Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The Happiness Project: June 2015 (part 1)

The Happiness Project
June 2015
 
Make Time For Friends
 
FRIENDSHIP
 
 
 
"Having strong social bonds is probably the most meaningful contributor to happiness."

"Of all things that wisdom provides for living one's entire life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship. You need close long-term relationships, you need to be able to confide in others, you need to belong."

"Studies show that having strong friendships not only provides joy, but also lengthens life, boosts immunity, and cuts the risk of depression. To keep loneliness at bay, you need at least one close relationship with someone in whom you can confide, you also need a relationship network, which helps provide a sense of identity and self-esteem and in which you can give and receive support."

June is focused on relationships: strengthening old friendships, deepening existing friendships, and making new friends.

happy birthday watercolor card.

Part 1: Remember Birthdays

At a bare minimum, we should remember birthdays. I turned 50 this year, so I couldn't help but remember my classmates birthdays as they came up and many of them remembered mine too. I love birthdays!! I love getting birthday cards and calls and being made to feel extra special. Who doesn't love Happy Birthday wishes?

In a world of social media, things have changed from mailing birthday cards or calling, to a simple "Happy Birthday" wish on a Facebook wall (although everyone loves to see how many wishes they can get....you are really loved if you get over 100...LOL). :O)

The 101 Best Birthday Quotes - Curated Quotes

In this chapter, Gretchen updated her address book, and copied it on her computer. She chose to send out birthday emails as her way to keep in touch. While looking through her contact list, she realized how many "friends" she had lost contact with over the years. She remembered a girl from high school whom she had fallen out of touch with, and was saddened that so many years had passed without contact. After a little searching, she tracked down her phone number and called her. She sounded surprised, but happy to hear from her and they ended up talking for two hours. Hearing her voice brought back good memories. Before hanging up, she asked when her birthday was and promised not to wait ten more years without contacting her.

Happy Birthday! Make a Wish!

There really wasn't a way for them to become close friends again; they lived too far apart, and too much time had passed. But for years Gretchen had been bothered by this relationship that had just been left hanging. She was very happy to talk to her again and was planning to keep in touch.

In a time where things seem "too busy", if we don't take time for regular visits or calls to friends, at least "remember birthdays", at least once a year we can make others feel special.

Pink birthday party table display with pink ombr cake. All the details and more pictures on the blog! Maggie Holmes




Sunday, June 28, 2015

weekend catch-up & summer calendar

What a crazy, busy week!

Nathan came home from work for 2 hours on Monday, then headed to Gloucester for his last two days of school for awhile. He needed the lifeboat course to finish his AB. On Friday, he got his call to begin training on the barge on his next tour. So proud of him! What a big accomplishment in less than two years on the job! Kayla had orientation at college on Thursday, so she and Nathan went to that and then stayed off for a few nights.

I had VBS all week, ending with the program on Friday night. We had crabs for dinner after the program. :0)


I had a slow weekend at work, so I worked alone. I guess it was a combination of bad weather and next weekend being a holiday......next week looks much busier.


We had some great return guests this week who brought me some veggies from their garden, a huge watermelon, and the best (homemade) donuts I ever ate!



On Saturday, we grilled and we were able to get dinner in before the rain started. It rained the rest of the evening, so we took a long nap after dinner.....(a perk of having a semi-empty nest). :0)

Strange Photo of the Week:


This guy showed up while we were eating. I never saw a crane on a wire (in our backyard!).


Since we missed Nathan's birthday last Saturday, we celebrated today......



Nathan loved them!!!!!

Cookies by Mary!! They are not only pretty, they are delicious! She is super-talented.:0)


It's Peter's birthday tomorrow, so I made Lemon Lush today and we did a little birthday-combo celebrating!


Big Brother started this week! And I love that one of the couples from Amazing Race is on the show. :O)
Big Brother 17 Jeff Wedon and Jackie Ibarra
[source: google]
and a few random pictures from the week:

 [source: facebook]
Logan doing one of the things he loves best!




We have Martin's everyday!!.....[they just won't go inside the house!!!]
Frustrating birds!

Nathan has a kayak! I'm super-excited!!!!



Calendar Countdown:

JUNE
 as of today.....99 days of work left!!!!!!!! :O)

 1 day - June 29- Peter's Birthday


JULY
6 days- July 4- *cookout/beach/fireworks*
19 days- July 17- Lindsey's Birthday


AUGUST
60 days- August 27/28/29 - Homecoming


SEPTEMBER
67 days- September 3- Logan's birthday
71 days- September 7 Labor Day
74 days- September 10 Football begins!!!!
77 days- September 13 Bears first game [vs.Packers]


OCTOBER
99 days - October 4 - last night at b&b 
125 days - October 31 - Halloween

Friday, June 26, 2015

VBS 2015 - Days 4 & 5

-VBS 2015-
Days 4 & 5

Day 4:

Lesson:

Jesus Gives Bartimaeus Sight

Mark 10:46–52
 
Jesus gives me faith.





Craft: 
 
We practiced singing a little longer today, so we just did 2 puzzle/coloring sheets and played a few games in our room. :0)
 



Snack:
 
We had nachos and cheese for our snack today.
 

We practiced at church for Friday's program.
 
 

 
 




 
Day 5: The Program
 
We practiced our songs in assembly and then had our lesson, a little snack, and a quick game in our room before going downstairs to wait to march in for the program.


Jesus Gives Bartimaeus Sight

Mark 10:46–52
 
Jesus gives me His love to share.


 
The kids always sing their hearts out (and everyone always enjoys watching them). :0)
It was a great program.
We had a very good class this year and I have really enjoyed spending the week with them.  
You always hope that you have said or done something during those 10 hours that will stick with the children. Lulabelle does such a good job bringing the lessons and the songs we learn are so fun and have a good message. We had fun doing crafts and playing games too. 
This is always a busy time of year for me, but I'm glad I am part of VBS week! 

 “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19


Thursday, June 25, 2015

thoughtful thursday {P}

-P-
 
 
Something I like: pumpkin (anything)

Easy Pumpkin Glaze Recipe - Todays Creative Blog
 
 
Something I don't: politics!

Sometimes I feel the folks who claim to be "informed" on my Facebook have just googled "Political Ads"
 
 
Place I've been: Pocomoke
 
 
 
Somewhere I want to go: Pennsylvania

Top 10 Most Visited Attractions In Philadelphia
 
 
Food I love:

I get on eating kicks and recently it's been Pringles (original please!)

Pringles Original chips. These contain corn syrup. Stage one.
 
 
 
Movie I've seen: Pirates of the Caribbean (all of them!)
 
 
Pirates of the Caribbean 
 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

VBS 2015 - Day 3

-VBS 2015-

Camp Discovery

Day 3

Lesson:

God Saves Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Daniel 3

Jesus saves me.
http://vbs.cph.org/images/lessons/3-art-furnace.jpg
Craft:
Once again, I got very few pictures today. Things just keep on moving, from singing to lesson to crafts to singing to snack. We haven't even had time to play any games. Two hours literally flies by....time does fly when you are having fun. We have such a great class: Alona, Cassie, Kylee, Nikki, Ava, Alexia, Wes P., Will, Jaxson, Kiera, James, Wesley E., and two new students today, Angel and Nathan.
Today, they colored this mosaic cross, then glued it to a foam cross and added a magnet for the fridge. OOPS! I didn't get pictures when they finished. They turned out pretty good though.
Stained Glass Cross Printable Coloring Sheet
source
Snack:
Cupcakes and chips were brought in for the snack today.
I took a few good pictures of the kids during assembly singing.







Tuesday, June 23, 2015

VBS 2015 - Day 2

-VBS 2015-


Camp Discovery
 
 
 
Day 2
Lesson:

Deborah Judges with God’s Wisdom
 
2-art-deborah
 
Judges 4:1–16, (4:17-5:31)
 
Jesus gives me His wisdom.
 
 
Snack:

Two of the girls brought dip & chips and I made S'Mores Trail Mix.
 
Golden Grahams cereal, mini marshmallows, and chocolate & peanut butter chips.
The "Bug Juice" was a hit, so I made more for today. :O)


Craft:



We made butterflies!
(2 coffee filters, clothes pin, and pipe cleaner)

I took NO pictures in class today! It was soooooooo hot, plus, I left my camera home! The a/c was out in the rooms upstairs, but we made out okay. Thankful for a cooler day (and that the a/c repairmen came!). We had 12 in our class again today.....we are having a fun time!

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