Bell Gram: May 2015

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Random Photos! May 2015!

Nick, Quasi in the background

"Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go." - Hermann Hesse

"Television has changed the American child from an irresistible force into an immovable object." - Laurence J. Peter

"When your mother asks, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it is a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway." - Erma Bombeck

"No idea is so antiquated that it was not once modern. No idea is no modern that it will not someday be antiquated." - Ellen Glasgow

"Be a philosopher but, admid all your philosophy be still a man." - David Hume

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." - William Faulkner

"A conference is a gathering of people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done." - Fred Allen

"A man who limits his interests limits his life." - Vincent Price

"If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin." -Ivan Turgenev

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage." - Maya Angelou

GLEN's HEALTHFUL MOMENT!

Developing Healthy Selfishness

The FEAR OF APPEARING (OH, HORRORS!) selfish can lead us to give ourselves away until we are exhausted and drained absolutely dry. A dry well has nothing to offer to others. Cultivating selfishness can be a virtue that activates an ever-flowing spring of goodness from which we can share liberally with others.

It really is true that we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. Those who first love themselves are able to love others more genuinely. As we honor our own wants and needs, we can do the same for others. Those who truly love themselves--as opposed to being self-centered or self-absorbed--can trust, accept and support others from a place of I give freelyrather than I need, therefore I give in hope of some return.

Sit quietly and tune in to your breathing. Allow it to move as it will. After watching your breath for a few moments, encourage it to deepen. Take in new air to an accepting universe. See yourself, symbolically, as a vase--a vessel for sacred water. How full are you? If you are full to overflowing, you have much to offer the world. If you are less than full, your task is to selfishly fill your vessel. As you inhale, see your vase filling with crystalline water; as you exhale, let go of your old ideas about being selfish. Breathe and fill. Breathe and release.

Make a list of the things you would like to do for yourself but haven't because you thought it would be too selfish. If you do these things, will your life be richer? Will you be happier? Will you have more peace of mind? Will you be able to let go of some resentment? Will you feel more supportive of yourself? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your life and your relationships will benefit from the infusion of a little selfishness. So give yourself permission to be selfish!

THE WOMAN's BOOK of CONFIDENCE..............Sue Patton Thoele

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Catching Up With Miss Kali!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

That's A Church Song!

Random Songs!

Memorial Day!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/30/opinion/30blight.html?_r=1

http://familybellgram.blogspot.com/2011/11/vietnam-veterans-virtual-wall-alvin.html

http://www.military.com/slideshows/memorial-day-tribute#.VWMZ2MumfDd?comp=1198882887570&rank=2

Thinking of Thomas on His Birthday!

May 25, 1961 - March 9, 1996

Saturday, May 23, 2015

GLEN's HEALTHFUL MOMENT!

"Knitting the Raveled Sleeve"

SLEEP, as Shakespeare said, KNITS UP the raveled sleeve of care. And who among us does not go to bed some nights with substantially raveled sleeves? We need our sleep because it replenishes all of our resources -- emotional, physical, mental and spiritual.

But just as an anorexic deprives her body of food, we sometimes starve ourselves of rest by attempting to sleep in an environment where we are overpowered by our partner's cover stealing, restlessness or snoring.

Diane struggled out of bed each morning bleary-eyed and resentful, having spent yet another night unsuccessfully trying to block out the sound of her husband's snoring. By the time morning arrived, her nerves were frayed, her creativity dwindled and her disposition soured. She almost hated him -- the unwitting instrument of her torturous sleeplessness. When talking to Diane about her dilemma, I encouraged her to support herself by finding a comfortable place where she could sleep peacefully. With some guilt and trepidation, she mustered the courage to move into another bedroom.

Just recently she told me that the move had saved her marriage. Watching Diane and her husband affectionately holding hands and laughing with one another, I could see the new relationship they had forged out of her willingness to take care of herself.

If our sleep vibrations do not mix and match well with our bed partner, this may sometimes mean we need a bedroom of our own. The sleep-on-the-couch cliche does not have to be a derogatory comment on the state of our relationship; rather it can mean that we have supported ourselves by creating a comfortable sanctuary, a feminine haven where we can get our much needed rest and knit up our raveled sleeve of care, undisturbed.

Sleeping well during the night means we are more likely to have an accepting and supportive attitude toward the people we meet during the day.

THE WOMAN's BOOK of CONFIDENCE by Sue Patton Thoele

Idea Of Reunion in La Next Year!

Billie wants me to pass on that Delmer Presley (Cousin Louree's son) and LT Harris (Cousin Elteen and Cousin Thelma Hay's son) wants to have a reunion in Louisiana next year. Maybe April or May before it gets too hot. July is hot in Louisiana and also Mattie's retirement party in NJ.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Glen Graduates From Worship School!

back row: Laura, Nick, Donovan, Glen, Rikki, Dodye, Wayne and Sharon
front row: Jacqueline, Sophia, Allie, Keni, Gwen and Grace

At the end of this clip, he said "Now you want the album, right? It's good stuff" :)

In Memory of Randy Richard Kyle!

October 25, 19 - May 12, 2015

Son of Patty Sue Bell Kyle and Randolph Kyle, Sr, grandson of Eleze Birch Bell (Mama's sister) and Lonnie Bell, Jr., great grandson of Willie Hay Bell (Mama's aunt) and Lonnie Bell, Sr. (Daddy's uncle)