Gratitude and joy!
Your Two Chums are so very grateful for the cleansing Easter message of hope and renewal. Read more
Mar 25
Your Two Chums are so very grateful for the cleansing Easter message of hope and renewal. Read more
Mar 22
When you are given an opportunity to do good, to be generous, no matter what the circumstance, take it! Read more
Mar 18
Always wanting to share the good that we find, here is a super idea! Read more
Mar 8
Nancy Reagan, who died Sunday at age 94, loved sequins, fur, and, perhaps most memorably, the color red. Read more
Mar 2
As you well know, your Two Chums feel very strongly about how the very simple act of being grateful can change your life. We could not help but stop to read this wonderful message and want to share it with you. Read more
Feb 19
We came across this article by Haley Cohn and thought that you would all be interested in reading it. Read more
Feb 17
In a recent video experiment a group of adults were asked the question, “If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?” Then their children were asked the same question. Read more
Feb 12
The day of love is around the corner but………….. what exactly is love? Read more
Feb 3
As Queen Elizabeth II nears her 90th birthday, she is relinguishing some of her royal responsibilities and passing them on down to some of the younger royals. Read more
Feb 1
Anna Pollack, a Royal Air Force medic who happens to be wheelchair bound, got so much needed help from an unlikely source a couple of days ago. Read more
Jan 28
Have you ever received a “gift with purchase”? Well… Read more
Jan 27
It is hard to have a friend move away…not a particularly happy time, but this event sparked a happy idea. Read more
Jan 20
Little Free Libraries are popping up all over. The Wall Street Journal proclaims, “Little Free Library is a Global Sensation!” Read more
Jan 18
Celebrations today are being conducted to remember the great Martin Luther King. We found some interesting facts on one of our favorite sites, History.com that we thought you would enjoy. Read more
Jan 15
Isn’t it great when we find a company that practices wonderful customer service?
Read more
Jan 11
As you no doubt know, your Two Chums feel that the expression of gratitude in life ……. Read more
Jan 4
The holidays are over and for some of us this is when the let down and fatigue of all the activities of the season set in. We are just plain tired. With very little “margin” for the frustration of accidents or bad behavior, our patience can be worn very thin. Here are some things to consider as you are interacting with those little ones who sometimes are the reason for your frustration. Read more
Jan 1
As the amazing inspirational writer Helen Steiner Rice said: Read more
Dec 28
Even when compared to Ebenezer Scrooge, the Puritans who ruled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1600s were downright Grinchian. Not only were the Puritans contemptuous of Christmas, they outlawed public celebration of the Yuletide holiday for an entire generation.
Dec 25
Merry Christmas from your Two Chums and… Read more
Dec 22
iStockPhoto.com
This Thursday night, millions of little girls and boys, before they get tucked into bed, will go to the fridge and pour a glass of milk and then find some cookies to put on a plate. Read more
Dec 16
With just over a week until Christmas day, we feel impelled to remind you to take a moment to …. Read more
Dec 3
Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds
Seventy years ago, during World War II, Sgt. Roddie Edmonds saved the lives of many Jewish people. Read more
Dec 1
In the midst of some of the busy-ness and craziness of the holiday season, with so much to do, take a minute to remember your most important job is how you interact with the young ones in your life. Read more
Nov 30
Our gratitude continues into this week (and forever, for that matter) and, today being the day that Sir Winston Churchill was born, 141 years ago, we are celebrating his life and feeling immensely grateful for all that he did for the world. Read more
Nov 26
We set aside this day to remember all our blessings…. Read more
Nov 24
The Holidays often bring house guests and wonderful “together times”. But…. Read more
Nov 20
“Thank you” in sign language
For those of you who have been following us for a long time, you know how very important we feel gratitude is …. and… Read more
Nov 18
They come from all different places don’t they? They come in relationships, as experiences, sometimes as a word from a friend, or reading something that strikes us from someone we may never meet. Our chum Wendy, shared this list of anecdotes about some of life’s most valuable lessons and we wanted to share them with you:
1. Today, I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I’m working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said, “Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.”
2.Today, I asked my mentor – a very successful business man in his 70s- what his top 3 tips are for success. He smiled and said, “Read something no one else is reading, think something no one else is thinking, and do something no one else is doing.”
3.Today, after a 72 hour shift at the fire station, a woman ran up to me at the grocery store and gave me a hug. When I tensed up, she realized I didn’t recognize her. She let go with tears of joy in her eyes and the most sincere smile and said, “On 9-11-2001, you carried me out of the World Trade Center.”
4.Today, after I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying. And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face.
5. Today at 7AM, I woke up feeling ill, but decided I needed the money, so I went into work. At 3PM I got laid off. On my drive home I got a flat tire. When I went into the trunk for the spare, it was flat too. A man in a BMW pulled over, gave me a ride, we chatted, and then he offered me a job. I start tomorrow.
6.Today, as my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mother’s hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simply said, “I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this more often.”
7. Today, I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had given him a kiss since I was a little boy.
8. Today, in the cutest voice, my 8-year-old daughter asked me to start recycling. I chuckled and asked, “Why?” She replied, “So you can help me save the planet.” I chuckled again and asked, “And why do you want to save the planet?” Because that’s where I keep all my stuff,” she said.
9. Today, when I witnessed a 27-year-old breast cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughter’s antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again.
10.Today, a boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, “I hope you feel better soon.”
11. Today, I was feeling down because the results of a biopsy came back malignant. When I got home, I opened an e-mail that said, “Thinking of you today. If you need me, I’m a phone call away.” It was from a high school friend I hadn’t seen in 10 years.
12. Today, I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn’t eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, “We can share it.
Whether it is understanding what real success is, or experiencing the love of a true friend, or appreciating the family God gave us, or being willing to share whatever it is we have, or recognizing God’s provision for us, we all need to be taught these life lessons, sometimes again and again. Each person in them learned something different but really they can all be summed up in what the Bible calls the two most important lessons or commandments:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
Your chums are grateful to be learning right along with you. What we want most of all, for each of you and ourselves, are lives very abundant with love and joy!
Nov 16
In light of the happenings in Paris on Friday night, we turn to a quote from Mr. Rogers… Read more
Nov 11
Today at exactly 11:11 a.m. and every Veteran’s Day every year at 11:11 a.m……. Read more
Nov 10
Nov 5
Nov 4
We thought it would be fun to share with you some photographs of the Royal Family through the years. Read more
Nov 2
Our greatest job is loving and nurturing the little people God has entrusted to us. Nothing is more important or has more significance than the mark we leave on another human being. Read more
Oct 26
With all this talk about Queen Elizabeth II now being the longest reigning monarch in the United Kingdom, having just surpassed the length of Queen Victoria’s reign, we thought it might be fun to look at some facts about Queen Victoria. Besides the fact that hers was a love affair with her husband, Albert, which is what we often hear of this Queen, she accomplished a great deal in her lengthy reign. Read more
Oct 22
What better way to dress up for Halloween than going as a group? Read more
Oct 21
There are few people who do “pomp” better than the British and this was proved, yet again, yesterday when the Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in London. He and his wife were met by the Queen and apparently taken to their suite at the Palace by Queen Elizabeth herself. Read more
Oct 16
Oct 9
These seven girls have gone through a grueling exercise over the past few months and have ended up being the pick of the crop! Read more
Oct 6
Just over 60 years ago, on September 30, 1955, budding movie star James Dean died at age 24 when his sports car slammed into a Ford sedan near Bakersfield, California—just prior to the release of his signature film, “Rebel Without a Cause.” Six decades later, we explore some surprising facts about the persistent cultural icon, who’s sometimes referred to as “the first American teenager.”
Oct 5
This is our next installment in some reminders about raising great kiddos 🙂 Read more
Oct 1
We take all of the different time zones for granted but what did the world do before there were “official” time zones? Read more
Sep 30
We have heard, through the grapevine, that the Queen has given Catherine a very special piece of jewelry! Read more
Sep 29
With the recent controversy that has been brought up regarding respect and honor being given to nurses, we thought it was a really good time to honor this one. She is the oldest nurse still working in the United States. Read more
Sep 17
The young ones are all back in school now whether public, private or homeschool. So many lessons they will learn. Read more
Sep 16
We ended last week with one of our Well Done posts. We like the idea of enjoying another one this week. As our chum Todd, who shared this with us says, if you can watch this and not cry (happy tears) you are stronger than we are. Read more
Sep 15
Which comes first, success or happiness? Read more
Sep 11
It is easy to remember what happened on this day 14 years ago and feel sadness or anger or fear. All those emotions can paralyze us. Our memories of the past, and what we see daily on the news, can make us think that things are bad enough in the world that maybe we won’t ever achieve our dreams … that we can’t overcome those difficult circumstances in life over which we seem to have no control. So we thought it was important on this day to bring a story of triumph and hope, and a story that has a twist that will again remind us that there is a bigger story, a bigger plan going on that we are all a part of. Though it has no direct correlation to the 911 tragedy, it has everything to do with triumph, everything to do with outlook, everything to do with hope and always having a “never say can’t” attitude. So in that sense it has EVERYTHING to do with this day. Read more
Sep 3
Aug 31
Are you most like carrots, eggs, or coffee beans? We saw this on Upmoments last week and just had to share it. Read more
Aug 27
If you’ve ever owned a handmade quilt you will understand firsthand the nurture and comfort it can bring. Regardless what color or pattern it is, if someone you love took the time to make something to keep you warm, it becomes much more than just a “blanket” to you. Read more
Aug 25
There is hardly a person, especially amongst us moms, who has not heard of the book, “Goodnight Moon”. Read more
Aug 24
Our chum Sandy, shared a quote from the film Calendar Girls that we just had to share with all of you. When you read it you will know why. Read more
Aug 13
After losing both his parent, this little 6 year old boy has a goal of making 33,000 people smile. After seeing this you are bound to be one of them. Read more
Aug 11
In 1994, Mississippi couple Sherry and Craig Blackledge, adoptive parents to a little boy, adopted an 18-month-old girl named Brooke. It was then that Sherry decided to write a simple but sweet letter she would give to Brooke, on her wedding day. Now, more than 20 years later, right before Brooke walked down the aisle to marry boyfriend Tyler Zugg, she finally read the letter.
Aug 10
Photo from justcreative.com
We are always talking about loving and loving more….. Read more
Aug 6
We ran across this on History.com and found it rather interesting….. Read more
Aug 4
Melissa Kieling, CEO of PackIt, a line of freezable personal coolers, with her three children, Brennan, 18; Garrett, 16; and Emma, 11.
Just five years ago, Melissa Kieling, a mother of three, was going though a divorce. Her suburban home outside of Los Angeles was in foreclosure, her car was repossessed, and she had $13 in the bank.
Aug 3
Jul 28
Recently, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and the wife of Prince Charles, future King of England, celebrated her birthday. Here are ten fun facts about Camilla. Read more
Jul 23
We had to share this beautiful example of one person caring and touching another who seemed unreachable. This lovely older Jewish white lady uses Christian songs to reach this dear older black woman with Alzheimer’s disease, who no longer speaks or makes eye contact, in an effort to communicate love and safety to her. What happened was remarkable and very touching. Read more
Jul 14
In Paris, the Bastille was originally constructed in 1370 as a bastide, or “fortification,” to protect the walled city of Paris from English attack. It was later made into an independent stronghold, and its name–bastide–was corrupted to Bastille. On this day, in 1789 Parisian revolutionaries and mutinous troops stormed and dismantled the Bastille, a royal fortress that had come to symbolize the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchs. This dramatic action signaled the beginning of the French Revolution, a decade of political turmoil and terror in which King Louis XVI was overthrown and tens of thousands of people, including the king and his wife Marie Antoinette, were executed. And yes, Marie Antoinette is the one… Read more
Jul 13
This story was just too good not to share it…even if you’ve seen it…you can never be reminded to many times to try a little tenderness. Read more
Jul 8
Last week a gentleman passed on – he was 106 years old. His name was Nicholas Winton…..Sir Nicholas Winton. Read more
Jul 6
Yesterday marked the day of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana’s christening! Hers was slightly different from George’s, 2 years ago. Read more
Jul 2
We feel sure many of you have seen this but think it is worth repeating: Read more
Jun 30
The notion that white symbolized purity, or that wedding gowns in particular were supposed to be white, is an idea that dates only as far back as 1840.
Jun 21
Every child should be fortunate and blessed enough to have a loving father. I certainly was. People often think it so important that little boys have their father and of course that is true. But it is equally important for little girls to have their fathers present. After all, a little girl learns how to be a woman from her mother, but she practices with her daddy. Read more
Jun 16
Polo is the sport of Kings and certainly a sport that the British royals have great fun with. They all seem to feel very comfortable on the back of a horse, including Queen Elizabeth who still enjoys going out for a ride. Read more
Jun 15
This past Saturday, England celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s 89th birthday by having what they call the “Trooping of the Colour”. And here you have it: Queen Elizabeth, future King Charles (her son), future King William (her grandson), future King George (her great grandson). Read more
Jun 8
Prince George and Princess Charlotte taken by their mother, the Duchess of Cambridge
The newest member of Britain’s royal family, 1-month-old Princess Charlotte, will be christened in a private ceremony next month, royal officials have said. You might well ask, “Where?”. Read more
Jun 4
Jun 1
Now it is definitely time for a cuppa? Our “tea tour” has resumed. Read more
May 29
May 26
One of the designs for the Queen’s coronation dress by Norman Hartwell
This is a super fun article by Jennifer Wright, going back years with the Royals! Read more
May 25
This day, Memorial Day, is set aside not as a reason for BBQ’s and anticipating summer’s arrival, but rather to remember and honor those brave men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. Service in our military has been completely voluntary since the Vietnam War ended. That means all those who have died since then are soldiers who have chosen to go into battle.
“Never leave a Marine behind.” The tradition began in 1775, and continues today via officers like Marine Colonel Steve Beck, whose job it is to notify the families of the loss of a loved one. Read more
May 21
May 18
A fast-food joint isn’t exactly a place where you’d expect to have your heart warmed, but, last week, Ridge Quarles proved us all wrong. Read more
May 15
Your Two Chums could not help noticing something very glaring in this photograph! Read more
May 14
Contrary to what a lot of people are trying to say about how the Queen feels about the Duchess of Cambridge, we honestly feel that she thinks a great deal of Catherine and … Read more
May 11
Princess Charlotte was taken to their country home by her parents along with her big brother, George, and their nanny. Read more
May 10
Whether you are a mother yourself, or have a mother or grandmother you want to celebrate today, we want you to know we are celebrating with you! Read more
May 9
The royal family has been the subject of much discussion and interest in the last few days. So we thought it was time to have an Encore of a post we did in October of 2013. There are a couple of updates that have occurred since we first published this post. The most exciting one being, the birth of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana this past week:-) Read more
May 8
May 6
When Prince George was born, Catherine and William opted to not hire a nanny as they obviously want to be “hands on” parents. But….
May 4
There has always been pressure on the reigning monarch and her successors to produce “an heir” and “a spare”, i.e. an heir to the throne and another child to be “the spare” if anything should happen to the heir. Read more
Apr 30
Apr 29
…Catherine Middleton became the wife of HRH Prince William, and the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Read more
Apr 27
With the traditional wedding season upon us, we thought it would be fun to look at how other parts of the world celebrate this wonderful union. Read more
Apr 24
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. If you are like many people, you probably have no idea what this means. Read more
Apr 22