Thankful for the Good New Days

Day 183 of Photo Inspirations – Thankful for the Good New Days
The good ole' days had its charm, but I’m so thankful for these good new days.  I know I’m dating myself, but I was there when we used manual typewriters and carbon paper for copies. We put the paper between the paper table and platen.  Then rolled the platen knobs clockwise until the paper was in.  Then we lifted the paper bail and put it down on the top of the paper. Next was moving the carriage over manually to the right until it wouldn't go any further.  (The margins stopped the carriage). Then WHOA LA, we could begin typing our first sentence.  When we heard the 'ding' at the end of the line, we'd return the carriage with the carriage return.  WHEW!  All of that to produce a page of typewritten words.

AND now we have computers and tablets that within a matter of a few seconds or minutes, a page of words is completed and a simple Control P, prints the page out.  Bada bing, bada boom.

Back then our sources for information…in my case, was The World Book Encyclopedia -- that's where our research for school reports and essays came from.  Thumbing through pages after pages to find the information and then manually typing up what I had read.  WHEW!  Hours of research and a long time to type the report.

Now we have the internet that with a simple Google word search, blogs, information, photos, and youtube videos appear that give us everything we need for a thorough report, complete with images.

The internet is so awesome that I can repair a clogged toilet with just a little information I obtained from an online search. (Yes, I did -- last week.)  I found a miracle cure for a yucky wart – apple cider vinegar and duct tape. (I still use that remedy for those crazy little bumps that randomly appear.)  I find the definition to words in seconds.  I find stores and services – their hours, their products and the prices without having to use a thick Yellow Pages Book.  I find images that I can use in my Facebook posts.  I can find scriptures, then copy and paste them into my messages.

For this post today, I’m simply expressing gratitude for yet another blessing.  Technology has brought so much spice to me in this season of life that I sure don’t have time for bingo.  Okay, marking B-8 on a bingo card can bring enjoyment to folks, but there’s nothing to compare with the connection to the world via my computer and the Internet.  The Internet brings the world to us – I don’t want to stop learning EVER and I can continue to learn in this technology age.  Hanging out in cyberspace is my gig.  I've connected with friends and relatives from my childhood.  We talk about the good ole’ days and celebrate these good new days.  I love to Skype or Google Hangout or Facetime with my grandchildren.

Perhaps you have some lonely friends or family members that don't get out much anymore.  Perhaps, the gift given to me in this Information Age is a gift you can give to them.  They may tell you they don’t want to “mess with it” at first, but believe you me – they’ll be thanking you when they find so much  in the cyberspace world of wonder -- not to mention, they'll find lots of things that will remind them of their past as well.  After all, that's what this typewriter and encyclopedias did for me today!

An Entire Year of Awesomeness Awaits Us

Day 1 of  Photo Inspirations -- An Entire Year of Awesomeness Awaits Us
A happy and blessed 2015 is my prayer for all of my FB friends today!   Being with my  two youngest grandsons made New Year's Eve so special.  We had lots of fun making videos (or should I say, Brennan made videos).

The day before, we "undressed" the Christmas tree, but yesterday we made lots of homemade ornaments for next year's tree, and dressed this tree up again.  We had a plan for New Year's Eve.

The boys popped little fire-crackers, we wore our Happy New Year hats and blew the horns,

we toasted each other with Sprite, we watched the giant ball of sparkles descend in Times Square, we had lots of goodies to eat, a cute movie to watch, got to Skype with the boys' Mommy & Daddy, and we prayed the New Year in together, and I stole some kisses from my boys.

Now, an entire year of awesomeness awaits us.  The squares on our 2015 calendars are blank, but very soon those squares will be filled with lots of activities, events, ceremonies, birthdays, anniversaries and lots of opportunities for lexperiencing a year of great conquests, victories, and adventures.

There's something quite exciting about a clean slate, starting fresh, opportunities for "do-overs".  We'll set new goals, resolutions, and hope for some major life-changes.

Each new day in our new year will be as fresh and white as new snow.  Each and every day starts with God's fresh mercy and new grace.  And those new days don't come in with the fanfare of this 1st day of the year.  Typically, our days dawn quietly and peacefully -- a sunrise introduces us to our new day, and reminds us that God has given us another day to make a difference in our world..  We'll hear birds chirping, which makes us very aware of God's care for them -- and how much more does He care for us?  

We don't know what tomorrow holds -- or this year holds -- but one thing we do know -- HE KNOWS and HE holds our tomorrows and, better yet, He holds our hands and is with us through them all.  Our future is so bright. Let's purpose to wake each day to the prospects of what each day will hold by Him Who knows everything about everything -- and with that kind of ADVISOR -- if we pay close attention -- He'll guide us into making 2015 to be our best, most blessed year EVER!
#HappyNewYear

Christmas Traditions Continue.....With Technology

What precious joys and delights I've had with my sweet kids here in Washington!

All four of our boys have been home and we've savored every moment

-- from enjoying the sight and sounds of downtown Seattle, Pike's Place Market, RN-74,

visit to see Santa,

indulging Nana by seeing "Annie" (yes, all 7 of us (big & little boys and their Mom & Dad -- all in a row) -- "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya' tomorrow!", Christmas Eve at City Church

 and then home for Family Skyping with the Wallace's. 

Brennan had worked diligently on an amazing Power Point Presentation describing his "take" on presents and sharing, and the true meaning of Christmas,

Payton & Alexia's song,

 then the highlight every year is our Christmas story read by Uncle Ryan. This year's story was even better as it was spontaneously accentuated with props -- both families used the characters from their nativity sets to demonstrate the story. 

We sang. We laughed. We prayed together. Traditions continue....just in a new and high tech way -- so thankful to be alive in this day and time to experience leading edge technology -- sure makes the distance seem not so distant and separated after all. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Thankful. Thankful. Thankful.