Warm Thoughts

We hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day! Know that you are loved.

Valentine greetings! When you read this column it will be the week of Valentine's Day. From Ohio this past week, came a letter with several poems and one was on love, which really touched my heart. Ruth George is something and still very young at heart. It will bring her much joy to be able to share these warm thoughts on love with you, dear readers of this column.

Love is God's Precious Gift.

God has given us many gifts along life's way. 

The most precious is the love in our hearts, it will stay.

Love makes the sun shine through a dark cloud. 

It makes a father look at his baby son and feel so proud. 

Love soothes the aches and hurts we are asked to bear. 

Love teaches kindness to those for whom we care. 

It eases the troubled heart and makes us strong to help a loved one that is done around. When we have love, the world is so bright. 

It spreads happiness to everyone inside. 

It bridges the lonely hours when we are apart from those we love with all our heart. 

So meet each day with a great big smile. 

Help your neighbors if only for a while. 

Their cares and worries you will help to lift by showing that love is God's precious gift. 

Thank you Ruth for sharing your poem thoughts from the heart. Warm thoughts to ponder: Most people are nicer after they have had their heart broken a couple of times. Emma Thompson. And the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber, so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, you are young. Samuel Omen, 1842-1924. 

Have a Happy Valentine's Day! 

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner February 15th, 1996

Published in the Marion Record

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Have you ever wondered what advice your children would give to you if you were a parent? Here's some insight from some high school students from Houston, Texas in 1997.

Recently, I read an article based on research conducted by a high school teacher in Houston, Texas, who has surveyed more than 300 teenagers and two school districts asking for their comments on these two questions. One, what advice would you give to your mom and dad? To? What do you believe it takes to produce respectful and respectable teenagers. The teenagers ranged in age from 14 to 18 years of age, providing responses such as these. 

Don't let your small children watch TV a lot. Teach your children about God. Try to raise them according to the principles of the Bible. Be consistent and what you say. Follow through with your decision. Cook for your family. When you let your children go out, give them a curfew. Let them know you love them and want them to be safe. Guide your children toward good marriages by giving them a good example. Sit with your children and just talk. Ask them questions like, “How was school? Did you make any new friends?” Take your children to church. Try not to scold your children in front of their friends. Be there for teens even when they try to push you away. The harder they resist, the more they need you. If your child tells you that something wrong is going on, believe them. Don't ignore your child. Let your child grow up. No matter what your children go through, stay by their side. Teach your children right from wrong, and that each action brings either a bad consequence or a reward. Don't jump to conclusions. Say, I'm sorry.

Love the children. And listen. What nuggets of truth can be learned from them. Happy Valentine's Day!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

February 13th 1997

Published in the Marion Record

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Do you know how Valentine's Day came to be? Learn more about the saint who lived a life full of love for humanity.

February is a month when many romantic and patriotic thoughts are expressed. Fields may still be bedded down with snow and yet we are aware that spring will soon be here. Springtime inspires thoughts of love and affection. 

Have you ever wondered who was St Valentine, the namesake of our February 14 celebration of Valentine's Day, St. Valentine, a priest and physician, lived in Rome during the third century. At that time, Christianity was a persecuted faith, and Valentine was imprisoned for the faith he professed when he would not recant of his faith. Valentine was put to death on February 14. According to the legend, while Valentine was a priest in Rome, Emperor Claudius the second ordered young men not to marry believing that If they did not have wives, they would be more willing to go to war. Moved by compassion for the young lovers, Valentine performed wedding ceremonies for them in secret as the United them in marriage. 

Centuries later, the earliest English settlers brought Valentine's to the United States. JOHN Winthrop, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote to his wife, February 14 1629, thou must be my Valentine. Esther, a Holland of Worcester, Massachusetts developed the first Valentine cards in 1847. Since then, billions of Valentine's Day cards have been sold. On Valentine's Day, I hope you will think of the saint who gave his life for his faith, and of the many lives that have been touched by his love of others. 

Warmth thought: Love is the only thing that multiplies when you divide it. A good friend doubles the joy and divides the pain. Happy Valentine's Day. 

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

February 6th 1997

Published in the Marion Record

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Do you ever wonder what life in retirement is like? Listen to this comical poem on a child's interpretation of retirement after spending the holidays with his grandparents.

A dear friend who lives in the heartland of America shared with me some amusing thoughts given by a child upon his return home from spending the Christmas holidays with his grandparents in Arizona. 

A child's view of retirement and a mobile home park.

After Christmas break, the teacher asked her small pupils how they spent their holiday.

One little boys reply went like this:

We always spend Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma. They used to live up here in a big brick house. But grandpa got cold and they moved to Arizona. They live in a park with a lot of other old people. They all live in tin huts. They ride golf carts that are too big for me. They all go to a building they call The Rec Hall. It is fixed now. They all do exercises, but not very well. They play a game with big checkers and push them around on the floor with sticks.

There's a swimming pool, but I guess nobody teaches them. They just stand there in the water with their hats on. My grandma used to bake cookies for me, but nobody cooks there. They all go to restaurants that are fast and have discounts. When you come into the park, there is a doll house with a man sitting in it. He watches all day so they can't get out without him seeing them. I guess everybody forgets who they are because they all wear badges with their names on them. Some of them don’t hear very well. They could hear better if they took the button out of their ears. Grandma says grandpa worked hard all of his life to earn this mansion. I wish they would move back home but I guess the man in the doll house won't let them out.

Warm thought: Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Blessings in this new year!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

January 30th 1997

Published in the Marion Record.

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

In this episode we will listen to advice given by Dr. Allen Searleman, on preserving your memory in this Information Age we are living in.

In this information age, it sometimes seems that our minds have become as stuffed as a computer, and that we cannot swallow another bit of information. Many people feel stressed, overworked, and are sleep deprived. A topic, therefore, that has captivated people's interest is how to sharpen their memory. Dr. Allen Searleman, a professor of psychology at St. Lawrence University and Canton, New York, stated that memory lapses can be caused by lifestyle factors, overwork, anxiety, lack of sleep, a poor diet, or not enough exercise. An action plan designed to sharpen your memory includes these activities: learn to relax, get enough sleep, practice good nutrition, exercise your body and mind, give yourself time, find places for things, keep a box of mementos. For this will help you remember what is important in your life. 

Warm thought: It takes more than a memory to have good memories. A quote from a forgotten author.

Make a memory. Have a great day!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

January 23 1997

Published in the Marion Record

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Hope you are having a great start to the new year! We hope you have been able to find some stillness and time to reflect on where you have been and who you want to become! Happy New Year!

This warm thoughts column is the last column for this year. As we reflect on this past year, there have been mountains of joy and some valleys of sorrow and real sadness and grief. The New Year, 2006 will soon be here. The thoughts for this new year are titled “Each Day.” 

A new year will soon begin each day a fresh new start 

to fulfill your hopes and pursue the dreams sustained within your heart, 

put God in charge. He'll plant the seeds of affection, love and care, 

like a garden, your life will grow with kindness flowering there. 

And as you face the wonder of each day's mysteries. 

You'll see God's hand unfolding daily possibilities. 

And as each day comes to a close, dream a dream or two. 

Then with a prayer, thank Dear God, for each day, given you. 

As we reflect on the past year, the year 2005. May the light of our faith shine like stars in the heavens, and reflect His joy, love, forgiveness, peace, and hope for the New Year of 2006. Thank you for sharing your warm thoughts in the coming year. God bless you all for sharing your thoughts. You have so much to share, and the coming year, an unknown author shared this thought: What the new year will bring us depends a great deal on what we bring into the new year. May you have a happy new year. 

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner. December 29 2005

Published by the Marion Record 

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Merry Christmas from us to you! Hope you are able to enjoy some Christmas sweets and enjoy time with family and friends.

The many beautiful Christmas cards and letters that have arrived at this little home on the prairie have indeed warmed my heart. One of the letters from a dear friend included a poem from a Christmas card, and she suggested that it be included in the warm thoughts column.

A Wondrous Christmas Cake

Stir till the very soft and dreamy one cup of Christmas light. 

Pour the milk of kindness in to make it snowy white. 

Never spare the sweet tidbits of gentle love and caring.

Add as much as you can spare of giving listening, sharing. 

No need to brown or bake. No need to frost or ice. 

Just share your wondrous Christmas cake, give everyone a slice.

Since this is the last warm thoughts column for the year 1997, I will share another thought from a Christmas card for all you special angels in my life. It was written by the poet, Amanda Bradley.

Special people live the Christmas spirit, all year long, 

Special people keep the Christmas spirit in their hearts 

And share it joyfully throughout the year. 

In lots of big and little ways they show how much they care with generosity, that's most sincere. 

They're the thoughtful people who can sense, our every need. 

And in troubled times their first to show concern. They're always there. 

Most sure to care to help in any way without expecting favors in return. 

Yes, special people live the Christmas spirit, all year long, and give us happy memories to recall of all the gifts that means so much at Christmas time, and always these special people mean the most of all. May we all live the Christmas spirit, all year long, and touch the lives of others. 

Warm thought: The way to spend Christmas is far more important than what you spend. Anonymous. It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when it's mighty founder was a child himself. Charles Dickens. Merry Christmas! 

Warm Thoughts on the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner December 25 1997

Published in the Marion Record

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Thinking of Christmas gifts that will last? Listen to this episode as we learn the twelve sustainable gifts you can give your friends and family this Christmas season!

At this time during the Christmas season, we feel pressured and overwhelmed when we look at the calendars, which remind us that soon it will be Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Perhaps we have procrastinated in getting shopping done and getting something for the special people in our lives. Many people again will receive costly gifts in beautiful wrappings, toys that will fall apart, flowers that will fade, and many other gifts. As I thought about this, I came up with twelve gifts for the twelve Days of Christmas, that will not wear out and can be given all year long. 

One can live in the spirit of Christmas all year, the Christmas season is the season of cheer. The first gift is the gift of cheerfulness,

the gift of encouragement,

the gift of forgiveness,

the gift of gratitude,

the gift of hospitality,

the gift of joy,

the gift of kindness,

the gift of love,

the gift of prayer,

the gift of support,

the gift of time, 

and the gift of values. 

These kinds of gifts, come from the heart. One can spread the spirit of Christmas with these gifts, every day. A kind word, a caring moment can make this world a kinder and more peaceful and gentler place. It can make someone's day and these gifts will always last and can be given all year long. May your Christmas overflow with the Christmas spirit. 

Warm thoughts: Christmas is an attitude of gratitude that flows out from us to others and back again. This Christmas as so many families find themselves in turmoil, remember to embrace the Christ Child. The real reason for coming to earth to make us all one and Gods family through forgiveness. May the greatest gift you will give this Christmas be forgiveness. Jay Rhodes. Catch the Christmas spirit! 

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner December 12th 1996

Published by the Marion Record 

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

Christmas season is here! While you are decorating your tree this week, take a listen to this poem highlighting all the wonderful elements and traditions for the season.

Last week in the warm thoughts column I shared thoughts about the Old Fashioned Thanksgiving. As Christmas rapidly approaches, I will share some warm thoughts about an Old Fashioned Christmas, written by a dear old friend from Lincoln Nebraska. It was written by Darlene M. Miltner and published in Life Lines. 

Old Fashioned Christmas

I fondly recall Christmas on the old homeplace 

Treasured memories to always embrace 

Father would read and mother would sew

While we nibbled on apples and sweet pastry dough.

Snowbound days, the chilling, wintry breeze

And ice-jewels sparkling on skeleton like trees. 

Vast open fields garnished with snow 

And haymows of grain with livestock below. 

An angel reigned atop the pasture-cut tree

Paper chains and snowflakes were fashioned in glee,

Garlands of popcorn trailed branches grace

Cranberry ribbons swung gently in place. 

Spice-scented fragrance permeated the air 

From pies, breads, and cookies all baked with great care,

The warmth of the fire from a pot bellied stove 

Carols and Christmas-morn gifts, interwove. 

Now, time is passing, and as I grow old 

Memories of school friends and neighbors unfold,

We prayed together for peace from above

In the little white church we grew to love. 

We were told of this star, and the Christ child's birth

The Wiseman's journey and heaven on earth, 

The manger scene and heavens aglow. 

Yes, I remember Christmas of long, long ago. 

Christmas memories. Sweet memories are precious gift. The holidays are a time for families to get together to strengthen family ties and affections. Traditions can help preserve memories. Sometimes traditions change, leaving only the memories. As we prepare for the Christmas holidays may we have many happy memories! 

Warm Thought: “Children of Christmas are givers. That's what the day is for. They give thanks love gratitude, joy, and themselves to one another.” Erma Bombeck. 

May we have many warm thoughts this Christmas season! 

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner December 4th, 1997

Published by the Marion Record 

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina

We hope you have a fabulous holiday with family and friends! Be reminded of the blessings you have. There is so much to be grateful for!

Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house, we go!

May you all around the world have a happy, joyful, and thankful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Let's all be joyful, with an attitude of gratitude. Two days before writing this warm thoughts column, I received in the mail from a reader, a poem by Edgar, a guest, written in 1917 and published in the book, “Just, folks.”

The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving.

Maybe I am getting old and like too much to dwell upon the days of bygone years, the days I loved so well. But thinking of them, now I wish somehow that I could know a simple old Thanksgiving Day, like those of long ago, when all the family gathered around a table ritually spread with little Jamie at the foot, and grandpa at the head, the youngest of us all to greet the oldest with a smile with mother running in and out and laughing. All the while it may be I'm old fashioned, but it seems to me today, we're too much bent on having fun to take the time to pray. Each little family grows up with fashions of its own. It lives within a world itself, and wants to be alone. It has its special pleasures, its circle to a friend. There are no get together days each one his journey when there are no get together days each one his journey wins, pursuing what he likes the best and his particular way, letting the others do the same. Upon Thanksgiving Day. I like the olden way the best when relatives were glad to meet the way they used to do when I was but allowed the old home was around a view for all our friends and kin. And whether living far or near, they all came trooping in with shouts of, “Hello daddy.” As a fairly stormed the place, and made a rush for mother, who would stop to wipe her face. Upon her kingdom apron before she kissed them all. Upon her give them a brand before she kissed them all, hugging them proudly to her breast. The grown ups and small. Then laughter rang throughout the home, and oh the jokes they told all afternoon. We chatted telling what we hope to do the struggles we were making and the hardships, we'd gone through. We gathered around the fireside, how fast the hours would fly. It seemed before we settle down it was time to say goodbye. Those were the glad Thanksgiving the old time families know. When relatives could still be friends. And every heart was true. 

Thank you dear friends for sharing your warm thoughts throughout the year. And to all you pilgrims. Many thanks!

More Warm Thoughts: Grateful hearts are healthier. I am convinced that one really lives when you live with a joyful attitude of gratitude. Make every day, a Thanksgiving Day. 

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

November, 27th 1997

Published by the Marion Record 

Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.

Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina