Attitude....

I posted this photo yesterday on Facebook. This is my Gideon. He is the picture of a GREAT attitude. He is always cheerful. He could make a curmudgeon smile. He is my happy happy dose of furry fun every day. Love him to pieces. I can learn from him.

In this life, with all it's ups and downs on the journey, it is of GREAT value to have the CHOICE of your attitude each day. Yes. It IS a choice. You get to decide what you want to carry around with you in your heart and mind for this day. What will your OUTLOOK be? YOU have control of that. Circumstances can affect your schedule, your health, your relationships, your activities....but....YOU absolutely have the Say-So about HOW you will THINK and ADAPT and DEAL with the day's serving of "life".

And...don't forget that HOW you are acting or REacting...will absolutely have impact on those around you!



What will YOU choose today?

ATTITUDE
by: Charles Swindoll

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

How about it? Even if you get down to just that "One String"...play a tune with a beat that will get your heart dancing again.



Choose to LIVE with strength, gratitude, and hope. It sure beats the alternative of being down and depressed and dejected!! And you may just rub off on someone else who needs it worse than you.

{{Hugs}} to all my bloggy sisters.


God Bless you Justin.. WE LOVE YOU!!! Godspeed to the 24th MEU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Returning!... and It's the Christmas season!!

I have been away for a while...for many reasons. I chose to impose my own



But I am coming back to test the waters again. The desktop computer beast is still WAY too slow, but that is the way it is...for now. Lap Top plans for 2013.

I have some things to share from my recent health challenges that may be helpful to some other gals out there, and will do that with several posts. For now, I shall just get right back in to the swing of things.

It is the Christmas celebration season! Two years ago after my mama's passing on Thanksgiving, and Kurt being in Iowa with the new job, I just could not, hard as I tried ...muster up the desire to decorate for the season. For the rest of those in the house, I finally put up the small 4 foot artificial green tree before Christmas Eve. Last year, being apart from the rest of our family for the first time, and Kam being quite ill I once again just put out minimal decor. This year I am committed to doing BETTER!

I've only added a few things here or there to put the "spirit" in our nest, (as we still have pending plans based on our Marine's homecoming status from his deployment) Everything is on standby, or shall we say we are in a "holding pattern" until further informed. Semper Gumby.


The 6 foot white tree is in the living room, and has the sweetest birds added to it this year.


The little wide eyed owls are my FAVORITE!


This tree does not have a manly top branch to hold up a topper of any weight whatsoever...so this frosted pear is doing duty for that special role.


On the settee is a framed stocking that was handmade by Kurt's aunt and mama. *(made from....his mama's wedding gown!)


detailed shot...so pretty and sentimental.


The LR mantel only had some mini trees, small pears, a few balls, and gold deer added to dress it up for Christmas


The family room mantel I only added a small evergreen tree and some red berries...that's it!


And here's the faithful little Charlie Brown tree.


In the guest bath...one small jeweled tree and a candle ring. *decorated in 10 seconds. :-)


The entry hall...one father Christmas.

OUTSIDE


This year, for the front door, I used my swag, but for something different, I chose to hang a framed print (an Old World Santa and Elves wooded scene)


To the left of the doorway, a very old and worn sled with a threadbare scarf of Kurt's gracing the runners. :-)


To the right of the door, my child-size red rocker with the Ice skates that suitably fit these cold days here in Iowa.

And so I will end my annual Christmas Nest post...a little long, but it feels good to be back posting and typing here in my E-journal of life in the Smith Nest.

As I touched on earlier, my Marine was returning from his 8 month deployment with a MEU (partnering with Navy sailors on ships) and right after they hit the Atlantic they were ordered to turn around and go back to sit tight in the Mediterranean right near Israel...and there they remain...on standby. It is hard here at home, but it is what they do. It is their job. Willing, Ready and Waiting to do whatever is necessary if they are needed to assist American citizens in that part of the world. God bless them, every one. God protect ALL our military heroes...and especially bless them when they are away from home and family over the holidays.


God BLESS you Justin. We LOVE you beyond measure...and can't WAIT to see you again.

To any popping in here - who happen to see that I POSTED AGAIN...(miracles do happen) :-p thank you for visiting, and many blessings of joy and God's grace in this special season to celebrate the best gift in all the world. His SON. Emmanuel. God with us.