De-Stress Thursday

Why Teachers Drink
(Very funny and very sad at the same time!!)

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Happy Canada Day
For all my Canadian Friends!

De-Stress Thursday

Three friends on a fishing trip...of a lifetime!!

Live by what you love, not by what you fear.

De-Stress Thursday

Two Horses

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

Good friends are like that... You may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

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Huge thanks to Regina for sending this to me! HUGS!!

De-Stress Thursday: Noah the Dove

Noah the Dove

These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.
Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab center. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage.

Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage. But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage to everyone's surprise...there was the tiny bunny...under Noah's wing...sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a feather bed, no doubt to snuggling up with its litter mates!
Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak! It is beautiful and amazing to see.

Update!:
We are Bob and Georganne Lenham of Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas, home of Noah the Pigeon. After finding many posts online featuring Noah and the bunnies and reading about the many lives he has touched (his story has been forwarded around the world) we thought we'd post a follow-up and a few new photos.

We knew there was something special about Noah the moment we saw him. Although the bunnies seem to be his favorite, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch. Noah's first litter of bunnies, almost raised and ready for release.
Now, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the ranch. How wonderful it is to have a full-time soft-feathered nurturer here at the rescue ranch! He cuddles with all the babies as they snuggle under his warm feathers, and he "coos" as if singing them to sleep with a lullaby. Noah is truly, truly a God-send.

He will cover you with His feathers
And under His wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4

Do you think that YOU are too "broken" to have a mission in life? If a one legged dove who can't fly or do what he was "meant" to do, think of all YOU can do with your life - regardless of what you think is holding you back. Try to see obstacles as opportunities!! Remember...God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called!!
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Huge thanks to Regina for sharing this with me!

De-Stress Thursday

Here is your funny for today!!
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I've been making plenty of things lately, but I keep forgetting to take pictures of what I make!!! Ugh! I made special Valentine's for Bella and Thomas, but Thomas took his to work already.

This is Bella's!
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(Copied from Rachel's blog because I forgot to take pics of these too!!)Her Christmas card - done all in punches!

Her anniversary card

"Our" stamping anniversary card, lol!

Her birthday card!

One reason I'm stressin' lately!
See all these empty DVD cases??? Yeah, these are sold by Stampin Up and are fabulous for turning all your wooden block mounted stamp sets into UNmounted stamp sets. I even have the special cling too. Only problem is that it's a boring, tedious, time-consuming process and I hate doing it, lol!!!! BUT it must be done and the sooner the better. Anyone wanna come over and help??? ANYONE????
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These were a special order for a group of friends taking a trip to Paris! Imagine Paris with your girlfriends and no kids and no husbands!!! Shopping!!!!! Doesn't that sound really fun??
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This award is from Cynde at HipChic Designs (TOTALLY check out her etsy shop!). Thank you so much Cynde!!
Things that make me happy:
1. Things crossed off my "to do" list
2. Non-laundry days
3. International Foods cafe vienna coffee
4. Pecan sandies cookies
5. Bella's sleepy-time warm skin in the morning
6. Pedicures
7. Hobby Lobby & cash!
8. New stamps
9. RIBBON!!!!!
10. Friends who actually read the crap I write, lol!
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This award is from Tammy at Tammy's Two Cents! Thank you Tammy! I haven't known Tammy for very long but she is one super funny, super sweet lady and a very loyal commenter! You should definitely run over there and say hi! I think I'm supposed to do something with this one too but I'm too lazy to find out, so here's my list of things I find beautiful...
1. A baby sleeping
2. A beautifully set up dinner table
3. Sunrises
4. My wedding rings
5. My husband's green eyes
6. My favorite painting (shown HERE) - I have the print!
7. My craft center!!!
8. Fancy desserts
9. Quality pearls
10. Inbox full of comments (hint, hint!)
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Too funny not to share!
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I WON THIS!!!!!

I found this giveaway a mere hour before it closed and even though there were HUNDREDS of other people there ahead of me - I WON!! This quilt really wanted to go to Italy you see...
Huge thanks to Sweet Jeanette for this beauty!!
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Hey Lurkers!!!
I CAN SEE YOU!!!!!!
Isn't it about time you just left a comment??? You'll like it, honest!!