The goal of Spreading Good News is for readers to:
GET INSPIRED and/or GET MOTIVATED and/or GET INFORMED and/or GET AWE-STRUCK and/or GET A BREAK FROM ALL THE NEGATIVE NEWS and to tell readers about our good, short books and our online store.
CLICK THE “FOLLOW” LINK ABOVE TO RECEIVE AN E-MAIL ALERT FOR EACH NEW, DAILY POST!!
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CONSTANT QUOTE
IT’S BETTER TO DIE CHASING A DREAM NEVER CAUGHT THAN TO DIE NEVER HAVING CHASED THE DREAM. ~ Joyce Fields
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BE LIKE THE SUN: RISE HIGH AND SHINE MOST DAYS! ~ Joyce Fields
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The Candle-Lighter Award and the Sunshine Award
Thank you very much to www.living4bliss.wordpress.com for presenting me with the Candle-Lighter Award and the Sunshine Award. I truly appreciate the recognition!
Both of these awards are for a blog or post that is positive and brings light into the world.
I started this “Good News” blog in July 2010 because I was tired of and disgusted by all the negative news and information. I wanted to give people positive news and information. I’m having a great time looking for, receiving, and posting these pieces! Stay tuned!!
RULES for the Candle-Lighter Award
Whenever you see a blog or post you think brightens the world, give the blogger the Candle-Lighter Award.
Recipients can accept or decline. What does the recipient have to do? Simply accept and nothing more! You can paste this image on your blog, if you wish, and you are done! If you wish to honor someone else with a Candle, pass it on, anytime and as many times and to as many people as you wish.
Come on and help me brighten up all our lives!
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TODAY’S BLOG
The Calm
by Joyce Fields
The Jones Kids 1956
As a child growing up in the late-1940′s and early 1950′s, what I remember most about our house was the calm. Not an easy feat for a household of nine people and a Doberman puppy! But Mama and Daddy were calm souls, and they passed that very valuable trait on to all seven of their children.
To this very day, my four brothers and two sisters and I (I’m the oldest) all talk about how very grateful we are for the way we were raised!
How did Mama and Daddy create this calm?
Well, neither of them ever said a word about how they did it. It was simply their philosophy for the way they lived. I guess it was like breathing for them–you don’t think about the fact that you’re constantly inhaling and exhaling. You just do.
I don’t remember either of them yelling or screaming. Imagine that. Seven kids and no yelling or screaming! We kids knew what we were supposed to do and what we were not supposed to do, and we did it or didn’t do it.
Maybe it was our desire not to get a “whippin’.”
Mama and Daddy both believed in using the belt on our butts! But it was always the last resort and not in an abusive manner. It did what it was supposed to do—change your behavior!
From birth to 18 years of age, I received no more than five “whippin’s.” And, to be honest, I only remember getting one. I was about six or seven years old, and my oldest brother and I were going at it. I don’t recall if we were fighting (I doubt it) or arguing. Anyway, I deliberately stuck him with a pencil. He told on me, and I “got it.” Never did THAT again!
For the most part, we wanted Mama and Daddy to be proud of us, and we acted accordingly. They set the pattern for calmness for us, and we followed.
We kids had our disagreements, but I don’t recall any of us actually “brawling” with each other. THAT was never allowed.
We were too busy being responsible and having fun.
All the kids took turns washing the dishes, sweeping the floors. The boys were responsible for taking out the garbage and tending to the coal-burning furnace. The girls had to help Mama with the ironing.
The Jones Kids 1981
We were fortunate enough to have a television. We took turns with that, too. The girls’ choice one day; the boys’ the next. Mama watched her soaps (they were called “stories” back then); Daddy watched the news and baseball.
Always calm.
NOTE: I detail how we were raised in my first book, Line of Serenity. It covers the years 1944 through 1977. (Good food has always been—and continues to be—a big part of our family tradition, and Line of Serenity includes 21 of my recipes.) Go to www.GoodShortBooks.com.
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What are your thoughts on this piece?
NOTE FROM JOYCE: If you enjoyed and/or learned from this blog, please leave a comment and send the link to others. Thanks!!
If you’re interested in reading all about “My Breast Cancer Journey,” those posts start with post #334.
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~ Joyce Fields
ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS FROM JOYCE FIELDS
Joyce is an author who has written seven books. If you enjoy this blog, you will, undoubtedly, enjoy all her books. Her sister, Anita, is also an author.
BE INSPIRED! You can read about and order their books AND order merchandise from their online store at this link (or click the “BE INSPIRED!” button above):
https://lineofserenity.wordpress.com/get-more-inspiration/
Thanks for your interest AND support!!
Contact Joyce at goodshortbooks@yahoo.com.
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SOME OF JOYCE’S FAVORITE BLOGS
I visit these blogs and leave comments regularly. I think you will enjoy them all!
http://www.lenasledgeblog.com Books, reviews, give-aways, interviews.
http://living4bliss.com Believing Life Is Set up for Success (BLISS)
http://goss-coaching.com/author/gosscoaching A professional writer and wellness coach helping people connect thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and action to create optimal health and a vibrant life.
http://www.thebirkineffect.com Musings of a “want it all” 21st century woman
http://www.thesweetsensations.com A baking, entertainment, and lifestyle blog. Fantastic recipes and food photography, too!
http://www.pennilessparenting.com A rich life on minimum wage. Plus fabulous, healthful recipes!
http://www.rumpydog.com I’m a dog with a unique perspective on human life.
http://www.davidkanigan.com/ Lead.Learn.Live. David Kanigan: Inspiration, Ideas & Information.
Lineofserenity's Blog 
We could all take a lesson from this piece. Rants and raves do little to rectify a situation. Love the throwback pictures
Yes, we could!!
Yes, it was extremely calm. Good times, wonderful memories. God bless George and Rosa!
Yes, indeed!!
What a great post.
You had a wonderful childhood and very special parents.
Funny, I remember the threat of the belt but I don’t actually remember getting the belt. Like you, we were not allowed to fight and cause confusion and we just didn’t.
Thank you, Saundra!! Yes, I did have a wonderful childhood, all the way up through adulthood. That’s why I wanted to write about it.
The Cleavers did exist. You have restored my faith in humanity.
Your household was like Granny’s. My parent’s home was much more dysfunctional. I spent as much time at Granny’s as possible growing up.
The Cleavers did exist!! IN A BLACK FAMILY!! I’ll be sharing more of Line of Serenity.
Definitely, what a splendid blog and instructive posts, I will bookmark your website.All the Best!
Thank you!! You can click the “Follow” button in the upper left to get an e-mail each time I post.