SPARK on Monday

Happy Monday……….you know what some of us do on Mondays – we share an uplifting (hopefully) thought – something to inspire us for the week ahead.   “SPARKS” was started by Annie McGuffy of McGuffy’s Reader but ended when her blog was hacked some time ago.  It was meant to be a way to start out each week with with a meaningful thought – something that spoke to each of us and hopefully everyone else who read it.    Sometimes we need a little “spark” in our lives and these posts were meant to at least be a PART of that effort.    Those of us who enjoyed sharing a SPARK with Annie have continued doing so on Mondays – and we hope one day soon Annie will be back blogging with us again.    Please feel free to post a SPARK of your own and let everyone know you have…….we get energy from each other that way!

I was in the mood to find a SPARK that had to do with Spring……….I am looking forward to Spring more than I can EVER remember before this past year.    The time most of us have spent during this past year hasn’t been what we’d call “ideal”……..social distancing, cutting back on trips, staying home, cancelling plans that had been made pre-virus.    For those reasons I know I am looking forward to the change from Winter to Spring – Spring is more cheery, more hopeful and maybe the start of some semblance of normalcy as the world becomes vaccinated and SOME of our routines return.

Anyway, I really like this HOPEFUL expression of Spring!

I’ll admit that as far back as I can remember, I’ve looked forward to Spring anyway, but…..this year for me, Spring equals HOPE.    Maybe a new beginning?    I think a lot of us are wishing that would be the case.    It’s time for us to be hopeful like never before.

With Love and Hope, Pam

SPARK on Monday

Happy Monday!   Time for a weekly SPARK.    Just a little thought to get you through………the next hours, next day, next week or WHENEVER.  “SPARKS” was started by Annie McGuffy of McGuffy’s Reader but ended when her blog was hacked some time ago.  It was meant to be a way to start out each week with with a meaningful thought – something that spoke to each of us and hopefully everyone else who read it.    Sometimes we need a little “spark” in our lives and these posts were meant to at least be a PART of that effort.    Those of us who enjoyed sharing a SPARK with Annie have continued doing so on Mondays – and we hope one day soon Annie will be back blogging with us again.    Please feel free to post a SPARK of your own and let everyone know you have…….we get energy from each other that way!

I really do love the SPARK I found to post today.    I’ve told you all before that I look for things that really “speak” to me when I post a SPARK.    Well this one sure does!

I sure like this way of looking at things that don’t go our way……………it’s a chance to do it BETTER.     I thought it interesting it was attributed to Henry Ford – don’t know if it was “THE” Henry Ford but I think it probably was.    Even if it wasn’t “him” it was someone who hit the proverbial nail on the head.    You fail at something – you will try it again probably and that time you will hopefully have learned from your failure, changed your method,  and have a success.     And we ALL like to have successes!

Have a great week ahead.

Hugs, Pam

SPARK On Monday

Happy Monday!    For quite a while those of us who knew that Monday Sparks would hopefully be as uplifting to others as it has been for us, kept posting a message of hope, love, and positivity on Mondays even though Annie of McGuffy’s Reader blog – who began Sparks – wasn’t blogging due to having been hacked.    Well we got a big surprise last week when Annie blogged again and we are sincerely hoping she will be able to continue!    It was a brilliant idea she started – and we’re carrying on with it as we have been.    Annie – we’ll look forward to your permanent return!

I have a thought to share with everyone which I personally FEEL in my heart and I hope it will touch you in some way to start off your week.    Time is moving at a difference pace lately but we must remember that WE can’t wait for everything to be perfect in our world because that is going to take some time.   The trick is to be happy RIGHT NOW.    WE CAN DO THIS!

 

 

Pretty simple thought – might be hard to do unless you go into it WANTING happiness to be in your life – so let’s all just decide to BE HAPPY NOW.     We don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

HAPPY Monday!   Hugs, Pam

SPARK on Monday

Monday SPARK time!   What exactly IS this Monday SPARK thing we do?   Well, most of you 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 ran across this one while searching for just the right thought to share today…………..gosh it’s EVER so true too which is the BEST kind of SPARK if you ask me!

I’m basically a happy person – always have been………my Mom said I was a very happy baby (of course I don’t remember that!) but my good nature has served me well.    I think it’s gotten me through the worst of times in fact.    Not that I haven’t had my share of sadness – that’s a part of life after all – just that when the dust settles I “move” back into my happy place.   I really am glad to be alive even in these uncertain times.    It’s not exactly the picture I had in  my mind of what my life would be like at this point in time but then I daresay everyone feels that way right now with so many worrisome things going on.    That’s the way LIFE is though.   Up/down and sometimes calm in between.    BUT I’m STILL HERE!

Have a POSITIVE week!   Love, Pam

SPARK, Liebster Award

Monday is here and it will be a little bit busy for us today because in addition to SPARKS we were nominated for a Blog Award and that will be AFTER we do our SPARK for today.     Since we WERE nominated for a blog award, it reminded me that we should always ALWAYS be thankful for things we get or have.    SPARKS was started by Annie McGuffy of McGuffy’s Reader but after she was hacked she discontinued the SPARKS posts – many of us who enjoyed participating in SPARKS wanted to carry on in her name……….so we post inspiring graphics on Mondays.    Maybe it will be something you will totally “get” the minute you read OR you will think about it and BOOM – realize instantly that it DOES belong in your heart.     Hopefully though it might get you to think a bit about the week ahead or maybe relieve your mind about something that’s bothering you……….My SPARK today is about being THANKFUL – in the midst of what’s going on, we still have a lot to be thankful for!

A pertinent SPARK message considering what’s going on in the world these days.   It sure hit home with me anyway.     I’m also very thankful that Kristiina of the blog PHOTOFINLANDRANTASALOT.wordpress.com nominated me as one of six bloggers to receive the Liebster Award.    I love Kristiina’s blog which she shares along with her cat Kosmo in the beautiful home they have in Finland.   THANK YOU KRISTIINA!!!   What gorgeous photos she shares.    The Liebster Award is an internet blogger award whose name is German in origin.  It’s really just a way to share blog addresses and provide new friends and a way to meet other bloggers for ideas and making new contacts.    I got this award years ago when I was fairly new to blogging.    I’ve followed the rules (somewhat) and that’s OK – you can be flexible in how you pass it on.    Here’s the actual badge that those who participate get:

There are even several variations of the badge but this is the one I received and am passing on to those of you who I nominate and choose to participate!

Rules to the Liebster Blogger awards:   (although there were six questions from Kristiina – YAY!)

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and give them a big hug give them a link to the blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you or at least most of them
3. Share 11 or so facts about yourself
4. Nominate between 5-11 other bloggers
5. Ask your nominees 11 or so questions
6. Notify your nominees once you’ve uploaded your post

The SIX Questions for ME to Answer were:

1 Why do you blog?  It was my way of continuing to write after I’d stopped writing when I got ill in 2006 – blogging got me “going” again.  Now it’s just plain FUN and it’s actually not just MY  blog – it’s my cat’s blog as well so I’ve given him a voice.

2 Blue jeans or formal wear? Cake or a health bar? Why?  I am a total blue jeans girl……always have been.   I also am definitely a cake or cookie girl – I should eat “healthy” but I never have.   

3 If you could have one (more) animal live with you, what would it be and why? It would be another cat – to keep Teddy company – why?  Because I often think he’d be happier with a companion of his own species (he has humans!) and when it comes to the joy and fun cats bring, the more the merrier!

4 What do you feel are your greatest talents? Empathy…….an honest desire to help people if I can…….a big heart.

5 If you could be any age, what would it be and why? I’m a believer in enjoying whatever age you actually are……we can’t go back or forward to be in the moment and love who you are and what you are NOW.   So my favorite age is “almost 73” because I am.

6 If there was one thing you could go back and do differently, what would it be? Perhaps I’d go back and make more of an effort to start my adult life out on the right foot.   I sort of slipped and slid along for the first five or so years after I was out on my own…….but then that probably went into making me the woman I am today.

Now I know that a whole lot of bloggers have stopped accepting awards – in fact it had been a very long time (years) since I even saw a blogging award making the rounds.   But I’ll pass the award on to six bloggers and if you’d LIKE to participate please do.    I think most people already have the Liebster but like me – if you want another one (!) and answer the questions – then you can have a matched pair of awards!!!

First, here are my SIX QUESTIONS for you to answer if you are going to participate:

1.   Do you think there is life on other planets?   Why or Why Not?
2.   What is your VERY FAVORITE meal either to cook yourself OR to order in a restaurant?
3.   If you could afford ANY car in the world – what would it be?
4.  Are you superstitious?
5.   Do you prefer early mornings or late nights or both?
6.   What is your favorite type of music?

And here are my nominees…………..but remember – this is optional since I don’t know who does and doesn’t do awards (regardless of whether you received this one before!) – don’t feel bad if you don’t want to participate…………really!     I’m linking to all of my Nominees so you will be aware that I nominated you………………

The Cat Corner

Down Home In NC

Bad Cat Chris

Kolytyi

Meezer’s Mews & Terrieristical Woofs

Angels Whisper

The third part of my post today has to do with reminding all of you (because the Professors said I needed to) that tomorrow is Tuesday Teaser class and you will need to brush up on your geography tonight so you’ll be more able to deal with figuring out where the Teaser photo was taken tomorrow!    OK?   OK!    See you in class.

Hugs, Pam and Teddy too (Teddy says remember tomorrow is TEASER TUESDAY!!)