I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. I've been very sick with this ongoing sinus infection. It's been going on for around 18 months now non stop. I saw the doctor right before Christmas and he x- rayed, ran more test and did a couple more and different procedures and discovered that the infection has spread into the bone behind my eyes. It's really hard sitting here trying to do much at all when my head pounds so severely. After a few minutes of looking at the monitor I'm not focusing well. When I saw the doctor he told me I have no choice now but to have more surgery. I've had several opinions so I guess it's time.This surgery is very invasive and close to my brain and optical nerve. It wont be done like the sinus surgery I had in Nov. of 2006...this time he has to go in between my upper lip and gum. Now this sounds really painful! Needless to say I'd rather be doing any thing else but having this surgery that's for sure! My husband is going to take time off and be home with me for as long as I need him to be home. If I don't get back here to answer messages and visit your pages I'm really sorry. It's just too hard right now. Please know I cherish you all and you are always in my heart and thoughts! I hope every one had a good New Years Eve and your New Year will bring you all love, health, happiness and only the best of everything! Sleep well my dear friends and God Bless! Much Love & Gentle Hugzz!~V
Is There a Santa Claus? From the Editorial Page of The New York Sun, written by Francis P. Church, September 21, 1897
We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.' "Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon 115 West Ninety-fifth Street Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Fourbr
*..·°T°´·..T.·°**T**°·.T..·´°T°·..* If you've been naughty Here's the scoop All you'll get is Reindeer Poop
I hope every one has had a wonderful week so far. It's been very busy around here. I still haven't gotten the tree up and decorated or the outside of the house. We had a huge snow storm that dumped almost a foot of snow in 2 days. Then it warmed up so much it began to flood all around us. Then temperatures dropped again and we got freezing rain, ice and snow and now it's been pouring rain for 2 days. I've been trying to stay in and out of all the weather so this sinus infection would go away once and for all. The doctor did tell me last Friday it was gone. Only to have it return less than 24 hrs later with horrible headaches. I told the doctor that he is not allowed to say it is gone ever again. That only means it will be back sooner than later. My husband, being a truck driver as you all probably know, left the day after Thanksgiving and won't be home till just a day or 2 before Christmas. Today when he called he said he had come across a couple of Army Privates at a truck stop in Arkansas that were on their way back their base and he asked them to join him for lunch.They had a very enjoyable chat and my husband Thanked them for all that they are doing to keep our country free and bought their meal for them.My husband is a member of OOIDA (owner operator independent driver association for truckers) and has donated to their Holiday fund and gave them the Soldiers suggestions as to what to put into care packages that are sent from OOIDA every Christmas to our troops abroad. 2 things that the Soldiers suggested were sugar free gum and toothbrushes. They said the tooth brushes are used for keeping their weapons clean as well as their teeth. They requested the sugar free gum because it helps with thirst while on missions. Sugar gum makes you thirsty where as sugar free doesn't they said. I've been spending time with my kids and grand kids. Next week we are going to have our annual day of baking and making all kinds of goodies. That's going to be a very long day but will also be filled with lots of love and happiness. We look forward to this every year. I hope every one is enjoying the Season and spending time with your loved ones. I havent forgotten you ... just a busy busy time for us all. You are always in my thoughts and heart! Enjoy your weekend and I will try to get back soon. Much Love and Gentle Hugzz!~V Fourbr *..·°T°´·..T.·°**T**°·.T..·´°T°·..* If you've been naughty Here's the scoop All you'll get is Reindeer Poop
I hope every one had a Wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was truly great this year with all the kids and grand kids home. As we move into the true Holiday Season remember to take a little time for yourself each day to relax and enjoy all that is around you. A dear friend sent me this little story below. I hope you all take time to read it and think about how great it would all be if we could all remember to Beware of Garbage Trucks
by David J. Pollay
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he or she can get back and focus on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened:
I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.
So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? An d how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."
I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.
One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?
Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance , TAKE IT! If it changes your life , LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy... They just promised it would be worth it!
