Tag: tips

What Life is All About

What Do You Want To Leave Behind When You Die

I hope you want to be remembered for the good things you did with your life. I hope you teach as many people as possible the arts of your trade. If you have knowledge in a particular area and do not share it with others, your life will not have helped as much as it could have. Be kind, loving, and compassionate, and do not let your possessions control or define you. Some people will collect a particular item, and finding more of it is what occupies their minds and their daily lives. Possessions mean nothing in this world or the next; the human connections you make will fulfill you. Possessions do not care for you or love you. They just take up your time and keep you awake at night thinking about them. Help people in any way that will benefit them the most. Be a cheerleader for people and encourage them to do well. I want to be remembered for being kind, loving, compassionate, hopeful, sharing, and bringing joy and sunshine into the lives of others. I hope I have passed along what I have learned to others so they will have a fulfilled life for me being here and cheering them on to be the best they can be.

Forgiveness

We must forgive everyone who has done something wrong. You must forgive your family members, friends, parents, and yourself if you want to be happy in life. If you do not forgive others, why should anyone forgive you? When you forgive people, you do not have to forget what they did wrong, as only a fool would do that. Never let yourself get stung twice by the same Bee. Forgiveness sets you free, and you have a clear mind that is not clouded by the past.

Spending Quality Time with Loved Ones

Life is short, so spend quality time with those you hold dear most. Eat out often and go to plays, concerts, and events that they enjoy. Make sure you go on family trips or with a friend. It is lovely to be on vacation with an excellent, dear friend. Your friend and you will share some common interests, and you will learn that you like many things that your friend does. Once you see a ballet or opera, you will enjoy it. Time spent with loved ones is the most valuable time there is.

Time With God

Spending time with God is valuable; he should be your best friend, as he has seen you at your best and worst. God has helped you through turbulent and stormy times. God has been your cheerleader since you were born. Reading the Bible and daily devotions is one way of spending time with God. Praise God without ceasing for any blessings he has given or presented to you that have helped you. Be one of God’s good shepherds; that is a beautiful way to be remembered. Praise be to God.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips, what life is all about

Vintage Toys

Why We Collect Old Toys That We Had When We Were Young

Perhaps the toys from our past remind us of our youth’s carefree and happy days. One day, I found a Doctor’s kit I had as a child at a rummage sale. It reminded me of when I used to play Doctor and write out prescriptions for pills to make my Grandmother well. Childhood treatments were always effective, and my Grandmother would put up with my pretend ailments and my prescriptions for her, which made her OK again. I always loved toy cap guns, so I purchased one at a rummage sale that somebody had hardly used. I also found a chicken that would lay eggs when you hit the egg on her stomach with a toy gun that shot out suction cup arrows. The vintage chicken toy looked brand new.

Sometimes, We Will Collect A Toy That We Wish We had As A Child

As a child, I always wanted a Lionel train, but I never had one, so I have some now. If we played with a toy at a friend’s house and loved it, that is why we might want a toy like that now in our older years. I never liked dolls and traditional girls’ toys; I always preferred the toys the boys played with. I loved to play marbles with the boys when I was in first through fifth grade. I loved to play baseball with boys at recess and catch the ball with my catcher’s mitt. I would dress up my cats in doll clothes, and they would sleep in a shoebox for one to two hours. Then, I would remove their doll dresses, and they would go back outdoors to catch mice and do their own thing. I thought it wasn’t brilliant to play with a plastic doll and pretend it was like a baby, as to me, it was just a piece of plastic. My cats were alive; I could easily pretend they were babies. I had stuffed animals of various kinds that I played with. One day, I found a stuffed toy dog I had fond memories of years ago. I purchased that old toy dog at a rummage sale as it looked clean and well-preserved.

Toys Bring Back Fond Memories From The Past

You may collect a toy car because you remember riding in one in childhood. My parents had a good-looking 1952 Chevy, and I liked riding in that car with them. I saw a car that looked very similar in color, and it was a 1952 and reasonably priced, so I purchased it. I used to have some toy steam engines, and it was fun to see them move and operate from the steam as they worked, just like the old steam engines they used on the farm and other places years ago. Toys remind us of the happiest times in our lives, the fun times and the beautiful memories of feeling safe and sound with our parents, and the fun family vacations that hold Dear memories in our hearts. Memory Lane is priceless as it is full of God’s blessings.

Tags Antiques, childhood toys, tips

Timing Is Everything

Be Patient And Wait Until The Time Is Right

Never talk to someone about an important matter when tired or worn out. Wait to speak to someone after they have had time to rest and relax. If worn out, they may be mad at you for no reason except they are plain worn out. If someone is wide awake and has plenty of rest, they will listen to you and be receptive and open to discussion on the matter at hand. Never buy a car until you have thought it over and can afford the car payments. Going into debt is never a good idea, as interest rates take forever to pay off, and you will probably pay for the car at least twice because of the exorbitant interest rates. Buying a house on time makes sense as you are not paying rent. You are making house payments, and you will own the house eventually. When starting in life, buy used as you do not have to have everything brand new. Save money for your old age as you will need a good amount to retire on and for the Nursing home eventually. Plan as timing is everything. If you put off things too long, you may not be able to do it in the future depending on your health or other things that may come up that you did not expect.

God Knows When The Timing Is Right For Us

God leads us on different paths in our lives at various times. He has things he wants us to do at certain times, and that is the path you are on at present. Some people are led on the path or mission God wants them to follow later in life. God knows when we can complete the path he has set out for us to accomplish. If we were younger, maybe he figured we did not know enough about the area he had planned for us. We may have many missions to complete on Earth before getting the ultimate mission God has always intended for us. God knows timing is everything and will never lead us on a mission we cannot complete without his guidance. We must always listen to what God calls us to do and be patient. Complete your mission with compassion, kindness, love, and understanding of other people’s feelings.

Golden Opportunity

If you see a golden opportunity, go for it and do not procrastinate; the next person may grab it immediately. Golden opportunities do not come along very often. If you have the money, health, and time to travel, do it now, as timing is everything. Do not wait until you retire, as your health could change quickly. If you are offered a dream job, take it and be happy. There is no use in working at a job that you dread as you do a disservice to yourself and others. Life is a golden opportunity as you can learn something new daily, enjoy other people’s company, and be out with Mother Nature. Remember, timing is everything; it has to be in the correct order and at the right time.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, timing matters, tips

Household Projects To Get Done Before Winter

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 7, 2024
No Comments on Household Projects To Get Done Before Winter

Roof And Foundation Repair

It would be best to repair your roof before winter, as you do not want ice dams that will eventually leak into your home and cause costly repairs. Foundations settle and crack, allowing rodents and insects to enter your house quickly. Hire a professional to repair any cracks in your foundation. Your foundation may have to have braces put in so it will not continue to shift and cause larger cracks down the road. You may want to call a foundation repair company.

Caulking And Weather Striping

It is a good idea to check the caulk around your windows, as you will lose a lot of heat if it is dried up and falls out. I had new caulk put around all of my windows this spring. Ensure your weather striping is good, flexible, and tight around all your doors. Attaching a door sweep to the bottom of your doors is also a good idea, as that will keep out the draft.

Have Your Furnace Checked

At least have your furnace checked every two years to ensure that there are no cracks in the heat exchanger and that all the motors are quiet and functioning normally. Also, make sure the ignitor is in good shape, or your furnace may not start on a night with a blizzard. If you use propane tanks, ensure you have booked enough for the entire winter. It takes at least two months to get a new furnace, so plan early.

Make Sure Your Back Up Generators Are In Good Working Order

Start Your generators at least twice yearly and ensure the oil level is up. I always run them out of fuel when I store them. That way, you will not have stale fuel in them; they should take right off when needed.

Snowblowers

Start your snowblowers and make sure they purr like kittens. Most of the time, if you put a new spark plug in, it should take right off if it did not earlier. I add seafoam to the gas, keeping them operating with no troubles. If your snowblower was on its last peg last year, trade it off soon so you will be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.

Appliances of All Types

Make sure all of your appliances are working smoothly. You do not want to have to move a new refrigerator into your house in the middle of the winter. The last time I purchased a new refrigerator, it took nine months. If your washing machine sounds like a trashing machine, replace it now.

Vehicles

Get your cars and trucks winterized and start shopping for new tires. Tire traction makes all the difference on ice. I like tires with good thread patterns to help you through the deepest snow. Make sure your car battery is at its peak performance, or some wintery night, your car may not start, and you will get very cold in a hurry. Have all of the necessary winter supplies in your vehicle, and you will be happy if you get stranded in the winter. Plan ahead this winter and stay safe and warm.

Tags household repairs, Maintenance, tips

Boredom

Waiting For Appointments

Waiting for appointments can get boring. After you have been using your phone to access social media platforms and cannot stand to look at the screen anymore, you may become bored and anxious. I hate waiting for trains. One time, I had to wait for a train for two hours because the other roads were closed for road construction, and there was no way to get around the train. One time, my family had a doctor’s appointment, and it took from 7 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon before we could finally see our Doctor. I am sure I read every magazine I could find in their waiting area. The Doctor had an emergency, but no one told us about it until we finally got in to see the Doctor. I waited one hour for three people to show up for an appointment, but no one showed. I was bored, angry, and frustrated over the matter. Airplane delays can be very annoying when all the vending machines are out of food in the wee hours of the morning, and the airport waiting area is dark.

Living In A Facility Without Any Activities That Interest You

You may have to attend their activities, but you are bored and silly, so you close your eyes and sit there, waiting for time to pass. They should ask people who live in facilities what their interests are so they would not have to be bored. We all have different things we love to do and enjoy, but that does not matter once you get into a facility anymore. You have to dance to the beat of their drum. In a person’s golden years, you should have choices and be able to do what you desire.

People Need Things To Stimulate Their Brain

You will become bored if you do not have people to visit and communicate with. Talking with people helps calm and relax the soul; without that, you are like a ship anchored in the Ocean. I have seen people placed in front of a TV all day while sleeping. It would be kinder to let them sleep in their bed. I would go mad if I had no one to talk to. Life-long learning classes are perfect for seniors as they stimulate their minds and make many friends there. If you love to travel, you will not be bored.

General Boredom

Some people love to sit and relax, and others find work in its self-relaxing. If I am bored, I will watch TV, read a book, work, or go to town and buy a little something to eat at a restaurant. I love to sit with my cats and watch them play with their cat toys. I love to blog about my cats and inspirationswithlaura. I am never bored if I am writing, with my friends, or with my feline friends. If you are bored, find something to lift your spirits. This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Tags boredom, lack of interest, tips

Working Together

Working To Get The Job Done

You can share ideas to accomplish your goal more efficiently. Two minds are better than one when getting any task done. If one person needs a tool and is up high on a ladder, the other person on the ground can give it to him without wasting time going up and down the ladder. Laying shingles is more manageable when one lays them out while one nails them down. When moving heavy appliances, you need two people to help so no one gets hurt. When you work alone, ensure you have all the tools you need to complete your job so you do not have to hunt and waste time looking for tools. Ensure your ladder is secure and will not go out from under you, for if you fall, no one can help you when working alone. Do not waste time with long breaks unless you are not feeling well. Keep up a timely pace and get the job done right the first time.

Working In Tandem

Hopefully, the person who helps you with any job can work in tandem with you. If you have a rhythm when you work with someone, the work is more manageable, and you move along more quickly. If one person is left-handed and the other is right-handed, remember that he will fold a tarp over in a different direction, so one of you will have to change the way you fold the tarp. If you both work on the same task, you can move on to the next task much sooner. Working in tandem is like riding a tandem bicycle, as you will not succeed if both people do not peddle together.

Working With Others At Your Job

Some people will try to take credit for your ideas. A few workers will try to push their workload onto you. Do not let workers take advantage of your kind nature at work; if they get by with it once, it will continue without stopping. Hopefully, you can set ground rules early with those who think they can pull a fast one with you at work. Most people should be able to get along with others and praise their fellow workers for a job well done.

Try To Work With Others As It Makes Everyone’s Life Much Easier

Do not boss people around, as that gets old quickly. Be willing to help out your fellow worker with a task at hand. Do not try to earn brownie points from another person’s ideas or hard work, as stealing is the same thing. Work on your own merits and do not benefit from the work of others. Praise your fellow workers when they help you get something done that you could not have done without their input and help. Never expect someone to do a job you would not have done at some point. What makes you think someone else can if you cannot stomach the job? Treat people fairly unless they try to pull one over on you and then tell them that that is not acceptable in any shape or form. I hope you work with kind and fair people that are like-minded.

Tags tips, working in tandem, working with people

Inactivity

Stay Active And Fit

Those who stay active and fit tend to live much longer than those who sit around. Get up and move, and find things that you love to do. I like working outdoors and walking or biking outdoors. Cats that stay active are much thinner than cats that take too many catnaps in one day. I purchased an exercise wheel for my cats, and the thin ones loved it, but the plump ones thought to themselves I want nothing to do with that exercise wheel. Some of my cats like to go outdoors, eat grass, or try to catch a rodent. One must stay active and fit with your relationship with God. Listen to sermons, pray without ceasing, read daily devotions, and be an excellent example to others. Be kind and loving. Caring and Compassionate, and let God’s light shine through you in all you do to help others. Call on people and lift their spirits. Inactivity in your relationship with God will leave you in a place where you have no hope or peace of mind.

Relationships

You must keep your relationships with others active to have a good relationship. No one wants a rainy-day friend. All of us want friends who will be there for us in the good times to cheer us on and in the bad times to help us through them. I have been blessed with wonderful friends who have helped me in the best of times and in the worst of times. A good marriage will involve a lot of communication and give-and-take. Marriage must not always have one spouse that calls all of the shots. Marriage needs harmony, peace, and love to make it last. All relationships need to be nurtured and tended to. Do not take anyone for granted; someday, they will not be there for you. Tell your spouse and friends you love them often and spend quality time with them.

Work

It will show if you are not productive in your work. If you let things go without fixing them, you will be overwhelmed by the number of things you must fix all at once. I list things I want to get fixed every year, and I start with the hardest ones first. The other ones do not take as long, and it is much easier to cross everything off your list by year’s end. If you love your job and it motivates you, you will not have any inactive time. If your job does not encourage you, try to get a different job that does. I like looking at buildings I painted or any other completed work project. I want a job where I feel I have accomplished much by the end of the day. I do not want to sit around and be bored, and I am happy when I am working.

Travel

See all you can when you travel and never stay cooped up in your room, as you might as well have stayed home. Go to concerts, operas, and bus tours, and get out and see what the locals are doing. Go to the various restaurants and enjoy the different and unique foods of the region that you are in. Go to the stores, shop, and attend church service on Sunday, as you will be amazed by the church’s history. I love history and any place where they recreate history with people dressed and working as they would have at that time. Stay active in all that you do.

Tags Cat health, Inspirations with Laura, tips

Past And Present

Dont Live In The Past

The past is the past, and you should leave it there. Do not relive past events, as you cannot live in the present if you do. You can remember beautiful memories from the past, but do not keep rehashing negative memories. We all have past regrets or wish we would have done things differently at that particular moment. We cannot change one thing from our past, except we can learn from it and not make those mistakes again. When you get up in the morning, say to yourself or a loved one, ‘This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I am glad for every new day that the Lord gives me. Make your days count on earth by serving the Lord and helping other people.

Present

Look at the birds singing every morning, welcoming in a new day. The present is the here and now with beautiful blessings that the Lord will shine down on you. God knows what people to bring into your life at the right time. God knows when you need a helping hand or a friend to help you overcome a difficult time. I love working outdoors and gardening, and my time indoors is focused on writing blog posts and doing daily housework. I look forward to spending time with friends. Friends are like the flowers in the garden of life. Friends bring joy, beauty, love, hope, peace, and happiness into your life. I make a list of what I want to accomplish every day, and I am pretty good at getting my list done by the end of the day. I love watching old TV programs from my past, which bring back beautiful memories.

Future

The future moves a person forward, and you look forward to particular events with those you hold dear. I love planning a vacation, waiting for the day to fly to my new destination, and taking in the sights and the different foods they serve. Traveling is a beautiful hobby with a bright future. Every day you travel, you will have many discoveries and beautiful memories that no one can ever take away from you. I love going to church services in the places I visit and learning the history of their church and how it got started.

Go Out And Live Your Life To Its Full Extent

Don’t waste time on events that you cannot change. Life is about new experiences and adventures, which I look forward to with gusto. Life moves forward quickly. Travel while young, or you may not travel if health problems arise. Don’t always think you need the perfect time to do something, for that time may never come. Be spontaneous and live in the here and now. God made us to live in the here and now and not to dwell on past events in our lives. Get out there and live your life with gusto.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, live in the future, tips, you cannot redo the past

Distractions

Work

What do you think about when you work? Do you stay focused on your work or let your mind drift? If you let your mind drift to other things, your work will suffer, and you will be wasting valuable time throughout your day. I have seen people at different businesses ordering something online when they are supposed to be working. I don’t know about you, but when I am paying someone, I want them focused on the job they are doing for me. I do not want to be paying people for a break so they can smoke, as I have now paid them to smoke instead of work they are supposed to be doing for me. I wouldn’t say I like it when workers come to a job without the materials needed to complete the task. I complained to the owner and said I would not be paying labor for them going back to the shop for the supplies they should have had on their repair truck in the first place. Come prepared to work at your job and do the best possible; never do a job with as little work as possible, for it will catch up with you eventually, and no one will hire you. Word of mouth travels quicker than lightning sometimes. Your craft or trade will make or break you, depending on your work ethic.

Distracted From Worship

Is watching a sports team play on TV more important than worshiping God? I hope you would say that worshipping God is more important than a sports game because it is much more important, for you are nothing without God. I have heard people say that they want to rest at home on Sunday or party. You can relax after church; your party could be on Friday night. God is always there for you 24/7, so you can be at church or watch a sermon online for one or two hours to thank God for the many blessings he has given you. Church is about fellowship, praise, faith, hope, peace, love, joy, renewing your covenant with God, singing praises, learning from the sermon, and applying that to your daily living. Never get distracted from praising God; the devil wants you to do that. Let God be your lighthouse and compass daily; you will never get lost.

Sickness

Never focus on your illness or sickness, as it will try to put you in a dark hole. Focus on the good things in your life and the things you still can do, not those you cannot do anymore. Life will have many ups and downs; it is all about how you rise in the down times. Sickness can strengthen your relationship with God and others and lead you on a new path to help you and others. All of us will get sick as that is just part of nature. We are born, and every day after we are born, we die a little bit every day. Live your days with hope, peace, and joy, and know that God loves you immensely and wants only the best for you.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, move forward, stay focused, tips, work ethic

Life's Lessons

Life’s Lessons

Don’t Jump To Conclusions Until You Have All Of The Facts

Things can look black and white, but sometimes they do not. If you misplace something, you may think someone may have stolen it. After you look several times and do not see it, you jump to conclusions. One time, I looked in my kitchen cupboard for a food product I knew I had not eaten, but I could not find it. I knew I had placed it. The next day, I found it right off the bat. If you are concentrating on something too much, you may overlook it even though it has been in plain sight all along. God will always lead you on the right path. Do not think you did something wrong when you get an illness, as they do not overlook anyone, as it is just part of life. Pray to God to help you get through your illness without much pain or suffering, as God listens to your prayers 24/7. Never judge a book by its cover until you have read it. Do not be too quick to judge someone, as you may be affected by how you judge them to a higher degree.

Live And Learn From The Past

If I went to a store and were not treated right, I would not return to face the same kind of treatment. I had traded for a vehicle but did not get every little detail in writing. Luckily, I had a friend with me when I purchased it. He tried to stick me with a two-wheel drive instead of a four-wheel drive. I finally got a letter from the sales manager saying he would give me a vehicle one year newer. He wanted me to pay more because it was a four-wheel drive, and my friend said no, she had already paid for that which I had. The owner said he could not correct the problem. I showed him the sales manager’s signed letter, and he quickly changed his tune. He dared to ask me how I liked the vehicle later, and I told him I wouldn’t say I liked it. He asked me why I wouldn’t say I liked it, and I said it was what I had to go through to get it. I did not have that vehicle for long and have nothing to do with that dealership now.

God And Life

If you follow and love God with all your heart and soul, you are on the right path. Many people will come into your life who will try to lead you astray if you let them. People will have investments and tell you you cannot lose any money with their investments. People will offer free advice, some of which will be good and the rest wrong. Consider the source before you follow someone else’s path in life. I prefer to follow God’s path for my life. Always take the path less traveled or a tried and true path. And the path that God wants for your life, and you cannot go wrong. Life lessons are necessary for you to grow and help God and others.

Tags don't jump to conclusions, Inspirations with Laura, life lessons, live and learn, tips