♥ - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD 03/02/2013 - ♥

- AFTER A WHILE -

After a while 

you learn the subtle difference 

between 

holding a hand 

and chaining a soul.

and you learn 

that love doesn't mean leaning 

and 

company doesn't always mean security. 

And you begin to learn 

that kisses aren't contracts 

and presents aren't promises 

and you begin to accept 

your defeats 

with your head up 

and your eyes ahead

with the grace of woman, 

not the grief of a child.

and you learn 

to build all your roads on today 

because tomorrow's ground 

is too uncertain for plans 

and futures have a way 

of falling down 

in mid-flight. 

After a while you learn 

that even sunshine burns 

if you get too much 

so you plant your own garden 

and decorate your own soul 

instead of waiting for someone 

to bring you flowers. 

And you learn 

that you really can endure, 

you really are strong, 

you really do have worth 

and you learn...

and you learn... 

with every goodbye, 

you learn.

 

WHEN YOU TRULY CARE FOR SOMEONE,

YOU DON'T LOOK FOR FAULTS,

YOU DON'T LOOK FOR ANSWERS,

YOU DON'T LOOK FOR MISTAKES,

INSTEAD 

YOU FIGHT THE MISTAKES,

YOU ACCEPT THE FAULTS,

AND 

YOU OVERLOOK THE EXCUSES. 

~unknown~

"Your assumptions 

are your windows on the world. 

Scrub them off 

every once in a while,

or 

the light won't come in."

~Isaac Asimov

When love is lost, 

do not bow your head in sadness;

instead 

keep your head up high 

and gaze into heaven

for that is where

 your broken heart

has been sent to heal.

~ Unknown 

Have courage 

for the great sorrows of life

and patience 

for the small ones; 

and

when you have laboriously 

accomplished your daily task, 

go to sleep in peace. 

 

~Victor Hugo

"A lake 

is the landscape's most beautiful 

and expressive feature. 

It is Earth's eye;

looking into which 

the beholder measures the depth 

of his own nature."

 

~~ Henry David Thoreau

MY VISIT WITH EMMA SHORE

I went out for a stroll

one sunny day,

walking past a little house

along my way.

I felt a tug

to knock on the door,

I knew a lady lived there,

named Emma Shore.

I had never met this lady

face to face,

But I knew she lived there,

in this quiet little place.

The tug was stronger,

so I went to the door,

it opened before me,

and there stood Emma Shore.

Come in my dear,

she softly said,

I've never met you child,

but I know you've been led.

She invited me to her kitchen,

the table was all set,

I sat down with Emma Shore,

A lady I had never met.

She beamed a smile,

I will never forget,

reached out her hand,

As I silently wept.

Hush now child,

have no regrets,

God sent you to me,

You need not be upset.

I have waited for someone,

many a long day,

asked my dear Lord,

To send someone my way.

I asked Emma

why is the table set for two?

Were you expecting someone

to come visit you?

Emma looked at me,

with a tear in each eye,

Child, my time is short,

And I wondered why.

No one ever comes

to visit me,

So I asked the Dear Lord,

To send some company.

I know My Lord

would never fail me,

So dear child

He sent you here, now do you see?

Emma made us

a nice cup of tea,

she brought out some scones,

Just for her and me.

I had felt that tug,

many a time before,

but I was always so busy,

I rushed past her door.

Silently I prayed,

dear Lord forgive me,

for being so busy,

I could have passed right by Thee!

I left that day,

Filled with blessings galore,

No one could read that Bible

Like Miss Emma Shore!

She hugged me tight

as I left her place,

Come again dear child,

she said with a smile on her face.

But my time with Emma

was gone forevermore,

The next day in the paper I read,

Where God had called home, 

my dear Emma Shore!

I fell on my face

before the Lord and cried,

Dear God, do not let me

pass another one by!

Mary Ann Trott

February 23rd, 2013

A LITTLE WALK AROUND YOURSELF

When you're criticizing others

and are finding here and there

A fault or two to speak of

or a weakness you can't bear.

When you're blaming someone's

weakness

Or accusing some of self....

It's time that you went out

To walk around yourself.

There are lots of human failures

In the average of us all.

And lots of grave shortcomings,

in the short and the tall.

But when we think of evils

Men should lay upon the shelves

It's time we all went out

To take a walk around ourselves.

We need so often in this life

This balancing of scales.

This seeing how much in us wins,

And how much in us fails.

But before you judge another,

just to lay him on the shelf...

It would be a splendid plan

To take a walk around yourself.

Mo-Carameluscious Pie

Crust

1 Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust, 

softened as directed on box

Filling

1 Package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/3 Cup caramel topping

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon instant coffee granules

1 Tablespoon hot water

Cold milk (almost 1 cup)

1

Box (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding 

and pie filling mix

1 Container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, 

thawed (3 cups)

Additional caramel topping

2 Bars (1.4 oz each) chocolate-covered 

English toffee candy, coarsely chopped

• 1 Heat oven to 450°F. Bake pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell using 9-inch glass pie plate. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 
  
• 2 In small bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese, 1/3 cup caramel topping and the powdered sugar on medium speed until smooth. Spread in cooled pie crust.
• 
  
• 3 In 1-cup measuring cup, dissolve instant coffee in 1 tablespoon hot water. Add enough cold milk to make 1 cup liquid; pour into large bowl. Add pudding mix; beat with whisk until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups whipped topping. Spread over caramel layer. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours to chill.
• 
  
• 4 Before serving, remove plastic wrap and spread remaining whipped topping over top of pie. Drizzle with additional caramel topping. Sprinkle with chopped candy. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.