Guest Heart Thursday #188

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -

A Place to Share YOUR Heart!

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends ...

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends ...

I tried to boil down what I'm most thankful for this year into as few words as possible, and this is what I came up with ...

I am thankful for family who are friends

And friends who are family.

And now - a blast from the past!

Here are some Thanksgiving hearts found through the years!

In 2010, Al posted this very interesting graffiti covered log on his blog, "Al's Photography Blog". 

Thank you, Al, for sharing your heart!

 That same year, Dani posted this cute van painted with adorable hearts!

Dani hasn't posted to her blog, "Snow Flowers" for a long time ... and I have missed her so much.

But I heard from her this week!
She is still in China, but is unable to post to her blogs.
Life is good for Dani - which warms my heart to hear!

Thank you, Dani, for sharing your heart!

Thanksgiving 2011 was "family" day - where I posted hearts found by my family. This beautiful water lily heart was one my brother Darren found in Dad's pond.

Thank you, Darren, for sharing your heart!

Tina, "Tina's PicStory", posted this broken heart and angel last year.

It came at a time when my family was facing our first Thanksgiving without Dad.

The pain is still there, but it is getting easier to bear.

And this picture still helps heal the hurt.

Thank you, Tina, for sharing your heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!!!

 

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...

There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or just found something that touches your heart, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to "Simply Linked"! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!

Simply Linked for Guest Heart Thursday is now open all week!

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!
Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL to that post!  

Guest Heart Thursday #187

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -

A Place to Share YOUR Heart!

Just a note ... Guest Heart Thursday will be "open"** Thanksgiving morning!

With a special "Thank You" Edition!

**(Not to be confused with some local retail stores which are also "open" on Thanksgiving ... and which I will be avoiding at all costs - just my own personal pet peeve)

Leave it to Beth to find the hearts in this darling Thanksgiving postcard - which you can find over at "The Best Hearts Are Crunchy"!

Beth hosts "Postcard Friendship Friday", a fun meme for postcards - I will try to post again this week, sissie, maybe after work tomorrow!

Thank you, dear Sissie, for sharing your heart!

Dorothy is another friend who finds hearts on postcards. I am constantly amazed at the totally appropriate cards she shares from her collection!

You can check out Dorothy's delightful blog - "Coffeedoff's CoffeeBreak" to see more!

Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing your heart!

I am so incredibly thankful to have heard from Maria - "Connections to the World"- after the typhoon in The Philippines. I apologize for misspelling "Manila"! Maria is physically okay (thank God!) - but the emotional scars will take a long time to heal. We need to continue to do what we can to help the beautiful people of The Philippines - even if that is simply to show our love, prayer, and encouragement.

Thank you, Maria, for sharing your heart!

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!!!

 

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...

There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or just found something that touches your heart, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to "Simply Linked"! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!

Simply Linked for Guest Heart Thursday is now open all week!

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!
Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL to that post!  

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -

A Place to Share YOUR Heart!

My heart goes out to the beautiful people of The Philippines whose lives are devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

 If you haven't met Maria, then you are missing a beautiful lady who loves postcards (check out her wonderful blog, "Connections to the World", traveling, and her "beau" (and NOT in that order!).
Maria is a very special friend, whose genuine warmth and kindness fill my heart.

Maria lives in The Philippines (I think in Manilla). Last Friday she posted that the brunt of the typhoon was upon her, but she was looking forward to better weather and happier times soon to come. She has not been able to post since then.

One of my favorite things about Maria's postcard blog is how she documents each card that she receives. She shows how far the card traveled, and how long it took to reach her!

Some of the results are fascinating!!!

Maria - you and your country are in so many thoughts and prayers today.

Please know that we miss your presence right now, but understand your absence from Blogland.

Thank you, Maria, for sharing your heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!!!

 

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...

There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or just found something that touches your heart, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to "Simply Linked"! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!

Simply Linked for Guest Heart Thursday is now open all week!

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!
Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL to that post!  

Autumn Hearts are Here ...

The wind and rain have stripped most of the leaves from the trees ...

It's now the Heart of Autumn!

A Heart for Veterans

For all who have served ...

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I wrote the following words as I noticed that this year, for the first time, there is a huge swelling of national pride and honor for our veterans, active duty soldiers, active duty spouses and family members ... finally.

But I couldn't help noticing someone missing from those being honored today ... whose sacrifices seem to be forgotten ...

The veteran spouse.

 Our Forgotten Heroes ...
For those who stand by our veteran heroes, through peacetime and battle.
Whose sacrifices are forgotten.

They hold their families together, through tragedy and triumph.
Yet their sacrifices are forgotten.
They pay the bills, work full-time jobs, keep their households together, through separations long and short.
And their sacrifices are forgotten.
They pace the floor on long lonely nights. They find ways to send messages of love along with the care packages. They cry. They grieve. They wait. 

Their faithfulness is so often forgotten.
They comfort their children, keeping fresh the love for the often-missing parent, and rejoice with them upon their return.
And their sacrifices are forgotten.
They pick up their homes and move every few years. They give up their jobs and careers at the same time.
All sacrifices which are forgotten.
They proudly welcome home their hero soldiers,
And don't mind that their sacrifices are forgotten.
Sometimes they learn that the ultimate price has been paid, and they must pick up the pieces and move on.
This ultimate sacrifice is often forgotten as well ...
They stand silently and proudly in the background, watching the parades.
While their own sacrifices are forgotten.
They bravely face the unknown soldier spouse who comes home wounded and changed; and become nurses and caregivers.
This is an honor, not a sacrifice. But it is still forgotten.
As they grow old, long after physical battles are won or lost, they tend to the emotional wounds and memories of their soldiers ... the flashbacks and PTSD.
Still these sacrifices are forgotten.
They feel a lingering pain that they have been forgotten, without recognition, for so long.
But they know their sacrifices are worth the price ...

forgotten or not.

When you thank a Veteran today, and every time you meet one of these heroes ... please take a moment to thank that person standing by their side ... holding their hand ... pushing their wheelchair. Because you don't want to miss the chance to honor and acknowledge the sacrifices made by those who are forgotten.

MILITARY SPOUSES DESERVE A MEDAL.

Guest Heart Thursday #185

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -

A Place to Share YOUR Heart!

After yet another frustrating week, this time involving intermittent internet issues (a car wiped out a regional phone box down the street ... it took crews over 3 days to fix it) and a (distinct and separate) overnight power outage, I can finally comment again! I did visit your links last week (in between above-mentioned issues), but that was all - I couldn't let you know how much I loved your hearts!!!

One of the things I try to do when featuring YOUR hearts, is to ask for permission to do so, if that is what you have requested. Due to my late start this week, I found two hearts that I wanted to feature, but ran out of time to ask for permission!

The first was a link sent to me by Maria @ "Connections to the World".

She found a flowery heart over at "Rosebud Quilter" - and it's simply gorgeous!!!

Thank you, Rosebud, for sharing your heart!

Thank you, Maria, for sending the link!

You just have to see the apple posted by Deanna over at "Snippets from Springdale". I've seen apple hearts before, but none as perfect and gorgeous as this one!!!

Thank you, Deanna, for sharing your heart!

 When I visited Forest Dream Weaver's blog, "Starry Universe", I fell in love with this incredible swan heart. Then I noticed something else.

As I browsed through these amazing photos ... I felt enveloped in peace.

Thank you, Forest Dream Weaver, for sharing your heart.

And for sharing this amazing peaceful magic!

Don't you just love this sweet heart rock?

It was posted on Maj Patterson's blog, "The Scenery in My Eyes" (translated).

Of course, I knew I would find something special here - when Laura sent me the link!

And below, is another heart Maj Patterson posted ...

Only this time it's a bit of wood!

I love the colors here!!!

Thank you, Maj Patterson, for sharing your heart!

Thank you, again, Laura, for sending the link!

This amazing heart was another link sent by "Texwisgirl" ...

And posted by JP over at "A Quiet Corner".

Though, come to think about it, there's nothing "quiet" about this heart - it simply screams "OHMIGOSH THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!!"

 Thank you, JP, for sharing your heart!

Thank you, again, Texwisgirl, for finding it - and sharing the link!

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!!!

 

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...

There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or just found something that touches your heart, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to "Simply Linked"! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!

Simply Linked for Guest Heart Thursday is now open all week!

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!
Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL to that post!