I AM GRATEFUL

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES

I Found a neat old book on our library's sale cart called Apples of Gold.

It is filled with wisdom and inspiration, all based on 

the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

I thought the following was especially relevant to these last 

2 weeks before the election. 

You can't control the length of your life--

but you can control it's width and depth.

You can't control the contours of your face--

but you can control it's expression.

You can't control the weather--

but you can control the atmosphere of your mind.

Why worry about things you can't control, 

when you can keep yourself busy by

controlling the things that depend on you?

COURAGE AND VALOR

A Polish Lady Named Irena Sendler

Click link above to visit the excellent website

Irena Sendler, born in 1910, was raised by her Catholic parents to respect and love people regardless of their ethnicity or social status. Her father, a physician, died from typhus that he contracted during an epidemic in 1917. He was the only doctor in his town near Warsaw who would treat the poor, mostly Jewish victims of this tragic disease. As he was dying, he told 7-year-old Irena, “If you see someone drowning you must try to rescue them, even if you cannot swim.” 

In 1939 the Nazis swept through Poland and imprisoned the Jews in ghettos where they were first starved to death and then systematically murdered in killing camps. Irena, by than a social worker in Warsaw, saw the Jewish people drowning and resolved to do what she could to rescue as many as possible, especially the children. 

Working with a network of other social workers and brave Poles, mostly women, she smuggled 2,500 children out of the Warsaw ghetto and hid them safely until the end of the war. Sendler took great risks – obtaining forged papers for the children, disguising herself as an infection control nurse, diverting German occupation funds for the support of children in hiding. 

She entered the Warsaw ghetto, sometimes two and three times a day, and talked Jewish parents into giving up their children. Sendler drugged the babies with sedatives and smuggled them past Nazi guards in gunny sacks, boxes and coffins. She helped the older ones escape through the sewers, through secret openings in the wall, through the courthouse, through churches, any clever way she and her network could evade the Nazis. 

Once outside the ghetto walls, Sendler gave the children false names and documents and placed them in convents, orphanages and with Polish families. In 1942 the Polish underground organization ZEGOTA recruited her to lead their Children’s Division, providing her with money and support. Her hope was that after the war she could reunite the children with surviving relatives, or at least return their Jewish identities. To that end she kept thin tissue paper lists of each child’s Jewish name, their Polish name and address. She hid the precious lists in glass jars buried under an apple tree in the back yard of one of her co-conspirators. 

In 1943 Irena Sendler was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death by firing squad. She never divulged the location of the lists or her Polish underground contacts. At the last moment she was saved by ZEGOTA which bribed a guard to secure her freedom. She still bears the scars and disability of her torture. 

After the war, the Communist government suppressed any recognition of the courageous anti-fascist partisans, most of whom were also anti-Communists. Irena’s story and those of other courageous Poles, were buried and forgotten. Her courage and resourcefulness were recognized by Israel in 1965 when she was awarded the Yad Vashem medal given to Righteous Gentiles who risked their own lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. In 1983 a tree was planted in her honor in Israel. But in general, the world was silent about Irena Sendler. 

Silence until 1999, when three Kansas teens uncovered Irena’s story. Liz Cambers, Megan Stewart, and Sabrina Coons (a fourth, Jessica Shelton, joined later), students at rural Uniontown High School were looking for a National History Day project. Their teacher, Norm Conard gave them a short paragraph about Irena Sendler from a 1994 U.S. News and World Report story entitled “The Other Schindlers” and they decided to research her life. 

According to the article, Irena Sendler smuggled 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto just prior to its liquidation in 1943. (An internet search turned up only one web site that mentioned Irena Sendler. Now there are over 300,000.) With the help and inspiration of their teacher, they began to reconstruct the remarkable achievements of this forgotten hero of the Holocaust. 

The three Kansas girls assumed Irena Sendler must be dead and searched for her burial site. To their surprise and delight, they discovered that she was still alive, 90-years-old, living with relatives in a small apartment in Warsaw. They created a play about her rescue efforts called Life in a Jar, which has since been performed more than 200 times in the U.S., Canada and Poland. 

In May 2001 they visited Irena in Warsaw and began a friendship that has inspired other Polish Righteous Gentiles to break their silence. The visit also made Irena's story known to the world, through the international press. They have visited Irena and Warsaw on four different occasions. Irena is now a Polish national hero and Poland is coming to terms with the painful legacy of the war and the Holocaust. Irena last visited with the Life in a Jar students on May 3, 2008. She passed away on May 12, 2008, at the age of 98.

Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

She lost. Al Gore won for doing a slide show on Global Warming.

WHERE OH WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

3 1/2  years old

11 1/2  years  Sept. 21  2008

3 1/2  years old

17 years old    Sept. 21  2008

Love For My Daughters

© Debra L. Cash

My beautiful daughters, I was blessed with two of you... 

You will never know how proud I am of all the things you do. 

You came into my world, so tiny and so small... 

And I was in awe at the wonder of it all. 

Then you placed your little hand in mine... 

There was no denying, my heart was yours 'til the end of time. 

I have watched you both throughout the years, laugh, cry and grow... 

And it is difficult to know, that someday I will have to let you go. 

I just can't imagine a day of my life without you... 

Because you're a part of me and my love for you is true. 

So just remember, no matter how old you are or where you may be... 

There's someone who needs you and loves you and that someone is me! 

Love, Mom

WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

I received this in an email from a friend yesterday. It sure makes

me sit up and realize how much I take for granted these days and

how grateful we should all be to the women that sacrificed so 

much for our rights. It is especially relevant this year as we witness

another strong woman making history. She has already proven herself

 as the governor of Alaska with a high approval rating by the people she 

governs and many successes in office, yet she and her family are being 

drug through the mud and personally torn apart by the media and 

political pundits because she is a woman that has dared to step up

and run for the second highest office in the land.

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; 

they lived only 90 years ago. 

Remember, it was not until 1920 

that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were 

jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying 

signs asking for the vote. 

(Lucy Burns)

By the end of the night in jail, they were barely alive. 

Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing 

went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted 

of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.' They beat Lucy Burns, chained 

her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for

 the night, bleeding and gasping for air. 

(Dora Lewis) 

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her 

head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, 

Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. 

Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, 

beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the 

women. Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, 

when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia 

ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned 

there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White 

House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water 

came from an  open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--

was infested with worms. 

(Alice Paul) 

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger 

strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and 

poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this 

for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press. 

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because- 

-why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? 

Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new 

movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle 

these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling 

booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the 

actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. 

Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. 

Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, 

saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk 

about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought 

kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 

'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, 

my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just 

younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The 

right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history, 

social studies and government teachers would include the movie in 

their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere 

else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, 

bu t we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think 

a little shock therapy is in order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade 

a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be 

permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor 

refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, & brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken

for insanity.' 

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so 

hard for us by these very courageous women. Whether you vote 

democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

HOW IS MY ATTITUDE TODAY?

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,

looked in the mirror and noticed 

she had only three hairs on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,

looked in the mirror and saw that she had

only two hairs on her head.

'H-M-M,' she said,

'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.'

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,

looked in the mirror and noticed

that she had only one hair on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going

to wear my hair in a pony tail.'

So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,

looked in the mirror and noticed

that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

'YAY!' she exclaimed.

'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

SMILES BRIDGE THE GAP

I will not wish thee riches nor the glow of greatness,

but that wherever thou go,

some weary heart shall gladden at thy smile,

or shadowed life know sunshine for a while

and so thy path shall be a track of light

like angel's footsteps passing through the night.

I leave you with a few of my favorite smiles...

A happy heart makes the face cheerful

Proverbs 15:13

I LIKE OLD THINGS

Well, I guess it sounds better if I say I like "vintage" things. If given the
choice between using something vintage or something brand new I will
almost always use the vintage item. Why? Because I think things were
made better in the past. There weren't machines to do ALL the work, so 

the human touch was required at some point along the way.

Plus (and this is a BIG plus) things were made to last. Items were made
with the idea in mind that you couldn't just run down to Walmart and
get another. You had to make do with what you had. This meant you had 

to learn how to fix it yourself or find someone that knew how. People

took pride in knowing how to do things. They took pride in producing

something worthwhile, something that had value.

My grandma had a sock darner made from wood. I told my younger
daughter about it the other day and she was fascinated. She couldn't
believe that you would actually mend an item like a sock that is so 

abundant & cheap that it takes up a whole aisle by itself in Walmart.

We talked about "the old days" and how different things were. I was
blown away when I learned that my grandma used to tat! Tatting was
the old way of making lace and delicate, decorative finishes for clothing
and household linens. A shuttle was used and a very light thread. Talk 

about intricate. And time consuming...oh my.

But what a cool skill to have! I would love to have talked with grandma
about tatting and what a treat it would have been to see her fingers in
action, twisting and turning the tiny threads into something so pretty.
I went to our state fair a few years back and was thrilled to see this
wonderful art form has not been lost. There were several women there
demonstrating how to tat and make lace. I was fascinated and I am
certain they wondered about the pest with the big grin on her face who
wouldn't quit asking questions and stayed through all 5 of their working
demonstrations.

I found this neat "vintage" box at an estate sale for pennies. The 

lady said  it was old trash and she didn't want it anymore. I liked it 

right away because it looks like it was from the 40's. It measures 

1 1/2" x 4 1/4",  the perfect size to fit just about anywhere. 

I opened it up...

and inside were rows of neat little colored cards. They were packed 

so tightly in there it was hard to pull one out. I managed to get one 

out and this is what it said...

Each one of these tiny cards have a different scripture verse and a short, relevant 

poem that follows it. Aren't they awesome? I think I may put these on the lazy 

susan in the middle of our dinner table and read a different one every night at 

dinner. God's Word--the best thing in the world to feast on.

Sometimes it seems to me like modern life is full of trash. It's not difficult to see 

the negative if that's all you are looking for. I say let's look for the treasures 

instead, even if it means seeing things a little different than usual...

This is what is growing across from our street's row of trash cans. 

I will miss it unless I turn away from the trash and look in the other direction.

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or 

praiseworthy—think about such things.

ATTITUDES

I checked out Robert Schuller's book  The Be (Happy) Attitudes from the library

this week. I enjoy his writing so much! He has a simple way of making everyday
problems seem surmountable as long as you are following God's principles.

My favorite book of the bible is Proverbs with all of it's wisdom and sage advice.
It always amazes me how the Bible applies to our 21st century lives as much as
it did when it was written so long ago. Matthew is also another favorite book of
mine and this is where you will find the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes,
statements by Jesus himself that are universal positive principles for effective living.

Dr. Schuller calls them the Be (Happy) Attitudes--isn't that awesome?

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3

I need help...I can't do it alone...I must learn to admit those areas in which I am
weak and to welcome constructive advice and help.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Matthew 5:4

Courage, calm, companionship...and compassion. Every good person who goes
though bad times develops a greater sensitivity. Good people turn their scars
into stars to help others.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5

Who are the kind people? They are the sensitive spirits. Happy indeed is the 

heart which is sensitive to another's insecurity. Loving is he who offers reassurance

to another's hostility, affection to another's loneliness, friendship to another's hurt,
and apologies to all.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they 

shall be satisfied."
Matthew 5:6

I really want to do the right thing! If you feel a positive, inspiring thought go
through your mind today, there is only one way to answer it: "Yes Lord."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
Matthew 5:7

I am going to treat others the way I want others to treat me! If you carry
somebody else's burdens, in the process you will discover the secret of
happiness.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matthew 5:8

Ask God to take your life, to heal the subconscious memories that hurt. 

Ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for your secret sins. Then ask Him to take 

your life and show you how you can be a part of something beautiful for God!

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."
Matthew 5:9

If we are to create peace in this world, we must understand what the issue really is.
It's not love versus hate, or peace versus war. It's love versus fear and insecurity!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for 

theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew:10

I choose to believe that God can settle the score in His way and in His time. I shall
be blessed knowing that my hurts, borne quietly, patiently and positively can be
turned into halos.

You may be asking...What is this pain? Perhaps it is the birth pang of a new 

attitude trying to be born!

COPING WITH STRESS

This is a very busy time of year for us. The weather plays such a huge part in what
we do and when, because of the nature of our business. Owning a home repair and
maintenance business means lots of outside work and when it's not raining my
husband is a happy camper!

But, we live in a rain forest. So we get lots of rain. The outside work still needs to be
done and if the weather prevents it there tends to be a lot of stress building up. Well,
that and the fuel going through the roof, food prices changing daily, the presidential
election coming up, war, health insurance, etc, etc.

I have been thinking a lot lately how fast time is going. I mean, doesn't it seem like
the clock has been sped up? I am constantly saying "wasn't it just Friday? wasn't it
just Tuesday?" I have been thinking that when we get this busy ALL THE TIME that
we miss the best part of everything, which is the journey itself. 

What good is it to be working yourself to the bone towards something if you make 

yourself so sick and tired getting there that you can't enjoy what you are working 

towards? What good is the end result if you can't remember anything good along 

the way because you were just so darn busy? Our kids are only young one time--

we don't get a do-over in that department. What if all they remember about growing 

up is how BUSY the family was?

I found a book in my library's for sale cart called Simple Abundance last week. Inside
are entries in a daily journal with excellent quotes and wisdom for seeking happiness
in the simple things. I skipped ahead to October 9th and the entry is called Coping
With Stress. Here is a list of simple things you can do inexpensively or free to keep
the stress level down in your home and life. You may have read these before, but
they are simple truths that you can start right this moment.

• Begin and end the day with prayer and reflection.
  
• Cultivate gratitude. (HUGE)
  
• Carve out an hour a day for solitude.
  
• Keep it simple.
  
• Keep your house picked up. (surprisingly important)
  
• Don't overschedule.
  
• Strive for realistic deadlines.
  
• Never make a promise you can't keep.
  
• Allow an extra half hour for everything you do. (Running late=STRESS)
  
• Create quiet surroundings at home and work.
  
• Go to bed at 9:00 twice a week. (your body's healing takes place at night)
  
• Always carry something interesting to read.
  
• Breathe--deeply and often. (this is a BIG one--try it)
  
• Move! Walk, dance, run, etc.
  
• Drink pure water--LOTS of it. (you're not sick--you're thirsty)
  
• Eat only when hungry.
  
• If it's not delicious--don't eat it. (try these 2--watch the weight fall off)
  
• Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal (God's idea)
  
• Laugh more often. ( the library carries I Love Lucy reruns!)
  
• If you don't love it, live without it. 
  
• Let Mother Nature nurture. (anyone for a walk by the ocean?)
  
• Don't answer the telephone during dinner.
  
• Stop trying to please everybody.
  
• Stay away from negative people.
  
• Don't squander your time and emotions.
  
• Nurture friendships.
  
• Don't be afraid of your passion.
  
• Approach problems as challenges to solve. (remember--breathe deeply!)
  
• Honor your aspirations.
  
• Set achievable goals.
  
• Savor beauty. (How many of us REALLY do this?)
  
• Create boundaries.
  
• For every "yes" let there be a "no". 
  
• Remember, happiness is a living emotion.
  
• Care for your soul.
  
• Cherish your dreams.
  
• Express love every day. (even dogs do this--why don't we?)
  

THANK YOU VETERANS

THE LAND OF PLENTY

I feel like we live in the middle of abundance! Everywhere I turn I see beauty and majesty.
There is wildlife galore, millions of green trees and unlimited sparkling, blue water. When
the sun shines I can't think of anywhere I would rather be!

We went today and shopped at Chelan. Since we live on island the produce and most of
the food that isn't seafood is trucked or flown in. Every 2 weeks during the spring and
summer the company we call Chelan arrives from a 3 day ferry ride with beautiful, fresh
produce. They are open Saturday and Sunday too, if they have anything left to sell. You do
not want to get there late or you will be disappointed. They have a large organic section
and the produce is always top-notch. Our grocery stores have a nice selection as well,
I am just not so sure that it is always this fresh. There are also 2 co-ops in town that
you can sign up for and have organic produce to pick up every week, but so far they are a
tad out of my price range at $50.00 for a small box. Today's beautiful bounty:

California strawberries--ruby red and amazingly good for not being summer yet. They
were immediately washed, mashed and poured over homemade waffles when we got home.
Avocados--5 for $5.00, which is less than the grocery stores and they were buttery and
yummy. The last ones I got at the store in town were brown inside--a lot of good that
does me for $2.99 a pound!
Cucumbers--I prefer the English cucumbers, but these were so fresh that they will do fine.
They were not bitter or squishy at all, so I was pleased.
Oranges--delicious! The people of Chelan are pretty smart--they walk around with fruit
cut up and feed you while you are trying to decide what you want. They got me with a slice
of these oranges.
Organic Romaine--my favorite. I could eat this every single day. The taste and texture is
unbeatable and when they are dark green and leafy they are just so full of vitamins!
On the vine Tomatoes--delicious and really pretty. They don't have quite as much flavor
as the ones from our garden last year, but then what would except tomatoes I grew myself?
Much better than the hothouse tomatoes in the store.
Cantaloupe--I haven't opened it yet, but it sure smells good.

Everything went together nicely into a HUGE salad for dinner with my homemade dressing.

Fishing for Dolly Varden about
5 minutes from our house at 7:00 pm. It doesn't get dark now until after 9:00 pm., with even
longer days to come soon. Can't wait!
The tide was so far out that
we were able to walk way out. The sea lions were playing around in the water, so full of
herring they really don't know what to do with themselves. Our forecast is for sun, sun,
sun this week and everyone is quite excited.

I SHOULD PROBABLY STOP WHINING NOW

PERSISTENCE: Noun;

Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite
of difficulty or opposition.

This is a neighbor of mine. I don't know which house he lives in and I don't even know
his name, but I see him every single day. He is elderly--he's got to be 90 if he's a day.
He pushes his walker with the American flag on it along the busiest road in town. The
sides of the road are not very even and there are rocks and gravel, so I imagine it is
quite difficult to push anything with small wheels.

He limps and his back is quite bent, so he must be in pain, but he is out there everyday,
rain, snow or shine (and the shine part is few and far between, let me tell you).  I saw
him walking with snow blowing and swirling around him and I was tempted to stop
and offer a ride in my nice warm car, but I think that would probably defeat his purpose.

I don't know if it is doctor's orders that have him out there walking or if it's his own idea.
What I do know is whenever I have aches and pains and am so tempted to start whimpering
and sniveling about them, I just think of my neighbor and I am grateful for the good health
that I have.