Pumpkin Patch

The glow of pumpkins on Halloween night!

I love Halloween. There is something about the crisp air, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the smells of scented candles and home baked treats that makes me feel all cozy. Of course costumes and candy are some of the highlights of this holiday.

It's the eve of cold days to come and the prompting to light a fire and curl up into a warm blanket. Mmmmm! I love this season.

Happy Halloween!

Melted Brain Syndrome

For all of you who may have wondered what happened to me, this picture answers some of your questions.

My decision was a no brainer (pardon the punn). It was to either spend what little extra time I have left during a day, blogging and have lots o' fun - OR - spend my extra time studying for my Pathology class and pray intensely that I get a good enough grade to actually pass the class. (I haven't been doing to well on my quizzes lately.)

But let me tell you, I thought I could do it both (get my cake and eat it too). And this is what happened to me....(see above picture).

So, I am loving sitting once again at my computer, typing and creating away realizing that it is just for the moment, for another quiz is yet to come. Uuuggg!

Best "how-dee-doo-dee's" to all who I have not checked in with for a while!

Love, Melissa

Billy the Fireman

Today, I feel like sharing something a little bit different. I am sure most of you have all ready read or heard about this story. But it is one of my favorites and I can't help but get a little sniffly from reading it. So, here it goes...


In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams.

Now, that was no longer possible..
The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true.

She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"

Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."

Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have
your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on
all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us! his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform
and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven.

There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the
love and attention that was lavished upon him, touched Billy so much that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room”?

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window 16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him.

With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?"

"Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing." He closed his eyes one last time.

Prayers

Aren't all prayers heard. They may not be answered the way we want them to be answered. But I believe they are all listened to.

That's what this design reminds me of.

Dance

I am trying out a new fractal software. I don't know how you all will enjoy this, but I am liking it so far. I am calling this one "Dance".

Friendly Reminder

Don't you just hate that. It's really not cool.

Inspiration

Thank you.

Red Tree

I was reading somewhere that color can be very therapeutic.

Red
The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love
--- webexhibits.org

In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is the color of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck.
--- Jacci Howard Bear

Red is hot. It's a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil
--- Jacci Howard Bear

...red light has been shown to be effective in the treatment of migraine headaches and cancer. As a result, color is becoming widely accepted as a therapeutic tool with various medical applications.
--- Helen Graham

Red is invigorating, it is alive, and it is beautiful, especially on this tree.
--- Melissa

Can you pass me the .....

I just love entertaining pics.
I wonder how many times this pic will make its way onto different blogs? I've seen a few.

Art Challenge #2

Same challenge as in previous post below, except this is a picture of what you feared being under your bed.

Art Challenge #1

Here's an art challenge for you:

Use PAINT on your computer, and by only using the pencil and eraser tools draw a childhood picture of your house, (HOW YOU WOULD HAVE DRAWN IT AT THE AGE OF 10). Then color it. It is harder then you think.

If you choose to do this challenge, leave a comment with a link to your blog site here so we can check out your pic.

This challenge will stay open for a while to give enough people a chance to do it.

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
Albert Einstein