I've had a rollercoaster week. Started out very bad but has improved as the week gone on. As I've waded through the garbage, I've had a little mantra I keep saying to myself.

[color:"red"] [/color] I choose joy! [color:"red"] [/color]
[color:"black"] [/color] That's it. This is the one thing I can choose. I can be dragged down the or morass around me or do what I can for myself. I'm going to go outside on this beautiful day and listen to the birds sing, check the buds on my lilac bushes, take the dogs for a walk and breathe in the softly scented spring air.

Lately, I've been singing the words to an old hymn to myself. It's the same one they use in the movie Babe:

[color:"blue"] [/color] If I had words that I could sing for you,
I'd sing you a morning golden and blue.
I would make that day last for all time.
Give you a night deep in moonshine.

[color:"black"] [/color] Have a great weekend everybody. Life can suck but let's try to enjoy the things that we can make not suck.

My purple lilac trees are in full bloom, and the cherry tree is on its way. Our 40' tall Magnolia tree has lost its petals, but the tulips are popping out everywhere.

Spring is renewal. Bike riding with my 8 y.o. and pizza night. I choose joy too grape!

[color:"navy"]I love your upbeat attitudes, Grapegirl and Sleepless.

We only have ONE CHANCE to live on this earth and we might as well make the best of it and SMILE!

Have you ever heard this famous poem?
"It is easy enough to be pleasant when life flows by like a song.
But the man worthwhile is one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong."

Positive attitudes can make such a difference in our emotional well being!

It is a BEAUTIFUL time of year; let's enjoy God's Beauty.
(I work many many hours in my flower gardens every day, it nurtures my soul!)~lol~

And having a forgiving spirit makes us BEAUTIFUL with a radiant countenance. (Rather than a bitter pinched face!) <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Your thread, grapegirl, makes me want to bring to page one, Star's message of HOPE..."Risk being Happy without Him"

So I will bump it up.

Sincerely, Julie <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />