* Snow !

Make a Smilebox slideshow

* Something to Make You Smile

Make a Smilebox slideshow

* Fraud

My good friend and the best boss I've ever had emailed our staff this information today! Even though this is a Big Thoughts blog, and should be a happy place... I wanted to store this info here so I could find it if I ever lost the hard copy. Thanks Paul! I pray this never happens to those I love.
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday.

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone.
If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address.
If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.
Never have your SS# printed on your checks.
You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

**Here's some critical information to limit the damage in case FRAUD/THEFT happens to you or someone you know:

***Cancel our credit cards immediately.
***Have the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

***File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

***Here's what is perhaps most important of all:
Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number.
I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact if your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

* Father In Heaven is In Control

I received this email from my dad today!
I know that my Heavenly Father loves me personally. I know that I am His daughter. I know that He is my Heavenly Father, and that I have a Heavenly Mother who loves me too. I am blessed each and every day for the knowledge that I have of Him, His plan for me, and the purpose of my days here.

My dad writes: "I really like this one. It's a great reminder that God is always in control....... Dad." I love you dad! Thanks for sending this to me. ((Hugs))

My reply to dad: 'Thanks dad!I needed this reminder today... I've had some challenging days, as we all have.I love you.Good Night.Love, Jackie'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And some try to say there is no God...
The 'L I T T L E ' Things

*As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

*Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

*One woman was late because her Alarm clock didn't go off in time.

*One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike Because of an auto accident.

*One of them missed his bus.

*One spilled food on her clothes and had to takeTime to change.

*One's Car wouldn't start.

*One couldn't Get a taxi.

*The one that struck me was the man Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, Took the various means to get to work But before he got there, he developed A blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am Stuck in traffic, Miss an elevator, Turn back to answer a ringing telephone All the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, This is exactly where God wants me to be At this very moment.. Next time your morning seems to be Going wrong , The children are slow getting dressed, You can't seem to find the car keys, You hit every traffic light, Don't get mad or frustrated; It May be just that God is at work watching over you. May God continue to bless you With all those annoying little things And may you remember their possible purpose.

* Somebody Said....

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby..... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct .. somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ... somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's learners permit.

Somebody said if you're a'good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'.... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.... somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first .... somebody doesn't have two children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery.... somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten ... or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her....somebody isn't a mother.

Thanks for sending this to me Jennie! I'd just gotten off the phone with my mother when I opened your message! My mom is awesome!

* God's Hands

Artist's version of Plane crash on Hudson River

* US POSTAL SERVICE AT ITS BEST!

Subject: US POSTAL SERVICE AT ITS BEST!

This is one of the kindest things you may ever see. It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog?
She died yesterday and is with you in heaven.
I miss her very much.
I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her.
She likes to play with balls and to swim.
I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog.
I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope.

On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.Having the picture was a big help.
I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore.
Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart.
Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by..
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love,God