SPARKS and Teaser Reminder

It’s Monday and time for SPARKS.  What’s SPARKS???   You all know that Annie of McGuffy’s Reader – who started SPARKS – was hacked and has been on an extended break from blogging although her idea to spread some inspiration on Monday of every week goes on.   Many of us who participated in her SPARKS Blog Hop and found value in sharing a thought on Monday continue doing that to hopefully give each other a “Monday boost” – perhaps something to think about to inspire us in the week ahead OR help us deal with something that’s on our mind.    Why not join us by sharing something that SPARKS you?   It might just start a spark in us too.

I saw this wonderful quote and thought it was an absolutely TRUE and CLEAR statement.    I guess we just need to remind ourselves of that from time to time?

I might have learned this one the hard way…………but I think that maybe I indeed HAVE learned it.

Happy Monday!    Pam

P.S.   Professor Teddy asked me to remind everyone that tomorrow is Teaser Tuesday and you’d better be ready for class – surprise time – remember to comment when you arrive!!

SPARKS for Monday

It’s Monday and time to share a SPARK for the week!    What’s SPARKS???   You all know that Annie of McGuffy’s Reader – who started SPARKS – was hacked and has been on an extended break from blogging although her idea to spread some inspiration on Monday of every week goes on.   Many of us who participated in her SPARKS Blog Hop and found value in sharing a thought on Monday continue doing that to hopefully give each other a “Monday boost” – perhaps something to think about to inspire us in the week ahead OR help us deal with something that’s on our mind.    Why not join us by sharing something that SPARKS you?   It might just start a spark in us too.

While looking for a spark to share about listening – something some of us THINK we do but maybe not as well as we could – I saw this great quote from Winston Churchill.    It says what I wanted to say so I’ll share it, then go about my Monday!

Yep – that sums it up!   Happy Monday!   

Love, Pam

SPARKS on Monday

What’s SPARKS???   You all know that Annie of McGuffy’s Reader – who started SPARKS – was hacked and has been on an extended break from blogging although her idea to spread some inspiration on Monday of every week goes on.   Many of us who participated in her SPARKS Blog Hop and found value in sharing a thought on Monday continue doing that to hopefully give each other a “Monday boost” – perhaps something to think about to inspire us in the week ahead OR help us deal with something that’s on our mind.    Why not join us by sharing something that SPARKS you?   It might just start a spark in us too.

My SPARK today just might be popping into my head because next month I’ll be turning 72.    That’s not a bad age – frankly because when I was very young I had this feeling that kind of stuck with me that I would float off to heaven at age 62 due to some kind of accident.   Well that didn’t happen thank heaven but 72 is sneaking up on me and I honestly – truthfully – am not freaking out about that.   I’m HAPPY to be alive.   I’ve had serious health issues which probably have led me down the “grateful to be here” road but mostly I’ve been a very positive person.    That helps a lot when facing the aging thing.

I found this simple quote……………and it totally speaks to me.    Maybe it will speak to you too.    A lot of you are a long way from even thinking about aging – I know that – but one day it will be on your mind!

Anyway, that’s what matters…..not the wrinkles or gray hair – it’s the soul!

Love and have a Sparkly week!

 

P.S.   Calling all Teaser Fans – Professors Angel Sam and Teddy wanted me to remind you class is tomorrow!   Be purrrpared for the Teaser post to pop into your inbox at a surprise time…….hopefully it will be an easier photo to figure out than last week.   I said HOPEFULLY – there are no guarantees on Teaser Tuesdays!

 

 

SPARK for Monday & Teaser Reminder

What’s SPARKS???   You all know that Annie of McGuffy’s Reader – who started SPARKS – was hacked and has been on an extended break from blogging although her idea to spread some inspiration on Monday of every week goes on.   Many of us who participated in her SPARKS Blog Hop and found value in sharing a thought on Monday continue doing that to hopefully give each other a “Monday boost” – perhaps something to think about to inspire us in the week ahead OR help us deal with something that’s on our mind.    Why not join us by sharing something that SPARKS you?   It might just start a spark in us too.

I have a really great SPARK today.   I guess over my many years I finally DID learn this but it took time……….they say many of the best things in life take time to learn.

Have a wonderful week ahead everyone!!

Hugs, Pam

P.S. for Teaser Class Fans – remember tomorrow is Teaser – surprise time – guess where the photo was taken……….it’s a MAJOR TOUGHIE this week.    Just remember that when you arrive tomorrow – COMMENT FIRST.    OK?   OK!   The Professors will look for YOU in class!

YES WE WILL…….Angel Sammy and Teddy

Monday SPARK

What’s SPARKS???   You all know that Annie of McGuffy’s Reader – who started SPARKS – was hacked and has been on an extended break from blogging although her idea to spread some inspiration on Monday of every week goes on.   Many of us who participated in her SPARKS Blog Hop and found value in sharing a thought on Monday continue doing that to hopefully give each other a “Monday boost” – perhaps something to think about to inspire us in the week ahead OR help us deal with something that’s on our mind.

Our SPARK today is sort of a reminder to us that when life doesn’t go “our way” – that’s not necessarily a BAD thing!

One door closes and another one opens.     Sometimes what we thought would be our future doesn’t turn out that way so we find a NEW future.    I like this quote a lot…….it speaks to me and maybe it will speak to you too?

Monday Hugs, Pam

A P.S. Message from Teddy:    Teaser Fans – don’t forget – tomorrow is Teaser Tuesday – post up at a surprise time – it’s a GUEST TEASER PHOTO!   Be ready to comment first thing………..see you at school.

Junior Professor Teddy

Monday SPARK and A Reminder

I’m back to SPARKING on Monday instead of having a Teaser preparation class.   What’s SPARKS???   You all know that Annie of McGuffy’s Reader – who started SPARKS – was hacked and has been on an extended break from blogging although her idea to spread some inspiration on Monday of every week goes on.   Many of us who participated in her SPARKS Blog Hop and found value in sharing a thought on Monday continue doing that to hopefully give each other a “Monday boost” – perhaps something to think about to inspire us in the week ahead OR help us deal with something that’s on our mind.

I think it’s always good to start your week out with an uplifting or inspiring thought…..then I “use” it as my weekly theme and keep it at the top of my mind all week long.    If you know me, you know that I talk a LOT about being positive and what that can do to your life if you can LIVE within a circle of positivity.   Not always easy I know but I really do try VERY hard to stay positive.   Here are a couple of things:    one is just a SAYING and the other a “visual” of letting go of negative and watching positivity take over.

I love the graphic with the barbed wire transforming into a dove………..and I truly DO believe that if you can’t live in POSITIVITY if you have a negative mindset.    The key is recognizing that and acknowledging it……then you can change it!

Happy Monday………..

Hugs, Pam

Teaser Class – remember tomorrow is TEASER TUESDAY and the post will be at a surprise time!  

BE READY to guess where the photo was taken.  

Professor Teddy

Thankful and Poetic Thursday

YAY!   Thursday and time to be thankful and let everyone know WHY.    Want to join in this great Hop Brian hosts?   Good – just click his badge above and link up!    Tell us what you’re thankful for.

As for me – I’m thankful that Mom chased the red fox away that was practically sitting on my front porch this morning WAITING for some tender morsel (like me for instance) to come outside.   Well, first of all I never go out alone – I’m with my Mom and Dad or both…..second of all I’m thinking it knew that we sometimes feed the wandering kitties in our neighborhood first thing in the morning and thought it would wait around.    NOPE!   Instead, Mom yelled at it and off it ran.    We rarely see them during the day – this was at 4AM so it was still dark out.    THANKFUL?  Oh yes indeed I am!

I’m also quite thankful that Angel Sammy sent me his email with his weekly poem AND a new photo to inspire us for NEXT week’s Poetry Day.

♥♥♥

It’s POETRY time!!!

I love spending a little time with all of you on Thursdays sharing poetry based on a photograph.   Lovely to our our imaginations RUN isn’t it?   I hope you wrote a poem this week – did you?  If you did, let us know you wrote one and give us your link in our COMMENTS.   We will visit and read yours!     My Mom says she got a lot of email about the photo for this week – everyone thought it was really darling.    Well, I have to admit, even though I personally think baby kittens are adorable, I also think baby people are too.    These two little ballerinas inspired me.   My poem follows the photo:

“Tiny Dancers”

Poem by Angel Sammy Kimmell   April 24, 2019©

Tippy toes on tiny feet

Tiny dancers oh so sweet

Maybe one day they’ll be ballerinas

Or play an instrument like a concertina!

Maybe they’ll be President or possibly Queen

Or any number of possibilities in between….

The world is their oyster as it was once ours

As long as they stay out of ivory towers

We start out our lives with endless choices

As long as we listen to the “right” voices.

Tippy toes girls have their whole lives ahead

But for now dance class is over and it’s time for bed!

 

These little girls are so darling.   My Mom remembers when she was “forced” to take ballet and tap dancing at the same time.    Her only gripe really was that she was the tallest girl in both of those classes.   That meant her teacher ALWYAS stuck her in front of everyone else when they had performances.   At least she didn’t stick out like she would in the middle of the back row (which is where she would prefer to have been!).    She was lanky, gawky, skinny as could be, but not a half bad dancer in either discipline.   The point is, it wasn’t HER idea to take the classes but her Mom’s.   It’s only in hindsight that she realized her Mom wanted her to have every opportunity to find her “bliss”……………the closest she came to finding it was when her Mom made her take riding lessons – but that didn’t last long – – – she enjoyed that a whole lot but they moved after less than a year of class and when they moved it was somewhere there were NO riding opportunities.    The point is, it’s important to TRY THINGS……….you have to find YOUR “bliss”.     These two little ballerinas in the photo look like they are having fun even if they have NO IDEA why their Moms dressed them up like tiny dancers!

Here’s your photo to use for NEXT week’s poetic inspiration……………………I hope you’ll join us in writing a poem about the photo!

Wow…..well, this ought to be a fun one to write a poem about………mother nature is awesome.    

I hope you all have a great week ahead and I’ll look forward to seeing you AND your poem next Thursday!    Come on – join  me – you’ll truly have fun if you let your imagination take over your fingers on the keyboard and write a poem!

I am the Angel Poet in the green beret…..and I hope you join me for POETIC FUN each week!

Love always, Angel Sammy

♥♥♥

Thank you for visiting us Angel Sammy.    I will look forward to seeing you in my dreams AND to reading your poem next week……………………….I love you.

Hugs, Teddy

SPARKS on Monday

It’s Monday and time to start things off with an inspirational quote which was the original idea behind SPARKS.    It was the brain-child of Annie of McGuffy’s Reader to share something positive – light a light – bring some power to Mondays and we’re continuing to do that even though Annie has taken a break from the SPARKS Hop.

I was looking through some quotes to find something that would resonate with all of us who are preparing for the first big hurricane of the season along the East Coast – it’s coming – not sure WHERE it will land or WHAT it will bring but I saw this poster and it absolutely STRUCK me with its’ message, the little bird bravely holding on, and the HOPE it contains.    I hope it does that for you too even if you AREN’T waiting for the next “weather” event!     We have events all the time that feel like storms……and wait for the calm after.

We are lucky in that we are in Northern Virginia and not along the coast so we will most likely just get more rain………….but our wish is that for all of you who ARE more closely in the path of the storm stay safe – and stay positive…………..bow your head, say a prayer and know there are MANY of us who are doing just that FOR you!

Love, Pam and Teddy too

SPARKS on Monday

Monday again and time to share a little bit of inspiration for the week.    We all find it somewhere don’t we…..within our hearts, on our computer screens, in a book we’ve read or a movie we’ve seen…..something hits is “just right” and becomes our weekly mantra.    This whole idea of sharing something on Mondays to fire the spirit was the idea of Annie of McGuffy’s Reader who is no longer blogging – and while we hope she comes back one day we are keeping the idea of SPARKS going.   It’s important after all!

I was thinking this morning about bravery – maybe it was watching the news coverage of Senator McCain and his brave battle with cancer which he lost on Saturday – maybe it was seeing the bravery of those helping with victims of the hurricane in Hawaii……or the seemingly never-ending battle out West and in Canada with forest fires – but bravery is all around us.   Sometimes it’s “disguised” or at least QUIET enough that we don’t immediately notice it – but it’s there.

I like this quote……………..it’s all about moving along.   Some days are better than the next but we’re MOVING…….!   Some days we yell out loud and other days we barely roar but still it’s OUR DAY and we face it as we can.    Some days I’m a lion and other days I’m a mouse……but I will move forward.

Have a super week everyone!

Love, Pam (and Teddy too)

 

SPARK on Monday

Monday again?  Yep – seems impossible that a week has gone by but it has.   In MY case, two weeks has gone by as I didn’t post a SPARK last Monday.    I think you all know by now that the creator of SPARKS, Annie of McGuffy’s Reader, is no longer blogging – we hope she will return one day when she’s ready.   Meanwhile we’re carrying on sharing inspiration every Monday – something that inspires us and hopefully inspires YOU.

I love looking for the “perfect” quote to share on Mondays……………..I’ll show you my SPARK for today then explain it just a bit!

 

This is one of those “easy to say but not so easy to do” kinds of thoughts maybe but if you really TRULY think about it, isn’t this the “embodiment” of being positive?   Being grateful for our blessings allows us to be positive and keep open to MORE positivity in our lives.    I have so much to be grateful for.    I’ve had a rather spotty health history as many of us have.   Cancer is no stranger to me.    Dating back to the mid 80s……..in various forms but most recently those days of sun worshipping BEFORE sunscreen are taking a toll.    From melanoma AND recurrent melanoma,  to basal cell and squamous cell…….and I really am staying on top of things with regular checks.   Still I’m about to have my second surgery in the short space of two weeks and I find my “well of positivity” sometimes  to be a little low.    When I feel that sneaking up on me I remember how GRATEFUL I am to be here.    To have been SUCCESSFUL in beating this so far through so many years and to have friends and family who have listened to my occasional whining, AND I’ve also been honored to hopefully have supported some dear friends of mine who are fighting their OWN battle with cancer now.    It’s a MEAN disease but it can’t take away our ability to stay positive.   AND grateful!

Hope you have a GRATEFUL Monday.    The blessings we all have are out there – recognize them when you see them, enjoy the feeling of having them………and hold them close to your heart.

Love, Pam

P.S.   While my health journey has been for the most part about cancer, YOURS may be something else and I don’t mean to diminish your situation by only talking about cancer.   There are so many things that can go wrong with our super complicated bodies – some we inherit and some we earn all on our own!   But whatever YOUR battle may be, may you face it with faith, hope and SUCCESS…………..