G O T. . . . . . . . . . . .T E A ---?

WHY doesn't Panda Express
serve HOT TEA?????
My lunch during yesterday's rain would have been better with hot tea......

HAIKUS for THANKSGIVING

ORIGINAL HAIKUS FOR THANKSGIVING 2007

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
To my Friends and Family
You are Missed Dearly

Aromas fill the
House we live or visit in
Waiting for the Feast

Loved ones Remembered
Who have passed on to Glory
Good memories shared

Sadness and Anger
Can overcome us also
Practice self-control

Divorce or Broken
Relationships can get us
Down this holiday

Call a Friend or Just
Show up and see how you will
Be Welcomed in Now

Thanks to the Faithful
Volunteers who cook and serve
For the Homeless Ones

I give thanks to God
For all who read these poems
Have a Blessed Day

Christina Marie Falco Elias

SONS /// MOVIE

Scene from movie "Michael Clayton." GOOD MOVIE to see about love, greed, consequence, redemption, justice, and hope. Thanks Nick.

MY BOYS (Luke and Nick) at the AMC theater. Nick let me take his photo on his last day of work, 11/3/07, because I offered to help clean up the theater mess.

Nick's friend said: "You have the coolest mom" as I swept the AMC.

Good Movie

DAN IN REAL LIFE

The Movie

I thought was

real, charming, heart-breaking, deep, joyful,

honest, poignant, pensive, and worth the view..........

What A Guy!

My Husband is SO Sweet.

October 3rd He surprised

me with a lucious

soft heavenly robe to celebrate

the Anniversary

of our first date

29 years ago!

(My robe is actually more lovely than the robe shown here)

Great Movie

THE BRAVE ONE

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent new deep Movie.Thanks to my son Nick working at AMC we got to view this free opening night. Wow!

Happy 50th Birthday Bradley Dean Elias.

The OPTIMISTS Creed

The Optimists Creed
by Christian D. Larson - 1912

I Promise Myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything, and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

Too Creepy // Swimmers Read This

I went swimming in our pool early this morning, about 815.

I noticed what I thought was a dead spider in our pool.

It was on it's back, with legs curled under, floating on the water. I thought it might be a black widow and was very happy it was dead. I almost used my hands, since it was dead, but instead I got a pool toy and removed it from the water. It proceeded to walk away! I smashed it with the pool toy. Damn Resilient Poisonous Spiders!

HAIKUS I wrote on Love

Love opens our world
To new possibilities
Never imagined

Love enters into
Our lives when we don’t expect
And leaves abruptly

Love returns to us
Perhaps in a new package
We embrace it more

Love is volatile
Passionate tender honest
Mean and Confusing

Love is shared moments
With Impeccable timing
Friendship and Conflict

Love is Forgiveness
Sunny Days and Stormy Nights
Mercy Care and Joy

Friends who love forgive
True Love cannot hate lie steal
Friends who love repent

Love surprises us
Even after many years
With pleasure and health

Love is to observe
Workmanship of God displayed
In your own children

Love is gift from God
Shared and passed on so we Bless
Others with God’s gift

B O D Y Q U O T E S

I have exercised Eleven days in a row. I feel great! cmfe
**************************************************
BODY QUOTES

Each body has its art...
Gwendolyn Brooks

Safeguard the health both of body and soul.
Cleobulus

I live in company with a body, a silent companion, exacting and eternal.
Eugene Delacroix
French Romantic painter (1798 - 1863)

Of one thing I am certain, the body is not the measure of healing - peace is the measure.
George Melton

The body is an instrument, the mind its function, the witness and reward of its operation.
George Santayana

The mind's first step to self-awareness must be through the body.
George Sheehan

A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.
John Locke

You should pray for a sound mind in a sound body.
Juvenal, Satires
Roman poet & satirist (55 AD - 127 AD)

Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.
Marilyn Ferguson

I am convinced that life in a physical body is meant to be an ecstatic experience.
Shakti Gawain

Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them.
Shakti Gawain

The body is] a marvelous machine...a chemical laboratory, a power-house. Every movement, voluntary or involuntary, full of secrets and marvels!
Theodor Herzl (1860 - 1904)

If any thing is sacred the human body is sacred.
Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)

Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners.
William Shakespeare (1564 – 161

S U M M E R

S . . . . . . . . . . . . I love to Swim. The water feels better than silk against my skin.

U . . . . . . . . . . . . Unbelievable Ocean Sunset // Especially in Hawaii

M. . . . . . . . . . . . Maker.....God Made Summer!

M. . . . . . . . . . . . The Moon is awe-inspiring

E. . . . . . . . . . . . Every Breeze is so nice. Evening Darkness Calms a hot day.

R. . . . . . . . . . . . Gentle Summer Rain Cleans the Sky

Haikus for Mother's Day May 13th

Mom

Without her I Do
Not exist except in Her
Imagination

Mother

Ever Faithfully
Lovingly working in the
Home to make it good

Grandma

Spoiling the kids
That look quite a bit like hers
Wants to start over

Daughter

Dreams she had more time
To spend with her mother who
Lives so far away

Aunt

Necklace you crocheted
I still proudly wear at work -
Photo of the beach

Auntie

I miss your smile
Sweet laugh and the delicious
Hand-made tortillas

Friend

You were there for me
Bikes rides games and movies too
My fair wedding maid

Sister

Wondering what kind
Of sister I would have had -
My friends have been great

Child

Wondering what kind
Of person you would have been -
Are you in heaven

Cousins

I loved you dearly
I hate that you died so young
We had such good times

Wife to husband

Sorry for the times
I failed with my emotions -
Please forgive me now

Sons

How could anyone
Expect any more from you
Who are Gifts from God

Church Kids

I will miss you all
Our bonds will survive for years
Believe God Loves You

God

I know you are near

Even though you seem so far

Help me to be true

Peace

Today I pray for
Peace in this pazzo world -
What caused this chaos


Christina Marie Falco Elias

(: * Q U O T E S * :)

"Everybody can be great - because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace; a soul generated by love."
- -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from."
-- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."
--Robert Louis Stevenson

“A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.”
--Confucius

"Good works are links that form a chain of love."
--Mother Teresa

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
--Jesus Christ

Time for Reflection

"Lord God, you walked among us as a man of sorrows and one acquainted with grief. Hear us on this Day of Sorrows as we pray for all who bear the burdens of grief. Help us, O God, with the knowledge that we do not carry our burdens alone. May all who sorrow know again that nothing in all creation can separate us from your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen."
"O Lord, we can betray You in many ways. We have turned from those whose physical needs we could afford to meet. We have been insensitive to the plight of the prisoner, the lonely, the powerless and the handicapped. We have placed blame on others which was properly our own. Forgive us for these and other betrayals against You and against others. We thank you, Lord, that you take from us the weight of such guilt, if we but ask. Amen. "
"Lord Jesus, we confess that it is easy for us to look at Pilate and wonder what he was thinking. He is so easy to condemn. Did he really believe he was innocent? Do we believe we are innocent? Would we have made another decision? We would like to think so, but under pressure, filled with fear, blinded by our own prejudices, probably not. Forgive us for not always standing for Your truth and Your ways. Forgive us for too often choosing the easy way, rather than Your way. Thank You for loving us so much that You willingly endured this kind of injustice and humiliation for our salvation. We bow in silent gratitude before You. Amen."

Unison Prayers from church I attended April 6th 2007, Good Friday

THE RELATIONSHIP IS OVER...don't cry for me

I want to break up WITH FOOD! I really need to stop overeating-- eating due to emotions not addressed, or boredom, etc. I need to seriously address this 47 year old bad habit of mine, Coping Mechanism, whatever you want to name it.
I turn the big 5.0. in a few months.
I need to tackle this and be cured of it for my next *50* years---sure!
My Reality Check was being weighed at the doctor's office April 2nd.
I've already increased my activity, walking, parking farther away, stairs, ex-bike.
I am eating less. I'm trying to decipher my emotions before choosing to eat. I found a great web-page on being cured of binge eating. My therapist is helping me address the real deeper issues related to my being overweight.
My doctor would not give me a diet pill--damn her! (just kidding)
Please pray for me to accomplish this. Thanks.

H E A L I N G

Healing for me May include:

Accepting God's Forgiveness
Action leads to attitude
Admitting fault
Advice, support, listening ear, and unconditional love from people walking the Christian life
Allowing myself a reasonable amount of time to grieve
Asking God to bless everyone who mistreats me (Romans 12:14)
Believing God Will Heal me
Bible Study
Corporate worship weekly
Counseling from professional Christian
Entrusting my life to Jesus
Facing my giants head on
Faith that God will work it all out for good since He allowed it to happen
(Fasting and Prayer--Hard for me to do)
Fellowship with Christians
Forgiving those who have hurt me
Fun humor laughter playtime recreation can help at times
Getting my focus off self and onto others
Hugs, encouragement, support and listening ear from my husband
Listening for the whisper of God’s direction in my heart and mind
Personal private study of scripture
Prayer prayer prayer and more prayer
Seeking God’s face for the best way to proceed
Serving those less fortunate
Thanking God for my many blessings
Trusting God's promise he will not forsake me
Waiting for God’s direction in God’s time

=================================================
The stages of grief Kubler-Ross identified are:

Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
Anger (why is this happening to me?)
Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
Depression (I don't care anymore)
Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)

"I am the way, the truth, and the life!"

Jesus answered.

"Without me, no one can go to the Father."

--John 14:6

I was Impressed

I work in a hospital. Monday I read a doctor's chart note.
It included:
"Prayed with patient and family."
I've done this too, but never put that in a hosptial chart note!
Good Job Doctor!

Haiku for Inner Peace

Peaceful bliss begins,
a delicate downy wisp,
a fluttering hope.

The stillness of joy
starts deep within the Spirit,
eager to expand.

Allowing sorrows
to soften into balance,
deepening the soul.

~Flame RavenHawk
March 8, 2003

We missed you GATO

Thanks Marnie for watching James-Jadey

San Jose

Precious Jedi




Nice to see Pastor Steve

Sweet Sunny Dog

More Snow

Ouch Luke. You hit hard.

Go Nick!

Wowie, Brad!

What NOT to do

Good Job old man. Bouncing off the ridge.

Beautiful cold Tahoe

What a nice wife! Didn't dump the coffee.
Needed it to warm my hands.

So, we're human?

"NO ONE IN THIS WORLD ALWAYS DOES RIGHT."
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (contemporary english version)
"Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins."
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (new international version)


"YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON ANYONE, NOT EVEN A GREAT LEADER."
Psalm 146:3 (contemporary english version)
"Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there."
146:3 (new living translation)