Staying The Course….

“It takes both Rain and Sunshine, to make a Rainbow”

Life is never filled with only good things, anyway it hasn’t been for me, there will always be the down times as well.  Times that we go through struggles, times that seem like nothing good is going to happen to us and times when it seems so bad, there is nothing to live for.  I can truly say that by the Grace of God, I have made it through those dark times.  Those are the days of Rain…..

Then there are the days of Sunshine……   A Warm loving support network of Family and Friends.   The Lord watching out for me and showing me that misfortune’s can turn into great opportunities.  He has given me a roof over my head and food on the table.  Blessed with 2 wonderful sons, a beautiful grandson and most recently my dream job.  My tribe is growing and I am making some wonderful new friends, that will lead to new, great memories and sunshine.

The Galahs on the Fence…

Through the many trials of life, I have continued to laugh at myself and the world around me and kept the smiles coming.  Yes this road less traveled has it’s share of  bumps and holes, but I wouldn’t change it for anything, it has made me who I am.  I know there are still rainy times ahead, but I am here, I am now.  Things are good,  standing here in the sunshine of the Rainbow of Life.  Thank You Jesus!

~Oregon Smiles with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled

Thank you Tracie Louise Photography for the beautiful photography you have blessed me with.

Blogging Tips: Growing a Readership

I am not sure how to share this with my followers.  Still a Newbie on some of this.  This is a great blog from my friend over at Kana’s Chronicles.  Lots of great information for us Newbie bloggers and reminders for the Veterans.

Blogging Tips: Growing a Readership.

Enjoy.  ~Oregon Smiles with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled.

APRIL FOOL’S DAY

Happy April Fool’s Day!!  Yes it is April 1.  Hard to believe the year is moving along this fast.  When I was a kid having fun with my grandfather “POP” was always

something to look forward to.  Pop would call me on the phone a tell me a April Fool joke.  One that I always remember was…

Pop…  Is your refrigerator running?

Me… Yes

Pop…  Then you better go and catch it.

Oh the memories.  So with that being said I thought that I would take today and do some research and see what all the April Fool stuff was all about.  I know that there have been some very famous practical jokes done by radio stations and such, but still wondered where it all started.  These are a couple of resources that I found.  So who knows for sure.  Please enjoy and maybe it will bring back some of your memories of the day.

April Fool’s Day History

The history of April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year‘s Day was moved from March 25 – April 1 (new year’s week) to January 1. Send invitations to nonexistent parties and have other practical jokes played upon them. Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were labeled “fools” by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on “fool errands,” sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a “poisson d’avril” or “April fish” because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke. This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool’s Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way. In Scotland, for instance, April Fool’s Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April ‘Gowk’, another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the “Kick Me” sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance. In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called ‘gobs’ or ‘gobby’ and the victim of a joke is called a ‘noodle.’ It was considered back luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon. In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on March 25 and is also referred to as “Roman Laughing Day.” In Portugal, April Fool’s Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends. The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring. So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1, don’t be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you.

The Candle Lighter Award

Creation of New Blog Award: The Candle Lighter Award.  

I received this award today from a new blogging friend Kate Kresse over at her blog “Believe Anyway”  You can read about The Candle Lighter Award here at her posting.    She says in her post…”Let’s set the blogging world ablaze with Candles for all the positive oriented blogs. The world needs joy and lots of it.”

That is my goal as well.  I want to share positive thoughts and actions of my life, giving people a smile for the day or something to ponder about life when they are done reading.  So to receive this award is a great honor and shows me that I am on the right track.  That someone would take the time out of their day and give me recognition is truly amazing.

It is so good to see the good in people.  People that we have never met before, but are coming together with one common bond and that is to be positive in life.  Thank you Kate for this award, I will wear it with honor.

May the candle burn brightly for the positive in life.

~Oregon Smiles … with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled

Spring Has Sprung

Oh how I love Spring and I think maybe it is getting closer to us here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  We had snow last week, with the Daffodils and Crocus poking their little heads out of the ground, but in Oregon the weather never lacks in surprising us.  It is very unpredictable up until summer.   I remember spending many a 4th of July with it raining.  But as a Native Oregonian and growing up in Astoria on the Oregon Coast, you get used to it.

Waking up to the sun peaking its head out of the clouds, giving the neighborhood a nice glow, really gets one re-energized and makes me smile.  There is just something about the sunshine that makes you want to get outdoors and start all of those projects that you have thought about since Fall.  My goal has always been to do one major yard project each year, but for the last few years other life obstacles have taken priority and projects put on hold.

When my friend over at Luv and Light posted at the end of last year about crossing over the bridge and leaving all the old baggage behind and starting anew, that is when I knew that 2012 would be a good year.  Oh how I thank Daisy for sharing that with us.  It has given me some long-lost energy and life renewal.  Life changes and challenges have a never looked better than when that Sunshine greeted me the other morning.

So as the seasons change once again, I am dusting off those ideas, dreams and projects.  Looking forward and enjoying this Spring to come, with some old and new friends. Sharing my new-found creativeness and continuing to thank God for everything that he has given me.

~Oregon Smiles …. with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled

The Traveler

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way 
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

The Road Less Traveled ~ Oregon Smiles …. with Franny

In the Rear View Mirror….

Sometimes it seems like we are going round and round in a circle, stuck in this never-ending rut.  I have been there, stuck in that rut for so long that it was my comfort zone.   Afraid to move in any direction because it was comfortable there.

Our comfort zone isn’t always a good place for us, but it is all we know.  There are times that we might take one foot out of the rut and go back in.  There might even be a chance that we will get totally out of the rut for a time.  Sometimes our ruts are so deep from years of repeating the same things, thinking and believing the same negative things about ourselves that we go back in.  We don’t know what to do or how to handle the outside world.

 It takes Baby Steps.  Thinking positive thoughts and believing that we are worth good things.  It took me surrendering my life to God and knowing that he is with me always.  That I am never alone and that I can do anything with him at my side.  By stepping out of that rut and trusting in the Lord, I am able to start moving toward my dreams.  I know that I may come to that fork in the road,  but I choose The Road Less Traveled.

Are you stuck in a rut?  Just step out and follow your dream.  Forging ahead and building your road, following your dreams just like the pioneers before us.

Traveling The Road Less Traveled, Oregon Smiles with Franny

How’s The Weather???

Just another Oregon day you say… I suppose so.  Yesterday it was a beautiful warm 60 degrees, sun was shining and I even think I heard a lawn mower fire up.  The Daffodils and Crocus are starting to poke their heads around the yard, with hopes of Spring right on their heals.

Then I got up this morning…. Snow!!  Yes I said Snow!!  What the Heck…  Things started to turn white, then it turned to rain and then the sun was out.  It did this for a few hours.  Oh did I mention the wind?  Oh Ya there was a nice breeze coming in from the South West.  Yep, Only in Oregon.  Got to love the weather here, I know I do!

So what does a good Valley Girl do on a day like to day?  Yep you are right… I headed to Best Buy!  Got a new camera so I can start taking pictures of these great Oregon Days and share them with all of you.

Thank you for reading,

Oregon Smiles with Franny