"Life Lessons From Lovebirds" --- by Vickie Lynne Agee **An excerpt from "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul"

Recently, my husband and I were walking through a local mall near closing time, when we decided to stop and take a look around the pet store. As we made our way past the cages of poodles and Pomeranians, tabby cats and turtles, our eyes caught sight of something that immediately charmed us: a pair of peach-faced lovebirds. Unlike many other lovebirds we encountered there, this particular pair looked truly "in love." In fact, they snuggled and cuddled next to each other the whole time we watched them. Throughout the next few days, my mind returned to the image of those two delightful little birds. I admired their devotion, and felt their very presence inspiring.

Apparently, these birds had the same effect on my husband, because he showed up late from work one night, shortly thereafter, clutching an elegant birdcage that housed those two precious creatures, and introduced them as new additions to the family. For days we wrestled with names of well-known couples, coming up with everything from Ricky and Lucy, George and Gracie, to Wilma and Fred. But finally we decided on Ozzie and Harriet -- a gentle reminder of a simpler day when love and togetherness between couples were not only a commitment, but a way of life.

And so it is with this in mind that I have watched these lovebirds and made the following observations about life and love:

1.) If you spend too much time looking in the mirror, it's easy to lose your balance.
2.) Always keep a pleasant look on your face, even if your cage needs cleaning.
3.) If your mate wants to share your perch with you, ... move over.
4.) The real treats in life usually come only after you've cracked a few hulls.
5.) It always takes two to snuggle.
6.) Sometimes your mate can see mites you didn't even know you had.
7.) Singing draws more affection than squawking.
8.) It is only when your feathers get ruffled that your true colors really show.
9.) Too many toys can be distracting.
10.) When you have love in your heart, everyone around you will find joy in your presence.

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True love is a great wealth ... never seek it, always give it with your whole heart ~~ graciously & abundantly ~~ without expectations .... and it, in return, will lavishly be poured back upon you! ~~~ NomiAnn

Commitment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase. ~~~ John Balguy

** John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." ~~~Jesus, the One & Only Son of the Living God


Always come to Him with the heart of a child. It is that "child-like faith" that asks for forgiveness and truly believes, and desires to hold onto His Love forever! The only Love that is Simplistic, True & Everlasting. We cannot even begin to phathom the "horrific price" that Jesus Christ paid on the Cross for our redemption. And He did it all because He loved us so very much! What a Priceless Gift ~~ and He didn't have to give it, but because of His great and immeasurable love for us ~ Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God, gave His Life for you & for me. This precious Gift and the invaluable Word of God to instruct us, the only Book that will never change nor ever be destroyed .... the Holy Bible, a book of simplistic principles and intructions. All we need to do is to live it daily in our walk through life for our family & neighbors & those we come into contact with, so that we can one day see our Lord & Savior face to face. And that is not a large price for us to, in return, do for Him, in comparison to what He did for us at Calvary's Cross! Remember that He loves & cares about you very, very much!! And He Will NEVER Leave You Nor Forsake You!!! Others may ~ but not our Lord Jesus! NEVER!!! And that is His Eternal Promise!!!

"Criticism" .... In The Small Stuff" -- by Bruce & Stan

* People of low ambition are overly critical because so much in their lives is beyond their reach.

* Motivate, don't denigrate.

* Listening to gossip is as wrong as spreading it.

* Gossip should never be disguised as "concern."

* "I'm sorry." Two words with unlimited potential.

* If you agree to bury the hatchet, don't leave the handle sticking out.

* Criticism and success are both difficult to handle, but one is ultimately more enjoyable.

* Never criticize your hair cutter -- at least not while yours is the hair being cut.

* Criticism and finding fault are NOT spiritual gifts.

* A word spoken in anger CANNOT be erased. It plays over and over again.

* Walk on soles, not on souls.

* Be generous with praise and stingy with criticism.

* To "belittle" is to "be little."

* Appreciate differences instead of criticizing them.

* The urge to criticize someone usually comes from feelings of resentment.

* If you make the effort to overlook the little faults in others, they will do the same for you.

* Rather than taking criticism "personally," -- look at it objectively.

* Learn to distinguish between constructive and destructive criticism.

* It's okay to give constructive criticism IF it's done in love.

* It's impossible to offer destructive criticism and to love someone at the same time.


"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you have treated them." --Matthew 7:1-2

Bring contentment, love, & joy into your own life ... by bringing contentment, love & joy into the lives of others!!! -- NomiAnn ; )

May Is Here ... And There Is Hope!!!

Today has been chilly, in fact the whole week has been in the 40*'s ... which is really different for our valley. We have begun to long for some beautful spring weather to stay in the 60*s-70*s and bring out the climate for the garden plants to flourish, not freeze. : (

With the type of weather we've been having ~ the gorgeous tubular clouds are here, and they have just taken my breath away at times. My hopes are that our climate year will bring many days of the beautiful tubular clouds, they are my favorite.

I think what amazes me most is the way that God's creations work hand in hand, and yet there are allowances for them to work against each other, at times. For example, wind ... it can blow away impurities, which then cleanses our air. Yet, if there is a fire, winds can be treacherous, causing the fires to spread. Yet, over all, once the earth experiences a fire, it is actually enabling the ground to be refreshed. the ashes fertilize and bring richness back into the soil. So even through the painfulness which nature may bring, some good will come out of it in the end.

All of that to say this, in everything that happens, God's infinite wisdom will take it and make it for the good. It all has a purpose!

So ..... yes, I am tired of the chill in the air ... but if everything was the same all the time, life wouldn't be so exciting! So I'll take last week's warm weather, and the chilling winds of this week .... and I will live in great expectation and yet wonder of what tomorrow may bring. And whatever life brings my way ... I will continue to praise my Heavenly Father God, because He knows what is best for my life!

"HOPE CAN SEE HEAVEN THROUGH THE THICKEST CLOUDS." --Thomas Benton Brooks

"THE HOPES OF GOOD PEOPLE LEAD TO JOY, BUT WICKED PEOPLE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO NOTHING."
--PROVERBS 10:28

"THERE REALLY IS HOPE FOR YOU TOMORROW." PROVERBS 23:18

Saturday .... here my week is already coming to it's end. Boy! What my mom use to say to me was absolutely true....the older we get the faster time goes!!!

This morning I was wishing that I could see the wildflowers growing on our lot. Each year we have the most beautiful field of flowers there, and I hate it when they begin loosing their beauty. Here in the mountains we can see the gorgeous stream of stars of the Milky Way at night, ... what a site to see!!! It is just beautiful.

When we lived in the city with all of the lights, we didn't realize how much we were missing! I never dreamed that the heavens were so spectacular as they are when the night is dark. What a showcase of God's creation! How quickly we forget that beauty when we are surrounded with the business of the city ... running to and fro with the fast life surrounding us. I'm so glad we've moved to a slower pace, and have been once again set in awe of this beautiful earth & heavens.

Life ... such a beautiful thing ... so simple, yet so intricate. We are so blessed!!! So even though life goes a little faster as we grow a little older .... let's stop and look around and enjoy the simplest of things .... because it is those things that bring us contentment!!!

What a day today is. We have had such a change in our weather ... from cool to very warm. Isn't it funny how we take advantage of the simple joys life brings our way ... like stopping to smell the fragrances of the changes in nature which our days are going through, until one day we realize it is pretty warm, and we wish we had payed a bit more attention to the little changes as they happened. The lilacs, the butterflies, the birds enjoying the early morning hours. The morning dew on the green grass and the flowers.

Let's take some time to go out and smell the roses/flowers, to watch the younger children play, taking a walk with someone we love, going out to see the ladybugs and the butterflies enjoying our gardens, hearing the birds so joyful in their music, watching our pets enjoying the morning sun, listening to the winds blow through the trees, watching the deer so gracefully walk through our yards.

Let's take a moment to feed on God's riches that are all around us ... they cost nothing ... but just taking a moment of our time to stop and enjoy life at it's fullest!

This verse has been my strength since the Lord gave it to me in 1985 right before I had my brain surgery, and it will forever continue to be a strength to my daily life.

**Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I AM the LORD, the GOD of all mankind. Is there anything too hard for me?"

Absolutely not!!! Nothing is too hard for our Father God. All we need is that "childlike faith," a prayerful heart, ... and He will do the rest!!!

Anyone can count the seeds in an apple ....
but only God can count the apples in a seed!