Good Morning, another day!

Good morning


I can not believe Easter is this Sunday. It sure doesn't feel like it with all this rain and no sun. The weather is suppose to change today, finally! Sun Sun SUN. After a while these rainy days get to me. I want to get out and play in the dirt! There is nothing like digging in the dirt and watching what you plant bloom into something so beautiful! I do plan to start my seedlings this week end. Not sure what i will be panting yet, I like a variety! Veggies and flowers, just not sure what kind.

Getting back to not feeling like Easter, I haven't even got my decorations out lol. I did out some out that were in my china closet , but have yet to get in attic and dig out the flowers and what ever else I have. I have a lot, as I LOVE Easter time. I time for new beginnings. The warmer weather is here , the days stay longer. Also it will be Jesus Resurrection. WOW where does the time go?? I need another couple weeks...please Hahahaha. I know not happening. See I get sick and get behind and then I can't catch up and then it is here!! Oh well, today is a new day and I can hopefully get into he attic today as i am feeling good, so far. I still can't believe it is Easter Sunday this week end. I will get to see my sons *big big smiles*. I usually have the family over, but things change. I moved and the trip is to long for mom and dad, so my brother had it last year. It was nice. This year things changed again, my niece's boyfriend has 2 small children and his x wife will not let him take them out of the State, they live in PA. SO My brother is having it Sat. WELL, my son is working Saturday, so I will not be going. It's hard not seeing my parents on a Holiday. I didn't;t get to be with them on Christmas either. I am grateful I do get to see them once a week and sleep over when I can. So Easter this year will be my son's and my Mother-in-law. Which is OK, nice and small and I will be able to make Church! YES! NOW the thing is, I need to stay well . That's the tricky part. I just have to take it day to day.
Today I am going to take my mother-in-law to the store to get her out for a while. I have to pick up some things for my son's baskets, my oldest son's girlfriend and her daughters. YES, you heard me I still make them baskets! I was hoping we would see the girls this Easter as well but they will be going to there side of the family.



I just checked the weather for today, High 63F. YES! I have so much to be grateful for, so I can't complain about Easter being different this year. That's how life is, there's always going to be change and it is how I handle it all that matters. I look for the positive now not focus on the negative!! I am very happy i will see my son's and that my brother will be able to see his daughter. I will see my parents the Tuesday after Sunday as my youngest son is coming with me to help his grandfather. My dad has odd jobs for him. SO I will get to see my one son on Sunday and then again Tuesday Yippee.
Well that's about all for now.
Have a wonderful day/night.
Remember there is always something to be grateful about!



God Bless, Prayers,Hugs and Love Donna
Count your blessings, and praise God.


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Serenity isn't freedom from the storm; it is peace within the storm.


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"No one understands the dark nights of the soul better than people recovering from life-threatening addictions.


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"I am more and more convinced that our happiness or unhappiness
depends more on the way we meet the events of life than on the
nature of those events themselves."
--Alexander Humboldt


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Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
----Denis Waitley


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Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
-----Marcel Proust


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Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-----Melodie Beattie


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Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed in the blank earth and the result thereof.
---Julie Moir Messervy


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May our heart's garden of awakening bloom with hundreds of flowers.
---Thich Nhat Hanh


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To learn the grammar of gratitude, practice saying "thank you" for happy and challenging experiences, for people, animals, things, art, memories, dreams.


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"Patience" and "passion" both come from the Latin word meaning to suffer or endure. These are just two of the gifts of this day.


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Change.....

*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day


When you come into an A.A. meeting, you're not just coming into a meeting, you're coming into a new life. I'm always impressed by the change I see in people after they've been in A.A. for a while. I sometimes take an inventory of myself, to see whether I have changed, and if so, in what way. Before I met A.A., I was very selfish. I wanted my own way in everything. I don't believe I ever grew up. When things went wrong, I sulked like a spoiled child and often went out and got drunk. Am I still all "get" and no "give"?


Meditation for the Day


There are two things that we must have if we are going to change our way of life. One is faith, the confidence in things unseen, the fundamental goodness and purpose in the universe. The other is obedience: that is, living according to our faith, living each day as we believe that God wants us to live, with gratitude, humility, honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. Faith and obedience, these two, will give us all the strength we need to overcome sin and temptation and to live a new and more abundant life.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may have more faith and obedience. I pray that I may live a more abundant life as a result of these things.



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Today I was at a meeting and we read the second part of Into Action. I shared about how grateful i am for Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 Steps, and the fellowship. I have not found such love and caring any where else!! I was so lost for so long and nothing helped me like AA has and still does. The Big Book have given me a design for living. I came to know a loving God in my life and to have faith and trust in Him. I try each day to the best of my ability to live my life with gratitude, humility, honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. I do fall short, some days more then others. But not as much as I use to.
I wake up , thank God for another day and ask for His help for the day. I also during the day talk to God, thanking Him for all He has given me. Also at night I take a look at my day and thank God for helping me for the good and the bad. I am so very grateful. I have to remember where I came from , where I am today and what I strive for tomorrow. Life is great, as long as I stay out of the way. Self pity can sneak right in on me if I let my guard down, which has happened a few times this past month, due to my health.
I had a long chat with a fellow AA member today and they shared how they also have to remember not to fall into self pity due their health issues and it is nice to know they are not alone and have others in the rooms they can talk to about it. I agreed. It isnt something I share during the meeting, but before and after. The meeting I try and share the solution of HOW I get through the tribulations of my day. Also that I do fall short and it is ok, I am human, and as long as I reconize it and change it next time.
Its all about my attittue and change for me and having a connection with God!


I am grateful today for;
another day
God's grace
God's beauty
my husband
my sons
my family
my friends
meetings
I can be there for others
for a clear head today!

Have a great night
God Bless
Peace, Hugs & Love Donna

Palm Sunday

Jesus at the Temple



12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers."


14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.


16"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"


17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

also Mark 11:12-19, Luke 19:45-48, Romans 19:11-16, Mark 11:12-19, Luke 2:27, John 2 14-22, Jeremiah 7:11, 2 Tim. 3:13, Psalms8:2, Matt. 25:31-32, 1Cor 6:19, John 17
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It was a great day today!!
I made it to Church YEA! I didn't stay for the lunch afterwards,as I am leary about eatting. I was able to dust and put out some Eater stuff, got some dishs out that i will need for Easter. After that I went down hill.....I did get a Chicken raost in oven before I started to feel to bad. I ened up taking a hour and half nap and was able to go eat but that was a mistake. I have been suffering since.
Above is the scripture we looked at in Church today. It was also nice to be clearheaded and be able to understand the sermon! So there were a lot positives today. I just keep praying that Drs will figure out why I can't eat plus the other things that are happening.
Well The race is on going to try and relax an hope the stomach will calm down enough so i can sit and watch my shows.
God Bless
Peace Hugs & Love Donna

Another day!

Was a great day! I felt good for one, my anxiety I've been feeling, past.

Jonny Lang, Brad Whitford (of Aerosmith)& his son

Eric Johnson


Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Thursday hubby & I went to see Experience Hendrix Concert. Featured artists who performed , Included some of the best known and most respected artists in contemporary rock and blues including Joe Satriani, Jonny Lang, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brad Whitford (of Aerosmith), Doyle Bramhall II, Ernie Isley, Living Colour, Double Trouble's Chris Layton, along with bassist Billy Cox. It was a great concert! I got some videos, not great but you can see who it is. I shot a lot videos and pics and then when Joe strain came out I realized i was out of space lol so in the dark I was trying to delete some of the other performers and wasn't really sure who as it was video and didn't have time to watch. SO I deleted some I wanted, Oh well. I didn't get to record the video I wanted of Strain but i got some with him and Living Color and then a group of performers. I got a great video of Jonny lang who I love, he also plays Christian music. We had a good time, but it was a latenight.
Friday I had such anxiety again which has been going on for a month now, so i gather I best tell the Dr. I was so glad I was able to make my noon meeting Fri. Friday night we went out to dinner for hubby's mom's 81st Birthday, his sister is down for a few days. I couldn't eat much but we had a good time. Of course we had them come sing to her , hehehehee My anxiety was super bad last night when we got home and I couldn't sleep . I had to get up early to go fill my commitment at my home group, picking up bagels, rolls & milk. I didn't stay for the meeting as i was going out shopping with my motherinlaw and sisinlaw. I did stay for the Father martin tape on Self Esteem, which was of course just what i needed!! Yes God is ALWAYS working! I also chatted with a few peeps before I headed home. By this time my anxiety had almost diminished, Yea! The day went by fast, we went to the mall. I stopped in at Build a bear, I had gift card from Christmas. I buy the outfits for my cabbage patch dolls, but plan to buy a bunny next time, as it was party day and crowed! I bought a Yankee outfit for the one doll and I bought some bunny ears and some Easter baskets for other dolls I have. NO I am NOT a Yankee fan, my youngest son is. I already bought a Met outfit for the other doll!! GO METS!!! ( Been watching a lot pre-season games) I also got a free gift an Easter basket with candy hehehehe, I will be using the basket for one of my son's girlfriends girls baskets. I picked up a few things in the amll to ut in the baskets. I LOVE EASTER

SO here I sit relaxing , no anxiety and pray it don't come back!! Will call Dr Mon, I think it is part of whats going on with me. I am going to speak at 8:00, it is only around the corner so i can just play on here till then.


Tomorrow I am hoping to make Church and then clean the house some. Got to take each day as it comes, as ya never know how i am going to feel anymore! Only God knows!!
MY gratitude for today,
Another day
God's Gracemy husband
my son's
my family
Life
AA
friends
God's beauty
make my commitments
SO have a great evening!!
God Bless
Hugs, peace & love Donna

Grateful

Goodmorning
What a bust week it has been . I felt good enough to go to my parents Mon into Tue. We went to a jazz concert,Frank Vignola Gypsy Jazz Mon night. My brother & his wife came as well. It was a great concert! OH-MY I was recording a set and in the middle of the song the band leader looks at me and stops playing and tells the band to get together for a group shot OH-MY I was so embarrassed!! lol I stopped recording and took a pic, which didn't come out as i was shaking from embarrassment! Hahaha......( I have 2 Videos at the bottom) Also a great 2 days. I was fatigued and my normal pain, but other then that OK. Took mom to her Neuro Dr check up. He's a good Dr, and I don;t like Dr's , so that's a great compliment lol. He spends time with you and makes sure all your questions are answered. The only down fall is he spends too much time and is always behind , so our 12noon appointment was at 2pm and we had to wait a hour so we got in by 3ish. By the time we got back it was 4:30 and i got my stuff and left for my 2 hour ride home. It was rainy and lots of traffic! I was by this time extremely fatigued and in lots pain, but I made it home. I no sooner got home and my stomach issue kicked in, so I spent the rest night pretty much in bathroom. I do get a lot reading done to look on the positive side.


Yesterday I didn't do much till I had to go for my EEG test at 6:30pm. Was nice to do nothing and rest. The test was a breeze, just had to sit in a chair and have all these electrode's hooked up to my head, which were attached with some kind gluey stuff. The only part that kind scared me was after i had breath in and out for a period of 2 to 3 mins and my whole body went numb! Felt like I had epidural. Took another 2 mins or so to get feeling back, wasn't sure that was suppose to happen and didn't think to ask. We didn't get to eat till 8pm and boy were we hungry! I had sauce cooking all day in slow cooker , so I made spaghetti and some garlic toast and we ate while watching Survivor. The I took my shower to wash the now caked in gluey stuff. I also got a headache from the test, due to the flashing lights. Oh well, I will find out results in a couple weeks.


Today is food shopping day and tonight we are going to see Experience Hendrix at the Count Basis Theater. My pain level is pretty high and my fatigue level is as well. The fog is there but not to bad right now. Its a beautiful day out! it's 9am and 43' going up to 60's, with some rain later. This is the warmest day of the week, and i am loving it! Life is really good! It doesn't mater that i am not well and things dint go the way i would like them to, what matters is my attitude about it all. So much is going on in the world, some recent issues that just want to make you scream, but I know there's nothing I can do to change it. I can't change the fact i am not a well person and I can't work. I want to work so bad. I miss it!! But I know in my heart I just cant hold one down. I am going to try for SS-DI, but who knows if I will get it. I can;t base my life on it. SO I have to live each day as it comes and find the good, the positive in it! No matter how hard it is some days to do that! I know God has a plan for me, so I try to stay out of the way, which isn't easy lol.
Well that's all for today
Make it a wonderful day!!


I am grateful for ;
another day
God's beauty
my husband
my son's
my family
friends
the little things


God Bless Hugs and Love Donna

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For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.
Isaiah 61:11
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Gratitude is beautiful to witness. When a person's eyes light up as they open a gift, the giver enjoys the experience as much as the receiver.
We appreciate gratitude, and so does the Lord. He loves to see His children rejoicing at His many good gifts.

Gratitude to the Lord can be cultivated. Imagine what your life would be like without the Lord's grace. Show the Lord that you appreciate Him by nurturing an attitude of gratitude.
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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17).
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Frank Vignola Gypsy Jazz





This is the one he stops playing and poses, I stopped the taping lol

To Achieve Your Dreams Remember.........

It's a rainy day here in NJ, but the sun is shining in my heart!

I am feeling better today, the flare seems to have lifted some . I am going to spend the night at my parents. We are going to a jazz concert tonight and tomorrow morning taking mom to her neurologist Dr. Since dad cut back on her new med she has been better with walking. This Parkinson's is a nasty, horrible illness!! It has stolen her life from us all and it breaks my heart to see her this way. She retired with honors as a 1st grade teacher . My dad and her loved to travel , and it didn't last long till he got sick with kidney cancer and her diagnose of Parkinson's. I will never forget that year as I went to live with mom for a year while dad was recovering. It was a year of change for us all! SO, I enjoy every moment I spend with them !! Dad is 86 and mom will be 79 this June.

I had a blog that i was going to share all picked out on Spring, but I got a phone call from a friend and as we chatted I looked up and saw the poster on my wall and read it to her. SO as i read it I decided to blog it. It is what we both needed to hear.

God is so awesome!! He is always putting things in front of me, if I am open enough to see them!! And I was this morning. As the first thing I saw as I sat down here was the forsythia tree across the street blooming and then while talking to my friend I saw the poster.
My son gave me this poster a few years ago , it helps me to remember what life is aabout!!

OK I am off , as I have a 2 hour ride ahead of me and I have to pack.

Have a wonderful Blessed day!
Peace, Hope & Love Donna


To Achieve Your Dreams Remember Your ABC's

Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits
Believe in yourself
Consider things from every angle
Don't give up and don't give in
Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come
Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches
Give more than you planned to
Hang on to your dreams
Ignore those who try to discourage you
Just do it
Keep trying to matter how hard it seems, it will get easier
Love yourself first and most
Make it happen
Never lie, cheat or steal, always strike a fair deal
Open your eyes and see things as they really are
Practice makes perfect
Quitters never win and winners never quit
Read, study and learn about everything important in your life
Stop procrastinating
Take control of your own destiny
Understand yourself in order to better understand others
Visualize it
Want it more than anything
Xcellerate your efforts
You are unique of all God's creations, nothing can replace you
Zero in on your target and go for it!

Good day all......

Good day all


I can't believe I went the wrong week AGAIN to speak , this is frustrating, but at least I stayed for the meeting ( I really wanted to be home in bed the way i am feeling) It was a great meeting !! I think God was working I heard just what I need to and found out a friend of mine from my Mon & Fri meeting lost his daughter, she was in her 30's. Car accident . He just lost his x-wife last month.


Hubby was at Card Show all day so it was quiet here. Its been a down day for me. Not mentally down but physically. I wasn't able to make church, this is 2 weeks now. I so miss it when i cant go, but it wasn't possible. I feel horrible. Seems my flare ups are worse then ever. I have anxiety now with them,a heaviness in my chest like someone sitting on it. A little scary but I am hoping to feel better tomorrow. If not, then I might have to call Dr. I just more or less slept the day away. Watched movies. Called my friends lady-friend to give my condolences and to let them know they are in my prayers. She wasn't home , but got back to me later and was happy I called and said they both are just taking it one day at a time. Its one of the most wonderful things about AA, true caring!! We talked a bit and she asked how i been doing as i haven't been at the meetings this week. I told her Dr's appointments and she said she is here for me if i need to yell, cry or just talk , I said same to her!! It's nice to know I am connecting with women here. I prayed about it , bout all I can do today.


This weather is beautiful!! Spring is here Yippee Puts a huge smile on my face. I did sit out on 3 season porch this morning and did my reading . I LOVE IT! I am cooking BBQ Chicken on grill, which i best go look on I ended up cooking and eating and glad this is still here. My friend Tina just called, always great to here from her! We both have come along way! true friendship !




Well that's about all for now. going to go play my games over at face book.
Have a great rest of the day/night.
Is grateful for;
another day!
friends
my hubby
my sons
family
computer
books
and knowing no matter what God is alwasy with me!
God Bless, peace and love Donna

Plans don't always work out.....

Thank you God for another day!


It was a pretty busy week, and it has caught up with me, just like I knew it would. Can I change it? No. What i can do is accept it, which isn't easy, so I ask God to help me!


I had the day planed and it isn't going to work out like I wanted it to.I left the house knowing I wasn't feeling good, but I was hoping it would pass after my meds kicked in. I picked up the bagels rolls, and the other stuff I needed and when I got to the meeting I realized I was in a flare. I got the part of the meeting I was suppose to set up and then went and watched the Father Martin tape on the 12 Steps. Our meeting runs a tape each week from 9 to 10, when the meeting starts. We get a lot of new comers and Joe, the guy who runs the tapes states to look past the priest who is sharing and see the man who is sharing about this disease. To listen to the message, take what you need and leave the rest. I just love this commitment as i am really enjoying the videos! I usually get there early, but I was the greeter so I wasn't able to watch them. Well the meeting ended and I was feeling worse then when I came in *sighs*. There goes the plans we made. I knew in my heart there was no way I was going to be able to go to the ballpark, then to the shore and make the speaking commitment tonight. So when i got in the house before I was able to tell hubby how I was feeling he mentioned that it wasn't going to be as warm as they said and I said well i am sick again so it doesn't matter. As I dropped to the couch the tears weld up in my eyes, as YES US ALCOHOLICS are VERY sensitive people! We both had a long week of Dr's & tests and were looking forwards to going to the beach and relaxing and getting some sun. Set myself up! It's life, things happen and plans change! It is how I handle it that counts. So, I got up ,changed my clothes, got my computer and came out here in the 3 season porch , opened the windows and just going to lay low, take a few naps and be ready to go to the speaking commitment tonight, which is just around the corner , Thank God!! It is important to keep my commitments as I know in the old days I would have gone to the liquor store. I am so not about that today! Thank God! I have so much to be grateful for and I am!


So That's it for now, have a great day!!


Hugs, Prayers &; Blessings Donna
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A.A. Thought for the Day


A.A. also helps us to hang onto sobriety. By having regular meetings so that we can associate with other alcoholics who have come through that same door in the wall, by encouraging us to tell the story of our own sad experiences with alcohol, and by showing us how to help other alcoholics, A.A. keeps us sober. Our attitude toward life changes from one of pride and selfishness to one of humility and gratitude. Am I going to step back through that door in the wall to my old helpless, hopeless, drunken life?




Meditation for the Day


Withdraw into the calm of communion with God. Rest in that calm and peace. When the soul finds its home of rest in God, then it is that real life begins. Only when you are calm and serene can you do good work. Emotional upsets make you useless. The eternal life is calmness and when you enter into that, then you live as an eternal being. Calmness is based on complete trust in God. Nothing in this world can separate you from the love of God.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may wear the world like a loose garment. I pray that I may keep serene at the center of my being.
                                                            from the book ;Twenty-Four Hours A Day