Play Your Hand

When the cards are dealt and you pick up your hand ... there's nothing you can do except to play it out for whatever it may be worth. And the way you play your hand is free will.
(Jawaharlal Nehru in Night Light by Amy Dean, 18 July)
18 October 2015

Three Words

In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life:

It goes on.

(Robert Frost in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 4 June)

31 August 2015

Give It!

... there are  ... [many] ways to practice sacrificial love: listening, helping, encouraging, giving! Think of someone in particular who needs this kind of love today -- and give it!
(The One Year Book Of Bible Readings, 26 September)

When you feel grateful for something others have done for you, why not tell them about it?
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 25 December)
23 July 2015

Free Will

With free will, we have the choice to make changes, even if they may be difficult.

We can use free will to opt for change or improvement.

Are there changes or improvements you can make in your life?  Remember you are free to change these things whenever you are ready.
(after Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 4 November)
21 July 2015

Addictions

Look at the addictions in your life and resolve to make some changes.  Start by letting go.
(After, Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 10 May)
20 July 2015

Opportunity

The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist, the opportunity in every difficulty.
(L. P. Jacks in Night Light by Amy Dean, 14 May)
19 July 2015

Wasted Time

Dick Henthorn at the Neptune Plaza of the Library of Congress

All of us have far too much to do to waste our time and energies in criticism, fault-finding, or abuse of others.
(Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand A Little Taller, 3 May)

I won't waste any more of my life. I will make the most of every minutes and resolve not to let precious time slip away.
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 29 May)
11 Jul 2015

Once Upon A Time

I can begin my record of growth and goals, and dreams, and all my feelings. I can be the author of the book of my life.
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 1 February)
28 June 2015

Inventory

Photo by National Geographic

How optimistic are you?
Do you see problems as solvable or impossible?
Do you see your abilities as expanding or limited?
Do you set goals for yourself, or do you feel goals are unattainable?
(After, Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 2 November)

A deeply rooted habit of self-justification may tempt us to explain away each fault as we uncover it.
I must go on day after day trying to face myself as I am, and to correct whatever is keeping me from growing into the person I want to be.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 18-19 June)
14 June 2015

Feelings

Photo by somebody with patience and good timing.

No matter what the circumstances of the day, all the feelings I have are mine.
Today I can let go of the ones I don't want and hang onto those that feel good.
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 19 November)
13 May 2015

Free Will

Botanical Garden, Washington, DC

Photo By: Mr. Dickie

Free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse.
(George MacDonald in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 4 November)
30 April 2015

Spring

Lo! in the middle of the wood,

The folded leaf is wooed from out the bud. ...

With winds upon the branch, and there

Grows green and broad, and takes no care.

(Alfred Tennyson in Night Light by Amy Dean, 19 October)

20 April 2015

Courage

Maryland State Flag at Doctor's Hospital

Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires ... courage.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 15 September)
7 April 2015

Immatuity

Little Free Library at University Park, MD

A person remains immature, whatever his age, as long as he thinks of himself as an exception to the human race.
(Harry A. Overstreet in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 21 June)

******

I wrote a blog post about using Facebook messages for file sharing. I uploaded the post today to my Genealogy blog.  I also shared the post with my "secret group" on Facebook.  I also posted a link to my Obituary blog about the legality of using obituaries in our genealogy projects.

Melva and I went to four thrift stores yesterday looking for something we didn't find.  I found one book that I was seeking, a like-new hard-bound copy of Daily Guideposts - 2014. For several years I purchased a year-old copy of this annual publication shortly after the start of the new year. I enjoy using this book in my daily reading program. I'm still reading the 2013 copy because I set it aside for a while last year. I probably mentioned before that I have read all of these books published between 1978 and 2012.  I no longer own copies because I needed to free up some space.

I also bought a copy of Moravian Daily Texts - 2013 which is also designed for daily reading. I remembered that I own an earlier edition of this publication and enjoyed it.  There were about a half dozen annual copies, for different years, on the shelf.  I thought one year would be enough.

The third book I purchased was Prayers from the Heart - Inspiration for Every Day!  This book is also designed for daily reading, with each day numbered.

I bought the self-titled CD, Lawson Creek Grass.  I'm not familiar with this Bluegrass band from Alton, VA.  I think it is fun to buy an album once in a while by someone I've never heard.

This morning I'm listening to some Aker Bilk music downloaded from Freegal the county library free music service.

Dick Henthorn

9 March 2015

Obsession

Taking away an obsession doesn't mean we're cured.

(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 13 January)

21 February 2015

Health

When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.
(Herophilas in, Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 13 January)
20 February 2015

Conduct

Let me conduct myself and my life in such a way that I will have no reason to reproach myself for making a bad situation worse. This, at least is within my power: "to make it better."
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 9 February)

And if not now, when?
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 19 January)
18 February 2015

Hurried Decisions

National Harbor Christmas Tree

When against one's will, one is high-pressured into making a hurried decision the best answer is always "not" because "no" is more easily changed to "yes" than "yes" is changed to "no."
(Charles E. Nielson in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 27 March)

******

The Christmas decorations are up. This morning we returned the empty boxes to the attic.

9 December 2014

Conversation

A conversation requires two parts: talking and listening.  

When only [one person is] talking, that is a monologue.

(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 22 February)

30 November 2014

Cluttered Mind

More important than learning how to recall things is finding ways to forget things that are cluttering the mind. Before going to sleep at night, empty your consciousness of unwanted things, even as you empty your pockets.
(Eric Butterworth in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 23 February)
29 November 2014