you should be allowed to make your own choices in life, but you must also
face when you have made a bad choice and be responcible for paying the consequences.

don't go for looks' it can deceive; don't go for wealth - even that fades
away. go for someone who makes you smile coz' only a smile makes a dark day
seem bright. hope you find that person.

don't read beauty magazines, they'll just make you feel ugly...

dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want
to be cuz you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you
want in life.

may you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trails to make
you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy
and enough money to buy me gifts *G*.

when one door of happiness closes, another opens but often we look so
long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for
us.

your body is like the cover to a book, what matters if the cover is shiny and new if the pages are blank, but if the story is captivating and adventurous isn't it expected that the cover would be a bit worn.

the best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch, swing with,
never saying a word, and then walk away feeling like that was the best
conversation you've had.

its' true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's
also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

always put yourself in other's shoes. if you feel that it hurts you, it
probably does hurt the person, too.

a careless word may kindle strife; a cruel word may wreck a life; a
timely word may level stress; a loving word may heal and bless.

the beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves,
and not to twist them with our own image - otherwise, we love only the
reflection of ourselves we find in them.

the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right
one so that when we finally meet the right person, we should know how to be
eternally grateful for that ultimate gift.

it takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone
and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

happiness appears for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have
searched and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the
importance of people who have touched their lives.

love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, the romance - and
you find out you still care for that person.

a sad thing about life is that when you meet someone who means a lot to
you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be and you just
have to let go.

love starts with a smile, develops with a kiss and ends with a tear.

love comes to those who still hope even though they've been
disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed,
need to love those who they still loved even though they've been hurt
before.

it hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the
most painful is to love someone and never finding the courage to let the
person know how you feel.

the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't
go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

 never say goodbye when you still want to try - never give up when you
still feel you can take it - never say you don't love that person anymore
when you can't let go.

giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you
back! don't expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in their hearts
but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours.

there are things you love to hear but you would never hear it from the
person whom you would like to hear it from, but don't be deaf to hear it
from her who says it with just her heart and not her mouth.

when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was
smiling - live your life so that when you die, you're smiling and everyone
around you is crying.

       Many people will walk in and out of your life,
       but only true friends will leave footprints in your 
       heart.

        Courage is not the absence of fear, 
        it is the taking of action in spite of it.

       To handle yourself, use your head;
       To handle others, use your heart.

       Anger is only one letter short of danger.

       Since true listening is love in action,
       nowhere is it more appropriate than in
       marriage. Yet most couples never truly 
       listen to each other

       If someone betrays you once, it's his fault;
       if he betrays you twice, it's your fault.

       Great minds discuss ideas;
       Average minds discuss events;
       Small minds discuss people.

       God gives every bird it's food,
       But He does not throw it into it's nest.

       He who loses money, loses much;
       He who loses a friend, loses more;
       He who loses faith, loses all.

       Beautiful young people are acts of nature,
       But beautiful old people are works of art.

       Learn from the mistakes of others.
       You can't live long enough to make them all
       yourself.

       The tongue weighs practically nothing,
       But so few people can hold it.

"If I Had My Life to Live Over" 

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was
stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried
much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the
fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his
youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day
because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it
melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about
grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more
while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth
would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical,
wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished
every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the
only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now
go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's"
...more "I'm sorry's"...

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every
minute...look at it and really see it...live it... and never give it
back.

   I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts, or fears.
   But I can listen to you, and together we will search for answers.

   I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,
   nor the future with it's untold stories.
   But I can be there now when you need me to care.

   I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
   I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

   Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
   yet I can share in your laughter.

   Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge; I can
   only support you, encourage you, and help you when you ask.

   I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship, from
   your values, from me. I can only pray for you, talk to you and
   wait for you.

   I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
   but I can give you the room to change, room to grow, room to
   be yourself.

   I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting, but I can cry
   with you and help you pick up the pieces and put them back in
   place.

   I can't tell you who you are.
   I can only love you and be your friend.
 

Love Yourself

L et go of the "shoulds" in your life.
   O pen up to the miracle of now.
       V alue your uniqueness.
         E xplore your dreams and passions.

Y ield to life - go with the flow.
   O bey the voice of your Spirit.
       U nwind - get cozy and comfy.
         R enew yourself - body and soul.
             S urround yourself with caring people.
                 E xpress yourself - be true to you.
                     L inger longer at what you enjoy.
                        F eel the love you have for yourself and others.
 

Subject: Household Hints

 *****************
 Freshen Your Sink
 Keep your kitchen drain odor-free by putting a handful of baking soda in the
drain and then washing it down with hot water once a week.
(pouring vinegar in on top of the baking soda also works.  It will foam up,
but is safe & really works!)
 *****************
 Celery ... will also work for all the "smelly veggies" like broccoli and
cauliflower.
 *****************
 Strawberries ... can be kept in the refrigerator longer fresh looking if kept
in a Tupperware container (or a good quality plastic container) with paper
towel on the bottom, then the fruit, and covered tightly.
 *****************
 Knitter's Helper
 Want an easy way to prevent the stitches from slipping off your needles when
you set them aside? Just push a cork onto the points of each needle.
 *****************
 No Mess Finger Painting
 When the little ones want to create another masterpiece, just pour a small
amount of paint into the wells of an empty Styrofoam egg carton. When they're
finished, just close the lid and toss the carton into the garbage.
 *****************
 Baker's Secret
 Try this mess-free way to fill a pastry bag: before you fill it, place the
bag inside a large glass or jar and fold the top of the bag down over the rim.
When it's filled, just lift the bag out and you're ready to go.
 *****************
 Road Safety Tip
 Put a Bright strip of reflector tape on some empty coffee cans and store them
in your trunk. This way, if you're ever stuck, you can just put them around
your car and oncoming traffic will know to slow down.
 *****************
 Winter Boot-Saver
 Remove salt rings from boots and galoshes in a snap by wiping them with a
cloth dampened in a solution of vinegar and cold water.  They'll look like
new.
 *****************
 

Happiness is like a butterfly -
the more you chase it, the more it will elude you.
But if you turn your attention to other things,
it comes and softly sits on your shoulder