Make Me Laugh

Thought I'd share some of these this morning...

Ever feel like this on a Monday morning?

Or this at work?

How 'bout this at the end of the week?

Take Heart!  We all have these situations in our lives and if we cope with them well...

I hope you have a friend to turn to today, especially if its a cat.

Catspaw

Tomorrow Is Soon Enough

May 12, 2012 ---

Alicia and Tim

My niece is married today. A brand new part of her life has just opened up and it will be very different from living single and being the only one responsible for working to make it on her own. She has married in time, in her early 20's and has time for children, time to build a family of her very own and to meet the challenges marriage brings. There are more pros than cons, she is no longer alone on life's road, she has a life partner who will support and help her, she has someone to share with and confide in... and he has the same in her. 

Both work; she's a nurse and he is in banking so they have established, excellent careers that will see them through financial difficulties. They are hugely fortunate that way ~ if only we all had that advantage. 

She grew up in the church and has traveled a good deal on missions to Africa, Australia, China and the Congo just to name a few. He has also gone on mission trips. Now that they have that 'wandering and seeing the world' satisfied, they can settle into married life more comfortably. 

It does bring to mind all the things that I could have/should have done, long before I was married; its a reminder that hindsight has no advantage in the present because it only provides a viewpoint from what has already transpired and cannot be changed. But it does offer up one benefit, perhaps the only one if we are willing to learn from our past and ask yourselves what can we do right now; what can I do differently at the moment, in our present circumstances and situations that will lead to the outcome we want or need; perhaps deserve, to have happen. If we are able to learn prudence, sacrifice and economy we may yet have a chance. 

Catspaw

Marriage and Sacrifice ~ Choices To Make

As you know my husband and I live on Prince Edward Island in Canada. All of my family is in Kelowna, BC making it impossible to visit without having both money and time availability. 

My niece is getting married on May 12th! 

My hubby has a way that I could go but he'd have to stay behind...

Flying clear across a country isn't cheap at the best of times, even with his overtime pay. Its finally May ~ I never thought I'd be so happy to see the backend of April! ~ and its time to start prepping for the field work on the farm so things are about to finally get busy, that's the other reason for his staying behind.

I could go ~ I haven't seen my family in about two years now ~ I could have a great time getting off this island, away from the winter's hardships, enjoy myself at my only niece's wedding... but, I'd be leaving behind a man who deserves a vacation more than I do. He's a very dedicated, married man and a very hard worker and provider. I decided against attending the wedding. His overtime can be better spent catching up on our credit cards and a bill or too. Besides, I just applied for a job and will be hearing about it next week. So I have to be available, and here. Its an island and unless you have 'people' here and are not from 'away', you don't have much chance of finding work during the winter and you have to apply in early spring to get anything at all.

A Wedding Day is a very BIG DEAL! One of the biggest in your life but there is something even bigger.

Your Wedding Day takes one day in your life; your marriage takes the rest of it.

Marriage and self-sacrifice go hand in hand. I think he was just a little upset that I decided not to go especially after he found a way to arrange it so I could. Men are problem solvers after all and he's a very creative one. He understands my reasoning though. Yet another aspect of marriage - sacrifice, when needed and not when needed. Its a choice. 

Catspaw

Aspects Of An Anniversary

What do you do for your anniversary?   Somehow Merrill and I started going out for an anniversary dinner to a favorite or new restaurant. We started this due to our finances; like everyone we have bills that eat up our paychecks and debt to pay down so it seemed like the most sensible thing to do. Remember, I'm not talking McDonald's here; nice place but even Timmie's is an improvement on a special occasion. Before we moved to Prince Edward Island two years ago; its been two years, eight months the end of May, coming up but am I counting??  Anyway, since we moved here from our beloved Alberta where we had a favorite place we'd go that this island sorely lacks. There is no replacing a good Buffet!  There is one here but once was enough at the price they charge for what you get in return.


The first aspect is how you chose to celebrate your anniversary and since anything goes within reason, there are no set rules. From dinner out, a movie, a night on the town, dancing, a weekend getaway if you can afford it, exchanging gifts. Maybe you can farm out the kids to a neighbor or grandparents... Better yet, get them to clean the house while your gone!

If you're like me, kinda like with Christmas, you plan for it well ahead of time. To that end here is one thing that I do to make it more special. Say you have some spare cash (HA!) excuse the laugh, I'm still working on that part. 
Ok, so you know those gift cards you see in every store that is allowed to carry them, every time I can afford it I invest in one, from my favorite stores of course, I purchase. Then I tuck them safely away and more often than not, forget they exist. Then something comes up and I go on a hunt for them. I try to do this, once every month and for a sizable amount like 50 bucks to make it worthwhile as, lets face it, $10 even $25 just doesn't count for much anymore. But, I have to say that when it comes from a friend or family member, it is very much appreciate.

Are you a coupon clipper?  I've become one but, I go online to my favorite stores and new stores that I find and get my coupons that way. Always making sure that its a worthwhile item, at least something I'd actually buy and the expiration date is not too close to hand. Sometimes one can come across a good spa deal or gym promotion if one is keeping an eye out. Sounds ridiculous ~~ a coupon to get the vehicle fixed for half price will mean a great deal to hubby!  A free hair cut and style will literally make a new woman out of the Mrs's, especially around Spring ~~ the time when we get antsy and run after any change that presents itself. 

If nothing else, hand your spouse a gift card and send them shopping!  No worry ~ no guilt, you've had it paid for months ago and you where lucky to find it again!!  Might as well use it, its money already spent anyway. Remember when you actually enjoyed such things before you got in the habit of counting the pennies in your purse??

Enjoy, guilt free!


Catspaw