Emotional Heart Health and more surprises...........

(Sweet lil bird,  from a Sweet, lovely  friend)
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Afternoon Sweet Friends,
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And how are you today???  Doing well I hope.
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Yesterday I was telling you about how loved I felt by all
 that transpired for my birthday. So I also wanted to share
 some thoughts about that with you!!
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I think it is the desire of every human being to be loved 
by others;  we want that,  we desire that,  and most of all,  
we need that! And it is the Most Wonderful and Marvelous
thing to know we are loved by our Loving Heavenly Father,
 and that should Top our list!!
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But I think we all know we need a little Jesus with skin on
 (as my dear friend Diane says). We need the love of family,
 friends, sisters and brothers in Christ, neighbors and
 sometimes even strangers.  Yes, many times we can sense
and feel the love of God, and other times God uses plain ole
 people just like you and me to make others feel loved.
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After all Jesus said in John 13:34-35 (NIV)
"A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one
another.  By this all men will know that you
are my disciples, if you love one another."
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Now I wanted to say some practical things about that
 and what it looks like comparing it to some of what 
happened during my birthday.  
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Cards -Cards are a Wonderful way to express your love. 
 Even if the card has nice words,  adding a lil  personal note
makes it soooo special.  Now this is just me,  but I do not
 believe in wasting good money on joke cards,  I think if 
I am gonna take my time making or buying a card for
someone,  it should be something that will build the person
 up and make them feel loved. And I know anytime I have
 recieved one, I feel a bit disappointed,  almost like that 
person didn't have anything nice to say about me or 
something,  know what I mean???

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See these cards.....Not a joke card in the bunch! 
 I believe we have plenty of time for joking and I am 
all for fun, but it is like another friend Tracey from church
 says,  I would rather have my flowers now than at my 
funeral!  Good Saying,  just another way of saying let's
 love on people while we still have them, and not regret
 later that we never told them how we felt about them.
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I think we all think good things about each other but so
 many times those words never get out of our mouths
 and they could make such a tremendous difference to the
 person receiving them.  I think we need to learn to be
 lavish with our praise and love for others,  and every
 chance we get pour on the love...........Love is the least
 expensive and the most important gift you can ever give
anyone!!  Cards are a perfect way if you have
trouble saying things to others,  say it in writing,
but say it!!  It could change someones life!
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Sometimes the enemy of our soul tricks people
into thinking that no one cares about them or
loves them,  when there could be a whole host
of people that adore them,  but never take the
time to every say it!!  I have actually known of
those situations and seen the disasterous results.
Seriously,  you pouring out your heart in words
spoken or in words written could literally change
someone's life,  I am dead serious!!
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I have read where it say it takes about 10 good
or positive words,  to undo 1 bad word,  meaning
if someone says one derogatory thing to you,  it
will take 10 encouraging statements to erase it.
Whoa............sometimes I think it might even 
take more than that!  So realize someone you
love maybe have had someone say something 
derogatory to them today and guess what, they
need you to pour some loving words on that
negative thing!! 
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Gifts - not that gifts are always necessary cause
sometimes a card full of loving words can be
just as much a gift as anything you could give.
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But if you are going to give a gift be sure that
when you are choosing it you are thinking about
what the person you are buying it for likes...
 not what you like.  Sometimes that takes a lot
of thought and sometimes I ask the Lord for 
ideas,  and he has given me some good ones.
There are times when you just aren't sure if the
 person will really like it or not,  so I usually try to 
give a gift receipt,  or at least tell the person if
 this does not fit properly or you don't care for
 the color, or it isn't your cup of tea,  I will not be
the least bit offended if you return it. I bought the
 gift  for you, and I want you to like it,  so if you
 aren't happy with it please please get something
 you will be happy with!  Of Course, We should
 always be grateful for any gift we recieve because
the person doesn't have to give us anything,
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Time - I think the gift of time is a  wonderful way to 
say I love you and I enjoy spending time with you, 
 I love that my hubby takes the day off if he can, to
 spend the day with me on my birthday and
 Anniversary.  One birthday my daughter, and I
 got subs and a fruit salad from Publix and
 went to the park together and just lunched
and talked,  it was my idea of a fun day.
In fact, tomorrow she is taking me to get a 
pedicure.  She many times chooses gifts that 
we can enjoy together,  and I love that! 
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Then yesterday, our Sweet Friend Becky from

 over at Holiday in the Sun came over to sit a 
spell and chat,  my favorite thing to do!! lol

And she came armed with yellow Mums,

a small lovely cake plate, that she had made, 
with strawberry pizza, she had made as well.

Delicious!! and a absolutely gorgeous

handmade card that was so sweet , and

a lil birdie in a cage.  Everything was

packaged so beautifully too,  This girl

has such a flair......... I tell you........

.It just made my whole day!

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Is the packaging even a gift,  lovely glassine
bag and curly ribbon and bow and irredescent
Easter grass and doilies and colorful tissue paper.
What a vision of lovliness,  I didn't even need
to open it,  it was a gift in and of itself.
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But then I did and it has this inside.
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and look she put the nest and birdie inside,
how sweet and cute is that!
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Then she had this adorable lil cake stand that
she made with a candlestick and plate,  
I just love it,  but even more
it had this on it!!
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This is strawberry pizza with a pecan sandy crust,
They were so delicious,  and made by the sweet
hands of Miss Becky too!
How thoughtful and delightful!
I had already taken a pc off the plate before 
I thought to take a pic,  couldn't wait to get
into those sweet babies!!  lol

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And here is the Beautiful card she handmade for me.
Isn't it so pretty,  and filled with loving and encour-
aging words as well.
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and look at this... even the envelope is special with 
little flowers on it,  so cute!  Couldn't bring myself
to throw it out.
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Here's the mums in a vase,  and I attached 
all the trimmings from the gift bag.  Doesn't it 
look so nice. I placed it in my freshly painted
bathroom and I love it!!
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Here's a closeup of the decorations,
think they are so festive....
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Some type of lovely Chrysanthemum,  I think!
All I know is they sure are pretty.
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Another good lesson is how wonderful it can be to make 
gifts for someone. I can tell you I was totally thrilled by
all that Becky did,  cause I know how much thought, love
 and work went into all that!  
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So hope I have given you something to think about the
 next time you have an opportunity to celebrate something
 in someones life.  All I can say is if you treat your loved
ones and friends the way I was treated this week,  they
will definitely have an emotionally healthy heart!!
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I also, want to say that  I love love loved all my
 wonderful cards, They were so sweet and 
cry worthy!! lol

and loved all my gifts and surprises!  
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It has been a Fantastic week I have to say!
Thank you to everyone who made my  birthday
so Special,  and May the Lord bless you abundantly
for your goodness, sweetness and love to me.
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So sorry this is sooooooooooo long,  I never intend
that, but it just sort of happens.  Thought it wouldn't
be too bad since it had so many pictures.
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Have a great day tomorrow!
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Blessings and Hugs,
Nellie