“The world will not fall apart

or leave you behind

if you allow yourself

a few moments of quiet.

There is no need for stress

and struggle.

everything that is meant to be

will be –

with or without your help.

So relax,

find your balance,

and remember…

breathe.” Lisa Butler

“Have confidence in yourself

Have a very strong sense of purpose

Never have excuses for not doing something

Always try your hardest for perfection

Never consider the idea of failing

Work extremely hard toward your goals

Know who you are

Understand your weaknesses as well as your strong points

Accept and benefit from criticism

Know when to defend what you are doing

Be creative

Do not be afraid to be a little different in finding innovative solutions that will enable you to achieve your dreams” Susan Polis Schutz

As you reach forward with one hand, accept the advice of those who have gone before you, and in the same manner reach back with the other hand to those who follow you; for life is a fragile chain of experiences held together by love. Take pride in being a strong link in the chain. Discipline yourself, but do not be harsh. The pleasures of life are yours to be taken. Share them with others, but always remember that you, too, have earned the right to partake.

Know those who love you; love is the finest of all gifts and is received only to be given. Embrace those who truly love you, for they are few in a lifetime. Then return that love tenfold, radiating it from your heart to fill their lives as sunlight warms the darkest corners of the earth. Love is a journey, not a destination; travel its path daily. Do this and your troubles will be as fleeting as footprints in the sand. When loneliness is your companion and all about you seems to be gone, pause and listen, for the sound of loneliness is silence, and in silence we hear best. Listen well, and your moments of silence will always be broken by the gentle words of encouragement spoken by those who love you.”

Tim Murtaugh

“‘Gratitude’ is one of the nicest feelings a heart can have. It’s a feeling that comes along for a very special reason – and it’s a lovely thought that never goes away once it enters in.

It joins together with precious memories and grateful hopes.

Gratitude lives on, not for just a moment or a day, but through all the seasons that lie ahead.” Marin McKay

Let us take time each day and thank God for all that we have been given.

Sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withhold their brightness… The heavens and the earth quake, but the Lord is a refuge to his people…Joel 4: 15-16

“We’ve been through a lot in the past few years: natural disasters, a global pandemic, social and political unrest. Our losses have been personal as well as collective. Many of us have lost or been separated from loved ones. We’ve seen our work lives change, often dramatically. Yet while the tumult of this time has been real, the uncertainty of life is not new. We have never been able to guarantee our safety or that of the people we love. What we take for granted today can be gone in an instant. The one thing we are sure of is that God is with us through it all. The Lord is our refuge, our shelter in the storm. He is with us when the darkness presses in and we can’t see the path at our feet.

Lord of light, be with me in the darkness.” Karla Manternach

Nothing is impossible when God is in our life. Saint Paul tells us nothing is impossible, death, persecution