A very quick look at my newest lamb having some fun playing.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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Monthly Archives: July 2013
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Celebrate Differences
Posted at 7:49 PM
Jul 30th
Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Each one of us is totally unique. As I am writing this I am remembering a pair of silly socks one of my children had growing up. It had a little stick figure hanging upside down with the quote “Normal Is Boaring”, and I truly believe the world is certainly a more beautiful place because of our differences.
Why then are there so many people who spend so much time and energy forming “hate groups” showing great animosity, hostility, and malice against people who act differently, or believe differently than they do? I can’t help but wonder what is behind that? Could it be because they are that insecure in their own lives that they fear differences are contagious? Do they think that living beside someone who believes or acts differently then they do, may cause them to one day wake up mysteriously acting like and following the beliefs of their neighbors? Or are they so inclined to influence and rule the lives of their children and grandchildren that they feel the need to make everyone else in the world act and believe as they do so there is never a possibility that their child will ever stray from what they feel is the proper way of life?
I sometimes like to ponder things such as this in other areas of our lives to get a different view. I live near the Amish community. I often will park near the buggy hitch and go over and pet the horses and talk with the Amish individuals. One day as I was talking to a friend we began to wonder, when they all meet and go to church do they ever come out and take the wrong buggy home? What if the world we live in required that we all drive exactly the same vehicle? I truly do not think I would do well with this. I recently was driving a white rental vehicle. My day was quite busy and a little stressful. I came out of the store and tried to get into two wrong vehicles before I finally found the one I came in!
What if we all had to where the same outfit, or if we wanted a pet and the only pet we could get was a Black Labrador? I choose to believe that we all were created with beautiful unique qualities, physical abilities, and likes and dislikes. We need to celebrate our differences and learn to accept and respect each other.
Most certainly the world would be a better place if we all began understanding each other. We need to move beyond simple tolerance and embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.
With respect, hope, joy, and love,
Carmela
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Daily Post ….. Life Without A Computer
Posted at 10:27 PM
Jul 28th
As I am sorting through things from my dads past, the thought of what life would be like without a computer is appearing right before my eyes. My dad loved photography. When I got my first digital camera, he was so interested and amazed at how easy it was to download and print out photographs. I remember when I was young he allowed me to watch him developing pictures in the dark room that he had in our basement. The days of buying the developing solutions and keeping the room dark as you magically develop the photographs are long gone, As are the days of typing on his Royal Typewriter.
I know that it is possible to go back to typing out our communications and sending them through the mail however, this process changes not only one thing but many. The time in which it takes for your intended recipient to get the message and send the reply back is affected for sure, however I believe the biggest impact that I would miss is the convenience of how quickly we can research information and connect with many people who we may have never had the opportunity of meeting.
I have a grandson who has profound medical issues. You can read about them by clicking here. When doctors had a very difficult time coming up with a diagnosis. My daughter searched the internet for information on possible disorders and other mothers who may be experiencing similar situations. When you are dealing with a situation where the majority of people within your local neighborhood have never experienced, It is a blessing to be able to find others who are dealing with similar challenges. The ability to send email, photos, and communicate with his doctors to facilitate his home care has also been a tremendous benifit. I have heard discussions on both the positive and the negative side of modern day technology, but I must say that I choose to view it as a very positive addition to our lives.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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Friendships
Posted at 5:43 AM
Jul 26thThe only way to have a friend is to be one….. Ralph Waldo Emerson
My closest friend is treasured greatly. With each year that I grow older, my understanding of friendship grows deeper. I have learned to be grateful for each day of my life. The pleasant, unpleasant, happy, sad, difficult as well as easy days are all needed in order to bring about total understanding and appreciation for who we are and how important family and friends are in our lives.
I truly believe that God introduces us to people who help us to better understand ourselves. As a caregiver I met people who, although I might have only known for a short while, they left a very positive and important impression on my life.
When we are willing to listen to others with an open heart, and show genuine care and concern for their well being, differences fade and similarities are revealed.
The quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson is quite profound… The only way to have a friend is to be a friend. If we are to preoccupied with our own needs we may not even notice that other people have needs also.
The good news is…. it is never to late to be a good friend. Open your heart and offer genuine care for other peoples needs.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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daily post challenge/There is no place like home
Posted at 5:54 PM
Jul 20thI would like to share my pet Danka’s words on this topic. I hope you enjoy his guest appearance on this topic 🙂
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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Opposite Day
Posted at 3:51 PM
Jul 17thWordless Wednesday
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Dream Home Of Love
Posted at 4:40 PM
Jul 16thMy dream home is one filled with love. Just enough space to entertain my grandchildren and their families. Since I am currently living in a place that provides this. The only improvement I would make to this is to fix my leaky roof. If I were to ever win a dream home contest I would get great joy from donating the prize to Habitat for Humanity.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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Don’t Forget To Play
Posted at 9:16 PM
Jul 15thPlay with your children everydayinside, outside
doesn’t matter
Yell, hide and seek
and watch them scatter!
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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A Blessing’s 12 Year Reveal
Posted at 3:35 AM
Jul 10thIn November of 2000 I was dropping someone off for an appointment at a therapy facility. As we walk into the appointment we seen a young lady walking a dog. A smile, hello and a gentle pat for the dog lead to a pleading request: “Please, Please, Please take him home with you! They are going to take him to the pound today. My Counselor found him and can’t find his owner.” She pleaded.
My dad came to mind. He was grieving the recent loss of his dog and he lived alone since the death of my mother several years before. I decided to follow-up on her request and ended up bringing the dog home to my dad.
The meeting with my dad and my newly acquired dog was perfect! Just as though it was meant to be. He walked in and sat right beside my dad’s chair as if he belonged there. I left them and later talked with a friend on the telephone explaining it as if it was a heartwarming story straight off the “Oprah” show. “He’s a blessing”, I said with amazement. “He walked in and laid down beside dad’s chair as if that space was always his home. It was surely meant to be!”
The next morning, I return to find a happy pooch, a very grouchy dad, with an angry command, ” Take that dog right back home with you! He is too much puppy for me! I’m to old to clean up after him!”
Completely stunned at the disappearance of my “perfect Oprah moment” I make an attempt at a last-ditch effort to keep it in tact with, “But daddy, he’s a blessing!” I pleaded. “Well, take the (*$&#) blessing right back home with you!” he repeated, even louder and meaner! And so I did!
Being the loyal animal lover I am, my blessing and I retreat home to re-plan our future. I made a phone call to a friend and we mused on the shocking turn of events the day brought. “What are you going to name your new blessing?” she asked. After throwing out some silly possibilities. “Maybe you should call him Thank You” she chuckles. And so I did.
The name Danka (German for Thank You) was my choice. Many silly, fun, stressful, frustrating, and loving memories with Danka filled the next 12 years. He traveled with me to work. Absolutely loved and appreciated the people who I took care of. He proved himself to be the most loyal and well-trained “un-official” service and therapy dog possible. He not only earned his status as a blessing in my life but also in the many lives of the people who I took care of.
12 years later when Danka and I move in to live with my aging father. The now much older Danka once again took his place beside my dad’s chair and in the following year began to travel less with me and willingly took up a new life of “retirement” beside my elderly dad. He quickly became the “apple of my dad’s eye” sharing meals with dad, and following him loyally from room to room. We often laughed at how my dad’s influence on Danka even turned him into a Bill O’ Reilly fan!
Seriously every night at eight o’ clock Danka would settle in on the couch, put his chin over the arm of the sofa so that he could watch the O’ Reilly Factor. Dad commented to me numerous times, with a chuckle, that my sister and her husband “had Danka a nervous wreck.” he would say. They visited with dad past eight o’clock and they were sitting in Danka’s chosen viewing spot! Danka would get up and pace nervously around the couch. When they finally rose to leave “They didn’t even get to the door before Danka got up and reclaimed his favorite spot and began watching The Factor!” My dad was convinced that he could tell that Danka was genuinely upset if they caused him to miss the “talking points memo”!
I am convinced that Danka’s story and life hold many important lessons however, the message that I hope Danka’s story leaves you with is this ” If you think that you witnessed a blessing like Danka…. believe it and be loyal to it (no matter what happens) in time it will most definitely be revealed.
My dad has since pasted away and about a year later his and my, most loyal friend Danka passed away also. I am wholeheartedly thankful for each and every moment I was able to share with both of them!
I continue to consider Danka one of my most favorite blessings, perhaps the day that I met Danka as well as the years that followed are best explained as Divine Guidance.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
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Carmela Snelbaker 