It takes more than just lemon juice!

I loved this story and was once again reminded that we all have room for self improvement, if we only would  examine our lives more often.
I love Sundays and the things that I learn on how to be a better daughter, wife and Mother!
Good Night dear friends!

"Some years ago there was a news story about a man who believed that if he rubbed lemon juice on his face, it would make him invisible to cameras. So he put lemon juice all over his face, went out, and robbed two banks. Not much later he was arrested when his image was broadcast over the evening news. When police showed the man the videos of himself from the security cameras, he couldn’t believe his eyes. “But I had lemon juice on my face!” he protested.³

When a scientist at Cornell University heard about this story, he was intrigued that a man could be so painfully unaware of his own incompetence. To determine whether this was a general problem, two researchers invited college students to participate in a series of tests on various life skills and then asked them to rate how they did. The students who performed poorly were the least accurate at evaluating their own performance—some of them estimating their scores to be five times higher than they actually were.⁴

This study has been replicated in numerous ways, confirming over and over again the same conclusion: many of us have a difficult time seeing ourselves as we truly are, and even successful people overestimate their own contribution and underestimate the contributions that others make.⁵

It might not be so significant to overestimate how well we drive a car or how far we can drive a golf ball. But when we start believing that our contributions at home, at work, and at church are greater than they actually are, we blind ourselves to blessings and opportunities to improve ourselves in significant and profound ways."

I found the story HERE:

My heart is full!

Today at my Quilt Class, one of my students who has been gone battling Cancer...came back for the first time. I was soooooooooo excited to see her, I couldn't wait to hug her and tell her how very glad I am that she has made it through the battle. What an amazing lady she is. I first met her at my Dentist's office, where she works. Everyone loved going there partly because of her and her sweet bubbly personality. She was always happy and a great help to make you feel comfortable and not so scared ( which happens often in a Dentist's office, well it least it does with our family). When she told me last year that she had been diagnosed with cancer, my heart broke...but I knew she would make it... because she is so positive and had a great support group! So seeing her today after her battle...was a treat!
 I love this quote ( below ), I really believe that is true. I think we are here to help each other.
I have a new appreciation for this when I talk and share things with all my ladies at work. How blessed I am to be able to see and work with such amazing ladies. We talk everything from our health, our grandkids and kids, recipes, our projects and our Sewing Rooms Projects that never seem to get quite done.
As I think of my life now compared to 5 years ago ( just having had a mastectomy ), it is better than I even imagined. Many of you helped me in my own battle with cancer.
 I don't want this Thanksgiving time to pass by, without telling you how sweet you make my life! I love each of you, I pray for you and your families when you are in need; and I thank my Heavenly Father for such an amazing, sweet and talented group of ladies that I am so privileged to be associated with. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so glad we don't have to go through this life alone...you make the journey.... worth it!
Good night dear friends!

The Magic Pebbles

I love this story, plus it comes with it's own quotes! Read it, you will love it!

The Magic Pebbles

"Why do we have to learn all of this dumb stuff?"

Of all the complaints and questions I have heard from my students during my years in the classroom, this was the one most frequently uttered. I would answer it by recounting the following legend.

One night a group of nomads were preparing to retire for the evening when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light. They knew they were in the presence of a celestial being. With great anticipation, they awaited a heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be especially for them.

Finally, the voice spoke, "Gather as many pebbles as you can. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day's journey and tomorrow night will find you glad and it will find you sad."

After having departed, the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected the revelation of a great universal truth that would enable them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But instead they were given a menial task that made no sense to them at all. However, the memory of the brilliance of their visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.

They traveled a day's journey and that night while making camp, they reached into their saddle bags and discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a diamond. They were glad they had diamonds. They were sad they had not gathered more pebbles.

It was an experience I had with a student, I shall call Alan, early in my teaching career that illustrated the truth of that legend to me.

When Alan was in the eighth grade, he majored in "trouble" with a minor in "suspensions." He had studied how to be a bully and was getting his master's in "thievery."

Every day I had my students memorize a quotation from a great thinker. As I called roll, I would begin a quotation. To be counted present, the student would be expected to finish the thought.

"Alice Adams - 'There is no failure except ...’"

"’In no longer trying.' I'm present, Mr. Schlatter."

So, by the end of the year, my young charges would have memorized 150 great thoughts.

"Think you can, think you can't - either way you're right!"

"If you can see the obstacles, you've taken your eyes off the goal."

"A cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."

And, of course, Napoleon Hill's "If you can conceive it, and believe it, you can achieve it."

No one complained about this daily routine more than Alan - right up to the day he was expelled and I lost touch with him for five years. Then one day, he called. He was in a special program at one of the neighboring colleges and had just finished parole.

He told me that after being sent to juvenile hall and finally being shipped off to the California Youth Authority for his antics, he had become so disgusted with himself that he had taken a razor blade and cut his wrists.

He said, "You know what, Mr. Schlatter, as I lay there with my life running out of my body, I suddenly remembered that dumb quote you made me write 20 times one day. ‘There is no failure except in no longer trying.' Then it suddenly made sense to me. As long as I was alive, I wasn't a failure, but if I allowed myself to die, I would most certainly die a failure. So with my remaining strength, I called for help and started a new life."

At the time he had heard the quotation, it was a pebble. When he needed guidance in a moment of crisis, it had become a diamond. And so it is to you I say, gather all the pebbles you can, and you can count on a future filled with diamonds.

By John Wayne Schlatter
from A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

A little can be a lot!

I have always loved the story in the Bible about the Widow's mite, and how it was acceptable. Especially because it was all she had and it came from the heart. I loved this Christmas story because of that same reason. How often there are people out there suffering and we have know idea, that they were. We all need to be a little more in-tuned with those around us, be their friends, so that we would know if there is something that they needed in their life. The world is so busy at this time of year, so often the advertisements are pushing the idea of WHAT WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, instead of WHAT WE HAVE TO GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS.

Yes, this story was a great example to me, of how I need to be. Remembering, it only takes a little to be a lot for someone else! Good night dear friends!  

   The Student's Mite

  The situation seemed hopeless.

  From the first day he entered my seventh-grade class-room, Willard P. Franklin had existed in his own world, shutting out his classmates and me, his teacher. My attempts at establishing a friendly relationship were met with complete indifference. Even a "Good morning, Willard" received only a grunt. His classmates fared no better. Willard was strictly  a loner, finding no desire or need to lower the barrier of silence he had erected. His clothes were clean--but definitely not on the cutting edge of style. He could have been a trendsetter because his outfits possessed a "hand-me-down" look before such a look was in.

  Shortly after the Thanksgiving holidays, we received an announcement regarding the annual Christmas collection.

  "Christmas is a season of giving," I told my students."There are a few students in the school who might not have a happy holiday season. By contributing to our Christmas collection, you will help to buy food, clothing and toys for these needy people.  You may bring your money tomorrow."

  When I called for the contributions the next day, I discovered every one had forgotten --everyone except Willard P. Franklin. The boy dug deep into his pants pocket as he strolled up to my desk. Carefully he dropped a nickel into the small container.

  "I don't need no milk for lunch," he mumbled. For a moment, just a moment, he smiled. I watched him turn and walk back to his desk.

  That night, after school, I took our meager contribution-one lone nickel-to the school principal. I couldn't help telling him the giver's identity and sharing with him the incident.

  "I may be wrong, but I believe Willard may be ready to become part of the world around him," I told the principal.

  "Yes, I believe it sounds hopeful," he nodded. "And I have a hunch we might profit from him letting us share a bit of his world. I just received a list of the poor families of our school who most need help through the Christmas collection. Here, look at it."

  And as I gazed down to read, I discovered Willard P. Franklin and his family were the top names on the list.         ~ David R. Collins

It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one's fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit."       ~ Isabel Currier.

The difference a teacher can make!

I love this story! I have to admit, if this were my story, I would have drawn a picture of all of your hands, because you have made that big of difference in my life! Thank you!

The Hand

At first it sounded like a Thanksgiving story, but the more I reflected on it, the more appropriate it seemed for any time of the year. The way I heard it, the story went like this:

Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment -- to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.

Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art. And they were.

But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.

Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand.

His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went -- until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.

When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher."

She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.

Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.

The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglasses of the world. They might not always say thanks. But they'll remember the hand that reaches out.   © 2004 Steve Goodier

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
W.T. Purkiser

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."
W. J. Cameron

A special teacher

I know that school ended less than a week ago for us, but when I read this story it reminded me of a dear teacher and friend of mine. Her name was Julie Ann Wilks Pollard and she lost her battle with lung cancer 2 years ago. I still have a note that she wrote just days before she died, hanging on my bulletin board...along with her picture. She was an inspiration to so many.  I belief that her influence is still being felt today by her family, friends,  and her community, YES, she touched many lives. This post is dedicated to her...one incredible mother, sister, daughter, friend and TEACHER! I sure miss you Julie!

Years ago a John Hopkin's professor gave a group of graduate students this assignment: Go to the slums. Take 200 boys, between the ages of 12 and 16, and investigate their background and environment. Then predict their chances for the future. The students, after consulting social statistics, talking to the boys, and compiling much data, concluded that 90 percent of the boys would spend some time in jail.

Twenty-five years later another group of graduate students was given the job of testing the prediction. They went back to the same area. Some of the boys - by then men - were still there, a few had died, some had moved away, but they got in touch with 180 of the original 200. They found that only four of the group had ever been sent to jail.

Why was it that these men, who had lived in a breeding place of crime, had such a surprisingly good record? The researchers were continually told: "Well, there was a teacher..." They pressed further, and found that in 75 percent of the cases it was the same woman.

The researchers went to this teacher, now living in a home for retired teachers. How had she exerted this remarkable influence over that group of children? Could she give them any reason why these boys should have remembered her? "No," she said, "no I really couldn't." And then, thinking back over the years, she said amusingly, more to herself than to her questioners: "I loved those boys..."

- Author - Bits & Pieces

http://www.motivational-well-being.com/motivational-stories.html

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job."  ~Donald D. Quinn

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."  ~Henry Brooks Adams

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches."  ~Karl Menninger