The Secret

[peacockplume]

mmmm! mmmmmm! mmmmmmmmm!

awesome sister Sandy,,,,I can smell them now....first batch for the cafe.....I'll have milk with these...thank you, thank you...



Ok,,,apologies, for being such a (your choice________________) but more so for not having been able at that moment to express why I felt and said,,,as I did...and to turn it into a positive as I should have....so in actuality,,I missed an opportunity, and apparently very easy to snag......it must have been an old bruised ego ....and was a good lesson in retrospect (for me)

One main and very basic point in training...is to remember that energy follows thought....therefore what you think about and focus on you bring forward into your life.

This is an easy concept, but quite difficult to maintain in daily life, and takes alot of work to consciously control (in the beginning) your thoughts and feelings.

When I'm teaching...face to face, or over the phone, I have the opportunity to say,,,whoa there,,,and where are we going with this type of a conversation,,,what is it's purpose,,,,is it bringing us closer to the Light, or is it bringing us darkness.....

I did not have anything positive to say, and should have just walked away,,,,,however,,, I still feel like

we flourish on lightheartedness,,,,a lot of Love and happiness...and things that pertain to our personal lives....

(on this thread)

Thank you Sandy,

But Jose, you danced with the epitome of grace and beauty just now with your wise words. Thank you.

love to all of you...PP

[vivrider]

Hi again everyone! It's great to be back with old friends! MMM, those cookies sound good, and I'm pretty sure I have all the ingredients. . . I have some garbanzo beans cooking to make felafel for dinner and that always makes a mess (though worth it!), should I attempt cookies too? I will let you know. I also just started a batch of yogurt, but that doesn't count as work, it's so easy. If anyone wants to know how let me know. Well, kids are hungry and the dogs want out, better get to felafeling!

Love, Viv

[Sandy]

Hi Viv! I love those felafel things. First time I made them I nearly caused a fire though...and this is just after the young couple in the front flat did have an oil fire. Actually that would be a nice change of pace for us. I have the beans in the cabinet and so it wouldn't take all that much to make it happen.
I would love your recipe for yogurt! George remembers his mother making big ole batches of yogurt in her special pot. (They had a big family.) My own mom didn't even know what yogurt was in our early days...
Take care,
Love,
Sandy

[Sandy]

Hi PP,

One main and very basic point in training...is to remember that energy follows thought....therefore what you think about and focus on you bring forward into your life.

I am reading this at a much needed point today as George and I just went around about this! Thanks for confirming something I, at least, already knew somewhere in this ole head of mine!
Happy thoughts= Happier Sandy
((((HUGS))))
Sandy

[peacockplume]

Hi Viv and Sandy,,,

I wouldn't mind a felafel lesson,,,I know I've heard about them,,,but I've never had them and I think I'd like them....

hey Sandy,,,I just went from this screen to copy the felafel word, and your post popped in,,,,it was strange,,,not the post, just the way it occurred...

Oh please son't think about starting fires....unless it's for warmth....ours is going already,,,the dampness is sinking in.....me....

Every now and then Allan and I do rounds,,,I think just to keep from getting bored,,

We've had 3 couples with kids checking out the house just this last week,,,no offers though,,,,we don't have enough bedrooms for growing children.. however, today was very interesting....a couple showed up, and super fell in love with everything...they came in and we greeted each other like we were long lost friends....they are rock hounds too, so that started us off...the similarities just didn't end...

about a month ago they were selling their place to buy a place out in Cowichin Lake, and their 'agent' screwed up the deal so they lost out....were quite upset, and decided they were done with agents,,,looked in the Victoria real estate for sale by owner and there we were...they were here 2 hrs,,,and we really enjoyed the visit,,,never mind it was about house initially....as they left, the fella said to Al...as soon as we get home he was going to call the guy who had wanted to buy there house only a month ago,,, I'm trying not to hold my breath.....she and I just clicked....teaching,,,crystals,,,rocks, she couldn't believe what she was seeing,,,,and 'feeling' it was sooo cool!
They left with huge smiles hugs and blowing kisses,,,,,not bad for complete strangers, (well not anymore)! soooo

As soon as I know, you'll know....I'm sure you'll catch the excitement before I can write it....

love you,,,and you too Viv.....pp

[Sandy]

I am holding out high hopes for you on these latest lookers, PP! They sound perfect! How about that...all the similarities between the two groups of complete stangers. Very exciting times are afoot I think. But going with the flow...easy for me to say eh? I am not the one chomping at the bit to be off in the Caravan!
Love,
Sandy

[peacockplume]

Yeah, it seems like I'm destined to be here for my BD next Sunday,,,,dang it anyway....well, I have to leave it to those who know best for me/us....as you said,,,go with the flow.....and there's lots I can flow with...

I'm giving my halowe'en stuff to a neighbour whose birthday is on hallowe'en, and they're having a big costume party on Sat night,,,they still remember the year I showed up as a mummy...that was a good one, but I don't feel like doing that again;;;;;maybe we'll just be a pair of munchkins.....hee hee or pumpkins.....it's about time I left this stuff to the young ones, but birthday habits are hard to break! hee hee!

and it seems like I haven't had fun for such a long time.....5 yrs to be exact.....my sister wanted me to go to Calgary, but that's out of the question....for many reasons....I told her we'd celebrate next summer.....

loves, pp

[vivrider]

PP, where are you moving to? Very cool about your new friends! I have always wanted to visit BC, it sounds very beautiful.

This is the felafel recipe I use:
http://www.culinate.com/content/1706/Falafel

It's from the Moosewood Cookbook, which I have used since I was in my 20s. We put the felafels into pita pockets, and make some yogurt sauce, I think it's called raita. It's just plain yogurt with some cumin and chopped up cucumbers. I like to also put some tomatoes into my felafel pocket. Very yummy and a good way to get my kids to eat beans, which are very healthy. Of course, they are fried, but I fry them in olive oil. I make my felafels kind of flat so they fry quickly. If the olive oil gets too hot it starts to smoke and burn.

For homemade yogurt, heat 1/2 gallon of milk in a saucepan, stirring so it doesn't burn, til it's almost boiling. You can use whole, 2% or 1% but whole works best. Pour it into a bowl and let it cool to about 105-110 degrees. Add 1/4 cup of yogurt with active cultures. Cover the bowl with a clean damp cloth in a warm place overnight. I turn the oven on, then turn it off and put the bowl in, that's warm enough. In the morning, viola! Yogurt! It turns out kind of runny which is okay with me, but if you want it thick, you can let it strain in a cheesecloth which takes a few hours. Of course you can add whatever you like to it--fruit, honey, etc. I'm going to add some blueberry jam I made this summer.

Love to all!
Vivian

[Sandy]

Hey Viv, I just looked up the recipe online... It sounds wonderful! I will definitely give it a try this week as I have plenty of dried garbonza beans in the cabinet... I used to make a sauce with fresh cayanne peppers an mayonaise...But I would much prefer the healthier yogurt sauce these days. Thank you for providing the simple Yogurt recipe too! You have me itching to make a pot but I don't have the 1/4 cup of fresh Yogurt to get it started right now. I bet George would like it with the Mock strawberry jam I made last month. (Made with rubbarb so it is a bit tart which he likes.)

Any news on the potential buyers PP?
Well, I wouldn't want to miss that fun sounding birthday/Halloween party myself. So maybe it's a good thing that you are still in the area. Have you decided what your costumes will be?
Kick up your heels and have a great time! After five long years you deserve it!
Love,
Sandy

[555]

In the days of my childhood, in Brazil, "Yourgurt" was called "Coalhada" em Portuguese. And my Aunt, who raised me, used to make it by just exposing the milk to the enviroment, outside of the fridge. I remember it was very good. Is there any problem to use this method to make "Yourgut", nowadays?

Love,

Jose.

[555]

Hello friends.

Tonight something very special happened. I was talking online with a friend from Brazil and she said that was feeling alone. I told her that maybe was because she was feeling the need of a relationship, a “love”. When I said that I remember of a song sang by a Brazilian singer, Zizi Possi, which the title is “O amor Vem pra cada um” ,“Love Comes to Everybody”. I sent her a link from YouTube with the song.

I told her how this song was so special to me. Once, before my divorce, when I was already aware that my marriage was falling apart, and feeling “unloved”, I played this song all day long and cried all they long, listening to it. She heard and also was touched by it. Then she had to leave for dinner and our online conversation was interrupted there.

But, the page on YouTube, from which I sent the link stayed open on my computer. Hours later, I was closing some pages and I saw the page, and saw a link that with George Harrison (from the Beatles) singing the same song. So I click on the link and then I knew that the Brazilian song was in fact a translation of a Beatles song. So I played the song. Frankly, I like the Brazilian version better; it seems much more clean … and perfected.

But what called my attention was that the page I open, with my opening, had been open exactly “666999” times. Isn’t that a great number? I am going to research what the numbers 666 and 999 mean, to see if it relates somehow with my experience with this song.

I just wanted to share this with you.

If you would like to play the song, here are the links, both in English and Portuguese.

English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOrTNBKU ... re=related

Portuguese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOrTNBKU ... re=related

I took a picture of the page with the opening number, but I couldn’t upload. Anyways, I know that you believe me, right?

I thank you for being a friendly ear to me, always.

Love,

Jose.

P. S.: Look that, I was promoted in my status on the board. Now, I am an "old friend". I am "old", alright. But I am glad, it makes me feel like a "pal".

[happyrain]

hey 555
jose
heh
wsup i like that song
thanks and i wanted to thank you personally for your response under the license plate thread bumped not to long ago
appreciate it

thank you

[Sandy]

Hello Old friend, Jose!
Actually, you are already family, in my book, which of course will be the next board threshold. I enjoyed that beautiful song...but wasn't able to hear it in Portuguese though. When you have a chance will you check the Portuguese URL because the english version is listed twice. Music can certainly speak to my emotions of the moment...usually it tends to pull out the sadness and the tears flow but I feel worlds better later.

I want to share with you a strange little story this morning...I was telling Sammy what happened and as I did the lesson for me became apparent. We have had several days of wet weather and as you know this can be difficult for the little creatures who live in the ground as the soil becomes saturated they must leave for a time so as to not drown . This morning I trudged outside to our covered makeshift patio with Ubook and coffee in hand ready for a lesson from within those comforting pages. What I discovered, though, next to my chair made me grimace...It was a navy blue leech if you can imagine...barely alive as he had moved too far away from the damp earth that gives him life. As I watched him, I couldn't help but to feel compassion for his plight, experiencing a common bond with this strange fellow creature. so I gently picked him up...(eeyuuu! ) and placed him back on the leaf litter, adding a few drops of water to his drying body to help him recover. Then I left him in God's hands, knowing I have done what I could. In a larger sense it became apparent later that this was a lesson for me in regards to a neighbor who has tried my patience over and over again. In many ways it cannot be helped as she is challenged but yesterday, my feelings came to a head as I watched this young woman selfishly lie and use her father to further her own ends. I was ready to wash my hands of her and tell her exactly what I thought...LOL for her own good of course. I guess we may always share our space with those who we look upon with unsteady eyes. They make us pull back at times in disgust at their behaviors...but like the leech they are in many ways beautiful if we look just a little closer and deserving of love and compassion just as we all are. Well I am going to re think my future actions in regards to our neighbor and hopefully celestial guidance will provide a better path then the one my anger and disgust would create. Ever hopeful anyway!
Love you guys,
Sandy

[happyrain]

hi sandy
in a weird way i felt connected with that slug too ! slfkjsdffkn awesome leech * excuse me
THANK YOU : D

[555]

Hi Sandy and all,
Thanks for the note about the link. I did notice that some words were the same, but I just didn’t give much attention. This singer, Zizi Possi, is my favorite female brazilian singer (she is so beautiful and sings so well) and this song is also my favorite. She sings in Portuguese, Italian and English. I made a website about her years ago,but is not updated. Anyways, here it goes the link for the Portuguese version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp5P3pr9FCk
And for those didn't read the previous post, here is the original English "Beatles" version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOrTNBKUisw
At the end of this post, I share the lyrics, in English - of course!
I loved your story with the leech, Sandy! Yes, sometimes the God’s little creatures are instruments of great life lessons to us. I remember when an ant, talked so much to me, years ago, on the steps of a church building in Brazil. Unfortunately, I don’t pay much attention to nature, as I should. I am an introvert, in the sense that I pay much more attention to what is going on in my own mind. But I can empathize with whom has eyes and heart for the little creatures of God.
It’s very hard for me to “reprehend” somebody, since I found the Urantia Book. I am still tempted to offer an unsolicited advice, but I have refrained myself to express my discontentment with people. However, I see that people don’t have the same disposition when dealing with my faults. It seems that people are eager to point out and “reprehend” every little misdeed you do. If you go about to make a big deal of every bothering comes from people, you certainly won’t do other thing than be mad at others. Let's just let it go. I feel much better now, knowing that everybody is capable of their own decisions and we should let them deal with themselves. Sure, there are limits, and exceptions, especially when dealing with children and if the well-being of others is in jeopardy. In such cases, an “intervention” may be necessary, but as a rule, they have a “perfect Guide” inside themselves. Why should I dare to do His work? If the young lady is challenged as you said, perhaps hers is not a “normal” condition, to allow her to have this marvelous Guide that the rest of us enjoy… But still, she certainly enjoys so many other celestial influences available to everybody. There is so much love and wisdom around. So many celestials eager to give us a little hand here and there – all according to the Father’s ways.
I still struggle (not so much as before) with rejection or when I feel rejected in anyway. I know that it is an “ego protection”, but this is one of those things that the mind knows but the heart doesn’t. Even Jesus, who had a perfectly poised personality, felt sad once, according the U.B., when his family apparently forgot to come see him before he left to a missionary journey. We all want be loved, but life tells us that love is not all what we get, and sometimes, we have to deal with the lack of it, or even with the opposite of it, hatred. But, we can always, as the St. Francis prayer goes: "where there is hatred, to bring love" or even, when we feel no love from people, we can still feel the love of God, from which never there is a lack! Oh, how great is His love!
Ok, enough of digression.
Love you all,
Jose

Below, the lyrics for the song. I have to say that in the translation to Portuguese, the song has a more "positive" tune. It doesn't seem as sadly as I read in English.

Love Comes to Everybody's Lyrics

Go do it,
Got to go through that door,
There's no easy way out at all . . .
Still it only takes time
'Til love comes to everyone.

For you who it always seems blue
It all comes, it never rains
But it all pours,
Still it only takes time . . .
'Til love comes to everyone.

There in your heart . . .
Something that's never changing;
Always a part of . . .
Something that's never aeging,
That's in your heart . . .

It's so true it can happen to you all; there,
Knock and it will open wide,
And it only takes time
'Til love comes to everyone.

[Sandy]

Thank you Jose!

The words to the song are poetry in motion!
I will be giving my neighbor's situation a bit more thought. You see part of the problem is she continually uses me as a sounding board. Harping about her family and life situations and yet, I see her father who works full time and has a home and a life of his own giving much of his time to assist her of late. Yet, she completely and selfishly expects help in areas she is quite capable of doing herself. I know this a fact because I was her support basically when she moved in here 3 years ago. I know what she is capable of and what she is not able to do without encouragement and unfortunately her Dad is enabling her bad behaviour. It is, of course, his prerogative but he is not a young man and life gives no guarantees that he will always be alive to take care of her. I do realize that this is none of my business and I am happy that now her Father is providing some sort of family atmosphere that was missing the first two years she lived here. But she does bring negativity to my door over and over again. And I do worry about her Father who has had a heart attack about five years ago. He has so much stress and not just from this area in his life.
This will definitely be brought up in prayer and meditation, asking God who brought this situation into my realm of existence several years ago to provide some much needed input and direction.

I still struggle (not so much as before) with rejection or when I feel rejected in anyway. I know that it is an “ego protection”, but this is one of those things that the mind knows but the heart doesn’t. Even Jesus, who had a perfectly poised personality, felt sad once, according the U.B., when his family apparently forgot to come see him before he left to a missionary journey. We all want be loved, but life tells us that love is not all what we get, and sometimes, we have to deal with the lack of it, or even with the opposite of it, hatred. But, we can always, as the St. Francis prayer goes: "where there is hatred, to bring love" or even, when we feel no love from people, we can still feel the love of God, from which never there is a lack! Oh, how great is His love!

Oh I remember that part in the Urantia book. It broke my heart to think of Jesus with no family to see him off.
I have always loved that St. Francis prayer. If only I can remember the power of Love in all ways.. my life would be so much easier. Thank you so much, Jose, for providing some gentle insight and thought over my frustrating dilemma. I am sure you have much experience in this area working as a carer and a minister these years. and I will carefully consider all that you said in relation to this on going problem.
Much Love,
Sandy
P.S. Oh I wanted to tell you one of George's favourite musicians was/is Portuguese singer, Amalia Rodrigues. What a beautiful and inspiring voice she had/has. One of her songs speaks straight to my heart every time I hear it even though I do not know the words. "QUE Deus Me Perdoe" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QvykZR0ZM4 We have her cd playing here now ...Wow...Thank you Amalia!

[sammy]

Hi All!

Jose! Beautiful song!

Sandy, well...you ARE a good listener...I know that from personal experience Some of us bottle things up, others (like me) need to vent it out, and still others - for some reason - need to wallow in it. Do you have a picture of her? PM me with her name etc., and a picture helps me if you have it...let's try helping her on a different level.

OH!!!!!! 2 nights ago I was trying to send some love in Scott's direction...I SAW him!!!! He was laying on his left side in his bunk and adjusting his blankets trying to get comfortable! I got so excited that I lost contact Tickled pink I was!!! I tried again last night but promptly fell asleep. Probably because I was up late...Jack called from his "business trip" to the Dominican Republic...first full day there...I had been concerned about this trip, and he told me some things that went on - well, I thought I was paranoid before his trip, but now it turns out I never in my wildest dreams would have contemplated what actually occurred 8 married men in a private villa at a resort...all I can say is this is the stuff movies are made of and why the divorce rate is so high. Just sad.

And on that note...
LOVE!!!!
Sammy

[Sandy]

Good Morning (late morning) everybody

I actually don't have a photo of my neighbor but will see if I can send you a mental image a little later...My transmitters aren't always reliable... as your receivers. so barring the sucess of that venture I will describe her to you in a pm.

I am so thrilled that you were given a mental image of Scott two nights ago. That should reassure you even though you may not get a picture every time you try... that your love is getting through all the same.

When does Jack get back from the trip? Sounds like a good time for some girl talk!
(((((HUGS))))))
Sandy

[sammy]

Monday at 3:30am. Girl talk would be great...if the story doesn't shock you to death!

LOVE!!!!
Sammy

[peacockplume]

Hey Gals,,,,

yes, a gabfest sounds great.....

Sammy I thought of you and the JOY I knew you'd be feeling when I had heard the news, and knew you're boy wouldn't be leaving then....wooooohoooooo

I'm a tad busy over the next 48 hrs,,,,,have a bunch of sewing to get done tomorrow,

No house news .... yet.....however,, it's hovering.....

will check in to read when you're ready your , perhaps I'll have a bit of a story too....

loves, pp

[555]

Hello Sandy and all,

I was so happy to know that George and you like the Portuguese music.
The singer you mentioned is not a Brazilian, she is a very famous Portuguese singer and actress. She died in 1999. “She was known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") and was most influential in popularizing the fado worldwide. She was one of the most important figures in the genre's development, and enjoyed a 40-year recording and stage career.” ( Wikipedia). Fado is a characteristically Portuguese genre of music. Although there is a rivalry between Brazil and Portugal, as in all "colonizer-colonized" relationships, Portuguese singers are very welcomed and loved in Brazil. Amalia Rodrigues is a such example of this because she has several Brazilian singers that sing and recorded their songs.
I found on Internet a translation for this particular song you mentioned “Que Deus me perdoe” and I am putting here both the original lyrics and the translation, so you can have an idea of what the song is about. It is about the “Fado" itself, and her love for the this musical genre and how she is able to express her soul through it. Wikipedia tells us about the Fado: “Fado (Portuguese: destiny, fate) is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. However, in reality fado is simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure. The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which symbolizes the feeling of loss (a permanent, irreparable loss and its consequent life lasting damage). Amália Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth, and Cristina Branco are amongst the most famous individuals associated with the genre.”

It may be that in Portugal, the word "saudade" has this sense of "irreparable loss", but I don't think is the same in Brazil. In Brazil you may have saudade (to miss) of somebody just because you are unable to contact him or her, or you can have "saudade" of a good time in your life.. It is the feeling I feel for my son Lael in Brazil whom I don't see for 6 years. I miss him, to see him,to hug him and relate to him face to face. This is "saudade" too." Saudades" hurts, but it is a hurting that you rather endure as it brings a sweet remembrance of the distant person. That is why she says in the song that "if to love the Fado is a sin, God forgive her", because through the fado she gives a "brado" (loud voice) to her pain, many times caused by "saudades." In fact, is very beautiful, enchanted even.

I hope you enjoy to listen the song, and follow the translation. It’s very melancholic, but I think there are times, you need a little of melancholy in your life (just a little).

Portuguese
Que Deus Me Perdoe
Se a minha alma fechada / Se pudesse mostrar, / E o que eu sofro calada / Se pudesse contar, / Toda a gente veria / Quanto sou desgraçada / Quanto finjo alegria/ Quanto choro a cantar...
Que Deus me perdoe / Se é crime ou pecado / Mas eu sou assim / E fugindo ao fado, / Fugia de mim. / Cantando dou brado / E nada me dói /Se é pois um pecado Ter amor ao fado Que Deus me perdoe.
/ Quanto canto não penso / No que a vida é de má, / Nem sequer me pertenço, / Nem o mal se me dá. / Chego a querer a verdade / E a sonhar - sonho imenso - / Que tudo é felicidade / E tristeza não há.

English
God Forgive Me
If my closed soul / Could show itself, / And what I suffer in silence / If it could tell, / All the people would see / How damned I am / How I fake so much happiness / How much I cry as I sing..
.God forgive me / / If it's a crime or a sin / But this is who I am / And running from the fado*, / I was running from myself./ Singing, I scream / And nothing hurts me / So, if it's a sin / To love the fado / God forgive me.//
When I sing, I don't think / About what's bad in life, / I don't even belong to myself, / Nor evil strikes me. / I even want the truth / And dream - an enormous dream -/ That all is happiness/ And there's no sadness.
Love,
Jose.

[555]

Hello again, friends!
A funny thing happened with me right now. This is about the post I put before about Zizi Possi and how I love her and her music. So, she has a daughter that also is an accomplished singer in Brazil. However, even years ago, when I listened to her singing, I couldn’t like her enough. And I wanted to like her because I like so much the mother, so… I was kind of sad that the daughter wasn’t so good like the mother.
Well, today, I was listening some songs on Youtube and stumble on some videos of her singing in English called “Luiza Possi, Side B”, I believe “Side B” because she is singing in English, and just like that, I fell in love with her singing in English. Her voice looks with a better pitch, she seems much more free, natural. I bet she lived several years in U.S. to become such a good English singer.
So, now, I am happy that I can love the singing of both Mother and Daughter.
This may look silly, but those little preferences in life are those particular things that make you being what you are. And if this was not enough, one of the songs I most like with her singing in English, has the exactly duration of 3:33. Isn’t that a great number? Yes, it is. Perhaps Sharmon likes her too and even does a little dance with this song.
I just wanted to share this feeling with you. Here is the link for the video I mentioned above on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqZTcLhyPqg
Jose.
P.S.: “Girl Talk” huh? I am jealous! But it is alright, I think you girls are allowed to have your “pillow fights”. Always, love.

[Sandy]

Oh NO!! dear Jose...I did not mean it that way at all...I was speaking of a skype call with Sammy when I said that. You are family and our brother... you can be a part of our pillow fights anytime!
George and I both thank you for posting the words to that beautiful song by Amalia Rodrigues. It has been a longtime favorite even though we didn't understand a word of it. I have other favorites too that I can't understand. The three Tenors...Patachou and George Brasson. There is something about music that can reach the deepest part of ourselves and not understanding the words does not prevent what is pure from finding it's mark. Yesterday, I needed a bit of cheering up and so I played a cd of paris cafe music...One cannot be side while this type of music is playing...so light and happy...makes me want to twirl...

That young woman, Luiza Possi, is quite a singer! Her english was perfect in the song...amazing! As she sang I wondered how in the world she was able to keep up with the words spoken so quickly. Must take much practice and a feel for the song.
George laughs at me... in a good sense. There are moments when without thinking I break into song which would be lovely if I could sing better then a bull frog...Well when the spirit moves us we must react, right?

Keep sending Love to that precious son of yours, you just never know when Spirit grants your desire to see him as Sammy received a few days ago when she caught a glimpse of Scott. Living far away from my family too, I can understand these feelings...a sweet sadness when I remember sometimes.

With love,
Sandy

[555]

Hello Friends,
I would like to share with you some thoughts on some thoughts in this late night, as I prepare to go to sleep.
Balance is vital in our lives. My father-in-law used to say that his pastor was in the habit of mounting the horse so rapidly that often he would fall on the opposite side. The benefit of all kind of diets, depends on how balanced they are. Being a diabetic I know how dangerous are sweets for my health (and how hard is to keep away from them), but, to cut all sugar from my meals is impossible – because all that I ingest excepting air and water, has sugar in it.
In my case, most of times what prevents me to follow the leadings of my Adjuster is not the fact of not perceiving them, but my inability to join my will-power to His longings in order to act accordingly. I have noticed that idleness exacerbates my selfishness, as well as boredom. With exception of the image reflective spirits, assistants of our universe authorities, I think there will be no individual television sets in the Mansions. I read in the U.B. that their amphitheatres are so large to accommodate five billion of beings which common delight is to update themselves of the universe news.
There is no doubt that so much external calls diminish our sensibility to pay attention to our internal (spiritual) needs. Without a quality activity for any kind of fasting we decide to make, there will be no benefit from the deprivation, just by itself. Perhaps we can be creative on improving the way we enjoy entertainment. I found out that I can worship God through almost every song I hear on my smart phone, be them “spiritual” or not; with exception of those songs like Lady Gaga’s saying that “I want your disease, as long as it is free”, I have accommodated most lyrics to express my faith and love for God and people.
I no longer believe in celestial conspiracies, since Lucifer, Caligastia and Satan were adjudicated for their follies. And, perhaps, as we approach the portals of Light and Life, world domination enterprises as Hitler’s will not repeat in Urantia, making “mundane” conspiracies to thwart people spirituality very improbable. Media wants to keep everybody’s attention because it produces good rates, which brings more profit – it’s only greed, which it is. I am glad that thanks to technology we can know in instants the tragedies that fall upon our fellow human beings in the other side of the planet so we can promptly send help, both spiritual (prayers) and material (relief).
I personally have need for being informed about several spheres of interests. Living in U.S. and having my relatives (a Son inclusive) living in Brazil, and having dear friends in Philippines and Australia, I want to know if something of important that may affect their lives happens in these countries.
In my opinion, the big problem in the emphasis on bad news is the de-sensitivity they cause in the human spirit, making people to lose their capacity for really care about tragedies that daily fall upon our fellow human beings. Some tv networks are now including in their news shows segments in which credit and appreciation is given to those are making positive difference in the world.
It seems that most of controversial issues in life are question of perspective. Jesus supposedly said, when with us in Urantia: “if the light in you are darkness, how deep darkness it will be”. Some may see too much darkness, others too much light. Balance is vital.
Those are just some thoughts of my restless mind... in this late night.
Love,
Jose.

[peacockplume]

Hi Sandy,,

It's really an old avi,,,,but yes he/she ??? was on the property, and literally posed for us...he/she is a young Barred Owl....this year I have good shots of a young great Horned Owl...

Thank you for sharing your late night thoughts Jose....too deep for me at bedtime...I find it refreshing to go to my AC, and have some discussions with Michael and Nebadonia and usually go to sleep there....

love pp