Yogi Berra once said, "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else."

Inspirational Birthday Messages

Hope this day is as special as you are.

Count your life by smiles, not tears.Count your age by friends, not years.

I'm so glad you were born, because you brighten my life and fill it with joy.

May the years continue to be good to you. Happy Birthday!

You're not getting older, you're getting better.

May this year bring with it all the success and fulfillment your heart desires.

Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest.

Happy Birthday, and may all the wishes and dreams you dream today turn to reality.

May this day bring to you all things that make you smile. Happy Birthday!

Your best years are still ahead of you.

May each and every passing year bring you wisdom, peace and cheer.

You'll always be forever young.

No one can hold a candle to you. Happy Birthday!

Today is your day to shine as every day should be. Happy Birthday!

I hope that your birthday is as wonderful as you are.

God gave a gift to the world when you were born; a person who loves and cares, who sees a person's need and fills it, who encourages and lifts people up, who spends energy on others rather than himself, who touches each life he enters & makes a difference in the world. May the love you have shown to others return to you multiplied.

Don't count the years, count the blessings.

Wishing you a year filled with the same joy you bring to others.

Wishing you all the best in the year to come. May your days be filled with sunshine and beautiful colors. And may your nights be filled with comforting dreams and wishes to come.
No one desrves a happier birthday than you.

Youth happens, but age is earned.

Days have passed into years,you have become better with time. May you continue to become better with each birthday you enjoy.

Happy BirthdayYou are very special And you deserve the bestI wish you a wonderful life Filled with love and happiness

It must have been a rainy day when you were born because the heavens were crying because it lost its most beautiful angel.

Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again. ~Menachem Mendel SchneersonToward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe, 1995;

The Christmas Story

The First ChristmasStory
In the village of Nazareth lived young Mary. One night an angel appeared before her with the light of a thousand stars. "Blessed are you, Mary!" said the angel Gabriel. "You have been chosen to have a special baby, God's only son -- Baby Jesus." "I will do whatever God wants," said Mary. Mary celebrated the good news.

Far away in the East, three wise men prepared for a long journey. "We must follow that bright star," said the first wise man. "We must seek the Newborn King and bring him gifts," said the second wise man. "Then," said the third wise man as he mounted his camel, "we shall celebrate the good news."

In the fields outside of Bethlehem, shepherds watched over their flocks at night. Suddenly angels appeared. "Don't be afraid! We bring good news. Today a Savior will be born -- Christ the Lord!" So the shepherds ran to find the baby and celebrate the good news.
But in Bethlehem there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph. "You can stay in my stable," the innkeeper told them. Right there in the stable Mary gave birth to her baby. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and lay him in a manger. Mary and Joseph -- and even the animals -- celebrated the good news of Jesus' birth.
Soon the shepherds came and bowed down before God's son, Jesus. The wise men brought their gifts and worshipped the Newborn King. Everyone celebrated the good news that first Christmas. And now every Christmas, we sing like the angels, give gifts like the wise men, and celebrate the good news.
Refer to Luke chapters 1 and 2

A Way in a Manger

Away In A MangerChristmas Carol

Away in a manger,no crib for His bed,The little Lord Jesuslaid down His sweet head;The stars in the heavenslooked down where He lay,The little Lord Jesusasleep on the hay.The cattle are lowing,the poor Baby wakes,But little Lord Jesus,no crying He makes.I love Thee, Lord Jesus;look down from the skyAnd stay by my cradletill morning is nigh.Be near me, Lord Jesus;I ask Thee to stayClose by me foreverand love me I pray!Bless all the dear childrenin Thy tender care,And fit us for Heavento live with Thee there.Away in a manger,no crib for His bed,The little Lord Jesuslaid down His sweet head;The stars in the heavenslooked down where He lay,The little Lord Jesusasleep on the hay.

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart. -- George Mathhew Adams

I have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem to open their hearts freely, and so I say, God bless Christmas!" ~ Charles Dickens

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas; Star and angels gave the sign. - Christina Rossetti

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - -a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. - Augusta E. Rundel

Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind. - Helen Steiner Rice

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger." - St. Luke ii. 10 - 12

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
- Erma Bombeck

"GOD BLESS AMERICA"
a few good men & one good old man!

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.
The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.
The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, "You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age." And then with a wave of his han d, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, "Looks like you're having a problem."He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself an d knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.When I shook hands with him earlier he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, "What outfit did20you serve with?"He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal . He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all round again and I said my goodbye's to his wife.I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, bu t they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulle d over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name........ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society."I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence
" Remember, old men like him gave you FREEDOM for America
"America is not at war
The U.S. Military is at war.
America is at the Mall.
If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
God Bless America , our Veterans and Troops.

In this Very Room

This is one of my all time favorite songs:
***************
In This Very RoomWords and Music by Ron Harris
Matthew 28:20" ... and, lo, I am with you always,even unto the end of the world."
In this very room there's quite enough love for one like me,And in this very room there's quite enough joy for one like me,And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,For Jesus, Lord Jesus ... is in this very room.
And in this very room there's quite enough love for all of us,And in this very room there's quite enough joy for all of us,And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,For Jesus, Lord Jesus ... is in this very room.
In this very room there's quite enough love for all the world,And in this very room there's quite enough joy for all the world,And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,For Jesus, Lord Jesus ... is in this very room.

Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow.

Peace, Prayers and Blessings

Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel.

We are thinking of you during this difficult time.

May the comfort of God help you during this difficult time.

May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead.

May the love of those around you help you through the days ahead.

Remember that we love and care about you.

May your memories give you strength

Words cannot even begin to express our sorrow, you are in our prayers.
May you take comfort in knowing an angel is watching over you.

Hold tight to memories for comfort, lean on your friends for strength, and always remember how much you are cared about.

Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss;our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Sympathy Saying

We send you thoughts of peace and courage. Sympathy Saying

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Thomas Campbell

While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till it be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it. Samuel Johnson

We send you our love and hugs, knowing they will not heal the hurt your are feeling, but we hope they remind you that we care. Sympathy Thought

Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break. William Shakespeare

And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since and lost awhile. John Henry Newman

They say love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. William Penn

May God grant you peace, may his love surround you and give you strength during this difficult period. C. Pulsifer

We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief. Sympathy Saying

While your loved one is no longer with you, may the memories you have strength you. With every bird that sings, with every breeze that blows, remember they are with you, watching over you. C. Pulsifer

Like a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memories survive in time of sorrow. Robert Louis Stevenson

May your heart and soul find peace and comfort. Sympathy Saying

A human life is a story told by God. Hans Christian Andersen

May you find comfort in knowing that your loved one touched the lives of so many others and gave them the gift of many happy memories. Sympathy Saying

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. John Taylor

Remembering you and (name) in our minds and in our hearts. Sympathy Saying

However long the night, the dawn will break. African Proverb

We are deeply saddened by your loss. We will cherish the memories of the times we spent together. We are with you during this time of grief. Sympathy Saying

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. Written on a Headstone in Ireland

Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow. Sympathy Saying

May your memories bring you comfort, and may they ease your suffering as you miss your loved one. Sympathy Saying

Do Not Stand At My Grave by Mary Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die.

Man, when he does not grieve, hardly exists. Antonio Porchia

Miss Me But Let Me Go by Author Unknown
When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom-filled room, why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little but not too long and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared miss me but let me go. For this is a journey that we all must take and each must go alone It’s all a part of the Master’s plan a step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick at heart, Go to the friends we know, And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds, Miss me, but let me go.

Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind. William Wordsworth

The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God. Eileen Elias Freeman

Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others, or the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received. Albert Einstein

He Only Takes The Best By Author Unknown
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me.” With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

For thou hast given me in this beauteous face A world of earthly blessings to my soul, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. William Shakespeare

Even hundredfold grief is divisible by love. Jareb Teague

Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. Emily Dickinson

Irish Poem
When we lose someone we love it seems that time stands still. What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, A longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, We may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. We will see you again some day, in a heavenly place where there is no parting. A place where there are no words that mean good-bye. You don’t get over it, you just get through it. Your don’t get by it, because you can’t get around it. It doesn’t ‘get better’; it just gets different.

Everyday, grief puts on a new face. Wendy Feireisen

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. John Taylor
Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy. Author Unknown

Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. Kahlil Gibran

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. Kahlil Gibran

As you comprehend this profound loss, let yourself cry knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heavens. Author Unknown

Life is eternal, and love is immortal; and death isonly a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limitof our sight.-- Anonymous

How dare the sun shine and the flowers bloom and thegarden be beautiful when my love is dead?-- Rebecca Rice

We fight to hold on to recent memories even as, with aforce like gravity, time pulls us away from those whohave died.-- Michael Dorris

People come and go in life, but they never leave yourdreams.-- Patricia Hampl

How often-will it be for always-how often will the vastemptiness astonish me like a complete novelty and makeme say, "I never realized my loss until this moment."-- C. S. Lewis

Sometimes when someone has died we say, "I feel likethey're still here." That's because they are.-- Marianne Williamson

It's only when we truly know and understand that wehave a limited time on earth-and that we have no way ofknowing when our time is up-that we will begin to liveeach day to the fullest, as if it was the only one wehad.-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

In the deepest night of sufferingYou are granted entryTo a sacred sanctuaryWhere all thoseWho have gone before and sufferedAs you doWill come silently.Bind your wounds,Soothe your brow,Whisper encouragement.Yes,The Invisible Will see you through.Alison Stormwolf

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."