How do you do?

Here is a preview of coming attractions. My next book, as outlined below, is up to the editing stage. I thought you might like to know.
Prepare Here for the Hereafter
THE CHAPTERS ARE:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. IN ANTICIPATION covers legal, ethical and more things one can do to ease end times for everyone concerned.
3. CARE GIVING shares ideas on how to help and how to keep yourself, as the care giver, healthy.
4. JOURNALING explains before and after writing down ideas, feelings, and steps in the course of life can help.
5. PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE are almost self explanatory.
6. WHY HAVE A WAKE talks about who the wake is for and how to go about making it comfortable for people.
7. SAVING MONEY IN TIME OF GRIEF explains steps to take to save because funerals can by expensive.
8. HOW CAN I HELP? Here I’ve listed what to do, and what is not helpful.
9. FUNERAL ORDER covers the way funerals are performed in different religions.
10. HELPS FOR THE GRIEVING PERSON is written to try to ease the transition into the rest of life after a loss.
11. HELPFUL WEB SITES puts all the sites from all of the chapters to ease finding the particular site read about in all the chapters.
You can pick up some of the ideas, shared in this book, on my blog site.

Go to Amazon.com, and type in my name to buy my books.
Locally the Holy Family Christian Books & Gifts, Bibles Books & More, in Redding, and Classic Books in Cottonwood carry my books.

Humor time:
Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down? They Wore Their Buckle On Their Hat.
A 4-year-olds voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

Sincerely, Edward Reinagel

How do you do?

Here is a preview of coming attractions. My next book, as outlined below, is up to the editing stage. I thought you might like to know.
"Prepare Here for the Hereafter"
THE CHAPTERS ARE:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. IN ANTICIPATION covers legal, ethical and more things one can do to ease end times for everyone concerned.
3. CARE GIVING shares ideas on how to help and how to keep yourself, as the care giver, healthy.
4. JOURNALING explains before and after writing down ideas, feelings, and steps in the course of life can help.
5. PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE are almost self explanatory.
6. WHY HAVE A WAKE talks about who the wake is for and how to go about making it comfortable for people.
7. SAVING MONEY IN TIME OF GRIEF explains steps to take to save because funerals can by expensive.
8. HOW CAN I HELP? Here are listed what to do, and what is not helpful.
9. FUNERAL ORDER covers the way funerals are performed in different religions.
10. HELPS FOR THE GRIEVING PERSON is written to try to ease the transition into the rest of life after a loss.
11. HELPFUL WEB SITES puts all the sites from all of the chapters to ease finding the particular site read about in all the chapters.
You can pick up some of the ideas, shared in this book, on my blog site.
: http://www.ed-reinagel-writer.blogspot.com/
Go to Amazon.com, and type in my name to buy my books.
Locally the Holy Family Christian Books & Gifts, Bibles Books & More, in Redding, and Classic Books in Cottonwood carry my books.

Humor time:
Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down? They Wore Their Buckle On Their Hat.
A 4-year-old voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

Sincerely, Edward Reinagel

A belated hello,

I’ve spent many frustrating days trying to figure our how to put different headings on each chapter of my new book. Two people suggested I try Openoffice.com. I did and still am flummoxed. Microsoft word is not working for me in that effort.
I haven’t given up yet.

There is good news even though it’s only half of what I hoped for. My book, “Eight Ways to Share Your Family History,” is now available on Amazon. I await an answer about why “Pump Up Your Prayer Life” is not there as well. It should be in due time. However you can buy either book from me for $10, shipping included. Send your request to my E-mail: ednabd33@gmail.com. In the header please put Pump Up, or History book, so I feel safe opening mail from unknown persons.

Humor time:

The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

Have wonderful life, God bless you,

Sorry I’ve not written until now. Welcome to my world,

All three of us were sick last week and in spite of that we finished processing 56 pints of spaghetti sauce and 40 pints of chopped tomatoes. We went back in time to home canning to know what is in our food and to have a supply stocked up.

Even through being feverish, we were thankful to God for the strength to fulfill all our responsibilities. There is always something to be thankful for, no matter what. When you, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life,” you find more ways to thank God every day.

I am closing in on finishing my next book. All but two chapters are formatted and those chapters are coming along well. As said before, the working title is Prepare Here for the Hereafter.

Humor time;

How Do You Catch A Unique Rabbit?
Unique Up On It.

How Do You Catch A Tame Rabbit?
Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest?
They Take The Psycho Path.

Watch which path you take because others are watching. Ed

Good after noon one and one,

Thanks for stopping by.

This weekend has been busy and fruitful. That is; Friday we canned and processed, in the oven, 20 pints of tomato spaghetti sauce. It went surprisingly easy. That took 25 pounds of tomatoes. Saturday we did 11 pints of cut tomatoes, so we have a good start on a home made supply. That took another 15 pounds. Next weekend we aim to buy another 50 pounds of tomatoes and can some sauce and some cut. The aim is for a pint per week of consumption. Then I hope to process a Fusion type juice because Mary Grace uses a bottle a week to get her veggies and fruit consumption in her diet.

When I remember back, having six to eight children and two adults, I remember us processing hundreds of quarts a year. Whew! This seems like nothing. Of course then we had child labor. Thank goodness the law didn’t catch us making our children help.

I have both books proofed and ordered with the ISBN number. Soon you can check Amazon and E-books for copies. I still will sent them to you for $10. To order a book, write me at ednabd33@gmail.com. So I know what you want and feel safe opening you request, put Pump Up, or Eight Ways, in the subject line.

Humor time:
You know you live in California when....

Your coworker has 8 body piercings.

You make over $300,000 and still can't afford a house.

Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.

Just grin and bare it, Ed

Welcome to my blog. Thanks for visiting,

The other day, after I did readings at mass, a friend called and asked what chapter and verse I had read. She explained that she received a spiritual insight and wanted to read the verses further.

In my many years of church going the same thing often happened to me. I think our dear Lord gives us these insights only when we are ready to receive them. Fortunately I have been blessed with remembering those given to me and I share them and much more in my book, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life.”

You can read more of what is in my books by reading back through the pages of this blog. I suggest you especially read the August 15th blog about my getting the ISBN for my books. I will let you know the answer ASAP as I know myself. Then I will post where to buy either or both. Right now you can get them from me in the mail for $10 each. To order a book, write me at ednabd33@gmail.com. So I know what you want and feel safe opening you request, put PUMP UP,or EIGHT WAYS, in the subject line.

Humor time:
Tour Guides: What They're REALLY Saying
No extra fees .................. No extras
Nominal fee .................... Outrageous charge
Standard ........................ Sub-standard
Deluxe ........................... Standard

That’s all for now folks. God bless you, Ed

Good news!

I finally got over my procrastination and went to a different publisher for both my existing books. Soon I will have a proof copy of each and then they will go on sale at many outlets including, Amazon, E-books, local book stores and more.

It’s about time, as I am well into finishing my next book, “Prepare Here for the Hereafter.” The new book is a guide to aid people in preparing legal protection of their estate, preparation for the end days to ease the family’s concerns about how you desire your affairs to be handled, helps for the bereaved and so much more. My hope is to publish it by the end of the year.

As soon as I know, I will give you the net address where you can buy my books, now that they will have an ISBN number. Keep checking in my blog and the information will be there soon.

Humor time:
Tour Guides: What they’re REALLY Saying
Secluded hideaway ......... Impossible to find or get to
Pre-registered rooms ...... Already occupied
Explore on your own ....... Pay for it yourself
Knowledgeable trip hosts ..They've flown in an airplane before

Take care when traveling. Hope you return soon. God bless you, Ed

Thanks for visiting my blog,

This time we’ll share a bit more about gathering and sharing family history.

A nice thing you can do for family and friends that may help them in their understanding of relationships is to share remembered nice stories about their loved ones. Recently at a clan gathering we took the opportunity to tell a number of good remembrances to the family members themselves, and to their children. They were pleased to hear the stories from their youth. The sharing uplifted them and in some cases surprised them that we remembered.

Family gatherings are a wonderful place to have fun learning more about events other family members recall. One fun way to get these memories out is to do a family trivia. See my blog from several weeks ago for those details. This could probably be done on E-mails sent back and forth. Trivia can be funny, informative, and perplexing, because each person in a family saw everyday events from a different point of view. Have fun! Read older entries for more ideas.

Humor time:

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?", they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

That’s all for now, God bless you, Ed

Thanks for visiting,

In Sunday services, we often hear gospel readings about praying unceasingly. Jesus tell us to put ourselves aside and center our being and living around the Father. Saint Paul says, “I no longer live for me, but God lives in me.” “Imitate me as I imitate the Lord.” How can we to do this, in our busy every day are lives?

Over many years of life I’ve been given spiritual awareness which I share in my book, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life.” In the book you will find many Bible quotes, and examples of how to build a constant conversation with God. Also there are ideas of how to set you own prayer prompts to remind you of God in everyday moments.

You can learn much more on my blog site about this book and my other book, “Eight Ways to Share Your Family History,” at: http://www.ed-reinagel-writer.blogspot.com/

Humor time:
A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, "Dam!"
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.Okay, so the last one is a groaner.

God bless and have a great day, Ed

Greetings one and all,

We just returned from a family gathering. People flew in from around the country. While there my brother took me to sites where our fathers manufacturing shop used to be. Now one site is a parking lot and the other is part of a building complex.

The questions and sharing of family history among clan members and generations increased understanding of who did what when and where. The fact of both sites of my father’s shops being gone, reminded me of lost history. Years ago I went back to my first childhood home and the whole neighborhood had changed drastically. The school I attended for the first three grades was totally demolished ~ gone! The churches where I was baptized and married ~ gone! My history sites were obliterated.

My suggestion is to photograph all the places holding memories in your life. This would include homes, schools, neighborhoods, parks and anywhere else that brings you fond, meaningful memories. You can’t share them with others, or revisit them, after they are gone.
Basically I’m saying capture those memories while you have the chance.

Humor time:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

THE SENILITY PRAYER:
Grant me the senility to forget the people
I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and
The eyesight to tell the difference.

Have a great day. God bless, Ed

Welcome to my blog,
We are busy getting set to go on vacation. You know all the last minute responsibilities; stopping mail and papers, packing, the last minute washing of clothes to go, etc. Consequently, you won’t get a new blog next week, but keep coming back for ideas about sharing you history and improving your prayer life.

The fact that we are going to a family gathering reminds me of one way you can have fun gathering pieces of your history. While the event is being planned, ask every attendee to write five family related questions on a 3 X 5 card. They must have the answers on the back. Questions like: “Who threw the dog in the pool?” “When did Uncle Gerry make his first race car?” “Who went to the most schools because we moved?” Then at the gathering, have a family trivia quiz. After the fun is over, save all the cards to add stories and facts to your family history. Read my blog for more ideas. http://www.ed-reinagel-writer.blogspot.com/

Humor time:
LEARNING OUR ABC'S

A - Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.
B - BATHROOM: A room used by the entire family, believed by all except Mom to be self-cleaning.
C - COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

Bye now, God bless, Ed

Hello again, Thanks for stopping by.

Life keeps busy even in retired life. One still needs to be motivated in all aspects of living. I know this is true for me so I’ve purposely added reminders to my daily prayer life. Like the flapper on our toilet was leaking and in taking it out to replace it I reversed the washer. Since the part wasn’t available until the next day, I put the toilet back together and it hasn’t leaked since. Now every time I come into that bathroom I say thank You Lord for that blessing too.

In my book, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life,” every chapter gives ideas on how to form a constant conversation with God. Go to:
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204, to check out my books.
At: http://www.ed-reinagel-writer.blogspot.com/ you can read my blog to learn more free pointers from both my books.

Now for some HUMOR:
Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches;

What difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises' Are just sitting on the premises.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.

Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.

Until we meet again, God bless, Ed

Hellooo to you,

Just a note to share our excitement about our upcoming vacation. Time is down to 13 days before Mary Grace fly's to LA to visit her sisters. it's 14 days until Kathy and I fly to Buffalo, NY. My brother Tom, and his lovely wife Terry, will be our hosts. Several other family members will also fly in for the annual Cousins All Picnic. It will be grand reconnecting after years of being over here on the west coast.The list of attendees keeps growing. Pray for a lovely day's weather, safe flying, and good health.

I hope your summer is shaping up to your satisfaction.

God bless, Ed

Welcome to my world. My wife Kathy’s leg is mended. She is steadily gaining movement and usefulness such as driving, bathing our daughter Mary Grace and walking without canes around the house. It’s been over nine weeks of hard exercise with therapy, but worth all of it.

In chapter 2 of my book, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life,” “Get the Prayer Habit ~ Triggers to praying,” you will find Bible verses and personally learned experiences explain why and how to remind us to focus on God often during our day. Jesus’ example is shown as the reason we need to get the habit.

You will learn more by reading earlier blogs, or link to:
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204, for both of my books.

Humor time: Actual Bumper Stickers

I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
Okay, who stopped the payment on my reality check?
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?
It's lonely at the top, but you eat better.

God bless, thanks for visiting, Ed

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your day is going well.

Today I want to share one of the ways you can give your history to your children. It is the first book I wrote. The first 265 pages are anecdotal stories abut my branch of my parents family. The remainder of the 300 pages cover, some genealogy, Journal pages about family members on my wife’s side, and pictures of pertinent parts of our life.

WRITING AN ANECDOTAL HISTORY spells out how to share your history, story by story with ways to have fun gathering memories from other family members. Included are ideas for organizing to keep your history in logical progression, and dozens of questions to prod memories.

You can learn much more by reading earlier blogs, or buy my book, “Eight Ways to share Your History.” Link to: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204,


Humor time: Male or Female?
FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.
TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.

Thanks for visiting, God bless, Ed

Greetings! Thank you for stopping.

In my book, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life,” I have a chapter on personalizing your prayers. It starts with this simple idea, It’s good to say a simple prayer like ‘Good morning God.’ but it will be more personal and put you into a better prayer condition if you amend that simple phrase. Adding I love You, or thank You for another day to serve You. May I use this new day in ways that are pleasing to You my Lord?

Once you try personalizing your prayers it will become easier and eventually become a virtue. (Good habit)

In earlier entries I’ve shared more ways to increase your prayer living. I find I regularly need to thank God for an unlimited number of things daily. Doing it gives me peace and a proper sense of humility.
You can go to http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204, to check out both of my books.

Humor time: “Christian One Liners”

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If a church wants a better pastor, It only needs to pray for the one it has.

We're called to be witnesses, not lawyers or Judges.

God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

God bless, Ed

Hello, thank you for visiting,

Do you have boxes of old photos stored in your house? DON’T THROW THEM OUT. They are a part of your history. In my book “Eight Ways to Share Your Family History,” I explain good ways to use them for future generations. The same is true of old albums passed on to you from Mom, or that you put together yourself. Too often saved pictures are discarded when a person just has them piled in boxes. Reading past entries in my blog will give you many more ideas about sharing your history.
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204, to check out my books.

Humor time:

THE SILENT TESTAMENT
A man and his wife were having some problems at home
and were giving each other the silent treatment.
Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him
at 5:0 0 AM for an early morning business flight...
Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it.
The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him,
when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.
The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.'

God bless, Ed

Welcome to my world.

Did you know you can focus on your history by dividing your story into decades, or homes you lived in? This organization brings sequential memories to mind. You can write what you remember now and change and add facts as they surface. Ask other family members to share their remembrances to flesh out the history. Don’t be surprised or shocked if siblings have totally different memories. Their point of view will be different from yours.

Pumping up your prayer life is as simple as giving God the credit for solutions you think of for a problem. After all how did the thought get into your head?

Read my blog for many more ideas on both sharing your history and pumping up your prayer life.
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204, to check out my books.

Humor time: “WHO DOES WHAT”
A man and his wife were having an argument about who
should brew the coffee each morning.
The wife said, 'You should do it because you get up first,
and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee.
The husband said, 'You are in charge of cooking around here and
you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.'
Wife replies, 'No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.'
Husband replies, 'I can't believe that, show me..'

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says 'HEBREWS'...

God bless, Ed

Hi! Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Here is a question for you to answer for YOUR HISTORY. What memories do you have of the first house you remember living in? Writing an answer to this may open a file box of memories and other questions will surface and you can answer them as well. Any place in your history is a good place to begin.

What one thing have you thanked God for today? If you haven’t thought of one up to now, NOW IS THE TIME. Answering this is a step in Pumping Up Your Prayer Life, as written about in my book of that name.
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=2294204, to check out my books.

Humor time: 'OLD' IS WHEN...
Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you're barefoot.

You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.

You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.

You're not sure if these are facts or jokes.

Smile, it’s good for you. God bless, Ed

Thanks for checking my site out, Ed Reinagel

I thought I’d share at least part of an article of mine published in a Christian paper.

I remember verses and that start me turning my life back to God. Then having remembered to pray over a problem I look up other Bible verses related to the particular situation. Here is one situation in my life.
Be not Anxious
Phil. 4:6. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”
Worried? Anxious? I procrastinated about removing a mound of dirt under my house, finding excuses to postpone the task.
1. Wait until it’s warmer.
2. I can get my grandchild to do it.
3. My waist wouldn’t fit under the floor joists.
I was really anxious because of my claustrophobia. I wasn’t willing to face the fear. A year passed and I needed to get the job done for termite inspection.
I took heed of 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Turning to what should have been my first resort I prayed, “Lord, You are in charge of all things, please help me with the mud under the house.”
After turning it over to God, He showed me the solution. On crawling under the house I saw where the offending pile of dirt was located. Measurements showed the pile was located under a closet floor. Gathering my tools, I went to work. I cut a hole through the closet floor. From this hole I removed the offending dirt. With God’s help, In two hours, the task, I’d feared for a year, was completed. I thanked the Lord. This incident imprinted on my mind the need to follow Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”
Memory verse: 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you,” and your trust in Him will be rewarded.

Time for humor:
Bob Hope ~ ON GOING TO HEAVEN ‘I’ve done benefits for ALL religions. I'd hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality.'
The butcher backed into his grinder and got a little behind in his work.
After yelling four times to be careful to his son, the man finally said, “Don’t come running to me if you break your leg.”

That’s all folks, God bless, Ed

Thanks for visiting my site, Ed

Is your prayer life flat? Do you need to come to a closer walk with God? Here are some simple little prayer ideas for making your prayer life lively.
•Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
•Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
•I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
•My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient. This prayer came back to mind recently when I had the trots. On one of my visits I thanked the Lord for the comfortable convenience of indoor plumbing. It’s great to not need to go out in the cold, dark, rain, or have to put on extra clothing to protect myself from the elements.

The Bible tells us to pray always. What better way than to be thankful for the everyday possessions we take for granted. Good luck incorporating more little prayers into your daily life.

A few smiles for this week:
Economy FUNNIES Things are so bad that:
McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.
Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.
The Mafia is laying off judges.

Farewell and God bless, Ed

Welcome to my world, Ed

Kathy is healing slowly from her broken leg. She gets around the house with a walker and is becoming more independent daily. The staples were removed today and she will start outpatient therapy next week. We took off the glass shower doors and hung curtain so she can get her mending leg in the shower and get seated on the shower chair. By next week she may even be able to shower herself. We pray for continued progress.

I’d like to get back to sharing thoughts from my book, “Eight Ways to Share Your Family History.”

“I wish I had more of my parents’ history,” is one comment heard countless times.

“How do I get my mom to tell me about her youth?”

“I’ll get around to writing our family history, but life is too busy right now.”

Have you ever said any of these things?

In my book you will find directions to using all of the following basic methods of recording your history. You can choose to write a story starting with a historical family member, or just your branch of the family tree. I chose to write an anecdotal book of my branch stories.

Another way to share history is through journaling. Include yours and other family members if they agree.

An oral history is another way. Collect tapes of as many family members as possible and put them into a treasure chest of family history tapes. You could add pictures to the oral history on CD’s or DVD’s.

There are many ways to visually share your history as well. Many families have videos, or movies taken through the years. I explain how to edit, combine and do a voice over so future generation also hear your voice as well as get a name of the people appearing in your visual history.

You can share the rich history found in boxes of old photos, photo albums, and through combined pictures. Guides for using these methods are covered in detail.

The other way to share your history is through memorabilia gathered in the family over several generations.

This week’s humor: BOB HOPE

ON HIS FAMILY'S EARLY POVERTY
'Four of us slept in the one bed. When it got cold, mother threw on another brother.'
ON HIS SIX BROTHERS 'That's how I learned to dance. Waiting for the bathroom.'
ON HIS EARLY FAILURES
'I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn't for the stuff the audience threw at me.'

It nice chatting with you, God bless, Ed

Hello, or hello again if you’ve visited before. Welcome.

Life got a little exciting this past week. My wife, Kathy, and I were in Bend, OR for a short vacation. After arriving late Friday we visited the Old Mill shopping stores, took in a movie and had a good night's sleep. Saturday we visited the "High Desert Museum." While walking along a path Kathy's leg broke about 2:30 PM. She underwent surgery at 7:30 PM. Monday we made the 6 hour drive home to Redding, It will be at least six weeks of recovery, but she can walk on it even now because they inserted a rod inside the femur. Pleas pray for healing.

This week I want to share a little from my book, “Pump Up Your Prayer Life.”

Here are some thoughts from my chapter, “Personalizing Prayers.”

It’s good to say a simple prayer like ‘Good morning God.’ However, it will be more sincerely personal and put you into a better prayer condition if you amend that simple phrase. Add I love You Lord or thank You Lord for another day to serve You.

Spiritually little things count, as you will read in this book.

When I was a child, the sister’s instructions seemed so picky and controlling. Maturity brought the realization that little things focus the mind on why we come to church.

I share ideas and helps learned in my 77 years of learning and living.

Now for this week’s humor: Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.

Some wives mend their husband’s socks. Others don’t give a darn.

Have a wonderful week and God bless. Ed

Welcome to my site. Today I want to share a little about my writing other than my three books. When I was in the army stationed in Oklahoma, I had the privilege of writing a once a month news column for our battalion paper. Then I left my public writing alone for about 45 years. As a widower I joined a senior writer group and began my family history. Each week the moderator gave us a subject to write about, like “What was the first home you remember living in like? Did your family have holiday traditions for Christmas, or say the 4^th of July?” Your will find more of these questions in my earlier blogs.

I have had poems published in anthologies, spiritual articles in a Christian paper, and several humorous life experiences included in a Country magazine.

This week’s humor: When the teacher asked the class if their family had any Christmas traditions, one student said, “No, we just do the same thing every year.”

A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

A backward poet writes inverse. Have a great day and God bless. Ed

Hi! Today I want to share a little of my book, Eight Ways to Share Your Family History, to give you ideas for getting started on yours. These are excerpts from pages 25-26 of the book.

Give description to your statements. “I grew up in a quaint town” is okay, but it’s better to tell why it was quaint. Describe the town square, its stores, the size and population, and whether it is an old forgotten sleepy type of town. “The town square was always deserted when the dust storms blew in on the east winds of August.”

If you remember seeing the TV series The Golden Girls, you’ll remember Ma starting her reminisces with, “Picture this: Sicily, 1938.” In that short statement she gave the date, the place and her relative age when the story occurred.

It’s more interesting to read in the present tense when possible. An example from my history helps the reader picture my trip as presently happening. Even though I hitched across the country at eighteen, over fifty years ago, I put it in the present tense. “In August of 1950 after graduating high school, I went to see some of our great country before getting drafted for the Korean War. With canvas for a tent, a sleeping bag, a small suitcase of clothes, a shoe shine kit, my rosary, twenty five dollars and a jar of peanut butter, I set out on my adventure.”

The example shows several things to keep in mind in your stories. It lets the reader know my age, a little history of the times, “The Korean War,” the year, and some of my desires, goals, my faith, provisions, and my confidence in undertaking the trip with so little money and supplies.

We all need smiles. I hope some of these give you at least one smile today. I like to laugh and give others a laugh too. Some puns for your reading and thinking enjoyment.
The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Circumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
She was only a whiskey maker but he loved her still.
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
Thanks for reading. Check out my books, Ed

history writing

Jan 25, 2010
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, we will have peace on earth.

How to start a family history by Ed Reinagel
These are some ideas for writing a page or so of your memories. Some will only be a few paragraphs long, but all together they will add up to sharing family history.
First Home- where was it? What kind of neighborhood do you remember? Were there many kids for you to play with? What games did you play? Did you play in one another’s house, or did you play outdoors? Did you have your own room, or did you share a room?
Picnics – Did you have family picnics? What were your favorite memories of those times? What special foods would your mom prepare, and what were your favorite foods to prepare when you planned the picnics for your family? Was there a special park you loved and remember?
4th of July – How did you celebrate the 4th as a child and when you celebrate now as an adult? What does the 4th mean to you?
Great Depression – What can you remember about experiencing, or how you parents got through it? How did it affect their way of living afterwards? Did they live in fear of it happening again, or did they go on with hope in their heart?
W.W.II – How did your family handle rationing and doing without during the war? Did you raise some of your own food and save recyclable materials like string, paper, foil, and tin cans?
Television – Who was the first in your neighborhood to get a TV? What were your favorite programs when you did get one?
How did you meet your husband? Tell us about your wedding plans and wedding day. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
How did your mom and dad meet? How long was their – your engagement before marrying?
First Christmas – which you remember as a child. What is your best memory of Christmas at any age? How was your first Christmas after you married?
Family Religious Rituals – In you parents home and in your own family after you married?