You need this today, don't you?

Have a listen to this sweet story, kind words and pretty cello.
Thank you Brad Montague for adding to the beauty.






Encourage one another
Donna

p.s. Brad is the author of the Kid President series that we all love so well.

Slice of heaven

My cousin, Paul, mentioned the following quote in his sermon last Sunday.
I know you all will love it.



“Every time I wonder who I should love and for how long I should love them, God continues to whisper to me: Everybody, always.”

~Bob Goff



Isn't it incredible?
Remarkable?

To see people all across the nation doing this thing,
this unselfish thing, this sheltering,
for someone they do not know.

In our divided country, people have become their best selves because of this crisis.
They are sacrificing so that others may live.
Putting others before self.

Whether it is going to work so others may eat.
Going to work so others may breathe.
Going to work so that others may live.
Staying home to make the way easier for others.


I am so thankful to ALL who are choosing to love others.


It is a slice of heaven I never imagined I'd see.


Encourage one another
Donna


****

34 “Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; 36 naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? 38 Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’

40 “And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25

Pray for New York

Join me in praying especially for the people of New York today.

Help.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Joy on purpose.

"We made a choice to do joy on purpose. Not in spite of life's sorrows. But because of them." 

~Katherine Center

It's a constant head game to keep the bad thoughts away.

I am choosing to fight the gloom with positivity.  

I glob on to stories about potential treatments, stories of flattening the curve, 

stories of people encouraging people and stories of charity toward others.

I nearly had a panic attack yesterday at Target.

My heart was racing and I was afraid my breath was short and I darted away from anyone I saw.  

I'm a chicken.  It's true.  

I applaud the medical workers who walk into a 'burning building' day after day.

God bless you all.

But I do come home and breathe...

I listen to another doctor on youtube on how to be safe.

I read another article on how it is contracted....

and I pray for the people on my bathroom wall list and the prayer goes on and on from there.

My mind is set.

I will choose joy.

Encourage one another,

Donna

p.s. thank you for the quote Jep

Encourage one another!

Melinda shared this with me today!  Isn't it wonderful and inspiring?

We are replacing scary negative thoughts with positive encouraging thoughts and it really works!

Love and prayers,
Donna

What happens matters.

Katie is finally home.

I am thankful that this little chick is in our cozy nest.

March

The sun is nervous

As a kite

That can't quite keep

Its own string tight.

Some days are fair

And some are raw.

The timid earth

Decides to thaw.

Shy budlets peep

From twigs on trees,

And robins join

The chickadees.

Pale crocuses

Poke through the ground

Like noses come

To sniff around.

The mud smells happy

On our shoes.

We still wear mittens,

Which we lose.

John Updike

One day at a time,

Stay home.

Save lives.

What happens matters.

Love you guys,

Donna Elsie

We can be Heroes!!!

If we all do our part we can be Heroes.

Stay home. Save lives.

God bless those of you who are on the front lines.

We will stay home to try to ease your burden.

You are the big heroes.

We are the little heroes.

But heroes, none the less.






From Melinda:

Today I join you all in trying to balance the details of this new life.

I am lucky to still be working. I am proud to be a nurse, and happy to go take care of mamas welcoming new babies into the world. Even if it looks a little different today than it did a few weeks ago. And I never planned on having my school aged children home 24/7. I never planned on homeschool, or social distancing, or the anxiety of not knowing what I may be walking into with my hospital nursing job.

But. We can do hard things.

I tell my patients this a lot. When labor gets hard, and they want to quit. We can do hard things. Especially for our babies. We can do hard things.

So, today. I remind myself of this. This is going to be hard. This is going to be stressful, but we have to show each other grace. This is going to be stressful, but we have to be active in forgiveness. This is going to be stressful, but we must practice patience. This is going to be stressful, but we have to be kind. This is going to be stressful, but the sun will still rise tomorrow. This is going to be stressful, but we will do our best.

We will do our best. We can do hard things.

And we don’t have to do them on our own. We are all doing this together. With our family, with our friends, with this sisterhood of other women and other mamas next door and around the world. We are entering into this great challenge, this great responsibility, with an entire world of support.

And how lucky are we? To have fridges full of food, and access to world class healthcare, and warm houses, and books, and electronic devices for learning and entertainment. We have yards in which to play, and roads that are safe for travel.

And we have so many helpers. The grocery store workers, the delivery drivers, the farmers, and manufacturers, the civil servants, the teachers, the healthcare workers. They are all working and adapting and helping us along the way.

Am I sacred? Yes. Am I uncertain? Absolutely. Am I stressed? A little. But am I still oh so very blessed? More than ever. I am holding onto faith. I am practicing joy. I am searching for peace.

We are doing our best. Because we can do hard things.


*****
Thank you Melinda.  Just perfect.

Yes.  I love that....We can do hard things.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Wait and hope

"Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and

never forget that until the day when God shall deign to

reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in

these two words, -- `Wait and hope.' 

Your friend,

"Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo."

This is Finlandia sung by Cantus

Isn't it the most beautiful song....


1. This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

2. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

3. This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations;
Myself I give thee, let thy will be done.

Text: vv. 1-2 Lloyd Stone (1912-1993), v.3 Georgia Harkness (1939)
Tune: FINLANDIA 11 10. 11 10. 11 10, by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)


I just spotted this on Facebook and thought I'd pass it on.
Thanks Tom Faller....old friend from Marinette :o)

Waiting and hoping with the whole world.
Donna

Encourage one another.

I wish you love.

Some encouragement from Pope Francis during these difficult days:

“Tonight before falling asleep

think about when we will return to the street.

When we hug again,

when all the shopping together will seem like a party.

Let's think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other.

We think about when it will be all a memory but normality will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift.

We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us.

Every second will be precious.

Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter.

We will go back to laughing together.

Strength and courage."

Encourage one another,

Donna

Trusting God. Loving others. Staying home.

Stephanie and her husband, Vicar Scott, share the Noonday Office.  I think it is perfect and comforting. I plan to pray this with them every day at Noon.

I am staying home and saving lives.
How about you?

How are you and your families? 

We are well. 
Katie's college is closed so she will be coming home soon.

I visited Emma in Missouri last week.  She is still unable to drive so she has been in isolation since River was born.

Now don't get all excited....River does not have red hair.  It's a teeny red but my Nikon loves to add red to pictures.  We had a super fun time getting to know one another.  She loves my singing!!

My favorite song to sing to her is Close to You by the Carpenters.  I have a hard time remembering words to songs...but ones I learned when I was young seem to stick with me.

Even Baby Beluga is beyond me.  I've heard it 500 times....but who knows what Raffi is saying?

Weird huh?

Melinda and Matthew had a scare as Melinda's mom was at the special olympics in Omaha that had the covid-19 case....Ezekiel stayed with them a time or two before they know that they had been exposed.  I am very thankful that Carol Sue's family isolated and they did not come down with the virus. Zekie is fine too.  So very thankful.  Melinda is on the front lines as a nurse.  She is feeling anxious.  Could you pray for her.

I never imagined my tendency to laziness would be virtuous.

But here we are.

Take care!

Love you,

Donna

Welcome Silas Rex

I'd love for you to meet Silas Rex Boucher.

He is Patrick and Shelby's new baby.

He was born Feb 26th.

And all is well. 

Actually things are going super! He is nursing really well and sleeping and active and has that amazing head of hair!

His big sister, Dottie, is not quite two and she is seems to be doing fine with him.  I have not heard any dramatic stories yet!  

Patrick Jr works at a company that gives him many months off for paternity leave so he will be home to help Shelby!  Isn't that great?

I am very thankful for baby Silas.

Welcome to the world sweet child.

I love you so.

What ever you want to call me is fine by me...

Donna

Jul 59

Young Esther and her first four babies.  

Nancy, Donna, Jim, Sue and Mom.

Esther and Jim were visiting grandma and grandpa Hansen in Oshkosh.

I had never seen this picture until my cousins posted it on Facebook.

I need to remember how to repair this image and blow it up.

I just adore this close up of Suzy and Mom.

Sue's grand-daughter looks very much like Sue. 

It is the most precious thing in the world...

Encourage one another,

Donna

We all have invisible wheelchairs...Katherine Wolf

I stumbled upon Katherine Wolf's Instagram this week and I read and watched all I could find....

She is an incredibly inspiring woman...and her husband is wonderful too.

I have not read much about suffering since my many years listening to Elisabeth Elliot in the 90's.

This short movie tells Katherine and Jay's story.

"we all have invisible wheelchairs inside us"

God bless this amazing faith-filled family








Encourage one another,
Donna

Oscars 2020 Red Carpet

They all wore their best dresses already, I guess.

Most of the dresses I loved were worn by guests of the stars...their partners. :o)

If you saw James and his wife Julia Carey on the red carpet I am positive you knew I would pick this dress.  Every time.  I will pick a pretty dress like this!!!  The designer is J. Mendel.   I love this so much.

It's a little hard to see but Kate Fahy looks so lovely and calm in her deep green dress.

This really is a favorite of mine this year.

Here is Outlanders' Caitriona Balfe.

She chose something unique and pretty but not weird.

So many ugly weird dresses this year.  

This was definitely the prettiest unusual dress of the night.

That pink color is just right and I love the fabric and perfect bow.

Not too big.

Not too little.

Just right.

Julie Louis Dreyfus always looks stunning.  This is on the verge of ho hum, if you can image that, but I decided to choose it because there was so little else that I wanted to share.  

The fit, the color, the neckline, the jewels.  

Her figure.

She is amazing.

I honestly could do a whole post of the flops.

But I don't do that.

Be the light.

Be the light.

 :o)

My friend Crissy, just loved this and hoped I would post it today!  

Regina King looks absolutely stunning.

The color and fit of this dress are beautiful.

Another stunning couple.  This is Mark Ruffolo and his wife Sunrise Coigney.  Sunrise is wearing Valentino and I love her bright pink, layered dress!!  Beautiful!

Lucy Boynton is an American-English actress...and I love her style.  I will be watching her because when I was looking for her name I spotted what she wore to the Critics Choice awards a month ago and I loved it too!

Lucy played Beatrix Potter as a little girl in Miss Potter and is currently in The Politician on Netflix.

(Which I also just found out)

She should have played AMY in Little Women.

I'm like a dog with a bone.

hahaha

This is Joanne Tucker (partner of the amazing actor Adam Driver) She is just perfect in this pretty dress!  The flowers are divine. 

After searching I found that Joanne is wearing Oscar de la Renta!!  It's vintage too!!!

My favorite!

She looks beautiful and totally at ease.

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner.

ha!

After the Oscars there are lots of big parties.

I saw a few outfits that were kinda cool....

These two make a perfect pair, don't they.  Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union. 

Her dress is different and feminine and pretty.  His lace coat is so odd but works here.  

I really like this!!

Katie Couric out at the party....

Simple.

Crisp.

Unusual.

Cool!

Tra La.

The show was host-less again last night and it suffered for it.

The acceptance speeches were long and strange.

There were two funny bits and Elton John sang an average song....and won...which I was happy about...You know Rocketman was my favorite movie of the year....

But as usual the Brits brought the funny bits.

James Corden and Rebel Wilson came out in CATS outfits and made fun of their terrible movie and Olivia Coleman just came out and was funny.

Anyway,

that's what I've got for you this morning!

WINNER: “Parasite”

“Ford v Ferrari”
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Little Women”
“Marriage Story”
“1917”
“Once Upon a Time in . . . Hollywood”

The only movie I would recommend for this list is Ford v Ferrari.

 As for The Irishman, Little Women, Marriage Story and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, I was not a fan of any of them.   I do look forward to seeing Jojo Rabbit.

What did I enjoy this year?

Rocketman

Downton Abbey

Judy

Last Christmas

Do you like any of the dresses I chose this time?

Are there any movies on the list that you LOVED?

Thanks for visiting!

Your red carpet hostess,

Donna

Ice Dance LOVE

Watch this On Ice Perspective from Instagram.
I promise it will make you smile.
And I bet you can't watch it just once!!!

View this post on Instagram

I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is...more Finnstep! __⛸ @kait_hawayek @jeanlucbaker __🎥 by Jordan @oniceperspectives __🎵 Stayin’ Alive @beegees __🎓 @iceacademyofmontreal ❄️ #saturdaynightfever #beegees #johntravolta #kaitlinhawayek #jeanlucbaker #teamusa #usfigureskating #oniceperspectives #iceskating #figureskating #iceskate #figureskate #iceskater #figureskater #isufigureskating #dancingonice #icerink #discodance #morecowbell #stayinalive #icedance #icedancer #icedancing #patinaje #patinage #pattinaggio #patinajeartistico #フィギュアスケート #фигурноекатание

A post shared by On Ice Perspectives ❄️🎥 (@oniceperspectives) on Dec 27, 2019 at 2:14am PST