A Little Late...

Hello Everyone....

Sorry that this is a little late coming....Hope everyone had a really "Safe & Happy 4th of July!!!" We had a very pleasant one!




(((HUGS)))
Lynn

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day is our chance to remember and reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and to honor their families. Those families pay the price of patriotism every day when a husband, wife, brother, sister, son or daughter is no longer there to share in the joys of our lives.

As important as it is for us, as adults, to understand what Memorial Day is really all about, it’s even more important to make sure the children in our lives understand it as well.

There’s no shortage of places where you can take a youngster and let them see what love of country means. There are memorials for almost every war and every branch of service you can think of and everyone of them conveys what it means to pursue the highest calling.

Summertime is when Hollywood likes to trot out it’s blockbuster action hero movies. This year you have the “A-Team” and “Iron Man.”

That’s make believe. Don’t let your children grow up without teaching them who the real-life heroes are.



*Taken from an article called "A time for our heroes"
By Rick Pfeiffer
Niagara Gazette

Happy Mother's Day!

Magnets & Mothers

A teacher gave her class of second-graders a lesson about the magnet and what it does.

The next day, in a written test, she included this question: "My name has six letters. The first one is m. I pick up things. What am I?"

When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50% of the students answered the question with the word mother. Yes, mothers do pick up things. But they are much more than "magnets," gathering up clothes and picking up toys around the house.

As willing as many mothers are to do such chores, they have a higher calling thanthat. A good mother loves her family unconditionally and provides an atmosphere where each member can find acceptance, security, and understanding. She is there when the children need a listening ear, a comforting word, a warm hug, or a loving touch on a fevered brow.

And for the Christian mother, her greatest joy is in teaching her children to trust and to love Jesus as their LORD and Savior. That kind of mother deserves to be honored-not just on one special day a year but every day.

And that recognition should involve more than words; it ought to be shown in respect, thoughtfulness, and loving deeds all year through.

God Bless All of the Moms out there on this years "Mother's Day!" May you never cease to see all of the blessings God has given you within each of your children.




And for all the Mom's out there who have furry-four legged children....God Bless you too this "Mother's Day!

(((HUGS)))
Linda

New May Wallpaper!

Hello there,
I have been sooooooo very busy lately but through it all have managed to make a "May" Wallpaper for you to use. Hope you like it! And as always my freebies are "For Personlal Use Only!"













DOWNLOAD LINK HERE

(((HUGS)))
Linda

Happy Easter Everyone!

Everyone have a great weekend & a really blessed Easter!
God bless!



I am God,

Today I will be handling all of your problems.
Please remember that I do not need your help.

If life happens to deliver a situation to you
that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.
Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do)
box.

All situations will be resolved, but in My time,
not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box,
do not hold onto it by worrying about it.
instead, focus on all the wonderful things that
are present in your life now.

If you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair.
There are people in this world for whom driving
is an unheard privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man
who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad;
Think of the person who has never known what it's
like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend;
Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve
hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away
from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would
love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror;
Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she
had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering
what is life all about, asking what is my purpose?
Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long
enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's
bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities;
Remember, things could be worse.

You could be one of them!

Hugs,
Linda

Happy Birthday Blessings

Happy Birthday Blessings are in order for my grandson Ryan who just turned a year old last week (Isn't he adorable)




Also Happy Birthday Wishes go out to my grand-daughter Dez who is turning the terrible teens tommorrow....LOL...just kidding honey!



And my grand-daughter Kaylee just turned a year old last month. She too is so adorable! Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you's!

You know I have never seen a year go by so fast in my life. Hope it slows down a little so that we can enjoy my two favorite seasons (Spring & Summer)! Well it is sort of cold and raining here today, tommorrow is supposed to be pretty decent with lots of sunshine. Sure hope so. Everyone have a great day and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless.

Hugs,
Me

Let the sunshine in!

Where has the time gone to? I can't believe it is the second week of March already. Well I can say that I am truly grateful that the sun has been shining all day for the last couple of days and the snow in our yard is finally melting away...Yeah! Hope everyone is doing alright and that you are all gearing up for spring! I personally cannot wait. Take care and God Bless!


Love, Lynn

Happy Valentine's Day!

***HUGS***
Linda

Happy New Year Everyone!

***HUGS***
Linda

The Christmas prayer of a sailor.

Hope everyone had a very wonderful Holiday. This was an article in our city paper today and I wanted to put it here to honor all of our Men & Women who have served and are still serving in our Armed Forces. Thank you Mr. Hamilton for writing such a beautiful poem and for sharing your story with us. God bless you!


HAMILTON:

The Christmas prayer of a sailor

By Ken Hamilton
Niagara Gazette

Well Lord, it’s Christmas time again and we are a long way from home ...

We are in a nation, and in a time, that but for the newscasts and the occasional soldier’s funeral, it would be difficult for us to tell that we are at war. Our supermarkets and our bellies are full. While some say that the wars that we fight are unjust, and are about other people’s petroleum, for the most part, our gas tanks are full and our homes are warm.

The U.S. Senate just passed a bill, I think, that, according to Senate Majority Leader Reed, will ensure that 30-million more Americans will have health insurance. That is, at least 30-million more people that live in America will have it. There is a difference, you know, as there is a difference between health insurance and good medical treatment.

And the holiday season is upon us. The single season of the year that is dedicated to someone bringing peace on Earth and good will towards man. Many of us busy ourselves with buying needless gifts for each other. Some of us will send gifts to soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guarders that are far from home. They will feel good when they get them.

Most Americans have never been to war. I have. At least, I have participated in war. I didn’t wade through the rice paddies with an M-16 on my shoulder, or drift down the muddy rivers of Southeast Asia in a loud, slow moving, river patrol boat. Honestly, I watched it from a radarscope on a missile ship that steamed just off the coast of what was then North Vietnam. Despite the heat outside, we wore jackets to stay warm in CIC, where we tracked our bombers flying raids over the cities of Haiphong Harbor and Hanoi. There was always a hot cup of coffee on the bull nose of our consoles. On some nights, when I was not on watch, I would stand on one of the bridge wings outside of the pilothouse, and watch the coastline glow orange with the flames from the fires that the bombing caused. When a fresh round of bombs fell, their white flashes would light the air enough that I could see the black smoke billowing high into the night sky, as if it were a sacrifice to the gods of war.

I was young — 19 years old. I had more testosterone than heart or brains in those days. Back then I was where I wanted to be. But, now I think back on those days, when I stood on the wings of the bridge, watched the bombs fall, and suppressed the sorrow that that deep brewed inside of me for all of those who were dying that night. Today, though I have never seen them before, I constantly see their faces, I see their tears, and I can feel the pain that shredded their hearts as I stood on the bridge wings and watched the sky glow orange.

I was back in San Diego by Christmas, but not back home in Niagara Falls. I don’t think that there are many service people who join and are against all of the travel, and the experiences, that the military offers. Yet I think that, while most appreciate the gifts that you send them, they would rather be home for Christmas, giving, instead of receiving — because, that is what they do.

There is a difference, you know. That is why supermarket shelves, our bellies and our gas tanks are full, and our homes are warm. And why sometimes, some of them die. We are in a nation, and in a time, that but for the newscasts and the occasional soldier’s funeral, it would be difficult for us to tell that we are at war.

I returned from ‘Nam in the same year of my second Christmas away from home. It was not my last. Perhaps I came back with heart. It was then that I wrote the poem, “The Christmas Prayer of a Sailor.” I would like to share it again with you, my readers; and with every soldier, sailor, Marine, airman and Coast Guarder that is walking the wall between freedom and tyranny. I pray that their efforts speed peace on Earth and good will towards mankind; that the glow that they will see when they look out at the horizon will be from warm hearts of people loving each other, and I pray that our forces will be safely home for Christmas next year.



“Well, Lord, it is Christmas-time again,
and I am a long way from home.
I can’t make it back this year,
so that’s another Christmas gone.



I think that I’ll just lie down and rest awhile,
and think of Christmases past;
when love was abundant in the air,
Lord, why couldn’t all of that last.



You know; those crisp, chilly mornings,
but the sun was shining bright; and there
was a glow from every young child’s face
of a very special light.



The house, all filled with that Christmas
smell of fruits and cakes and evergreen;
and presents, all piled under the Christmas tree;
well Lord, you know what I mean.



Being close to those that you love the most --
to those you treasure dear. To see their faces --
those happy faces -- a laugh -- a smile -- a tear.



Well, Lord; this Christmas is all but past and gone,
and there is just one thing that I request:
take me back, back to my own home, so that I won’t
miss Christmas-next.

-Amen-

Ken Hamilton is a Niagara Falls resident. His columns run Fridays in the Gazette. He welcomes feedback at: KenHamilton930@aol.com.

Christmas is coming!

I just love this time of year, well of course except for the very cold weather. But I love all the decorations and christmas songs.



I have made a couple more calendar wallpapers for those of you who would like to use them on your personal laptop/computer. Please do not direct link. And please send your friends here to my blog to download them. Hope everyone had a "Happy Thanksgiving!" I can't believe Christmas is just a few weeks away.


Christmas Calander Wallpaper #1



DOWNLOAD LINK

Christmas Calander Wallpaper #2



DOWNLOAD LINK HERE

Everyone have a wonderful day! God bless!

***HUGS***
Lynn

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

~ ~ Your Cross ~ ~


The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

"Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear." The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief. "Thank you, Lord," he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible.

Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. The Lord replied,
"My son, that is the cross you just
brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more blessed than you imagined.

(((HUGS)))

The Awakening!

"The Awakening"

A time comes in your life when you finally get it
when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity,
you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the
voice inside your head cries out...ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and
struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting
down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and
begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for
something to change, or for happiness, safety and
security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren't always
fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily
ever after" must begin with you... and in the process
a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that
not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of
who or what you are and that's OK. They are entitled
to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself
and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born
of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other
people for the things they did to you - or didn't do for you
and you learn that the only thing you can really count on
is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say
what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone
will always be there for you and that everything isn't
always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to
take care of yourself... and in the process a sense
of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept
people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and
human frailties and in the process a sense of peace and
contentment is born of forgiveness. You learn to open up to
new worlds and different points of view.

You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you
really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting
and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values
you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and
contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a
"consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles
such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a
bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation
upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job
to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.
You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose
to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you
learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as
they really are and not as you would have them be.

You learn that alone does not mean lonely. You stop trying to
control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to
distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the
importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside,
smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that
your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and
treat it with respect.

You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people and you learn not to always take it personally. You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and dealt with in a healthy manner or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire. You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.


Todays Quote:

“Remember today,
for it is the beginning of always.
Today marks the start of a
brave new future filled with all
your dreams can hold.
Think truly to the future
and make those dreams come true.”

Booooooo!

Hello...

First off I hope everyone has a Safe & Happy Halloween! For all those who are suffering from the seasonal flu/swine flu, please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Get well soon!





Second I have two wallpaper freebies for you. Only for personal use! DO NOT DIRECT LINK and please if you know anyone who would like to download one or both please send them here to my blog to download. Thank you!





DOWNLOAD LINK HERE





DOWNLOAD LINK HERE



Credits: Elements from Raspberry Road Designs (Freebie Clusters)
Backgrounds made by Creative Endeavors Creations
Wordart by WordImagined Designs & ElegantWordart2 Designs

(((HUGS)))
Linda

Inner Strength

Here is something I found while cleaning out one of my drawers in my computer room. I am not sure who sent it to me but it really is cute. Hope everyone is enjoying the day. It is going to be 62 today and sunny, so you can bet I will be working outside today. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers and be on the look out for another Free Wallpaper for the month of November. God bless everyone!


Inner Strength

If you can start the day without caffine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with
your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful
for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy
to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on
you when, through no fault of your own, something
goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without
resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquour,
If you can sleep without the aide of drugs,
Then you are probably a DOG!



(((HUGS)))
Linda

2009 October Wallpaper Freebie

Well October is upon us and man is it "cold outside!" I have made some freebies for you for those of you who would like. Please use only for "Personal Use", do not "direct link", rather send others to this blog so that they can download these wallpapers from my blog. Hope everyone is having a good week. Stay warm & stay safe! God Bless.




DOWNLOAD HERE





DOWNLOAD HERE


***HUGS***
Linda
(Creator of "Creative Endeavors Creations")

Where did August go to!

Wow....it is September already....I don't even know where the month of August went to! I was painting wall mural's so time can really fly by. But I did make a September Wallpaper for you. Please use of it is for personal use only...if you know someone who can use it on their laptop please just send them to my blog so that they can download from here. Hope you like it. Around here in
WNY we have the "Peach Festival" taking place in September. So I used the peach for that symbolization. Sort of cute don't you think so?




DOWNLOAD LINK

Back to school time is upon us....so everyone be safe and be careful! People watch for children walking to school...they don't always look both ways before crossing the street...Be alert and aware! Do not pass a stopped school bus!!!! Help keep our children safe!

I have to get back to my wall mural...will post a photo of it when I am done. Have a great day and God bless everyone!



***HUGS***
Linda

It's July already...wow!

Hope every one had a Happy & Safe 4th of July weekend! And I hope since I did forget to post, I hope all you Dad's out there had had a great "Father's Day!"



I made a 1440 x 900 wallpaper for July.





You can go HERE or to the link below to download if you would like to use it for your own personal use. Do not direct link or share it also have those who would like to use it on their computer/laptops to come here to download it. Thank you.

DOWNLOAD LINK


***HUGS***
Lynn

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

God Bless All Who Gave Some
& Those Who Gave All!

Have a very Safe & Happy Weekend!

***HUGS***
Linda

Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday is "Mother's Day", so here is a card that I made to celebrate this very special day!





"It's not how much we do...
but how much love we put into doing it!"


God Bless!
***HUGS***
Linda