L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 39
November 11, 2012
November 11th, 2012
With Thanksgiving approaching, how many of us think of the food and the family? Most of us, I think. But who really thinks of the name of the holiday?
Thanksgiving.
Do we give thanks for what we have, or are we too busy fighting over the last piece of pie to care? And, really, what do we have to be thankful for? Anyone who says 'nothing' is a liar. There's no better way to say it. If they are alive, they have something to be thankful for. If they have a voice to complain with, they have something to be thankful for. If they're married, if they have children, a home, food, they have something to be thankful for. Remember what giving thanks is. It's important to keep in mind.
Thanksgiving.
Do we give thanks for what we have, or are we too busy fighting over the last piece of pie to care? And, really, what do we have to be thankful for? Anyone who says 'nothing' is a liar. There's no better way to say it. If they are alive, they have something to be thankful for. If they have a voice to complain with, they have something to be thankful for. If they're married, if they have children, a home, food, they have something to be thankful for. Remember what giving thanks is. It's important to keep in mind.
November 10, 2012
November 10th, 2012
"Why would they eat us?" Beenie asked. "I don't think I'd taste too good."
"I would," Troy muttered. "Just because I'm the one who's afraid, they'll think I'll taste delicious."
Beenie zoomed forward, looking for the hedgehog. It had gone on ahead while her and Troy had been arguing, and now she couldn't see it.
"Where did he go?" Beenie asked, frustrated. "I can't see him anywhere. Troy, where would he go?"
Troy was panting from keeping up with her, and he spoke in funny little gasps.
"Let's - just - go - back," he said.
"Troy, where did he go?" said Beenie. His eyes were darting all over the place, and Beenie thought he knew where the hedgehog had gone, but didn't want to tell her. It seemed like something he'd do.
"Well..." he hesitated.
"Tell me, Troy."
"If I tell you, then we'll go there, won't we?" Troy asked.
"Of course," said Beenie.
"Then I'm not telling." Troy sat down on the ground with a thud.
"I would," Troy muttered. "Just because I'm the one who's afraid, they'll think I'll taste delicious."
Beenie zoomed forward, looking for the hedgehog. It had gone on ahead while her and Troy had been arguing, and now she couldn't see it.
"Where did he go?" Beenie asked, frustrated. "I can't see him anywhere. Troy, where would he go?"
Troy was panting from keeping up with her, and he spoke in funny little gasps.
"Let's - just - go - back," he said.
"Troy, where did he go?" said Beenie. His eyes were darting all over the place, and Beenie thought he knew where the hedgehog had gone, but didn't want to tell her. It seemed like something he'd do.
"Well..." he hesitated.
"Tell me, Troy."
"If I tell you, then we'll go there, won't we?" Troy asked.
"Of course," said Beenie.
"Then I'm not telling." Troy sat down on the ground with a thud.
November 9, 2012
November 09th, 2012
“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever,” Chinese Proverb
It's not exactly quote day, but this one popped into my inbox, and I couldn't resist.
I've gotten into trouble for asking too many questions. My argument was always 'how will I know if I don't ask?' It didn't keep people from rolling their eyes and insisting that I asked too many, but it made sense to me. I wanted to know, and they weren't telling me on their own. So what choice did I have?
The only problem with this approach is if you are asking someone who either doesn't have the answer, or doesn't want to answer. In my opinion, having the answer but not telling is far worse than not having it at all. It seems rather...stuffy, unless they have a good reason.
Have you asked any questions lately? And if not, why not?
It's not exactly quote day, but this one popped into my inbox, and I couldn't resist.
I've gotten into trouble for asking too many questions. My argument was always 'how will I know if I don't ask?' It didn't keep people from rolling their eyes and insisting that I asked too many, but it made sense to me. I wanted to know, and they weren't telling me on their own. So what choice did I have?
The only problem with this approach is if you are asking someone who either doesn't have the answer, or doesn't want to answer. In my opinion, having the answer but not telling is far worse than not having it at all. It seems rather...stuffy, unless they have a good reason.
Have you asked any questions lately? And if not, why not?
November 8, 2012
November 08th, 2012
So Kym is an excitable person. In fact, she's so excitable that once upon a time, the people running a martial arts school wanted her there more often. Because her excitement, apparently, rubbed off on people. And they wanted people to be more excited. Although Kym might not have been the best person for the job. Especially once they put mirrors up along one wall. She's also easily distracted. VERY easily distracted. Imagine what happened when a giant black poodle walked by the workout floor during a class. (Yes, that actually happened.) It was pretty funny. The entire class pretty much stopped.
November 7, 2012
November 07th, 2012
“It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us. Of course, things can hurt us physically or economically and can cause sorrow. But our character, our basic identity, does not have to be hurt at all. In fact, our most difficult experiences become the crucibles that forge our character and develop internal powers, the freedom to handle difficult circumstances in the future and to inspire others to do so as well.” ~ Stephen R. Covey
For a lot of people, last night's election was disappointing. But then, for a lot of people, it was a great victory.
This is for both sides. Whether who you wanted won or lost, remember that your reaction is who you are. Don't respond with hate, or smugness. And remember - the people who voted against you aren't enemies to be fought.
For a lot of people, last night's election was disappointing. But then, for a lot of people, it was a great victory.
This is for both sides. Whether who you wanted won or lost, remember that your reaction is who you are. Don't respond with hate, or smugness. And remember - the people who voted against you aren't enemies to be fought.
November 6, 2012
November 06th, 2012
Let's do a decoration this week.
It's really very simple, and most of us probably did it in school. Let's do paper chains! All you need is a nice stack of colored paper, scissors, and some tape or a stapler.
Cut your paper into strips of the desired thickness (you can do different widths for a more interesting look), and tape or staple the ends of one strip together. Thread a second strip through the hole, and fastened its ends together. Repeat until you have your chain as long as you want it.
You can also draw designs on your paper, or look up more paper chain ideas if you're wanting something fancier.
Drape it around and enjoy. It's a great craft for kids. (Meaning glitter and glue are not involved - usually.)
It's really very simple, and most of us probably did it in school. Let's do paper chains! All you need is a nice stack of colored paper, scissors, and some tape or a stapler.
Cut your paper into strips of the desired thickness (you can do different widths for a more interesting look), and tape or staple the ends of one strip together. Thread a second strip through the hole, and fastened its ends together. Repeat until you have your chain as long as you want it.
You can also draw designs on your paper, or look up more paper chain ideas if you're wanting something fancier.
Drape it around and enjoy. It's a great craft for kids. (Meaning glitter and glue are not involved - usually.)
November 5, 2012
November 05th, 2012
Now that Halloween's done and over with, it's time to get you all revved and ready for Thanksgiving.
A lot of the things people make for Thanksgiving dinner really aren't all that bad for you. Turkey, cranberry sauce, rolls. In fact, some if it is actually very good for you. Turkey for example. And yet during the holidays, many people gain weight. Why is this? Well, it probably has a lot to do with how much you eat, rather than what you eat. Listen to your internal cues! When your stomach says it's full, listen to it. It means business, and if you don't pay attention, you'll pay for it later, whether it's with a tummy ache or weight gain.
A lot of the things people make for Thanksgiving dinner really aren't all that bad for you. Turkey, cranberry sauce, rolls. In fact, some if it is actually very good for you. Turkey for example. And yet during the holidays, many people gain weight. Why is this? Well, it probably has a lot to do with how much you eat, rather than what you eat. Listen to your internal cues! When your stomach says it's full, listen to it. It means business, and if you don't pay attention, you'll pay for it later, whether it's with a tummy ache or weight gain.
November 4, 2012
November 04th, 2012
I was listening to a Christian radio program the other night, and I found myself asking a question.
Why aren't more people happy, or thankful? Where has all the joy gone?
I think that, as Americans, we take a lot of things for granted. We live in such a blessed nation, where our freedoms are commonplace. And, like children with rich parents, we take it for granted. But what, I wonder, would happen if it was suddenly removed? If our freedoms were just taken away?
I wonder how many of us would have the strength to fight to take them back.
Why aren't more people happy, or thankful? Where has all the joy gone?
I think that, as Americans, we take a lot of things for granted. We live in such a blessed nation, where our freedoms are commonplace. And, like children with rich parents, we take it for granted. But what, I wonder, would happen if it was suddenly removed? If our freedoms were just taken away?
I wonder how many of us would have the strength to fight to take them back.
November 3, 2012
November 03rd, 2012
Beenie ignored Troy, and flew off after the hedgehog.
"Beenie," she heard him say. "You were supposed to change your mind!"
"It didn't work," said Beenie, fluttering her wings faster. If he could get in trouble then she wanted to leave him behind - in case he changed his mind. And it sounded like he might have.
"Beenie, don't leave me alone back here! Wait for me!"
"If you're gonna get in trouble, then just go home," Beenie said, turning around in midair.
"I don't want to explore the market by myself," said Troy as he scampered up to her. "It's not any fun by myself."
"But you're afraid," Beenie said.
"Do you think my mother would ever forgive me if I went home without you?" Troy sniffed. "She'd send me right back out to find you anyway. You were supposed to change your mind and come back so I wouldn't have to."
"Well, I didn't change my mind, so are you coming or not?"
"I guess so," Troy said, a dejected droop to his tail. "The gnomes are going to eat us for sure."
"Beenie," she heard him say. "You were supposed to change your mind!"
"It didn't work," said Beenie, fluttering her wings faster. If he could get in trouble then she wanted to leave him behind - in case he changed his mind. And it sounded like he might have.
"Beenie, don't leave me alone back here! Wait for me!"
"If you're gonna get in trouble, then just go home," Beenie said, turning around in midair.
"I don't want to explore the market by myself," said Troy as he scampered up to her. "It's not any fun by myself."
"But you're afraid," Beenie said.
"Do you think my mother would ever forgive me if I went home without you?" Troy sniffed. "She'd send me right back out to find you anyway. You were supposed to change your mind and come back so I wouldn't have to."
"Well, I didn't change my mind, so are you coming or not?"
"I guess so," Troy said, a dejected droop to his tail. "The gnomes are going to eat us for sure."
November 2, 2012
November 02nd, 2012
With this year being an election year, I think all of us have gotten at least one political piece of mail, if not more. In fact, my parents (who sent their mail-in ballots earlier this week) have gotten several since then.
This prompted me to wonder what would happen if we put a giant, fluorescent sign up behind our mailbox reading "We already voted! Keep your garbage!" It wouldn't keep the mail system from putting them in our box, but it would sure make me feel better about getting them. Maybe we'd get a chuckle from a mail carrier or two.
This prompted me to wonder what would happen if we put a giant, fluorescent sign up behind our mailbox reading "We already voted! Keep your garbage!" It wouldn't keep the mail system from putting them in our box, but it would sure make me feel better about getting them. Maybe we'd get a chuckle from a mail carrier or two.
