Jeanne's Bliss Blog

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hot Hot Weather

The last few days have been extremely hot.

Why do we close our eyes when we pray?
When we cry?
When we dream?
Or when we kiss?
Because we know that the most beautiful things in life
are not seen but felt with the heart♥


The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep, loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross


We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
-Frederick Koenig

Monday, May 30, 2011

Graceful Exit

There’s a trick to the 'graceful exit.' It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over — and let it go. It means leaving what’s over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out." — Ellen Goodman

"Do you see me, do you hear me, does what I say matter to you?" That is what we all hope for, no matter who we are - Oprah Winfrey

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to all my American Family and friends.

Thank you for those fighting for our freedom and prayers to all those who have lost their lives doing so.

We remember


Very lovely photographs

Thanks Robyn for this link♥


There fell a silvery-silken veil of light,
With quietude, and sultriness, and slumber,
Upon the upturned faces of a thousand
Roses that grew in an enchanted garden...
~ E.A. Poe

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Serene Saturday

If you are depressed you are living in the past
If you are anxious you are living in the future
If you are at peace you are living in the present.

We only have this moment.

Yard by yard life is hard
Inch by Inch life is a cinch.


1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.
2] Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
4] All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don’t worry, they can't last long either.
5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."
9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrows.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Have a Safe and Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend



May a golden sun shine upon us at some point this weekend.
So much rain and gloomy days this spring.
Rain rain rain go away
don't come back again for many a day.

To all my American Family and Friends

Have a safe and wonderful memorial day weekend.

Praying for all those who have lost their lives fighting for our freedoms and those
that continue to risk their lives for our freedoms today


So precious


We all need hugs and love

If you are depressed you are living in the past
If you are snxious you are living in the future
If you are at peace you are living in the present♥

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Dogs Know a Great Story


Sensational Seoul




This was sent to me via email from my dear friend Elaine.
Love you and thank you for your golden gift of friendship all through the years.
I love you my friend♥



Dogs know ....
This really is a great story!


Lucky Dog....


Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.' Lucky was a real character.

Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.



Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease......in fact; she was just sure it was fatal.

She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her....what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through.

If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him! The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.

Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap..

Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.

When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!

While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.

He had covered her with his love.

Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky. He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.



Remember.....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.

If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply.. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God .

A small request
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.

Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer.
Amen

All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it is only to one more person, in memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer or is still fighting their battle.



Snowflower and the Secret Fan

I cannot wait until this movie comes out


Fresh

Fabulous recipes to try.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Black Petunia's and White Geraniums

There’s a trick to the 'graceful exit.' It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over — and let it go. It means leaving what’s over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out." — Ellen Goodman

"Do you see me, do you hear me, does what I say matter to you?" That is what we all hope for, no matter who we are - Oprah Winfrey

I will miss you Oprah.
These final shows have been so fabulous as they all have been.
Thank you♥♥



I planted black petunias and white geraniums and then a soft rain fell

I am going to have some delicious bean soup and sunflower bread for lunch and then
get all cozy and emotional for the last tribute show to Oprah.

I am glad Hines won on Dancing with the Stars.
He is a sweetie and his beloved Mother worked so hard to raise him well.

Cheeers

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Silk and the Secret Garden



You don't have to spell love you just feel it.




Counting down the days until our July visit with my Son and his wife..........
It's the things that dreams are made of.............
Sharing memories to last a lifetime ahead




I can never watch the movie Silk enough times or listen to the Secret Garden Enough times............

The long weekend flew by very quickly as it always does.

Make it a Ruby Tuesday indeed.

Those who sing pray twice


I love these shows

Monday, May 23, 2011

The Tree of Life



Photograph taken by my Son on one of his mountain hikes



I cannot wait to see the movie The Tree of Life


Happy Victoria Day holiday everyone♥♥

Saturday, May 21, 2011

The Quiz




A photograph taken by my dear friend Nia and her husband of their new bundle from Heaven
Princess Phoebe............
and Kallie is a most remarkable big Sister
Love to you all♥♥


The following quiz appeared on the web and has been all over the world. See how you do:


1. Name the 5 wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last 5 Heisman Trophy winners.
3. Name the last 5 winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name 10 people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


The point: None of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.


Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:


1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name 3 friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name 3 people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of 3 people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.


EASIER?


The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones who care.


~ Unknown


I love this photograph

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Thursday Thoughts



All photographs courtesy of my son Justin and his wife Ahram
Thank you for sharing them all
I love you both so much




Source of this photograph unknown to me.

I am watching the final few shows of Oprah and also loving all of her shows on
OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network)

It has been too wet and rainy to work out in the garden or spend a great deal of time outdoors.

I have also been reading.

I love this quote


Marianne Williamson
In the Mind of God, there's a divine blueprint for a perfect day today, regardless what happened yesterday. We show up for it by forgiving ourselves and others.

I cannot wait to start watching this series when it commences


Pan Am

I cannot wait

I loved the sixties era
and the fifties before it♥♥

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Wednesday

Thanks Shelley for the links.
Big hugs
Have been having lots of problems trying to sign into my blog and post.

will update tomorrow.

Sigh

Love Jeanne

Korean Father Looking for Son

From Jane's Blog blog (which includes photos):

Zachary K92-180 DOB Feb. 14 1992

Name: Kim Joon Su 김준수
Adoptive Name: “Zachary”
Adopted to the U.S. through Holt
DOB Feb. 14, 1992

As read on this blog today




I love this blog

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sunday Showers



I love this quote as seen on pinterest.com




My Son on one of his mountain hikes and a bird landed on him.
That is very good luck.

Keep a green tree in your heart and a singing bird will come♥♥



It is raining it is pouring.........
It has certainly been a very wet spring indeed.


You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite and He bends with you
His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archers hand be for gladness;
For eve as He loves the arrow that flies
So he loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran
The Prophet

Love is a great thing, yea, a great and thorough good, by itself it makes everything that is heavey light; and it bears evenly all that is uneven. For love carries a burden that is no burden, and makes everthing that is bitter sweet and tasteful.

Thomas A Kempis
The Imitation of Christ.

I just read Ashley Judd's book All that Is Bitter and Sweet.
A great book indeed.

The above two quotes were in her book.

Happy Sunday everyone♥

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Saturday Sweetness



I am in love with hot pink this spring♥




A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."


"Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No", she said. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in", they replied.


In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. "Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in. "We do not go into a House together," they replied. "Why is that?" she wanted to know.


One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."


The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"


His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"


"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest."


The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."


Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"


The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, Wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!"


OUR WISH FOR YOU... Where there is pain, we wish you peace and mercy.


Where there is self-doubting, we wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through them.


Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, we wish you understanding, patience, and renewed strength.


Where there is fear, we wish you love, and courage.


~ Author Unknown


Moments of love

Friday, May 13, 2011

Weekend Weekend Cha Cha Cha



I am in love with hot pink this spring.


Black pussy willow stems in the hot pink bow.

It is indeed a great privilege when God's lovely animals and birds adopt us and feel safe. 2 gray cats have adopted me and I feed them well and again a lovely bird nest is at our front door. The robins eggs have hatched.
All is safe in a home of love and a haven from the storms of life.

Weekend Weekend Cha Cha Cha

In loving memory of my fabulous Uncle Tom who went to Heaven 6 years ago today.
We always cherish those we love in Heaven as we did with them on Earth♥♥




I love this song


Thank you all for putting a fabulous song in my heart♥♥

Wednesday, May 11, 2011


Photograph courtesy of my Son




Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows
into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness
into you, and the storms their energy, while cares
will drop off like autumn leaves.
-- John Muir

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Rainy Tuesday


Love this video


It is another day of showers from Heaven.

Off to enjoy my day in every way.

Peace is in every step of the way♥

I am reading the Ashley Judd book All that is bitter and Sweet
and this is a quote from the inside of the book I have always loved

You are the bows from which your childre as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite
and He bends with you His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
So he loves also the bow that is stable.
Kahlil Gibran The Prophet

and a fellow blogger Sande always gives me new books to look for
She has recommended Please Look After Mom by Korean author
Shin Kyung-Seok the next book I plan to read.
Thanks Sande♥

Friday, May 06, 2011

Motherhood



The best thing a Father can do for his children first of all love their Mother♥




I love this



I love the photographs of the late Linda McCartney



Whatever you accomplish in life is a manifestation not so much of what you do, as of what you believe deeply within yourself that you deserve.

Les Brown


Can never hear this song enough or watch this video enough



I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday and days before that too,
I think of you in silence I often speak your name
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame
Your memory is my keepsake with which I’ll never part
...God has you in His keeping I have you in my heart. Happy Birthday Mom♥

Every Mother Counts CD



Princess Diana was such a fabulous Mother
It is so evident in the fabulous sons she had raised.


Every Mother Counts CD
I love this so much



The album tracklisting is as follows:

Martha Wainwright “Leave Behind”
Carla Bruni “Le Loup, La Biche et Le Chevalier (Une Chanson Douce)”
Gwyneth Paltrow “This Woman’s Work”
Madonna “Promise to Try”
Patti Scialfa “Children’s Song”
Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon “There and Back Again, Pt. 2″
Angelique Kidjo “Sweet Lullaby”
Ani DiFranco “Present/Infant” (remix)
Dixie Chicks “Lullaby”
Rosanne Cash “Motherless Children” (acoustic version)
Sheryl Crow “Lullaby for Wyatt”
Jennifer Lopez “One Step at a Time”
Karen Elson “The Last Laugh”
Sinead O’Connor “Petit Poulet”
Martha Wainwright “No Woman, No Cry”

Thursday, May 05, 2011

The Miracle of Love

This was sent to me by Heartwarmers via email

THE MIRACLE OF LOVE
by Joseph Walker

It was a miracle, I tell you. An absolute miracle.
We were in the midst of an 11-hour car trip, and Alexander was done. He
was only a few weeks old at the time, and he had pretty much been held and
cuddled his whole life long. This being strapped into a car seat for hours
at a time was for the birds, as far as he was concerned, and he let us know
in no uncertain terms that he was NOT happy. At first his cries were kind
of sweet and plaintive, and everybody in the car smiled knowingly,
confident that he would soon calm down and go back to sleep.
"He’s just been fed and burped, his diaper is clean and dry, he should
be fine," said his mother, Andrea. Alexander is Andrea’s first child, and
this was their first long trip together, so they were both very much in a
mode of trying to figure each other out. But already she had a sense of
her son, and she was confident that all would be well.
But it wasn’t.
Thirty minutes later Alexander was still crying, and the rest of us were
wondering what was going on. "Do you want me to pull over?" I asked,
aware that Andrea would not take him out of his car seat to cuddle and
comfort him as long as the car was moving.
"No," she said. "Let me try something first." She leaned up as close
to Alexander’s face as she could get, and began to sing to him:
You are my sunshine, My only sunshine.
You make me happy When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear, How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
Now, I need to tell you that I have heard Andrea sing hundreds of times.
We sing a lot in our family -- it’s just something that we do (I’d tell
you about our version of "Happy Birthday to You" were it not... well...
indescribable). But Andrea has taken her singing to another level. She
has studied voice. She has worked hard on her singing in great choirs and
as a high school, college and professional actress. She has sung countless
solos in front of huge audiences.
In other words, Andrea sings.
But I’ve never heard her sing quite like how she sang to her baby that
night. It was a new and difference voice for Andrea. It was... I don’t
know... tender. Soft. Sweet. Gentle. Which is not to say I’ve never
heard Andrea sing tenderly, softly, sweetly and gently before, because I
have.
But never quite like this, and never to an audience of one. There was a
quality about her singing that had nothing at all to do with her talent and
experience -- something that touched me as I drove, even though it clearly
wasn’t intended for me. I’ll just call it what it felt like. Love.
Alexander began to calm almost immediately. By the time Andrea had sung
through the song three times, he was sleeping. Comfortably. Peacefully.
Miraculously.
Alexander wasn’t comforted by the beauty of his mother’s voice, or by
her musical skill and training. He was comforted because it WAS his
mother’s voice. He knew it. He loved it. And he knew the owner of that
voice loved him.
That’s what I heard coming from the back of the car that night. And
that’s what we celebrate every Mother’s Day.
It’s the miracle of motherhood.
The miracle of love.

-- Joseph Walker

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

The Light Within you



Photograph taken by my Son


Marianne Williamson
The Light within you is a spiritual magnet, transmuting chaos and attracting harmony. Darkness cannot stand in its midst.






Prince Harry speaking of his late beloved Mother">




My beautiful friend Nia has another new Princess to welcome into the world

Welcome Phoebe♥
Congratulations to you all.
Love you all so very much♥♥

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

Monday, May 02, 2011

A true friend

Dalai Lama
Friends, genuine friends, are attracted by a warm heart, not money, not power. A genuine friend considers you as just another human being, as a brother or sister, and shows affection on that level, regardless of whether you are rich or poor, or in a high position; that is a genuine friend.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving



We are family

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Rabbit Rabbit

Rabbit Rabbit

May the Month of May bless us well

May is a month that more than ever reminds me of my late beloved Mom

It was her birthday May 6th and of course Mother's Day

This is one of my favorite readings



* My Mother, My Friend *



The young mother set her foot on the path of life.

"Is this the long way?" asked the young mother as she set her foot on the path of life. And the Guide said:

"Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

The young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young mother cried,

"Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms. The children said,

"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children,

"A little patience and we are there."

So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said,

"Mother, we could not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. The mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said:

"This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said,

"I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them." And the children said,

"You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said,

"We cannot see her, but she is with us still."



A mother is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winters day.

She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop.

A mother shows through in every emotion - happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow - and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space - not even death!


~ Written for Good Housekeeping Magazine in 1933 by Temple Bailey ~