INDIANA - Home to Santa Claus, Indiana, which get a half million letter to Santa every year.
IOWA - Winnebago’s get their name from Winnebago County. Also, it is the only state that begins with two vowels.
KANSAS - Liberal, Kansas, has an exact replica of the house in The Wizard of Oz.
KENTUCKY - Has more than $6 billion in gold underneath Fort Knox.
LOUISIANA - Has parishes instead of counties because they were originally Spanish church units.
MAINE - It's so big, it covers as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.
MARYLAND - The Oujia board was created in Baltimore in 1892.
MASSACHUSETTS - The Fig Newton is named after Newton, Massachusetts.
MICHIGAN - Fremont, home to Gerber, is the baby food capital of the world.
MINNESOTA - Bloomington's Mall of America is so big, spending10 minutes per store would take four days.
MISSISSIPPI - President Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear here, that's how the teddy bear got its name.
MISSOURI - Is the birthplace of the ice cream cone.
MONTANA - A sapphire from Montana is the Crown Jewels of England.
NEBRASKA - More triplets are born here than in any other state.
NEVADA - Has more hotel rooms than any other place in the world.
NEW HAMPSHIRE - Birthplace of Tupperware, invented in 1938 by Earl Tupper.
NEW JERSEY - Has the most shopping malls in one area in the world.
NEW MEXICO - Smokey the Bear was rescued from a 1950 forest fire here.
NEW YORK - Is home to the nation's oldest cattle ranch, started in 1747 in Montauk.
NORTH CAROLINA - Home of the first Krispy Kreme doughnut.
NORTH DAKOTA - Rigby, North Dakota, is the exact geographic center of North America.
OHIO - The hot dog was created here in 1900.
OKLAHOMA - The grounds of the state capital are covered by operating oil wells.
OREGON - Has the most ghost towns in the country.
PENNSYLVANIA - The smiley was first used in 1980 by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University.
RHODEISLAND - The nation's oldest bar, the White Horse Tavern, opened here in 1673
SOUTH CAROLINA - Sumter County is home to the world's largest gingko farm.
SOUTH DAKOTA - Is the only state that's never had an earthquake.
TENNESSEE - Nashville's Grand Ole Opry is the longest running live radio show in the world.
TEXAS - Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco back in 1885.
UTAH - The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant opened here in 1952.
VERMONT - Montpelier is the only state capital without a McDonald's.
VIRGINIA - Home of the world's largest office building ... the Pentagon.
WASHINGTON - Seattle has twice as many college graduates as any other state.
WASHINGTON D.C - Was the first planned capital in the world.
WEST VIRGINIA - Had the world's first brick paved street, Summers Street, laid in Charleston in 1870.
WISCONSIN - The ice cream sundae was invented here in 1881. WYOMING - Was the first state to allow women to vote.
Author unknown
Peppermint is not just a holiday treat. It is one of the hottest new ingredients in health, beauty, germ control, and is a longtime staple at spas. Listed below are just a few things I do with peppermint oil. I use peppermint oil everyday. When cleaning the house I put a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball, sweep the cotton ball up and as you sweep the whole house smell fresh. The peppermint oil opens up the nose and sinuses, problems seem to go away. Try misting the carpet with peppermint water it keeps the germs at bay and the house is always fresh. Did you know that you can mix one drop of mint extract with your favorite lip gloss and plump up your lips like the movie stars? Try a mint mask, it erases the years. Mint fights the free radicals that cause aging. Try a peppermint sugar scrub. It revitalizes you from head to toe. Peppermint has a natural cooling effect waking up your body, while sugar smoothes away dry patches. Pep up with peppermint perfume. Research reveals that the scent of mint stimulates brain waves, leaving you more alert. Try using mint shampoo to thicken your hair. Mint increases the flow of blood to hair follicles, plumping them up so hair looks fuller and has more oomph. Keep your feet in mint condition. Rejuvenate tried feet with a minty foot lotion. They will come alive. Clear up blemishes with mint tea. Mint soaks up blemish causing oils. Place a handful of mint leaves in a bowl of hot water and place your face over it for 5 minutes. Your face comes alive. The next time you go to the spa or get a massage ask about a peppermint oil treatment, your body will feel wonderful and you very rewarded.
I grow my own peppermint plants and use the leaves for just about everything. The plants are easy to grow and come back every year. I use the fresh leaves in our lemon water for a refreshing taste with each meal, or in my hot tea at the end of a busy day. Last but not least, remember peppermint has been used for years to help settle an upset stomach for all ages. Enjoy the pleasures of the mint family. Your entire body will feel refreshed and more alive.
Things you might like to know.
The best way to remove a splinter: Use an onion! Put away that sewing needle. Next time you get a stubborn splinter, you can pull it out easily by doing the following. Cut a small, postage - stamp - size piece of fresh onion and place it on an adhesive bandage. Then wrap it around the splintered skin. By morning, the onion will have drawn the splinter to the surface, making it easy to remove with a pair of tweezers. It works.
Instant Relief from Bee Stings: If you, or someone you know get stung by a bee, do this. First, remove the stinger by gently scraping it away with a credit card or dull knife. Next, grab a tablet of Alka Seltzer and moisten it slightly so that it starts fizzing when you apply it to the sting. Alka Seltzer contains baking soda, which reduces inflammation and aspirin, which relieves pain. And the fizzing allows both substances to travel beneath your skin, providing immediate relief!
How to get all the Fiber you need without eating stuff that tastes like saw dust: We all know fiber is good for us. We know it keeps us regular, lowers cholesterol, prevents colon cancer and helps us stay trim. Yet most of us don't get anywhere near the 20 grams of fiber per day that doctors recommend. One reason is that many high fiber foods just don't taste very good. But here is some good news. You can get all the fiber you need without eating any of that dry, tasteless stuff. How? By eating avocados. One serving of avocado contains (9 grams) of fiber that is 33% more than a cup of shredded wheat cereal! Some other delicious foods are raspberries (8 grams) blackberries (7 grams) apples (6 grams) and mangoes (4 grams). As for vegetables the best choices are acorn squash (9 grams) black beans (8 grams) artichokes (6 grams) and sweet potatoes (5 grams). Remember high - fiber foods can taste good, while being good for you.
Reflexology
How many of you know what reflexology is and how it works? Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands, feet, and ears that correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body.
Through the application of pressure on these reflexes, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and promotes the natural function of the related areas of the body. Did you know that in ancient times we stimulated reflexes naturally by walking barefoot over rocks, stones, and rough ground, or by using our hands more often to climb, build or work? In our today’s modern world we have lost much of nature’s way of maintaining a balanced and healthy equilibrium. Reflexology helps to restore this balance and promote natural health and vitality. Although reflexology does not diagnose or treat specific ailments by definition; it has proven highly successful over time to relieve symptoms to ease pain or the discomfort that have manifested themselves physically in the body. (Caused many times from a result of stress, trauma or disease.)
Reflexology has been practiced for thousands of years in such places as China, India and Egypt. It has been used as a healing therapy by the North American native people for generations, and was thought to have been passed down by the Inca civilization.
The recent popularity of reflexology has taken off due to several reasons. One of the first reasons is because so many of us are exposed to stress in our jobs, homes and travels. Stress is without a doubt one of the main causes of physical and mental pain and suffering as well as contributing to making symptoms of other diseases or conditions much worse. Reflexology is a great stress reducer . The second reason is that even though many people are trying to eat organic or let’s say healthier foods, the so called healthy foods grown today are grown in poor soil conditions that are depleted in some basic minerals and nutrients compared to the days of our parents and grandparents. This means that even though people are trying to improve their diets it is not easy to do. The lack of minerals combined with stress puts more pressure on our immune system and health. Reflexology works by allowing the body to work and help heal itself and to restore and normalize its functions. Thirdly, people are turning more and more too alternative or more natural health care which focuses on pro-active maintenance and holistic or entire body well being. The traditional western medicine tends to focus on reactive and specific treatment of disease or symptoms. Reflexology offers an all natural healing process to help normalize and heal. Today reflexology is one of the most popular methods of natural therapy primarily due to the vast number of people who have found it to be very beneficial in their health. Here is a list of a few benefits shared from people who have received reflexology.
* It has helped my stress level and gave me deep relaxation, * Improved my circulation, * I feel it has improve the elimination of toxins in my body, * My body feels revitalized and seems to have more energy,* I sleep better at night, * My body feels alive, and I can feel it’s overall state of wellness, * Reflexology has helped to restore the natural functioning of my bodies entire system, and I feel like I have a hand in my preventative health care.
Most people can benefit from reflexology; it can bring relief to a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions and is suitable for all ages, including children. Once the body has been rebalanced, regular treatments can help to maintain health and general well-being. Reflexology does not claim to be a “cure all” but numerous disorders have been successfully treated by this method. These disorders have included migraine, sinus problems, and hormonal imbalances, breathing disorders, digestive problems, circulatory problems, back problems, tension and stress. Most people who have experienced a treatment would agree that the method can be most beneficial and is a very relaxing therapy. Read up on this subject, try a session of reflexology, and see for yourself what benefits you too can feel with your body’s energy and over all wellness. Stay healthy and happy, by “CHANGING THE WAY YOU FEEL.” Until next month with more, Moments with Mary.
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