"And then some................

These three little words are the secret to success.

They are the difference between average people and top people in most companies.
The top people always do what is expected...and then some.

They are thoughtful of others; they are considerate and kind...and then some.

They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely...and then some.

They are good friends and helpful neighbors...and then some.

They can be counted on in an emergency...and then some.

I am thankful for people like this, for they make the world a better place. Their spirit of service is summed up in these three little words... And then some."

"When we have done our best, we can await the results in peace." ~Unknown

Note from Lucy: I found these words from the Simple Truths webpage.... I believe that when we give our best our Father in Heaven is pleased with us and we will receive blessings from above... Being in the service of others can make you a happy person.. Have a great day everyone.

Quotes from Great Leaders.....

1. "Well done is better than well said."
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

2. "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its' pants on."
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

3. "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

4. "Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth."
George Washington (1732-1799)

5. "The time is always right to do what is right."
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

6. "All the adversity I've had in my life, has strengthened me. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."
Walt Disney (1901-1966)

7. "Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today."
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

8. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."
Vince Lombardi (1913-1970)

9. "It is better to light the candle than to curse the darkness."
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

10. "A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969)

11. "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
Nelson Mandela (1918 - )

12. "We must become the change we wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

13. "The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart."
Helen Keller (1880-1968)

14. "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."
Henry Ford (1863-1947)

15. "Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)

Note from Lucy: I take my hat off to all the service men and women who have put their lives on the line for me, my family and our country. We honor you, once again, this Memorial Day. Please remember these hero's as we celebrate this Memorial Day Weekend.

Faith

"Increased faith is as vital and necessary today as it was when Jesus walked the earth. Our modern world struggles with insufficient faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley said in a conference talk: “This is my prayer for all of us. … Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. … Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. … Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequences follow."

--James O. Mason, "Faith in Jesus Christ", April 2001 Ensign pg 22

Note from Lucy: In this day and time we all need faith.. Have a great week everyone.

How Unamerican can you get.........

HERE is Obama's RESPONSE WHEN HE BACKED OFF FROM HIS DECISION TO LET THE MILITARY PAY FOR THEIR WAR INJURIES........

Bad press, including a major mockery of the plan by comedian Jon Stewart, led to
President Obama abandoning his proposal to require veterans carry private health
insurance to cover the estimated $540 million annual cost to the federal government
of treatment for injuries to military personnel received during their tours on active duty.

The President admitted that he was puzzled by the magnitude of the opposition to his proposal. "Look, it's an all volunteer force," Obama complained. "Nobody made these guys go to war. They had to have known and accepted the risks. Now they whine about bearing the costs of their choice? It doesn't compute..."

"I thought these were people who were proud to sacrifice for their country," Obama continued.

"I wasn't asking for blood, just money. With the country facing the worst financial crisis in its history, I'd have thought that the patriotic thing to do would be to try to help reduce the nation's deficit. I guess I underestimated the selfishness of some of my fellow Americans."

I guess OBAMA just doesn't get that the American people love and appreciate our military guys and gals who lay their lives on the line so we can lay our heads down at night in peace.

That's because he is not an AMERICAN at heart. That much is obvious. Why in the world people voted for him I'll never know, but we all will surely pay the price and
rue the day that he took office. America is getting change but not the change they were looking to get.

It's a shame but the people have been had again.

(AS FOREST GUMP SAYS : "Stupid is as stupid does")
__________________

Note from Lucy: Sorry folks, I just had to post this. I wonder if Obama pays for his own health insurance? Does the congress? Those young men and women who "Volunteer" to help keep our country safe, are not paid much of a salary.... The least we can do is pay for their health insurance and war injuries... For me it is an honor to have these people save guard our country so that we can live in a land free from harm. I gladly give my tax dollars for their health insurance and war injuries. Where does Obama get off calling our troops selfish? Ahhhh, don't get me started!! Thanks, Steve Sanders for sending me this.

More ideas from Dollar Stretcher

Cheaper, Healthier Spread

To save money and have a healthier spread, use the following recipe to enhance and stretch your butter.

1 cup warm water
1/2 to 1 tsp. lecithin granules (found at health food store and acts as emulsifier for water and oil)
1 cup olive or canola oil
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt, as desired
1 pound butter (room temperature)

Soften lecithin granules and salt in warm water and add oil and butter. Whip until creamy and no lumps remain, store in containers in fridge. Makes a nice creamy spread, and when cold, it still spreads easily. Carol M. in Hamilton, MT

Just a Shake

A quick shake of your clothes before putting them in the dryer saves time and money, which are two things that I never seem to have enough of. When you transfer the clothes to the dryer, give them a hard shake, even the socks. Because they are now untangled and more fluffed, they dry much faster and there is considerably less ironing needed. Rebecca D in Pensacola, FL Note from Lucy: I always shake my cotton shirts that I hang outside and they dry faster and have less wrinkles..

The Trader

I am saving money on plants this summer by trading with friends and neighbors. We all have plants like irises that need to be divided or shrubs that can be propagated. I have a big yard and can't afford much for landscaping. This works out for everybody. T. P. in MO

Night at the Spa

My husband and I are both very busy these days and it seems like our best times to talk are in the evenings after we've put the kids to bed. Recently, my lower back was aching so my husband got a bottle of lotion and rubbed my back for me and we just talked like we were on a date. It was wonderful! I was so relaxed and felt great. The following night, I rubbed his back with lotion and again we talked. He agreed that it was a wonderful stress reducer and he felt great the next day.

You could make this as romantic as you would like. Light some candles, get a "mini" of a favorite lotion from a bath and body store, or add a glass of wine to share. We do this once a month now. Not only is it quality time with my husband, but also it is very frugal and I always feel so rested and re-energized. Angie

Note from Lucy: My husband has a bad back and when it goes into spasms, I massage it with a few drops of lavender oil mixed into a base of sweet almond oil… The lavender helps to relax the muscles and it has a nice sweet odor. Lavender is also considered sensual….. I bought my sweet almond oil at HEB, in their health food section and I ordered the lavender oil over the Internet. Make sure you get essential oils, not fragrance oils…There is a big difference.

Cheaper Than Window Cleaner

To wash all the windows, mirrors, and TV screens in my house, plus to wash the inside of my car windows, I use windshield cleaner available at discount chain stores for $.99 to $1.09 per gallon. I then pour enough cleaner, using a funnel, to fill an empty quart size spray bottle. This comes to $.25 per quart of glass cleaner! Plus, I feel if the windshield cleaner is strong enough to clean my car's windshield of bugs and insects, it is certainly strong enough to clean the glass in my house. L. S. in Sheboygan, WI

Have a great week everyone.....

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade....
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion..

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about i t?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
Shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Note from Lucy: I lost my mom 24 years ago... I haven't been able to tell her how much I appreciated her love for a long time now. Those of you, who still have your mothers, let her know you love her. Thanks Nancy for sending me this.

Happy Mothers Day to all Moms out there.

Feds Continue To Penalize Banks
Which Only Make Loans To Responsible Borrowers

Maybe it's because President OBAMA is too busy running General Motors, figuring out what kind of cars we may buy, and determining what kind of light bulbs are acceptable to notice something so perverse and stupid it would blow any rational mind.

Believe it or not, the federal government is STILL penalizing financially-healthy banks for insisting that borrowers be credit-worthy! Let me explain.

The Massachusetts-based East Bridgewater Savings Bank has weathered the financial storms of late without major loan delinquencies and a $135 million cash reserve. And their reward for operating at a profit and not granting mortgages to people who cannot afford the payments? Running into trouble with regulators.

The Boston Business Journal reports the bank has been penalized by federal bureaucrats with a "need to improve" rating under the Community Reinvestment Act! The bank has gotten into hot water (meaning they have been given a lower rating by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) for not making loans to sub-prime borrowers.

I brought this anecdote to your attention in case you know someone who blames the private sector for the chaos in the U.S. financial system. It now appears some of the same federal policies which helped bring ruination to big U.S. banks - and ultimately the financial system itself - are still being applied to smaller banks across the nation.

Best Regards,
Lee Bellinger's , Publisher Independent Living

Note from Lucy: Is it me, or does it seem like the government doesn't want us to get better? Come on guys, let's fix the problem.....

Who Packed Your Parachute?

An excerpt from Aim for the Heart
By Tom Mathews

As a leader, do you honor and appreciate the power of WE? Do you stop to thank and recognize the members of your team? Do you consistently show an attitude of gratitude?

I recently read a great story about Captain Charles Plumb, a graduate from the Naval Academy, whose plane, after 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam, was shot down. He parachuted to safety, but was captured, tortured and spent 2,103 days in a small box-like cell.

After surviving the ordeal, Captain Plumb received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and two Purple Hearts, and returned to America and spoke to many groups about his experience and how it compared to the challenges of every day life.

Shortly after coming home, Charlie and his wife were sitting in a restaurant. A man rose from a nearby table, walked over and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

Surprised that he was recognized, Charlie responded, "How in the world did you know that?" The man replied, "I packed your parachute." Charlie looked up with surprise. The man pumped his hand, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "I guess it worked!"

Charlie stood to shake the man's hand, and assured him, "It most certainly did work. If it had not worked, I would not be here today."

Charlie could not sleep that night, thinking about the man. He wondered if he might have seen him and not even said, "Good morning, how are you?" He thought of the many hours the sailor had spent bending over a long wooden table in the bottom of the ship, carefully folding the silks and weaving the shrouds of each chute, each time holding in his hands the fate of someone he didn't know.

Plumb then began to realize that along with the physical parachute, he needed mental, emotional and spiritual parachutes. He had called on all these supports during his long and painful ordeal.

As a leader, how many times a day, a week, a month, do we pass up the opportunity to thank those people in our organization who are "packing our parachutes?"

Note from Lucy: We don't have to be a leader of a large corporation to thank those around us for all the work they do on our behalf...Who around you do things for you? Your husband/wife, your kids, maybe your next door neighbor, your paper or postal carrier? I think we need to take note of those that "pack our parachutes" and give them thanks.... To me, one of those should include your Heavenly Father who loves and supports you, day in and day out...A little note of gratitude is a wonderful thing.

Have a great week everyone.