Beginning a new year is a good time to take stock of our sense of humor. As I have often said, a good sense of humor is a sign of a healthy spirituality! So, here are some humorous things (hopefully!) to make you smile, laugh, or groan!
Let’s start with children. Sometimes children’s vocabulary is limited. So they have to use the words they know to get by:
My daughter didn’t know the words “cough drop,” so she asked me for a “medicine bean.”
My son called the first president George Washingmachine.
My son referred to a little boy in school as “a double kid.” The little boy had a twin brother.
My kid called her ankles “foot wrists.”
When the 4-year-old took a nap in the car, she denied having fallen sleep. She said she just had a “long blink.”
Here are some examples of kids just being kids:
While getting my two kids ready for a long road trip, I asked them to please not ask, “How much longer until we get there?” I said we’d be traveling all day and wouldn’t arrive at our destination until dark. An hour into the trip, my 6-year-old piped up, “How much longer until it’s dark?”
My 3-year-old pulled a chess board from a storage box and said, “I haven’t played this in years!”
I overheard my 11-year-old daughter recording her voice mail greeting: “Hi, you’ve reached my voice mail. When you hear the beep, hang up an send me a text.”
My little girl said to me: “Mom, you were my very best friend–until I actually got friends.”
I was writing in my journal at the table while my 10-year-old grandson was eating his cereal. He began watching me writing in cursive and said, “Grandma, you should learn how to print. Nobody’s ever going to be able to read that.”
My 6-year-old said to her crying little brother, “It’s okay to be sad. Sometimes we need to let our feelings out.” I said to her, “O, Honey, that’s so lovely. Why is he crying?” She said, “I hit him.”
One day my 7-year-old announced, “Most inventors are smart, but not the ones who invented homework. They are the worst inventors of all!”
Have you heard the rumor about butter? Never mind. I shouldn’t be spreading it.
I have an inferiority complex, but it’s not a very good one.
I told my doctor I broke my arm in two places. He told me not to go to those two places.
What state is noted for its small drinks? Minnesota.
Two men were on opposite sides of a river. The first man shouted, “How do I get to the other side of the river?” The other man yelled back, “You are already on the other side of the river.”
Label on an actual milk carton: Sell by October 23, 1538.
A historian said this during an interview on BBC radio: “I don’t believe in apologies, I’m sorry.”
Game show host to contestant: Which chapel ceiling did Michelangelo famously paint?
Contestant: The sixteenth chapel.
A correction in a British newspaper: “Twig Fields, of the newly-opened Walk-in Wardrobe vintage clothes store… was incorrectly quoted in last week’s News as describing herself as a ‘kleptomaniac.’ This should have read ‘collector maniac’ and we apologize for the error.”
Worrying works! Case in point: 90% of the things I worry about never happen!
And finally, here are some “signs of the times”:
Did any of these tickle your funny bone?
Would you like to add anything humorous today?
P.S. This is NOT a joke: I will be having hip replacement surgery on Wednesday, January 17. I have been working ahead on my blog, though, so the reflections for the next several weeks are already written and set to go. I ask your prayers for the surgery and the rehab. Many thanks!
A friend sent me this cartoon…
Unlike this horse,
I hope I am VERY pleased
with my hip replacement!
Our song today is a fun song by the Okee Dokee Brothers, Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing. Childhood friends who grew up in Denver, Joe and Justin were always doing stuff together outdoors. Today they are a Grammy award winning duo who write and perform songs especially for families. The goal with their music is to inspire children and parents to step outside and get creative. They have been featured on PBS, in USA Today, and the Sierra Club. Here’s the song, “Can You Canoe?”
Some of my favorite lines are: “Let’s keep it simple… our prime time entertainment will be lightning bugs and fires… we need no outlet or wires… sound waves on the water don’t need to be amplified… we all need a friend… to live in this current moment instead of looking around the bend…”
If you’d like to comment on anything today, please do so below. We love hearing from you!
91 Responses
A wonderful change of pace.It seems so much is out of control and worrisome.Best wishes fir the surgery. I do appreciate your thoughts in Sunflowers. Thank you, Mary Ann Redmond
I loved everything about this blog! I loved the canoe song so much. Thanks!
Thank you for your fun posts today. Especially the children’s. Art Linkletter had a book called “Kids say the darndest things!”And your post reminded me of it! Good luck with your surgery. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Thank you for your beautiful reflections and the funny ones!
Wishing you all the very best with your hip surgery and a full recovery x
I smiled or chuckled at every one, and I hope my students will too!
When our daughter was young, she had trouble with her shoes. She was always putting her left shoe on her right foot, or her right shoe on her left foot. Frustrated, she once said: “I never have this problem with socks!”
You are in our prayers, Melannie!
Best wishes and prayers for your surgery..
Without a doubt….God speed on a successful surgery and rehab to follow.
Love the jokes and many 🙏 for your surgery and speedy recovery.
Excellent Melannie – I had a good laugh. All the best for your Surgery.
I hope it is a success. Take care. Best wishes and Prayers, Caroline Duggan
After my dad had his hip replaced he said, ‘I’m still waiting for it to hurt.’ I pray you are blessed with the same results.
Thank you for the laughs! Always a great way to start the day!
Prayers for you and your surgeon on your surgery.
A true story:
I was the teacher on recess duty on an elementary school playground which was surrounded by an 8’ chain link fence. There was a small open section for entrance/exit to the school. All was going well until a child came rushing up to me, breathlessly announcing, “Teacher! Teacher! Billy got out of the cage! “ Indeed, Billy had ‘escaped’. He was innocently strolling on the sidewalk along the other side of the fence. I appreciated the alert, of course, and escorted Billy back to the playground.
Praying for successful surgery and recovery for you!
Love the kid quotes. When my son was little he called oyster crackers hamster crackers. Since he’d never heard of oysters he came up with what made sense to him. To this day (he’s in his 30s) our family still calls them hamster crackers 😁
Prayers for you surgical team and your recovery.
Thought I would add these – My youngest daughter (now grown with children of her own) celebrated “All Heels Day” on November 2nd. And when cleaning crumbs from the floor, she “broomed” the floor.😊
Prayers for a successful surgery and rehab.
Prayers for a complete recovery.🙏🏻
Love your weekly blog.
Thank you for teaching me how to face challenges with grace and beauty. Hoping you’ll feel better in no time. Prayers for your surgery and recovery.
Thank you for starting my day with a smile and chuckle. Since we just celebrated the feast of The Three Kings, hope this makes you smile: When asking our 3-yr-old granddaughter the names of the Three Kings, she replied: “Casper, Baltasar, and Milky Way.” 😁
Many prayers for your successful hip surgery and speedy recovery. 🙏
Thank you ! Enjoyed these!
May the Lord cover you with His Peace, and grant you a successful surgery and quick recovery.
Best to you and your orthopedic team.
Thank you for Sunflower Seeds.
I always enjoy your reflections in your blog, and this one is particularly sweet.
My husband is a Chiropractor, and tells jokes to keep his patients’ spirits up. Here’s his hip replacement groaner:
A friend of mine from the south just got a hip replacement.
Now he Mississippi.
We both send healing prayers and love for your surgery with full and swift recovery.
Really needed this humor today! Prayers for successful surgery on the 17th.
What a great way to greet a Monday, enjoying these stories! I’m still smiling. Prayers for a successful hip replacement.
I really enjoyed the jokes and will be praying that your surgery goes well and your recovery is complete.
Praying for your successful surgery, Know you will be dancing in no time…..Sending lots of love.
Prayers for a successful surgery. Loved the chuckles to start the day…especially the sixteenth chapel! You got this…we’re all in the canoe with you lol🤣
Thanks for the uplifting, humorous start to my day!
Praying for your successful hip surgery and comfortable recovery.
Praying for a successful procedure. Thank you for lightening my day with your humor. It’s so good for the soul!
God Bless on your Hip Surgery 😇💙🙏🏻 I will be praying for you and the health care team. I am enjoying your blog and appreciate reading your thoughts in the Living Faith as well.
Many blessings for the New Year. Prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
Thanks for starting my week with humor and fun music!
Sending prayers for your surgery and rehab.
Humor is vital, especially to my spiritual growth. Thank you so much. Prayers for your successful surgery.
First grader showing teacher his drawing of a boat depicting the Flight into Egypt.
Teacher: I see Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus but what is that black smudge next to them?
First Grader: You said the angel told Joseph to take Mary and the baby Jesus and flee into Egypt. That’s the flea.
My son was in second grade and one day had a sub. teacher. When he got home after school I asked how his day was. He said his teacher was sick.I asked who was your teacher? He told me ,God’s wife. We had a wonderful lady in town named Mrs. Marion Lord!
Applauding the humorous sayings! we need more light hearted JOY to share – Thanks!
I have 2 total hip replacements & I walk my Weinmarana several time a day!
Praying for your complete recovery!
I was reminded of my grandnephew when he was just shy of two years old. It was Halloween and he was trick or treating. After someone dropped candy into his bag, my niece said: “Jack, what do you say?” Jack replied: “More candy!”
Prayers for your hip replacement … I’ve heard that people bounce back quickly … hope so … a hip replacement is looming in my future!
I laughed so hard at these!
When I was in high school many years ago, I volunteered in a CCD program for kids with intellectual disabilities . We worked one-on-one with the kids. I was showing a boy a picture of the Holy Family, and asked him if he knew their names. He identified Mary as “Mrs Saint Joseph.”
I wish you the best with your surgery, and you are in my prayers.
Dear Melannie,
Thanks for the laughs! I needed them today after a heavy Provincial Chapter!!
Know that my prayers are with you for your surgery!
I’m sure you will ace it!! God’s special blessings be yours!
Love, Josita
I’ve been reading your blog for a long time and I love them all. They take me down different paths and this morning the path of laughter was just great. The songs you include are just perfect as well. Wishing you the best hip replacement surgery, a quick recovery and will be keeping you in my prayers.
Sending prayers for the success ess of your surgery and your quick recovery. Loved todays blog. Needed that humor today.
Prayers for the surgery, Sr Melannie.
And I’m reminded of how I once defined middle age: halfway between hip-hop and hip replacement.
Peace and light.
Love your humor and the song. So joyful. Praying for your surgery and your surgeon for a successful hip replacement. Speedy recovery.
Prayers and love for your operation and recovery. You bring joy and thoughtfulness into my life (and into many others 😘😍)
After early recovery: Do. Your. Exercises !!!
Thank you for your weekly insights, I’m glad to be back on the list again. Today’s blog was great. Loved it !
Prayers for your surgery on the 17th. God be with you and your doctors.
Hope your hip surgery goes well. Sending prayers 🙏
Thank you Melanie. I have as well a problem with my hip. You have encouraged me to ask advise of the doctor. I wish you a quick recovery and a very good and peaceful new year. Br. Leobroth
God bless you for all that you do and a successful surgery, so that you can continue this important work for the great honor and glory of the Lord.
I truly believe that humor is the best medicine for the body AND the soul.
I especially liked the sheep one since I love sheep! Thank you for your humor and your insights. Prayers for a successful surgery and recovery!
A dear friend always signs her emails with L&P….Love & Prayers.
May your surgery be a great success!
L&P,
Lois
Prayers!
Thank you for these bon mots! I needed them today. Many blessings on your surgery. I will keep you in morning prayer.
Thank you for the laughter this morning. Laughter is very healing and I hope you laugh through your recovery. Because it’ll go even better than ever. My prayers and love are with you.for your surgery.
Hi Sr. Melanie—I like to start my days with prayer and humor. Both are food for my soul.
Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. I pray for your doctors as well as your speedy recovery.
Prayers for a successful surgery, Sr. Melanie, and an uncomplicated recovery.
May all be well with you as you spring back on two good hips!
Pat
Good luck with your hip surgery. I am very pleased with my total hip and got a lot out of the physical therapy. I really worked hard to get to full independence.
S. Maryan Russo
Thank you for the chuckles! They made my day. I especially loved the Canoe Song…the video was uplifting & calming. You are in my Prayers for a successful surgery & speedy uncomplicated recovery.
Good luck with the surgery and recovery, Sister Melanie. Kathleen
.What a treat! I haven’t received your newsletters for quite a while and was thrilled to see it.
Had a very successfully hip surgery 25 years ago, will be praying for you.
Thanks for your positive energy.
Marilyn Friga
Many prayers Sister Melannie for a succcessful and painfree surgery and recovery.
I love reading your blog and finding your writings in “Give Us This Day.”
Please keep all of us in your prayers.
You are a delight, Sr. Melannie! Keep smiling. Thanks for the jokes and the musical video.
With you and your friends I pray your new hip will enable you to be more limber than ever before.
Oh, such joy in this post today, especially from the words of little ones. I think of the Proverb, “A joyful heart is good medicine.” And I pray for you, Sister, as you face the surgery and recovery that await, that you would be blessed with that healing relief.
May “the joy of the Lord be your strength.” Neh. 8:10
I also think of the words of a little friend who laughed so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.
“I’m suffer-cating!” she declared. Truth shines thru in humor.
So good to have you back. Needed your humor tonite. Thank you! You are in my prayers.
Love this blog, as all of your blogs. Special prayers for your surgery and fast healing. The song is great too.
Laughing is so good for our body and soul! Thank you for the fun post.
Prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery! God Bless you.
Great to have such a good laugh to begin the day.
💐. 🙏. 🎶. ❤️. Every success for the surgery…cheers
Loved the humor today! Much needed. Best wishes for a successful surgery and a full and speedy recovery. Thank you for thinking of us and preparing your blogs ahead so we can still enjoy them while you recover. Take care.
Many blessings to you Sr Melannie on your upcoming surgery.
Thank you for your humor and wisdom!
Prayers for a speedy recovery from surgery and minimal pain as you heal….My husband and I were at Immaculate Conception holy day mass with the school children from our parish. The priest was testing the children basic questions about the coming feast of Christmas. When he asked one of the last questions, why did the Holy Family have to stay in a stable? One student eagerly raised his hand and answered first, ” Because they didn’t have a reservation at the Inn!” Still makes me chuckle. Out of the mouths of babes!
To all readers and commenters: A HUGE thank you for your prayers! I am SO grateful! And special thanks to those who added a few other humorous things to this blog this week! I really appreciate ALL of you! (I am one lucky lady!) Melannie
I’m praying for you! I am also having a hip replacement on 1/24. Please pray for me also! God bless you! Love your blog!
Will be keeping you and the medical team in prayer.
Thank you for this most enjoyable edition – I’ll be smiling all day long.
Sr. Melanie,
Thank you for the “funnies!”
I am looming towards a hip replacement in the near future. May the Lord send His angels to surround you and the surgical team!
Blessings and prayers 🙏🏻🥰
Such a fun—funny—blog this time! Thank you!
Prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery.
I loved all the funnies, too….a friend, long ago told me of her 4 year old next door neighbor who would go to her door to visit very often. The girl’s mother told her to never ask for a sucker, but could accept it if one was offered. The next day, the little one rang the neighbor’s doorbell and when she opened the door the little girl said, “It sure smells like suckers around here”!! Where there’s a will there’s a way!!
I pray for a successful surgery with the joy of pain-free movement upon recovery, S. Melannie,
Mary
Melannie, please know I will be praying for you as you have hip replacement surgery on January 17th. I hope all goes well for you. I have had Covid since December 21st. I hope my doctor will let me start eating with the other sisters. I see Dr. Pike on Friday, January 12th. This has been a long time for me to not be able to visit with my sisters. Please pray that I can be finished with the Covid as of January 12th. I couldn’t even go to Mass in our Motherhouse at this time because they were afraid some of the sisters in our infirmary might get my Covid. My first Mass this week was on January 8th! Let us hold each other in prayer! Celeste
Thank you for the laughs. All the best with your surgery. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Sending prayers. 🙏
I’m praying that the outcome of your surgery is successful and that you are up and around, pain-free in a short time. May the Holy Spirit continue to pour her gifts upon you!
Special prayers for you. Been there, done that. It was a breeze.
Blessings,
S Maureen
Dear Sr. Melanie,
I rely on patron saints to intercede for me for any concern of others or myself. It appears St. Luke is my got saint for your hip surgery. Here is the prayer I will invoke as you prepare before, during, & after surgery. I expect we will see a picture of you frolicking around the ND campus in a few weeks!
“Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of Love. In faithfully detailing of the humanity of Jesus, you also showed His divinity and His genuine compassion for all human beings. Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients. Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day. Amen.”
I LOVED two quotes:
The one “is it dark yet?” and the other whereby the sister was consoling her sibling who was crying because “I hit him!”
Enjoyed the blog – humor is great medicine.
Prayers for you and your surgical team for a successful hip replacement and an uneventful recovery.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank You for your many insights. A prayer or 2 for your surgery and ‘pain free’ recovery.
Sr. Melanie:
Always enjoy your blog! Starts my day in the right direction. I pray the Rosary every day. I will add your name to it with regard to your surgery. I will also pray for the doctors who are doing the surgery, that their hands will be highly skilled. Love a sense of humor. We all need one to get through each day. Laughter is indeed good for the soul! God bless you and all the sisters!
WE will pray for you and your surgery.
Thank you for the funny words from “the mouths of babes.”
Thank you for this WONDERFUL Compilation of humor!
Re: Upcoming Hip Surgery; I recently had complete right hip replacement and can happily say it was Very successful (age – 75 yrs). It seems the key aspect is for the surgeon to make an Anterior (FRONT) Incision RATHER THAN posterior incision. It is easier for the surgeon and MUCH EASIER for patients recovery!
Of course, Prayers will be forth coming!!!
Adding your name to my prayer list for a successful surgery and a full and complete recovery and repair.
Thank you Sr. Melanie for your upbeat messages and great selection of music.
Easy does it for the new year!!!
All the best,
Priscilla Gray Plott
A speedy recovery, Sister Melanie, my best wishes and prayers to you. Love the jokes, thank you.
I really enjoyed your notes of humor. We need to laugh everyday! I shared them with my husband. He particularly liked the one about worrying, which he has taken to an art form.
Here is one for you: when my son was quite young he insisted on dressing himself. I complimented him on getting dressed but told him his shoes were on the feet. He replied “But Mommy, they’re the only feet I have!”
Praying for you and your surgeon, and for an easy recovery.
Blessings,
Donna
Praying for your upcomin
Praying for your upcoming surgery. Loved the funny things you shared. God bless you.
Thanks for the inspiration you are to me, and many, and for your continual generous sharing of insights from your well of wisdom (and others too!)
Best wishes for your surgery tomorrow. May it be 100%s successful, so that you will soon be pain-free and mobile. Blessings from Australia!
I was scrolling through news feeds on my phone when, providentially, your blog appeared. Thanks for making me laugh and reflect on the good when we see so much of the bad. Be assured I’ll be lifting you in prayer for a successful surgery.