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All content on this blog is copyright protected.~ask permission to use my content (including re-blogging)Margaret Barry Settlement House
I am a perennial optimist
I Am Becoming the Me I Was Born To Be
As I journey through this part of my life I have discovered my next mountain. The key is to be the me I want to be in the world, as my gift back to God.-
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Smiling Jesus: by Frances Hook
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Tag Archives: Life
Every day is a miracle
“You either live your life like every day is a miracle or you live your life like nothing is a miracle. And I believe that. And I’m a happy guy.” ~ Robert Herjavec I love that statement. Think bout that. If … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, inspiration, Joy, Life, looking at life, overcast days
6 Comments
Whistling Once Again–774 days
I began this blog at the behest of my friend Dana. Shortly after Christmas in 2010, I was stricken with Bell’s Palsy. The right half of my face became paralyzed. Gradually some of it came back, but some of it … Continue reading
He Loves Me Despite the Fact
So don’t be discouraged. Dust yourself off, and get up, and keep trying. You may not see it, but you are improving. You may not be improving as quickly and steadily as you desire. But what He desires (and the … Continue reading
A Thing Created Is Loved
““The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.” ― Charles Dickens In our lives we construct and … Continue reading
Remember the Humble Carrot (part 2 of 2)
In my last post I started talking about spunk. I mentioned Spunk Transplants. By that I mean helping my students find their “inner spunk”. I believe that we are each hardwired to have a well of spunk to draw upon … Continue reading
Remember the Humble Carrot (Part 1 of 2)
I woke up this morning thinking about spunk. What is spunk? Spunk is having your “game on”. It is stepping out there on the stage that is your life, even if you are in the grips of stage fright. It … Continue reading
An utterly charming man
My first encounter with a celebrity occurred when i was in London while I was in college. My friend and I had purchased discount tickets to see the play Harvey starring Jimmy Stewart. The play was terrific and so was he. … Continue reading
Is this your Season of Grace?
When we put off what God has told us to do, we miss that season of grace. But, if you’ll deal with things as soon as God brings them to light, you’ll have a special grace, a special empowerment. You’ll … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, Friendship, inspiration, Life, relaxation
13 Comments
When Life Is Difficult
I have been pondering the shifting sands of life lately. I have given a lot of thought to new directions and paths. I have come to realize, no I have come to remember something important about myself. Perhaps it is … Continue reading
Tell Me: Would Shakespeare Agree?
Here we are, just a third of the way through January. It is even chilly in Phoenix! But, you know what? We are already through the shortest day here in the northern hemisphere. I am feeling renewed, and my students … Continue reading
Only He Can See : Epiphany
Boy it is hard to believe that sometimes, isn’t it? I don’t know if you know about Corrie Ten Boom. She survived a concentration camp as a young girl. so for her to say that is quite significant. For her … Continue reading
Ahead and Behind
C.S. Lewis wrote “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind”. Isn’t that an appropriate statement as we begin a new year? I thought so. The past year has been a series of mountains and valleys. A … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged c s lewis, Faith, inspiration, Life, new dreams
16 Comments
God Isn’t Finished With Me Yet
When I started this blog in 2011 at the urging of my dear friend Dana, I didn’t know how it would go, what my purpose was, or what my focus would be. Of course, that has NEVER stopped me from … Continue reading
What will be your opus?
Here comes 2013. What music did you make with your life this year? “sing, sing a song…make it simple to last your whole life long….don’t worry that it’s not good enough for everyone else to sing….just sing, sing a song!” … Continue reading
Happy New Year! Whenever One Door Closes I Hope One Door Opens
Are you like me? Does the end of the year make you reflective? Are you a list maker and a list reader? I am. At year’s end I think of the long and winding road of the year that is … Continue reading
In Honor of Families
Sunday was the Feast of the Holy Family~ I am posting this wondrous sermon about families…..may your family be blessed in the new year: FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY It is tempting –and easy– to dismiss the humanity of … Continue reading
Thanksgivings through the years
Do holidays and other occasions make you reflective? They do that to me! Thanksgiving holds so many memories for me. When I was in elementary school, Thanksgiving and Christmas were frequently spent at my grandparents homes. In those days there … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, Faith, holiday traditions, inspiration, Life
14 Comments
What Kind of Year Are You Having? Changes or Staying the Course?
What Kind of Year Are You Having? Have their been changes or are you staying the course? There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ~ opening line of Chapter 3 of Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, God, Life, year that answers questions
22 Comments
Pondering Friday and the Week Ahead
I am so glad it is Friday. This has been both an important week for me. Some students had breakthroughs, and some rushed pell mell into more hiding from excellence. Yet the week rushed by. I have only two students … Continue reading
If You Get the Chance to Sit it Out or Vote: I Hope You Vote
We have heard SOOO much about the “swing states” for the past few months that many of us are ready to scream. Those of us who live in non-swing states at times feel that our vote is irrelevant, and that … Continue reading
Posted in Health and exercise, politics
Tagged i hope you vote, Life, my vote is my voice, politics, rights, sit it our or dance, swing on a star, swing states, vote
2 Comments
Seedlings and Sunflowers
Do you remember the movie or play Fiddler on the Roof? If you do, perhaps you fondly remember the song Sunrise, Sunset. Do you remember the villagers walking along singing, the screen filled with candles? The song is sung By … Continue reading
Many Gifts But the Same Spirit
This little quote in the photo speaks volumes to me. It is so easy to compare oneself negatively to what is often considered ideal by “the world”. Often, only a certain category of skills, accomplishments, talents, or physical appearance is … Continue reading
Endure the Test: Become HIS jewel
Many days we are tested, aren’t we? I don’t know about you, but there are definitely times when I grumble about undergoing hardships, difficulties, and life-tests. I grumble even though I know that enduring and overcoming tests gives me strength … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, grace, inspiration, Life, proper perspective
7 Comments
Sometimes you have to be adventurous
I sometimes think that having an adventure must involve extraordinary effort (like mountain climbing), or a long and perhaps expensive trip. But life itself is truly an adventure. When you stop and think about it, each time we head out … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Courage, inspiration, Life, perennial optimist
12 Comments
What Do You Think of This GPS? You May Be Surprised!
It has occurred to me that stress is not an automatic condition. For years I have felt stressed out and overcome by challenges and difficulties. I don’t mean all the time, but boy have I felt extremely overcome at times. … Continue reading
You Can’t Start the Next Chapter
That is certainly the truth, isn’t it? This summer I have focused on making some major changes. As I expected, making changes in my approach to my own health has removed some clutter from my mind at the same time. … Continue reading
