Go Buy Some Stamps!

I was reading an article the other day from the Revive Our Hearts Series (http://www.reviveourhearts.com/). In this article they were discussing the importance of buying stamps in our technologically advanced world.

Do you remember when you were a child and you would race to the mailbox every day to greet the mailman and see if there was any mail for you? When I was young there were a few things I would receive in the mail: my weekly "Books by Mail" from the library (I wish they had that here!), a monthly letter from my, pen pal, Auntie in Massachusetts, and 4 times a year (birthday, Christmas, my brothers birthday, and Valentine's Day) when my Auntie would send us a package in the mail with gifts.

I remember the excitement and anticipation of running to the mailbox to see if there was a surprise for me, to have the momentary rejection if there was nothing but "junk" or "bills" that did not pertain to me. I continually got excited day after day, and the moment of rejection lasted a few seconds, because I always thought "there is always tomorrow!"

Can you remember the last time you mailed a handwritten card? A personal thank you to someone? A letter of encouragement? Imagine how much a handwritten note means now when everything is done electronic!?! The childhood thrill remains in today's technologically advanced world!

There is something permanent about written word. I was helping my grandmother clean some boxes out a couple weeks ago, and she had letters that were written to her nearly 35 years ago from a variety of people. We were reading the letters, talking, sharing, smiling and reminiscing....an awesome moment! Think of looking back at letters, cards, and photos with your children and grandchildren thirty years from now and telling a story of times gone by.

So, go buy some stamps and surprise, encourage, or love someone today!

The choice of happiness or being miserable!

This week I was reading a book titled Traits of a Lasting Marriage by Jim & Sally Conway. I find this book fascinating and would recommend it to anyone who wants to take an active role in their marriage! My husband and I are taking a class at our church in which our Pastor is teaching on topics from this book.

In the book the authors talk about a lot of excellent topics, but one that I found stood out and could apply to single, married, widowed, etc. "Happiness is a choice....you choose to be happy or you choose to be miserable." How true is that! Do you know "that person" who always seems to have something wrong and focuses on it? Do you find yourself questioning is this person every happy? I am sure we all know someone like this, otherwise we would live in a perfect world.

When I read this portion of the book about happiness, a woman I know came to mind. She is a single mother with a couple kids, works two jobs, does volunteer work, is a woman of her word, and ALWAYS has a smile on her face! She has had a rough road, life is not always easy, but whatever lemons in life she is handed, she always handles it with a smile. I respect this woman a lot because of her positive outlook on life no matter how bad it gets. She chooses to be happy in life, no matter what.

So, are you a person who chooses to be happy or miserable?