Stop & Smell the Roses

'Stop and Smell the Roses


Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,

Failures keep you Humble,

Success keeps you Glowing,

But .... Only Family & Friends ......

Keep You Going !!!

A Gift to a Young Girl

What a lovely little story to remind us that life really can be beautiful. This is one of the kindest things you may ever see.. It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.

I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her.. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it.. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand.. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love. Love, God

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you Humble, Success keeps you Glowing , But Only Friends Keep You Going!

"Puppy" Love

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies.""Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer."I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?""Sure," said the farmer.

With that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.

"With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy."How much?" asked the little boy. "No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. after waiting a few minutes, I walked to the door and knocked... 'Just a minute, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you please carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her... 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to betreated.''Oh, you're such a good boy, she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'' It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly... 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice... 'The doctor says I don't have very long.'

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.For the next two hours, we drove through the city.

She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds .

She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I said. 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light... Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life...

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But," Great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. "You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on and reminding us that often it is the "random acts of kindness "that most benefit all of us.

Remember: "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance."

The Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to get stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,

'That is the kind of love I want in my life.

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have."

"We are all getting Older. Tomorrow may be our turn. Enjoy life now-it has an expiration date!"

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, But how to dance in the rain.'

I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did :)

Buckle Up for those you love

Please .....

For the sake of those who love you & who you love.....Please buckle up.

This is the new "wear your seatbelt" ad the UK is doing - started by some fellow, not hired to do it, but because the cause is important to him, he came up with this idea, and now it's being hailed across the world as a 'beautiful' commercial.

http://www.embracethis.co.uk/

Pass it on to those you love.......

Sincerely,

Sharon Blumenthal, The Present Pro

http://www.InitialOutfitters.net/ThePresentPro

http://www.personalizedpresentsplus.com/

A MOTHER'S LOVE...

Before you were conceived, I wanted you.

Before you were born, I loved you.

When you were born, I saw you and knew I was in love.

Before you were an hour old, I knew I would die for you. To this day and always, I will.

With Mother's Day approaching, send this to other Moms if you have children you love more than life.

If I Had My Life To Live Over

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

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

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or 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 have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

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 sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

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

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.

STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

CARPE DIEM- "Sieze the Day" ! You don't know what lies ahead.....

Bank Account of Memories

This is AWESOME....something we should all remember...

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each
morning by eight o ' clock, shaved perfectly with his hair fashionably
combed and even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After
many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual of his tiny
room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just
been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Stein, you haven't seen the room; ' Just wait. ' That doesn’t ' have
anything to do with it,' he replied.

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room
or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I
arrange my mind. I already decided to love it… 'It's a decision I make
every morning when I wake up.

I have a choice;
I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts
of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the
ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day
and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life..
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.


"Everyone needs wishes and dreams, because the bridge you build between them and reality is your life."

Woman... You are beautiful !!!

WOMAN… YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL !!!!

What makes me weak? - My fears
What makes me whole? – My religion
What keeps me standing? – My faith
What makes me compassionate? – My selflessness
What makes me honest? – My integrity
What sustains my mind? – My quest for knowledge
What teaches me all lessons? – My mistakes
What lifts my head high? – My pride, not arrogance
What if I can’t go on? – That’s not an option !
What makes me victorious? – My courage to climb
What makes me competent? – My confidence
What makes me sensual? – My insatiable essence
What makes me beautiful? – My everything
What makes me a woman? – My heart
Who says I need love? – I do
What empowers me? – My spirit
Who am I? A strong, proud woman !

“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its trouble….
It empties today of it’s strength.”