Winston Churchill says…
November 30, 2009 
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.
It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.
Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on.
Never, never, never give up.
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Lessons from Lepers in Luke
November 25, 2009 
In the Gospel According to St. Luke chapter 17, the encounter between Jesus and ten men who had leprosy is recorded. Now leprosy is a condition so undesirable that whoever had it had to remain separated from the general population. In fact, those who had leprosy had to announce their arrival. In Luke 17:12, we are told that the men “stood at a distance” and raised their voices pleading for mercy. Jesus acknowledged them and told them to go show themselves to the priest. As they were going, we are told, they were cleansed. One of them saw this, turned back, and glorified God with a loud voice. He fell on his face and gave thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. (Samaritan=Insert name of whatever person or group you deem most undesirable to associate with.)
When Jesus saw the man, he asked a question of the Samaritan. He said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (emphasis mine) Jesus marveled at a couple of things. He seems surprised that those who should be obviously thankful were not; and he seems surprised that those who should not be expected to give glory to God were doing just that.
The lesson is apparent. God has blessed us and given us more than we can ever ask or think and takes care of us in ways that often we cannot see or imagine. The United States government has set aside a holiday to remind us to be thankful on the fourth Thursday in November, but God wants us to “always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20)
Hello!
November 21, 2009 
Today has been designated World Hello Day. The goal is to promote personal communication by encouraging people to say hello to at least 10 other people.
In this economic epoch, investing in Impressionist art might be like Monet in the bank.
French Impressionist painter (Claude) born this day in 1840, two days after and in the same year as French sculptor August Rodin (12th). Famed Wisconsin-born painter Georgia O’Keeffe also shares this month (15th/1887).
Remembering Robert Louis Stevenson
“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your own soul”
Stevenson had always wanted his ‘Requiem’ inscribed on his tomb.
Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
Happy Birthday Sesame Street!
Sunny day – Sweepin’ the clouds away,
On my way to where the air is sweet.
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street.
Come and play, everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there that’s where we meet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
It’s a magic carpet ride. Every door will open wide.
Happy people like you. Happy people who.
Like a beautiful sunny day sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame street, how to get to Sesame Street, How to get to . . .
*************************************************************
How do you get to any place that makes you feel like that?
Happy Veteran’s Day; Sad Veteran’s Day
Special thanks to those who serve in any area of the armed forces: Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, and the Coast Guard. A shout out to the National Guard as well. In addition to the many other remembrances this month, Veteran’s Day celebrations are also being held.
The official day is this Wednesday the 11th, but parades and other tributes have already begun in earnest and will no doubt continue long past. Besides, you can’t spend too much time supporting those who give and risk their very lives day in and day out. Unfortunately, the severity and source of that risk came from an unexpected place and took all by surprise. How sad when a trusted member of a community turns on its own. We can all understand that. Betrayal at its worse. Having been in the military, I can attest to the closeness of the bonds formed and the trust that is built in a military community. It’s difficult to break. But it was greatly shaken last week at Fort Hood.
My personal prayers, good thoughts, and well wishes to all those serving “elsewhere.”
Beginning Again–November 2009
Happy All Saints’ Day.
November is the month when we traditionally think of Thanksgiving, but there are many other special days, weeks, and month-long commemorations.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, American Diabetes Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, and Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month. As you can tell, this is a month particularly given to the awareness of several serious diseases. However, it is also National Family Caregivers Month. Many times the spouses and family of those with serious conditions are forgotten in the equation.
From their material: “NFC Month is organized annually by the National Family Caregivers Association as a time each year to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. “This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month,”said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO. “One of the most important attributes of being an advocate for your loved one is the willingness and the ability to speak up and keep your eye on the ultimate goal, protecting not only the health and safety of your loved ones, but your own as well.”
Remember to keep an eye on those who are keeping an eye on others.
Lastly, for those other budding writers out there, November is National Novel Writing Month. Only 29 more days to go. We can do it. This is our year.
Pore over it and pour it on.
