Memories a choose whether to keep the good or the bad.

I heard a song years ago and the only words I remember are "Memories don't live like people do they always stay with you whether the day seemed good or bad".See in looking back at many times in my life there have been points I have choosen to remember just the good. The bad will always be there, it will haunt you if you allow it. The good ones if given a chance can grow into amazing flowers or a mighty oak overtaking the evil bad memories so to speak. When my brother died nearly a year ago. My sister and I reflected on this man who was between both of us in age. My sister remembered how hard a life Scott had, it is very true Scott had a very tough life. However over the last year I choose to look at the good that my brother bought into this world.

He was amazing at art, very knowledgeable about antiques and had a smile that made me feel like I was six again. The brother who stood up to the bullies who teased me about my eyes been crossed.

In truth I have had to change how I looked back at many times in my life choosing to look and see the good and not always the bad.

It is true memories will always stay with you, it is simply a choose to hold onto the bad or with hope hold onto the good.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Noah and Irene.

As the American's experience the back lash of Irene many people in the south are saying that the weather men in the south over reacted. I think those in the south should count their blessings and some do. I am sure Noah when he built his ark was laughed at by many people. Perhaps the reality is that with hurricane Katrina many did not listen to the warnings. I guess this is true with the Bible many hear the word and choose to stick their fingers in their ears like children. The issue is reality hits and a Katrina comes and then what? No fingers in the ears can bring back lives. You have to start and rebuild from the ground up.

I think all these storms, hurricanes and floods and other damaging weather cycles so to speak, can teach us to look and see where we need to listen. To reflect and be aware that at times we need to go down a different road.

I am thankful for some I have listened to, sad at others that I wished I had not had my fingers in my ears.

My hope is if the storms are ragging in your life you see that God can bring good out of it. Look at Noah.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

New York shops prepare for Irene how about you?

As major stores in New York City, yesterday, prepared for Irene to pass through. These large companies with undoubtedly lots of money, prepare by boarding up their shops. Nothing wrong with that, but I wonder how many of these companies thought of how they could help their employees. How many employees were evacuated, no boards on their windows of their homes, just shear hope and a prayer maybe.

I guess it is somewhat like the Pharisees who gave tons of money to the temple, their disgrace, as a poor widow placed her small amount in the offering. But she gave it all and they sacrificed nothing. I am not saying by any means that every large organization does not care for its employees, but I do believe that if we all took the time to look out of our own window and help in some small way someone else our lives would be richer.

This week we saw Irene, an earth tremor and people evacuated. But what will take it take for us to look into our lives and board up the hurt and stop the surge of bitterness.

It is a question all of us one way or another must answer whether in this world or the next, we will have to answer for how we dealt with our hurricanes.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Your hurricane Irene

As Irene batters the east coast. It is interesting to reflect on somethings that hurricane situations are similar to life. Many people were told to evacuate, many listened to the warnings but many didn't, they thought they would brave out the storms. Many took precautions buying food and making sure that things were strapped down and that public transports were closed. But many people just ignored it all. Indeed for some of us it was not that bad, and others worse. However if only in life we took precautions, listened to the warning signs. Listened even to instructions to wiser people. Then perhaps we would not be in the mess we often end up.

I can truly look back and wished I had listened to the Hurricane warnings in my life more.

I try now to be more attentive and more willing to listen, now.

How about you, are you just going to ignore it all or take precautions so that when the storms come it does not have such a devastating impact.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Earth and life tremors.

The other day I was in the dentist, they were talking of what they should do as every time they drilled in one of my teeth my bottom tooth reacted, not so much fun. A earth quake tremor happened. I felt this shake underneath my seat, but I said nothing I was sure that they would think that the injection had gotten to me.

Life is often like this instead of speaking up when something serious is going to happen, we say nothing. One time I was in a car and I could see that the car in front had stopped but I said nothing and the car I was in went into the back of them. Say if this happened in more important issues of life. You see that someone is going to make a bad decision that will effect their family and them, or they make a bad financial decision. Better to have said something out of love than nothing at all.

You can never go back and change things but you can go forward and when you see those earth tremors coming turn and face them head on. Even if like the other day they take us by surprise, when my brother died on September 4th I decided to join a grief share program at my church. I was in that room on September 7th moving forward and trying to deal with my grief. This was not easy and still is not but making a good decision like that has helped me heal.

Life is not easy but it sure helps when you have good friend and you have an amazing God to turn too.

This song below helps us to know that we are not alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNac9pfiMwQ

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Let go of those balloon

As a year approaches to my brothers death. A friend said to me" like you let the balloons go for your brother let go of him." I am not very good at this. In truth I feel by letting go of Scott, my broken marriage, that I failed that I could not make it work and that it was alright for both to happen that I am saying that I do not care. It is simply not true.

My friend added "but you cannot make people's decisions it was there's alone." With Scott I could not make him see how he could make it. I felt responsible to be honest that I could not and at times with my marriage. I guess I hold myself to be answerable for things way out of my control.

How about you do you hold yourself accountable in judgement for things that you had no control of?

I probably have most of my life, I so wanted to be a fashion designer I was good art I loved it. But I felt so responsible for my parents after their divorce I forgot myself.

Perhaps in writing I have found a little piece of me and I love that.

It is true we are only responsible for our actions. The rest we just have to give to God.

Balloons and all. It does not mean you forget that person it means they can move on.

Not easy and very hard.

I hope you can let go off the things that you cannot change and press forward to a brighter future.

Dream Big friend

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Greater things are yet to come.

Have you had someone call you a name or kept telling you that you are a certain way. In the end and after time it drains on a person. I was told yesterday as I have many a time that a person does not have to believe this or listen to it. Perhaps easier said than done. I know some people who have such a negative influence on some people that they have felt crippled to get up.

It is almost like you need about ten encouraging comments to counter act the one bad comment.

Emails I think are notorious, people shoot out what they think for that moment and do not think of how that might hurt a person.
In life we are not a single island, we all need each other. Some more than others. We need to be wise that the people we are around fill us with hope and direction. That we lock into a place where people and God can direct us even if it means hard changes. Then and only then do I think the harsh comments start to break down and a person can soar like an eagle. It is as though we are trapped in a prison with no light, we have to gather strength, reach and keep reaching. Comments that bring tears are just from hurting people. Comments that make you smile and sometimes even bring correction are from people who have walked in your shoes.

I believe you, who reads this, can do great things.

As a song says" Greater things are yet to come"

Here is the link to the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Influences of the past and present.

I will have to say that I have learnt the hard way. That to move forward in my life, I have had to look back. I have chosen to see the good in many bad times. My childhood had it's fair share of ups and downs like many other people. When I look back, I like to focus not on the times that caused me anguish or upset but instead the good in my dad, other people and the places I lived. I was very blessed. I went to a good school which I still love and lived in a wonderful part of England and although my parents marriage was a yo-yo I chose to see the good.

I sent a book out to try and get published at the beginning it reads in part this statement below.

"In life we all make decisions, but we rarely wonder how they will affect another person’s life, less alone another generation."

"But say if those choices you made today had outcomes that affected generations to come in your family. Let’s say that those chooses made things happen and peoples’ lives to take paths that they would never have dreamed of."

You see it is true in life we allow sometimes people to lead us and change our lives without thinking of the outcome. We often do not turn to God or even think for ourselves.

When my parents got divorced, it was a hard road for all three of us.

None of us talked much about it. Infact my mother would say that we were just kids and how could it affect us.

The problem was it affected all our lives.

I chose a road, least traveled, to see the good and try my hardest to move on. But it is not easy, I was hurt about somethings for over twenty years. All I can say is what a waste.

I don't know if my dad is alive, I don't know what the future holds.

I do know that I am thankful for the blessings that have come my way, for the wonderful memories I have chosen to hold onto. I do know one day my books will be on a shelf, maybe yours and read. I know in it I chose a better road and that is what I wish for anyone related to me and any person reading this. Don't let your past or others in it dictate who you will be, see the good in it all, don't stay bitter and find you, and in that you will find a peace and I surely hope you find my God who has been there for me through it all.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Blessings by Laura Story

Today, I listened to a song called Blessings by Laura Story. It is so beautiful showing how much God cares for us and giving us encouragement to keep going. I sang it nearly all day, and though I've now got a sore throat, I can't say that I wasn't happy singing it and would sing it more. Hope this encourages you as it did for me.

Blessings

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough.

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe.

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise.

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
* It's not our home *

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Emily

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

God wants you.

In a world where tweeting, face booking and such technology is so apparent. I am impressed to see that the Police in many area's in England are out in full force to make sure that these crimes are not just taken for granted there is a price to pay.

Let us think though about if God had our faces on all the media and on buses etc. You lied, you made that person cry, you were not forgiving, you showed not remorse for what you did. I wonder then would we think? We think we can get away with it because there is no Police man looking over our shoulder or is there. Think twice because all is recorded.

God is a forgiving God, but trust me he may not twitter or face book you but he has your number.

Think as we judge so many people, of the times we ourselves need to judge ourselves. Many of us have not done such crimes as in England, but how many times have you made someone cry or could have helped someone.

It is surely something to think about.

Because like the Police God wants YOU.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Keep dreaming

I often like to ignore certain things in my life and just imagine that I live in a wonderful cottage in Cornwall in England, not that I have been there but that peace and quite rural life style total draws me in.

Often it seems life just pushes us down from unexpected bills to annoying teeth ache this week I had both.

I love the verse in the Bible that says that each day has enough worries of it's own and it talks about how we can be choked by lives worries.

In all my worries that come my way. I am comforted that there is a big God that loves and cares for us all.

I like to dream of my cottage in Cornwall and so to all you dreamers I say never give up your dreams. I think it is often want keeps us believing for a better day.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

London Blitz and the London Riots

These images both very similar one from the London Blitz of 1940 and one from the London Riots of 2011.

Ernie Pyle a journalist at the time put it so well. " It was a night when London was ringed and stabbed with fire"

Words that might well have been written by any journalist in these last few days that has seen the out pouring of vandalism across London and many parts of England.

I was not born in the war but from what I have understood it was a time of economic difficultly, not so different than perhaps today. But through hard times it bought a country together.

People helped a neighbor out and really it appears that it bonded a country in a common cause.

Pictures I am sure that those who remember the London Blitz thought that they would never see again. Grandparents who fought in a war to keep England free, now watch as the young take advantage of that freedom.

Yet here we are 71 years on and the images are back.

I hope that this is a time men and women come together.

It is sad for those survivors of the Blitz to see such images.

Least we forget those who have lost their lives and loved ones for our freedom

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

London Riots

The London Riots have left scenes that have been compared to the Blitz of the second world war. My nephew Troy is going into the army and I think it is true what he put on his facebook wall. These men are not real men they need to look at the soldiers fighting in many countries. Now Troy put this in different words but I have to agree. In such economic times what good is it to be looting, destroying businesses and bringing such terror to where people live. This is nothing but people with little respect for anyone.

I say the true heros are the police men, the ambulance services, those in anyway helping out in these times and to Troy my nephew willing to join the army after losing both parents. He is the hero of our time.

Please have a cup of tea with me today

The Best is yet to come.

Yesterday at my job a young Lady called Miss Lisa, I was quick to tell her that she did not have to. Her reply touched me "no I want to show respect." Then a young man I had spoken to told me things will work out for me and then to top it a young girl beamed and smiled as I left "bye Lisa" I wished her all the best at college. I felt very touched little me who views that wow I have no degree and boy what a mess this all is in my life, truly felt that God was using her. I have no idea when I will ever go back to England, how I will find the money for school books for my children, or a full time job and I pray over my house and car every day dreading if another noise happens. I tell people how I love my blog and that this is where you will find me. I long for the day when I can type to my hearts content and do this for a living. See my road, like so many others has been long. My parents argued a lot and divorced when I was fifteen, we were all taken away from school, I had so wanted to be a fashion designer. Then my marriage broke down leaving me here in America and then my brother and his wife died. I remember saying as a child each Birthday "I want everyone to be happy gayeous and joyeous." Perhaps in my heart I just want people to see beyond their bitterness. Children in any marriage break down truly bear the blunt. I never got all the qualifications I wanted, nor did I go to college, although my mother tried in her own way. Now I see how my children juggle been children and adults. They lost their school and we do yard sales to raise money and watch most pennies. Friends have come and gone. But perhaps in a lot of ways we have become better people reaching out to others and holding onto our faith.

In all this I do know the Best is yet to come. Sometimes it feels like we are walking down a long British road, but as long as the winters are in England, the spring does comes and none can beat those wonderful luscious colors of green that England has.

So if like me you have been down a long road remember in life that spring will come.

Thank you so much for reading my blog for believing in me.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Everyone needs a little help getting off the ground.

I truly believe in life that we should all help each other. In a world where the economy is very messed up finding a job has become very tough. I know many people who have tried for years.

Since becoming a single parent I have tried looking for full time work for a long time. This is not easy. I love writing and have tried many times to get my books published. I also tried my hands at cooking making tasty meringues and flapjacks (cookies) peppermint cremes and truffles.

So here below are some information about some people that if you feel you can help please contact them, place an order be a blessing. These people are just wonderful people trying to make a living just like any of us a helping hand goes along way.

Steve Aspinall

He runs Stanton Framing and is an amazing framer he has made frames for shops and the USAF base at Lakenheath, England. If you ever need a good frame at a brilliant price this is the man you want to contact.

Stanton framing

Unit 5 George Hill units

Barningham Road

Stanton

Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk IP31 2AD

01359-251851 (this is a UK number)

Well worth a call and he can send his brilliant work to you.

Lisa (Me)

English Delights

Making British desserts for all occasions

Also Loves writing and has some wonderful books waiting to be published, so come on give me a chance and publish my work.

Please contact me at:

lisakc67@gmail.com

Miss London Sweet treats

Dog biscuits made for man and woman's best friend

peanut butter smooth or crunchy

Place your orders at:

lisakc67@gmail.com

These tasty desserts can be mailed to you and you absolutely will love them.

Also with my writing, I maybe the next Beatrix Potter if just given the chance.

Sharon

My amazing artist friend. Her art work is amazing and she can copy any photo sent to her. She also designs cards and posters for certain occasions.

She can be contacted by emailing her at sckulesa@hotmail.com

Life is not about us it is about helping others.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

The young America's got talent and Sharon Osbourne

Last night I watched America's got talent and watched as Avery and the Calico hearts did not make it onto the next round. If you go to the site below you can see these talented young ladies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gO1-S925VQ

Their cute sparky talent shinned I thought. Like Monet.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFfHUCqr6X0 These young ladies tried their best in a industry that is very hard.

I feel sure that the future is bright for all four young ladies.

It takes guts to stand on a stage less alone know that you are being watched by thousands.

Avery and the Calico hearts I hope get picked up by Disney. Their upbeat spirit would brighten any child's day and even bought a smile to Piers Morgan.

Lets hope that these platforms do not destroy good talent rather that it allows them an open door to reach out and show young people what you can achieve.

I will have to say that I know very little about Sharon Osbourne but on the show she is absolutely wonderful. I did see her on Piers Morgan show on CNN and loved her. She is so encouraging, she comes across as the mother you would love to have fun loving and just that little bit naughty. Her encouraging words were wonderful. I think she would be so fun to meet.

So check out these young ladies they are the up and coming talent.

After all we all need that sparkle and joy that these children bring and that love and motherly tender care with a little naughty that Sharon brings in our life.

We all deserve a chance and if people only would help each other out the world would be such a better place.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Doing the right thing as a Christian.

Being Christ like is not easy. I have recently been blessed to sit down once a day and read the Bible with my family. It is so not over rated making a few minutes each day brings us together and there is a peace in reading it. I find that in life in general people say many words but few people are there to help. I know many who are in positions to help and simply do not. Look at how many homeless people there in this world, how many people struggling for jobs. Yet few help. Yes the movie stars and the elite show their faces every now and again. This is good but they get to go home and have a hot shower and eat luxury food and have their holidays in exotic places. In reality the Bible is a living book, a living will so to speak. I love to help people it is a true compassion I have. To me there are few like this. Take for example someone who owns a cake company they perhaps could help the person trying to get on their feet but they don't they keep all that information to themselves. I think God wants us to help people in away that puts us out on a limb and makes us trust Him. If you see a person crying would you just walk away or if you could would you show compassion? I have many times got of my line at work to hug a person knowing my job might be on the line. Love costs nothing but to some it costs the world.

Being a true Christian comes at a price whether we are the Prime Minister or President or just a blog writer, helping others is simply what Christ wants us to do.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Scotty McCreery standing in God's boots.

While reading the Triangle East magazine for summer 2011, I came across a few pages about Scotty McCreery, Garner's American Idol. Here is something he said, "A lot of times it's hard to decipher God's plan for your life, you've got to trust Him. God's given me this, and it's my job to use it to His glory and His benefit, not my own." For being the youngest winner on American Idol at the age of seventeen, he has a pretty strong faith. Though he seems to be a star and is actually very much in the spotlight right now, he is only human just like you and me. The only difference is that he is using his talents to praise God and letting God lead him in the right directions to go. I liked what Rev. Ron Fowler, the minister of students at Garner's First Baptist Church, said, "Scotty doesn't walk on water, but he has character, humility and faith in Christ that says, 'This is who I am.'"

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." That means that not just a star or someone on tv, but that means that you can do anything. We have the opportunity to make a difference where we live and in your communities, whether that be a positive one or not. Our actions and words are a huge opportunity we have. Instead of pulling others down, we can used our words and actions to show others that God cares about them and is always there to help us.

So starting from today, I challenge you to say or do at least one nice thing to each person you see. My what a difference our world would be if everyone thought before they spoke and acted. Let's see where God takes not just Scotty McCreery, but also you these next few days, months, and even years.

Emily

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Easy road of life or not so for great blessings.

Running away from anything never solves a thing. It is easy to think that running away is an answer. It is simply just one answer, it is short term with long lasting effects. Ever heard of people taking the easy way out? Well that is what it is. It is also a misconceived lie that some how in the struggles of life to run away or to escape from issues allows us a free exemption from responsibilities. I can say this as when my parents divorced shortly after that I got on a train left my mum without her knowing and lived with my dad. The effects of this were long lasting and to this day I regret the actions I took. I did not make much effort to go to art college. I chose to not take the harder road of getting qualifications and sticking to a plan. Even in recent years as I replay the tapes in my life, I wished I could do some of it again. Our fears sometimes get the best of us. Sometimes we do not see life from another person's perspective and miss the whole point of the lesson. Friends who might mean well actually can be more harmful than good. One has to take a step back, play the tape all the way through and truly listen.

Take for example a person who is now on their fourth marriage they might well tell you that having a break and re-evaluating the situation might have been a harder road but long term a road worth fighting for and so that might have not gone through the heart ache of four marriages.

Take another example a young person wants to be a doctor but to get there, they are going to have to study and study. So they take the easy road becoming a nurse or janitor at the hospital after all partying the night way sounded fun. But inside they have missed an opportunity.

Life is not a simple card game of playing happy families. It is simply us reflecting at times and taking a hard road to receive tremendous blessings.

I loved my brother and I will always, however what I have learnt about compassion since Scott died I would not trade.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.