Mermaids of the Lake Blog

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom is such a special word.
The loveliest I've ever heard.
A toast to you
above all the rest.
Mom, you are so special,
you are simply the best!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

A time to pray...

For the families and friends of the people killed or injured in the air show crash in Reno, Nevada, today is a time to weep, a time to mourn, a time to embrace, a time to love... For those of us hearing about this tradedy it is a time to weep, a time for compassion, to collectively hold them up. A time to PRAY! Our hearts go out to everyone involved...

 
As For everything there is a season,
And a ...time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Remembering and feeling sad...

September 11, 2001

This is a day we wish could forget because the horror of it is unimaginable, a nightmare, a grotesque fact of our human history. Yet, in our remembering we honor the 1000's of lives lost, the courage of the heroes, the pain of the grieving families, the terror of the people who lived through it. We honor freedom and love and peace. We honor the men and women who sacrifice everything in the name of FREEDOM. And, we honor God because in our pain and confusion, we seek our Heavenly Father for comfort. ~Debbie and Shelley

 
 
"Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew." ~President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001

 

Today Pink Saturday is dedicated to remembering too. Please visit Beverly of How Sweet the Sound to view all the heart-felt remembrances. 

Happy Labor Day!

 

By Mermaid Debbie

Do my fellow Americans really know why we celebrate this day? Some still view Labor Day as the fashion marker of when to stop wearing white. "Thou shalt not wear white after Labor Day." Or, "One can wear white after Labor Day, but it must be winter white."

In our neck-of-the-woods Labor Day is the last weekend before school starts, the last hoorah of summer. Our little lake will most likely be busier than normal, the sounds of jet skiis, boats, and people shouting, "hit it!" as the boat pops them out of the water for a spin on water skiis or wake boards. There will be sounds of joyful laughing and screaming as children and adults are whipped around the lake on tubes. The fresh air will be scented with steak, burgers, and hot dogs sizzling on the grill. As evening rolls around we may hear laughter and voices and the occasional "pop" of a campfire. The scent, bittersweet as we know this is the last weekend of summer.

 

In most towns there will be festivals and parades, backyard barbecues, and in general, people gathering to celebrate - what?

 

Did you know that Peter McGuire, an Irish-American cabinet maker and pioneer unionist, is the Father of Labor Day? In May of 1882 he proposed a day dedicated to all who labor.

"Let us have, a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry."

 

The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York. It became a federal holiday in 1894, with 30 states celebrating. However, Oregon was the first state to celebrate Labor Day as an official holiday in 1887.

 

Wikipedia says: Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 5 in 2011) that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.

 

A fun, safe and wonderful Labor Day to all!!!!

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please be with the people and animals in the path of Hurricane Irene. Please send multitudes of angels to guide and protect every living creature through the storm. Please surround the cities, towns, country-sides and shores with the bright, white light of the Holy Spirit. ~Amen

 

Happy Independence Day!

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

 
 

 If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Thank you, Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday!

Memorial Day 2011, Remembering, Thanking...

They fell, but o'er their glorious grave
Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.
~Francis Marion Crawford

 

An attitude of gratitude

By Mermaid Debbie

Webster's Dictionary defines gratitude as "The act of being grateful; thankfulness."

Being grateful is a simple act, and yet so many people find it difficult. Our world seems to be moving faster and faster, and our constant access to the media doesn't help. To be in a state of gratitude is to be content, even if for just that moment. Being grateful makes us feel better about ourselves and each other. Being grateful makes the happenings in the world and our lives easier to handle.

Several years ago, while going through a difficult time in my life, I took
Oprah's advice and bought a blank journal to record the things I was grateful for. Boy, some days it sure was hard to come up with anything to write in my "Gratitude Journal." However, I found that by going through the process of thinking about what was good, I actually began to feel good. I remember one day when I felt so sad and burdened that all I could come up with was, "I am grateful that I am not constipated!" Well, it counts because in my mind that is something to be grateful for! Most days I can make a really long list, but on a day when life feels overwhelming I simply remember to be grateful for the small things.

Take a few moments each day to jot down things that you are grateful for. Here are some examples of what I am grateful for:

A beautiful sunset
The right to vote
Food on my table
Good coffee
The smell of good coffee
Chocolate
Generous, kind friends
A sunny day
A rainy day
My husband
My healthy children
Green grass
The scent of freshly mown, green grass
My pets
Flowers
The smell of lavender
A wildlife sighting
The sound of children laughing
My community
Leaves rustling in the breeze
Waves lapping on the shore
Beautiful scenery
Wonderful supportive parents

After a few weeks of following this routine, you will feel better. Some experts say that feeling grateful even brings about physical changes, such as sleeping better, having more energy and a general feeling of contentment.

I am grateful for this wonderful venue to express myself and
inspire others. I am grateful to be working with two of my wonderful friends,
Shelley and our new Mermaid, Chrissy, who are both kind, good women.

A special gift from a special friend

By Mermaid Debbie

March 8th- I woke up with thoughts of my friend; my dear, special friend. It was her birthday, her special day, a day that I celebrate, not just because I love her, but because she has survived cancer. I love the TV promos with the stars singing Happy Birthday to you to raise funds for cancer research. I get a tear every time I hear them!

My friend went through a very, very difficult time. She was paralyzed by blinding fear, and the treatments were extremly painful and dehabiliting. She was a trooper and managed to keep me and her Doctors in fits of laughter with her sense of humor, but oh..... it was bad for her. Makes me weep just to think of her suffering.

My dear friend is a talented, beautiful, elegant, tough, yet gentle soul. Her treatments were such that visiting much, either in person or by phone were difficult, even though we live so close... I knew exactly what to do.

I sat down and wrote her a whole pile of special-friend love notes; heart-felt words of encouragement, friendship, strength, and support. I went shopping and bought little gifts- things to brighten her day and let her know I cared. I wrapped them pretty, sealed each note, and filled a beautiful box with all of the gifts. I call this box a Comfort Box. I have given Comfort Boxes before to friends going through tough times. I have even sent one to a far-away friend just because.

The idea is to fill the box with love and reminders of friendship, to give a person little moments of JOY to let them know they are loved and thought of. They can open a gift or note a day, or whenever they need the lift.

True friendship is the big things, the little things, and everything inbetween. Letting our friends know we love them and think of them, whether near or far; in times of illness, stress, crises, or in times of celebration and joy is all part of being a friend.

This year, on her special day- her birthday, do you know what my friend did? She sent me the most beautiful bouqet of flowers, with a big Thank You balloon and a note saying, "On my birthday, I send you flowers to say thank you for getting me this far."

I am blessed!

 
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.  "Pooh!" he whispered.  "Yes, Piglet?"  "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw.  "I just wanted to be sure of you."  ~A.A. Milne

The March/April issue of our Mermaids of the Lake e-zine is all about friendship. Come over and visit, have fun, and be inspired to gather your friends close to your heart. We are also linking up with Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for PINK SATURDAY!