DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING?

Sometimes life's journey has no clear direction. We are told to make goals, plan, save- well you get the picture. However there are times where just waiting to see where life will take us is as much as can be accomplished in the day. Just getting up and putting one foot in front of the other. Do you know someone with depression? Often this is the experience of that person! So reach out and be there for that person! If it is you, then call a friend! Don't suffer in silence!

WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE?

No not the cheesy smile you need to hold when having your picture taken or when you greet your customer? Hi can I help you, fake smile. But when something really just touches you. You find yourself smiling. We smile at the new baby to try to get the baby to smile back. We smile as we greet our colleagues with a good morning- forcing the smile. A sweet moment in a conversation with a loved one! Seeing something endearing on the news- a smile. Greeting a friend at a dinner party! Smiling when no one is around at a thought! Do we need more smiles in the world? Would they bring world peace? Our smiles! Smiling at a loved photo as a special moment in time! So what makes you smile from the heart?

BE A FRIEND TO HAVE A FRIEND

What is a friend? How does a new acquaintance become a friend? What draws us to certain people? Why is there such an incredible loss when we lose a friend- dies, moves away or dumps us?A childhood friend can decide you are not cool anymore! Some family members can be friends. Many children from large families only have their siblings as friends. New additions to families like a sweet sister-in-law can be a friend. And sometimes not! There are work friends-male and female. Although the old adage is a man can not have a woman as a friend. I don't believe this. I have had male friends because I don't make it sexual. Very simple!  Gay men make great friends! Sometimes cousins become friends! There is a blood connection as well as understanding the family dynamics. As a mother, I am not my child's friend but I can be supportive, friendly, loving and understanding. My children need to have their own friends. It is good to have friends of all ages. I can be the wise woman or just an old lady younger people like to have around for guidance! So are you a good friend! Do you like the company of your friends? Names like Rose, Mary, Larry, Lynda and others come to mind! Even my sister Marilee is a good friend! Who would your people be?

SHE HAD NO CHILDREN

A family friend and former church member- Carville United Church- died Februay 28, 2013 at 102 years old. Thelma was her name. A sweet lady who baked, quilted and grew raspberries with her husband Alex.She outlived her friends. Christmas cards and phone calls were exchanged until a couple of years ago. So I searched and found some photos from my albums, uploading them to the funeral home site.  She had no children but she was close to anyone who knew her. Imagine-102! What a wonderful life! There are some photos from happy times. God Bless you Thelma- a fine Christian woman!

SAYING GOODBYE TO A FRIEND

Friends are important people in our lives. We have relatives connected by blood and had little choice who our family may be! But a friend is one of life's blessing! Someone new in our life that becomes so meaningful. Yesterday our family said goodbye to a friend. She will be missed but not forgotten! Have you lost a friend lately?