catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

Gone, yet ne’er forgotten!

Blue-Christmas-Tree

Amid all the festiveness of the holiday season come times of remembrance… Christmas past, family and friends gone but not forgotten. There is an overwhelming sense of sadness that at the same time brings on smiles of the heart. The joy, the laughter, the silliness within the seriousness of the time. With Christmas, there is always music, special music. Some of the melodies have been passed down from generation to generation while new ones hit the scene with the changing times.

 music-notes-divider

Loving memories of those who have passed on are rekindled everyday in music that lives on and on and on…
Gone, yet ne’er forgotten
Music that calms & heals
Soothing the very soul
With each heart it steals
  Yesterday, today, tomorrow
Music starts the morning
Your songs live within us
Keeping our hearts yearning
  With the Christmas season
You’re missed more ’n’ more
With melodies of the holidays
Drifting in and out the door

 Gone, yet ne’er forgotten
Music to relive the days
Happiness within sorrow
Til the last memory fades

©2013
Sharla Lee Shults

  

To all who have loved ones in Heaven this Christmas, may you find joyful peace with family and friends.

..

5 Comments »

Awakenings: Bake ’em & Eat em’

With cookies having already been celebrated throughout the year, why another ‘cookie’ day? There was even an entire month devoted to the cookie, the month of October. Since we are in the midst of the Christmas holiday season perhaps understanding why another ‘cookie’ day is not so difficult at all. With Christmas comes baking, with all the baking going on, at the top of the list is holiday cookies.

December 18 is…

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Cookie days celebrated up to this point generally focused on any cookies with the easy way out being bought, not homemade. Bake Cookies Day is set aside for people, young and old, to stir up some cookie dough spreading holiday aromatic scents around not just the kitchen but permeating throughout the house.

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

3 Comments »

Awakenings: Awakenings Book Signing

From the inception of Awakenings, it has been my goal to support our military with the book itself being dedicated to those who laid the foundation and established the platform for our American freedom: those who have served in the past, presently serve, or will serve our military forces in the future. A profound appreciation is extended for the sacrifice of these brave men and women who left or will leave their homes and family to ensure America’s freedom endures.

Today I am proud to announce a book signing event with proceeds benefiting our wounded warriors and veterans will take place…

Saturday, December 12
The Bean Cafe
101 E Water Street
Bainbridge, Georgia

Sourced through Scoop.it from: awakenings2012.blogspot.com

For each $20 book sale, proceeds go toward the support of our troops. Should anyone desire to make a donation above the $20 that total amount would go to the designated party, veterans and/or wounded warriors, through channels provided by the American Legion Post 157, Donalsonville, GA.
 
The intent is not for personal gain but benefit of our military…my way of giving back to those who have given so much of themselves for the freedoms enjoyed on a daily basis in America.

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

3 Comments »

Awakenings: Awakenings Breaks 300,000 Hits!

Awakenings was birthed on November 18, 2011 taking baby steps with its first 5 blog posts being aired before the end of the year. Since that time postings have reached over 1500! When I first started, I felt as green as the “Green Hornet” but not nearly as confident as the crime-fighter himself.

On Saturday, October 13, 2012, Awakenings’ hits reached the first milestone…10,000 hits. Next came 100,000, then 200,000 and now here I am today celebrating…300,000 and still counting!

Sourced through Scoop.it from: awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Thank you! for embracing the past, empowering the present, enriching the future of America with each visit to Awakenings! America’s strength lies with each link remaining taut to preserve and carry on her ancestral chain.
 

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

3 Comments »

Bon Appétit & Music Too!

Reposted from Awakenings with a touch of catnip…

Happy-Thanksgiving2

Gobble Gobble Gobble is the tune of the day if the only thing on your mind is the Thanksgiving feast…BUT that is not all Thanksgiving is about. It’s only a start…

  gluttons for punishment
partake of the Thanksgiving feast
with abundant choices
one can feel like a gorging beast

*****
try this for something different…
go around the table
fill a plate with all the trimmings
deliver to the disabled

*****
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

  Thanksgiving is not just about food…it’s music too!

music of Thanksgiving
soul felt,  full of emotion
melodies of the heart
spreading joy, inspiration
*****
 it’s rhythmic balance in nature
in tune with songs of life
 spiritually rewarding
“whispers of drum and fife”

 Thanksgiving is about…

 giving thanks for many blessings
received the whole year through
being with family and friends
 cherishing all they do
*****
living, laughing, loving
never forgetting those in need
giving inspiringly
encouraging others indeed
~
Beyond the Thanksgiving table…
~
remember blessings said
being heard with a grateful ear
 humbly and earnestly
memorable words to endear
*****
 emit emotions from the heart
those that last all year through
solemn thankfulness amid praise
to never bid adieu

 Thanksgiving_catnip

Thanksgiving-cute-kitty-in-pumpkin
2 Comments »

Awakenings: Kindness on Friday the 13th…

Today World Kindness Day falls on…

Friday the 13th! 

Throughout most of recorded history, it has been common knowledge that the number 13 itself is associated with bad luck. There is even a name for people who live in fear of the number 13: They suffer fromTriskaidekaphobia. No one seems to be too concerned with Monday the 13th, Tuesday the 13th, etc. but Friday the 13th is a different story. Continued @Awakenings…

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Are you superstitious? If so, then, Friday the 13th is a day you do not look forward to at all. Whatever your belief, shed the fear and

Spread the kindness…

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

2 Comments »

World Kindness Day

Have you ever thought about the difference in thankfulness versus gratefulness? During hot, dry spells, you are thankful for the slightest hints of rain or during the winter, you are thankful for the day falling snow finally wanes. On the other hand, you are indeed grateful for the presence of nature, the nurture that Mother Nature brings to the earth in the forms of nourishment, care, shelter, guidance, inspiration. Being aware of your surroundings interjects feelings of thoughtfulness which in turn makes you truly thankful thereby expressing gratitude for all blessings received. Inner spirit is at peace, heart and soul.

Turning Thoughtfulness

Being thankful, giving thanks
Go together hand-in-hand
One without the other
Makes for a lonely stand

Be thankful for many blessings
Each new day may impart
Specially those unexpected
Which arrive heart-to-heart

Give thanks in return
For those blessings received
Since unspoken words
Can’t be quickly perceived

Be thankful for troubled times
Reaching out to those concerned
For without painful mistakes
Lessons cannot be learned

Give thanks for the little things
From strangers and loved ones alike
Whose genuine thoughtfulness
Presents a delightful heartstrike

Be thankful for each morning
With which a fresh start begins
Giving thanks for daily blessings
Until the day finally ends

Turn thoughtfulness into gratitude
A work of heart, a practice of soul
Find pleasure giving to others
A notion that never grows cold

catniplogosm1

© 2015 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

—Albert Schweitzer (Alsatian theologian, organist, philosopher 1875–1965)

RAK_be_one

November 13th is World Kindness Day!

A global 24-hour celebration dedicated to
paying-it-forward and focusing on the good.

Feelings of thoughtfulness naturally bring on acts of kindness, which make for a better day any time of the year. Even though November 13th is set aside as a day of celebration, let it only be the beginning of random acts of kindness to last all year!

Need some ideas?
Opportunities for random acts of kindness are everywhere. We just have to take the time and allow ourselves to do something memorable for others. November 13th, World Kindness Day, is a good day to remind us of that. The good news, is that kindness doesn’t always require spending. A nice letter, a compliment, or even your time can make someone smile.
Shari’s Berries created a Random Acts of Kindness Generator to inspire you on World Kindness Day. Just choose a category, and the generator will provide a simple act you can do for someone else. Luckily, there are over fifty different kindness ideas which you can perform all year long!
http://www.berries.com/blog/53-random-acts-kindness-generator
Random acts of kindness come from the heart, one beat at a time! 
2 Comments »

Awakenings: In the Name of Sacrifice…

Let us be thankful to our nation’s Veterans for their service! Set aside a few moments now, tomorrow and every day thereafter in recognition and appreciation of those who sacrificed and are sacrificing every day ensuring the rights and freedoms in America will be protected for generations to come. The fight to maintain freedom is not just for today, it is for America’s future.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: awakenings2012.blogspot.com

We have come far; suffered much; gained, lost, regained;
let it not all be in vain.

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

2 Comments »

Remember Our Soldiers

Reposted from Awakenings:

In preparation for Veteran’s Day,
 November 11…
Remember our soldiers
At home and away
Who sacrifice daily
For the USA
 
‘Tis not for fortune
They give of their all
But honor and courage
Answer duty’s call

Patriots of merit
Put first not one’s self
But concern for others
In and of itself

Of those returning home
Wounded, shell-shocked, sick
Calls go out to others
To ease the pain quick

Yet not quickly enough
Does the relief come
Even off battlefields
Too many succumb

Seek out a helping hand
No matter how small
Do whatever you can
Bless one, bless them all!

 
©2015 Awakenings
Sharla Lee Shults
To support our military is to support America, defend her honor, preserve her freedom.
http://awakenings2012.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-salute-to-our-troops.html
A Salute to Our Troops!

 

3 Comments »

BOO!

Trick or Treat!

cateyes

flaminghappyhalloween

Visit catnip’s sister site, Awakenings, for MORE hauntings…

jack-o-lanterns

brief video history of Halloween,

the craziest selfie ever,

comic horror movie classic,

a bit of nostalgia and

scary vintage Halloween costumes!

pumpkinrow

bats

Trick or Treat!

1 Comment »