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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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Monthly Archives: July 2012
A Way to Teach History
I have included a story from CNN about teaching US history. I agree that it can be an outstanding way to teach US history. In light of the Olympics, a similar set-up could be used to teach world history. There … Continue reading
Summer Vacation when I Was 11 – Part 1
{If you click on the picture above you can see the Big Dipper :-)} The summer I was 11 we were still living in Winona, MN. My family had a runabout boat that was a 4 seater that was about … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged boat, camping, Faith, mississippi river, northern lights, summer vacation
14 Comments
Let Loveliness Live Rent Free in Your Head!
I don’t know about you, but I grew up hearing about the Power of Positive Thinking-type concepts. Some of these were written about in Norman Vincent Peale’s many books. Some were bandied about in my family and at school. Yet … Continue reading
Ripples: I’d Rather Be Happy
Have you ever skipped stones in a lake or river? Those of you have been to an ocean, have you ever skipped shells in the ocean? i would bet that almost everyone has at some point. When you do, each … Continue reading
Originally posted on Barefoot Baroness:
Hello my blogging friends – this is just for you: My friend and brother blogger and I have created a campaign of posting missing children alerts on our blogs to bring awareness to the children’s…
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
4 Comments
England and the Minpins
As I sit this evening and watch the opening ceremonies, I remember a book my son and I loved to read when he was young. It was called The Minpins and was written by the magnificent author Roald Dahl. In … Continue reading
A Poem to Uplift and Encourage: I Believe
Hooray it is Friday! Guess what? I have stuck with my health-endeavor for 31 days already! Woo-hoo! I was looking through some old cookbooks for new ideas today. In a cookbook written/compiled by a teacher from my alma mater (St. … Continue reading
Is There a Wall or Mountain in Your Way?
In trying to determine the possibilities and requirements for my mom, I have been thinking. In looking at doorways and entrances into rooms and making them wheelchair accessible, I have had to decide which walls are support walls and which … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged inspiration, lessons learned, rocks, stepping stones
14 Comments
Beautiful Bridges to Zoom Across
I am reflective today once again. Tomorrow is my birthday, and so it is appropriate for me to reflect upon the past year and look to my future. A year ago I was helping my son recover from an April … Continue reading
Strength For My Journey
It’s a new day filled with possibilities. I was able to keep things in perspective. Wednesday I will get info about equipment size requirements from my mom and bro. That little piece of information will help me narrow things down. … Continue reading
When De-cluttering Your Mind Don’t Hold On to the Wrong Things!
I am sure you have seen the programs, articles, or books about de-cluttering. You know the usual advice: “Separate into 3 separate piles what you are going to throw away, what you are going to give away, and what is … Continue reading
All I Ask Is A Tall Ship
I have posted this poem before. Forgive me for being repetitive. But you see, I find this poem to be reassuring, comforting, inspiring~and just so lovely. It is like parts of some movies that make yo smile so big and … Continue reading
Tiny things for God
”Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa. I think there is so much wisdom in that quote. It can be overwhelming to consider how to live your … Continue reading
A Tribute to My Husband
Today my husband deserves oh so much credit. In general he deserves more credit than he gets. Every day, without fail, he is in there pitching; without complaint, and without being asked. He just does what has to be done … Continue reading
The Lord is My Rock
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.” ~ Psalm 18:2 Hello and happy Friday to … Continue reading
I Like CSI, but GSI has real possibilities
From the time I was a kid I enjoyed mysteries. It was fun to try to solve them. I enjoy to this day a good crime drama or a good legal drama. I find them compelling. Since dissection was my … Continue reading
Deeply Rooted in Christ
“Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught”~ Colossians 2:7 People have asked me throughout my life how I have … Continue reading
Posted in Scripture
Tagged Courage, Faith, inspiration, perennial optimist, rooted in Christ, Scripture
22 Comments
Two weeks to form a new habit?
I have often heard it takes two weeks to form a new habit. It takes me longer than that to change my mindset. I have been on my lifestyle change in eating and exercising for 18 whole days. I have … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Health and exercise
Tagged Courage, exercise, Faith, inspiration
14 Comments
Joy Is My Oasis
I live in a desert city. Yet there are small man made lakes around the area. Seeing the water as I make my way around town refreshes me. I have always loved the water. I think my favorite water-based critter … Continue reading
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
It has been a reflective couple of weeks for me. I don’t know about you, but that seems to happen to me periodically. I go along for quite awhile full steam ahead. I take care of business as the expression … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, inspiration, Jesus, not all who wander are lost, relaxation, tolkein
22 Comments
Happiness and Grace
I think when it comes right down to it, happiness flows from God’s graces. When we walk with Him and listen to His loving, guiding voice, we stay close to Him. When we do that, we then endure whatever trials … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged boat with St Peter, Faith, Jesus on the beach, renewal of my spirit
8 Comments
Let’s Fly Away
In my quest for adventures of the heart and restorative moments, I am pretending to travel today. Perhaps I will fly to the coast of the US. Perhaps I will fly to Ireland. Either way, my imaginary day will end … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
7 Comments
Choose the Chance: Don’t Sit it Out
Does your energy ever run down by this point in the week? Do you start a week with great resolve and determination and then run out of oomph towards the end of the week? Heaven knows I have weeks like … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
9 Comments
Unflagging In My Determination Even After July 4th
Well, I am happy to say that I made it through a potluck gathering on the 4th and still stuck to my plan. Part of my dedication comes from the simple concept of keeping a written (in a notebook) log. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
17 Comments
The 4th of July: Lessons My Dad the Marine Taught Me
The 4th of July was a big deal in my family. Before breakfast we would “put the flag up”-the whole family would go out to the front yard, we would put up the flag and salute. (This morning I got … Continue reading
I Have Indeed Begun My Journey to Wellness
Ok—last week I posted about a watershed or re-directing moment. So I began. I sat down with one of those composition books that kids use in school. You know the type–some of that have a marbled black and white appearance, … Continue reading
Believe Anyway 