Outside the Camp

Chambrel has a beautiful campus with three different ponds. There are two mallard ducks and one white duck that live here permanently. We call them the Chambrel ducks. However, in the Spring and Fall, many ducks arrive here for a short visit.

In walking this morning I noticed many visiting ducks. Most of them were mallards, but one stood out from the rest. It had what looked like a red beak rather than a yellow bill, a green head and multicolored feathers. Yet, it was readily accepted by the other ducks. I think there is a lesson here for us humans.

Lets think about the people that make up a Christian Church. People all over the world who believe in Christ and follow His teachings. The Church then is the CAMP ; The family of God; The household of Faith. In His last instructions to the disciples, Christ called on them to love one another as he had love them. John 17:21-“My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart just as you & I are, Father.”
Christ’s love and power flows out into the relationships in which we live. This then is the calling of the church. Let us practice loving each other. “So let us go out to Him, beyond the city walls.” Hebrews 13:13

Here at Chambrel there are people of every walk of life. Most are very cheerful and friendly and kind. For reason we don’t know, a few are grumpy and never smile . But when you offer a friendly word and a big smile , you will find most people will smile right back at you. Acceptance and kindness is something we can give to each other, and it is a gift that everyone can afford.

Love Others
God let me spread a little cheer,
Erase a doubt, cast out a fear,
Lend a prompt and willing hand,
Be there to listen and understand,
Let me be filled with thoughtfulness,
Love others more, my own self less
And lighten hearts with a smile or a word
Too seldom given, too seldom heard.

IRish Blarney

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle, and we think of ‘green’, shamrocks, leprechauns and limericks when we think of anything Irish. We also associate the word ‘Blarney’ with the Irish people.

‘Blarney’ according to the Webster Dictionary is a stone in Blarney Castle near the city of Cork, Ireland believed to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it . Some would say it is nonsense, “Irish Blarney.’

There are many beautiful places to visit in Ireland. To list a few:

In Dublin you can visit Trinity College Library and see ‘The books of Kells and The Long Room.
You can worship in the beautiful St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin also
.
Killarney is called ‘heaven’s reflex’ for it has been one of the world’s favorite beauty spots for 200 years. The 'Ring of Kerry' road (about 110 miles long) has its base point in Killarney.

Kilkenny, is known as the ‘Marble City’. The tag ‘Marble City’ is derived from the black marble found nearby which is used for decorative purposes in the churches.

Waterford world famous for its Crystal which is shaped individually by Master Blowers, handcut by Master Craftsman making every glass unique - no two are exactly the same.

Dingle Bay can be seen from what is surely one of the world’s most picturesque roads.

But when in Ireland, visiting the Blarney Castle is a must. Nobody is certain how the legend ’ the gift of eloquence’ is derived from kissing the Blarney Stone. But it is said that Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited to giving the word “blarney” to the language when, commenting on the unfilled promises of Cormac MacDermont McCarthy , Lord of Blarney at the time, she is reported to have remarked: “This is all blarney; what he says, he never means.”

When we think of the Irish, we also think of Guinness beer and Scotch whiskey. There are many pubs in Ireland, including a Mitchell Pub, but the most famous is Seanache pub dating back to the 18h century. You will find the doors of the houses painted different colors. I was told that this helps the men find their way home after a night at the local bar. Maybe a little Irish Blarney!

A limerick to enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day:
May the blessings of love be on you,
Live within you and all around you’
May it be your shelter in the storming hours,
And your warming fire when chill winds blow.
May love make soft your path, that your steps never falter,
And widen your path that friends may always walk beside you.
May love shine out of the soul of you,
Like a welcoming light so that when others speak your name,
It will be to say here is one whose heart has never cared too little.

Problems/Promises

I had bills from the doctor that has already been paid. My prescriptions were messed up, I got the wrong food at dinner, my parking space was taken; little annoying things but it made me wonder, ”why is everyone always picking on me;” words from a song I remember .Then the words from another song came to mind, “into each life some rain must fall,’

Every human being has some problems. Many people are out of work. The tendency is for individuals to believe that their problems are bigger than others. You’ve heard about the man who didn’t have any socks, and then he saw a man who didn’t have any legs. That’s why when you tabulate your problems, also consider your blessings, and maybe you’ll find out that you really aren’t so bad off .

Also, it is good to remember that adversity and difficulties are sometimes the real test of a person’s caliber and strength. It takes adversity to really test a person’s fortitude, and difficulties to strengthen the mind. A’ big ‘ person meets problems with clear thinking and can generally solve them. I read somewhere that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond.

Some people virtually owe their achievements to their ability to ’bounce back’ and overcome their difficulties. “You’ve got to roll with the punches,” is a phrase I have often heard. Remember that in almost every difficulty there is a way out.

If you continue to look on the dark instead of the bright side of life, you will bring constant unhappiness to yourself and also to others. To start on the road away from self-pity and gloom, try thinking of something humorous, and then start laughing.

Laughing Matters by Karen Jones
If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you when,
Through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do all these things,
Then you are probably the family dog.

Trials may be very painful, but if by God’s grace we endure them, our faith can emerge purer and stronger than it was before.”

God’s promises are greater than life’s problems. Romans 4:13-25 At times Abraham must have wondered if God’s promises to him were secure. Their fulfillment must have seemed impossible to him, but God makes no promises He does not keep.

I see not a step before me as I tread on another year;
But I’ve left the past in God’s keeping--
The future His mercy shall clear;
And what looks dark in the distance may
Brighten as I near.
Mary Gardiner Brainard

To Be Happy

We just celebrated Mardi Gras here at Chambrel . We had a parade with beads being thrown, just as they do in Louisiana when celebrating Fat Tuesday. Every employee was in the parade, the chefs and servers, housekeeping, maintenance, bus drivers and all the Executive staff, even our Director. We had floosies, acrobats, a mermaid, an octopus and the award went to the residents from Assisted Living who came dressed as Jesters.

Everyone was hollering and clapping, obviously having a good time….’Happy.’ It was the first time, here at Chambrel, I witnessed such a large group letting loose and enjoying themselves. What does it take to make one happy? You don’t have to participate in the event or you don’t have to win to have fun. As one song says, ‘enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.’

Whether you are young or old, you can chart your own course to be happy. Life is not really that serious. Basically , it is learning to enjoy ourselves . All work and no play can make for a dull person., as the saying goes. Happy is the person who can give his time and his talent to others. Happy is the person who knows who he is and what he can and cannot do. Happy is the person who has developed an optimistic outlook on life . Happy is the person who takes time to play , time to relax and time to pray.

Above all we need to pray and stay focused on Christian Principles. When we remember God’s goodness and when we put Him first, He blesses our life. That is the true way “To Be Happy.’

Presidential Trivia

Since this is Presidents Day, I thought a little trivia is in order.
1. What relation did FDR and Teddy Roosevelt have to each other?
2. How many presidents died in office?
3. Which president flew 58 combat missions in WWII?
4. Which president’s Secret Service code name was “Rawhide”?
5. Which President gave the White House its name?
6. Who was the only president to later serve as chief justice?
7. During the Great Depression which future first lady received a $2.50 wedding ring?
8. How many presidents have been named George?
9. Who was the oldest president to take office?
10. Who was the tallest president standing at 6’4”?





Answers:
1. Fifth Cousins
2. Eight: William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, James
Garfield, William McKinley, Warren Harding, FDR, and John F.
Kennedy.
3. George H. W. Bush
4. Ronald Reagan
5. Teddy Roosevelt
6. William Howard Taft
7. Lady Bird Johnson
8. Three - Washington, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.
9. Ronald Reagan- he was 69 when inaugurated
10. Lincoln

Valentine's Day

FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT VALENTINE’S DAY
Although St. Valentine’s Day is a well-established American holiday, little is known about the man after whom the day is named. Here are some answers to questions about St. Valentine and his day:

St. Valentine was a priest and physician who lived in Rome during the third century. At that time, Christianity was a persecuted faith and Valentine was imprisoned. When he would not recant his faith, Valentine was put to death on February 14.

According to legend, when Valentine was a priest in Rome, Emperor Claudius II ordered young men not to marry, believing if they did not have wives, they would be more willing to go to war. Moved by compassion for the young lovers, Valentine married them secretly.
February 15 was the date set aside to honor he Roman god, Lupercus. On that day, young women would write love notes and deposit them in a large urn. The young men would take the notes out and then court the women whose messages they had drawn. When Christianity became the official religion of Rome, the church merged the Roman holiday with the martyrdom of St. Valentine on February 14.

Valentines came to the U.S. with the earliest English settlers. John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote his wife: “February 14, 1629, Thou must be my Valentine.”
Esther A. Howland of Worcester, Mass., developed the first cards in 1847. That year, she sold an amazing $5000 worth of cards. Her fancy valentines made St. Valentine’s Day very popular. Soon other manufacturers were making cards. In 1993 , one billion Valentine's Day cards cards were sold.

Happpy Valentine's Day!

And, "may the blessing of love be on you,

live within you and all around you.

May it be your shelter in the storming hours,

and your warming fire when chill winds blow.

May love make soft your path,

that your steps never falter,

and widen your path that friends may

alway walk beside you.

May love shine out of the soul of you

like a welcoming light so that

when others speak your name, it will

be to say there is one whose heart has

never cared too little."

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The Father;s Love

Bill & I just got the news that we have another great grandchild (that totals 14). Most of the grandchildren and their families live a 2 hr. drive away. That limits the availability of seeing them very often, but it doesn’t limit the love we have for each one.

Steve Blow, a Dallas Morning News Columnist, talked about the ’expansion of love’ in one of his columns. Upon the birth of his second grandchild, he marveled at the love he had for this child. The same love he had for his first grandchild. And I’m sure he would have the same love for each future grandchildren. I thought about our Father (God) and the love he has for each one of us. He loves us equally ,and still has the same abundance of love for those in the future.

.God’s nature is steadfast love, and this is not a fleeting attraction but an eternal bond supporting us always. There are many things said in the Bible about how we are to live, but none is given more weight than love. Just as an earthly father loves his children and wants the best for them, God loves us and wants the best for us.

Unconditional love, such as God has for us encourages full communion with Him. This is what it means to love God with all your heart, your mind, and your soul. A growing relationship is essential not only with our children, but God desires a true relationship and long-term relationship with Him.

In Corinthians 13: 7,8 you will see these words:
Love knows no limit to its endurance.
No end to its trust.
No fading of its hope;
It can outlast anything
Love still stands when
All else has fallen.

In the Song of Solomon you’ll find this: Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it..
And finally, as one song goes: The greatest thing you’ll ever learn…..is to love and be loved in return.