Thursday, November 30, 2006

Another funny from my MOM

Tonight, I have to work at my Janitors job, tomorrow morning I work at my house cleaning job then my motor route and after my motor route I am taking Boaz and Josh to a sleep over at our church. My twins are having their best friends spend the night again. (Take a breath) No time to post, so here is a funny from my comedian Mother.













Q: How many women with MENOPAUSE (or PMS) does it take to change a light bulb?

A: One! ONLY ONE!!!! And do you know WHY? Because no one else in this house knows HOW to change a light bulb! They don't even know that the bulb is BURNED OUT!! They would sit in the dark for THREE DAYS before they figured it out. And, once they figured it out, they wouldn't be able to find the #&%!* light bulbs despite the fact that they've been in the SAME CABINET for the past 17 YEARS! But if they did, by some miracle of God, actually find them, 2 DAYS LATER, the chair they dragged to stand on to change the STUPID light bulb would STILL BE IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!! AND UNDERNEATH IT WOULD BE THE WRAPPER THE FREAKING LIGHT BULBS CAME IN!!! BECAUSE NO ONE EVER CARRIES OUT THE GARBAGE!!!! IT'S A WONDER WE HAVEN'T ALL SUFFOCATED FROM THE PILES OF GARBAGE THAT ARE A FOOT DEEP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE!! IT WOULD TAKE AN ARMY TO CLEAN THIS PLACE! AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON WHO CHANGES THE TOILET PAPER ROLL !! . . .



I'm sorry. What was the question?

Trying to survive my long Week!

My Christmas decorations are almost all up, my laundry is almost all done and I am feeling so much better this morning. Yesterday was a bad day, today will be much brighter. I got up at 4:00 a.m. spent time with the Lord, exercised for 40 minutes, cleaned my house put up the rest of my Christmas decoration on my front porch and I am now going to get the kids off to school.

I think I am going to survive my long week. : )

This was late last nights writings,

It's only Wednesday and I feel like my week has went on forever. I had Jury duty on Monday; my goodness what a very long day that ended up being. I was put on a chase involving a hit and run accident that had happen a year ago. The witness gave her testimony (this was the passenger in the car that hit and killed a woman) the testimony she gave didn't match the driver's testimony. The witness excused herself to go to the restroom and never returned. Finally, at two in the afternoon they said we could go, they had to post pone the trail until they found her. The most interesting thing happened to me while I waited. A gentleman sat down beside me and asked me if I use to work at Key bank years ago. I told him yes, I was a bank teller 20 years ago. The man asked me if I remembered him. I didn't! He said he was the bank's treasurer, the guy I use to harass all the time when I work there. I did recognize him after he told me who he was. Goodness, what a small, small world. He told me I didn't look a day older than I did 20 years ago. : ) Very charming! Good thing he was retired or I would have thought he was flirting with me. HEE, Hee

After I finish up at the court house I had to go and deliver one of my routes. I didn't get home until after 6:00 pm. It was a very long day.

Tuesday morning, I worked on laundry all morning. I tried to finish getting my decorations put up as well. I'm almost done! I'll finish up in the morning.
I did my route and took my niece a meal last night. I got to see the baby and my other niece and nephew. It was a nice visit.

Of course I work my janitor's job on Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. so I didn't have much home time. I got three hours of sleep and got up at 6:00 a.m. and ran 2 miles.

Today, was just a long day! I received some troubling news early this morning. I don't do well with troubling news when I only get a few hours of sleep. Let's just say my day didn't go so well. I spent the day feeling sorry for myself. If my news wasn't bad enough I got in my truck at 12:00 p.m. to go deliver my AA news papers and my Truck battery was dead. Click, Click, Click was all it was doing. I am pretty good with doing things with my vehicles. I change my own front brakes and other small jobs. I have never jumped my vehicle before. I was so very afraid I would blow up my truck and our van. Miracles happen, right after I went out to try and jump it, my brother called! He wanted to know if I took a crock pot lid home on Thanksgiving that didn’t belong to me. He only lives 5 minutes from me so I open up my mouth and asked for help. I never ask too many people for help but today I just had too. He ran right over and got me on my way. It is so nice to be loved! I am so very grateful for my brother's help today. After the route, I headed for home so I could get my van before going to church. I didn’t want to get stuck at church trying to jump my Truck battery. I had to practice with the Trio I am in after our church service. I am singing a Christmas song by the Martins on December 10th before the children perform their Christmas play. We are going to sing “Go Tell”. A fun song I think the children will really enjoy! I am singing at a Women’s Christmas banquet on December 8th, Next Friday evening, so I had to talk to my friend about the songs we will be singing, practice times, ect.

I wonder what the rest of the week has to offer me. I guess I will have to wait and see.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Just Busy

I have been pretty busy these last few days. I'm trying to get all of my decorations up for Christmas. I told myself until all of my laundry is done and all my Christmas decorations are up I can't blog.

Thanks to you all for worrying about some crazy old blogging friend.

: )

Friday, November 24, 2006

A very good Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving was GREAT!!!! I had so much fun with my family yesterday. I'll blog about it when I have time. I have to leave for work.

My mom sent me this email yesterday, she is sooooo very funny. I was happy she told me about the letter from my nephew.

Hi Lori

I know you will want to hear this. I guess you and I are the most alike when it comes to feelings, well looks too, oh gee size too. Okay we are pretty good aren't we!

Sorry I got carried away. LOL

I received a letter from our boy yes Jeremy! I love to get mail from him. He is upset about Terra and if the baby is born yet, if they are okay. He misses his kids and Terra.

He is worried about Christmas and being able to come, he will be able to be out at night if he is working. That is a good thing. Gee can we put him to work on Christmas :o)

You will love to hear this part I was amazed, he can't wait to get back in church, TO SING the HYMNS.

He said he sings loudly AMAZING LOVE HOW CAN IT BE, you know the rest, it is a beautiful song and he is singing it. He said it is stuck in his head. How awesome, how very awesome!

I am so Thankful God has pulled him out of the life he was living, and give him the real reason to live.

He always signs it Love your grandson that touches my heart so much. All those Christmas's I would stop and answer his way out questions about the Bible and Jesus that I know everyone would get upset with me for listening and answering him. Praise the Lord for the little seeds, that went from me, to his Aunt Lori planting many more seeds. And GOD gave the increase.

God is so good, I am so Thankful I received that letter today. On the eve of Thanksgiving a miracle of a young man that I just am amazed at how much God has changed and he needs Prayer for strength as he steps out into life again to face the world.

I love you my dear daughter. I just had to share!

Love
MOM

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

I wish all of you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving! Many Blessings















I have been very busy baking the deserts for tomorrow. I always volunteer to take the deserts. I am not a real baker as some people are but my family always asks for Aunt Lori's cheese cake. I was very excited to hear that my whole family will be coming to Thanksgiving dinner at my brothers tomorrow.

What a grand day it will be!

What I will be taking to Thanksgiving Dinner at my Brother's and Sister-in-laws.

Cheese Cake
Chocolate cookies
Sugar cookies
Chocolate pie
Pumpkin pie
Banana pie


This is my list unless I think of something else that sounds good when I'm out at the store this morning.


I will be very busy the rest of the day and I am sure I won't be able to post tomorrow. I just wanted to wish all of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

I am Thankful for so many things the list could go on forever. I have posted many posts about that this month.

I think the Word sums up what we should be thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you

BTW- Praise God they just called and my truck is done. I have survived just fine with the van this week but I really was worried about having to take it on the route the next two days.

This truly will be a great Thanksgiving for me.

Mom and Baby are doing Well

My niece had a beautiful baby girl. She was born at 9:50 AM yesterday. She weighs 7 lbs 9 oz. Mom & Baby are doing well. Her name is Gabrielle Leanne.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

God's perfect will for our lives

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalms 117


Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalms 119


Q: Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?
A: Psalms 118


Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.



Q: What is the center verse in the Bible?
A: Psalms 118:8



Does this verse say something significant
about God's perfect will for our lives?


The next time someone says they would like to find
God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to
be in the center of His will,
just send them to the center of His Word!



















Psalms 118:8
"It is better to trust in the LORD
than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out
(or was God in the center of it)?

A New Baby

My niece called this morning at 5:00 a.m. her water broke at 2:00 a.m. so today is the day I will be a "Great Aunt" again. I am very excited!

A new baby for "Thanksgiving"

This sure gives me something else to be Thankful for this today.

I am also thankful for my little buddy (Boaz) who is so patently waiting to get on the computer this morning.

My Step-dad is still not doing very well. My mom emailed and asked me to please keep praying for my dad. I am posting her email.

Hi Daughter

Hope you are enjoying my funnies and my serious ones as well.

Dad still needs Prayer, he is not better; he has decided to get the biopsy in January.
I pray he can enjoy the holidays. His breathing is not good.


Hope everyone is fine.

I love you!

Love
Mom

Sunday, November 19, 2006

To Tired to Blog Today!













Oh my, have I had a very long weekend! To make a very long story short, my truck is in the shop for major brake problems. I lost almost all of my brakes early Saturday morning. I am thankful that God was with me, and I had enough brake fluid to make it to the gas station. I am also very thankful that the shop could get my truck in right away and they should have it fixed tomorrow. I had to take our 1993 Aerostar van on the route today, it is old and has very little heat. It is a stick shift! My old truck was a stick shift but I haven't had it for a year, it was a very long route but I made it through.

I had a person help me yesterday get my children to church for a Youth party, this person had no idea I had such a bad morning. He offered to pick up my kids and bring them to church for me. God works in some awesome ways.

I praise God for His many blessing!

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Give Thanks With a Greatful Heart

Praise Report

I got some great news from my friend who had the surgery last week. "All is well" Praise be to our heavenly Father. I am so excited and happy to hear I will have my friend around for a long time. I want to thank all of my wonderful blogging friends for praying for her.

I also was so excited to here that one of my favorite singer's will be coming to the Palace of Auburn Hills in February for a concert. This friend I keep telling you about introduce Josh Groban to me. We are going to try and get tickets to see his concert. I am soooooo very excited.

Living for the simple things in life: My Friend

I was asked if we have to be circumcised to be Saved

I was asked this question by someone I work with: "What does the Bible say about circumcision? What is the Christian view of circumcision?" "Do we have to be circumcised to be saved?"

This is what I believe the Bible to teach on this:

Since we are no longer under the Old Testament Law as Christians, circumcision is no longer required. This is brought out in a number of New Testament passages, among which are the following: Acts 15; Galatians 2:1-3; 5:1-11; 6:11-16; 1 Corinthians 7:17-20; Colossians 2:8-12; Philippians 3:1-3. As these passages bring out, being saved from our sins is received through trusting in Christ to save us from our sins, and it is this act of turning from our sin and self-righteousness and turning instead to reliance upon Christ’s finished work on the cross that makes us “circumcised of heart” and that the works of the flesh accomplish nothing.

In Acts 16:3, Paul had a missionary helper, Timothy, circumcised so that his being uncircumcised would not be a hindrance to them as they sought to reach out to the unsaved Jews on their missionary journeys. Thus, although the Bible gives Gentile (non-Jewish) believers the liberty of not being circumcised, it was a liberty that Timothy was willing to give up for the sake of reaching out to unsaved Jews. However, as the passages in Galatians bring out, Paul refused to compromise the issue with those who said that one must be circumcised in order to be either saved or sanctified in Christ.

There are practical issues involved with circumcision as well. Some parents have their sons circumcised so that they will look like all the other males in their culture. Some parents are concerned that their son would someday be in a locker room and find themselves different from everyone else. In some cultures, though, males are not commonly circumcised. There is also the issue of health. Doctors debate back and forth in regard to whether there are any health benefits to circumcision.

SCRIPTURE ABOUT CIRCUMCISION
THE GOSPELS
Luke 1:59-60 Circumcision of John the Baptist.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zecheriah, but his mother spoke up and said,n "No! He is to be called John."

Luke 2:21-39. Circumcision of Jesus.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

John 7:21-24 Jesus teaches at the feast.

Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. Yet because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment."

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
Acts 15:1-21 The Council at Jerusalem

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed along with some other believers to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they had reported every thing God had done through them.

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling them about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they had finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

`After this I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things'
that have been known for ages.

It is my judgment, therefore that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

Acts 15:22-35 The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings:

We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling you minds by what they said. So, we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabus and Paul -- men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. [CIRP note: Circumcision is not required.]

Farewell.

The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen their brothers. After spending some time with them, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others preached the word of the Lord.

Acts 21:17-25 Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem

When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to their customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but you yourself are living in obedience to the law. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, and from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."

THE GENERAL LETTERS
Galatians 2:1-5 Paul Accepted by Apostles

Fourteen years later I went up to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the Gospel I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me was required to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment so that the truth of the gospel might remain in you.

Galatians 5:1-12 Freedom in Christ

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.

Mark my words! I, Paul tell you that if you let yourself be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Galatians 6:12-15 Not Circumcision but a New Creation

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified through to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

I Corinthians 7:17-20 Marriage

Nevertheless, each one of you should retain the place in life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not be uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commandments is what counts. Each of you should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.

Romans 2:25-28 The Jews and the Law

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law you become as though you had not been circumcised. If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they had been circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision are a lawbreaker.

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Romans 3:28-31 Righteousness through Faith

Where then is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Romans 4:9-12

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not afterward but before. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Ephesians 2:11-13 One in Christ

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who one were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Phillipians 3:1-11 No Confidence in the Flesh

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are of the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh - though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness that comes from the law, but that which is found through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in those sufferings, becoming like him in death, an so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

A.A.A.D.D.

A.A.A.D.D.

Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. -

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

This is how it manifests:

I decide to wash my car.

As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my blogging friends out.


Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.

GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL

LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC!

Monday, November 13, 2006

My Son's days in the Navy













I asked my Son BC to send me information on his days in the Navy this is what he sent me. I laughed and cried at his days serving our Country. This is the only picture I could find with B.C. in his uniform. This was taken after he graduated from bootcamp. He is holding one of the twins.


This is a picture of my very handsome son B.C.


This is a picture of my lovely and beautiful Daughter-in-law Jess.

It was very hard for me when my son told me he was going to go into the Navy. I was only 14 when I had B.C. we grew up together. I posted about this a while back. I'll link to that post.

Living for the simple things in life: The next story of my life


I spent four years in the Navy. I was stationed in Pensacola Florida for School after I went to boot camp in Great Lake Illinois. I was in Pensacola for 6 months and was then sent to serve aboard the USS Detroit. I met up with the ship in Greece and went on to be deployed for six months between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. I missed my family remendously while away on this deployment. Life aboard the Detroit was unlike anything I had ever experienced. After returning from the deployment, I was living in New Jersey as this was the home port for my ship. I met the women who would later become my wife one week after returning from over seas. She was a feisty one (she is as sweet as can be) and I did not pay her much attention at first. (Ya whatever, my son fell head over heels in love the minute he saw Jess, it was Jess who ignored him Hee, Hee) She was in the Navy as well and I had my own rule not to date Navy girls. She was assigned to the same division as me, and was in my duty section. After a few weeks of getting to know her, I decided to break my rule, I made the right decision. We will be married for 9 years this December and have three wonderful Children. (They have a very good relationship, I love them both very much)

Back to the Navy, the ship was ported in Philadelphia for 4 months for an overhaul about 2 months after we returned from overseas. I lived in a hotel at night, and helped rebuild the ship during my work day. We then began work ups to prepare to go back overseas.

I moved up in rank rather quickly. I was interested in running the flight deck on our ship. We did not have any Airmen assigned to the boat, so the Boatswains mates ran the flight deck for transporting ammunition and food to other ships. The Detroit was a supply vessel. I tested into this rate and passed with flying colors. I worked on the flight deck tying down the air craft when they landed and hooked up the cargo to the Helicopters as they came in to pick up. I did maintenance on the life saving equipment, fire fight gear, and transportation gear. I was later sent to school to become a Landing Signalman enlisted. After this schooling I became the work center Supervisor in charge of the flight decks maintenance and facilities. I was the youngest person in our ships history to fill this position. During flight quarters, I directed air craft. I also directed personnel to move cargo, tie down air craft, and hook up cargo to the air craft upon approach. I was deployed again for a second six month tour oversees. When we were preparing to leave, we thought it was going to be a pretty easy time, but one day after leaving, we were informed that war was eminent with Iraq, and we were being sent immediately to the Middle East. We were supposed to go to Spain for a couple of weeks to take on supplies. I was bummed out, because I was looking forward to spending time in Spain. Have you ever heard the expression, full steam ahead? This is what we did. I had never seen our ship go that fast for a long duration. We went directly to the Middle East through the Suez Canal. We bombed Iraq for a couple of weeks, spent some time waiting to see what would happen next and them we were sent off the Coast of Kosovo. From what we were told, the US was helping the people evacuate as they were being force from their land. I don't know all the detail behind it. We supplied food and other items to the ships around us, and to the people of Kosovo. We were then sent back to the Middle East to finish our tour. I was promoted again after testing to the rank of E5 after being in the Navy for two years and nine months. My rate was BM2.

I could not wait to come back to see my wife and 1 year old son Josh. It was hard to be away from them for all this time. Josh would not come to me at first when I returned, which was pretty hard. (This is very heart breaking to read, I remember this very well).

Upon returning from being oversees, the ship was dry docked in Philadelphia for another overhaul. This time we were in Philly for almost one year. I was nominated and awarded for Senior Sailor of the quarter during my stay in Philly. After completion of the ship's overhaul, my facility was audited for flight deck readiness (AVCERT). We passed with no exception. I passed the requirements to become the Flight Deck Officer during flight quarters as well.

Time came up for me to get out. They offered me quite a few options and bonuses to stay in, but I chose not to. I thought about my decision to leave home and go to the service. I thought about moving every four years and what kind of life this would be for my family. Also, my son would have no roots. I also thought about how hard it was to be away from my family, and decided to become a civilian. Now I am back, and have this crazy Mom that writes novels on the computer for others to read for free. I am working on becoming a millionaire, and was trying to figure out how writing this could help me. I figured it out! The cost to read this is $2.00 per word. As of the last sentence there are 1014 words in 84 sentences. Please pay me $2028 for this article..

(My son thinks he is so funny) He tries to charge me every time I come over to see my grandchildren. : ) We have a great relationship! I love my son very much and yes, I am very proud of him.

















This picture was taken when I went to see B.C. and Jess, When my son was station in New Jeresy. This was only the second time I had seen my Grandson sense he was born. (Please excuse the stupid look on my face but I thought my grandson was adorable in the picture).















This is B.C when he was four years old. I had a mission to find a father for B.C. before he started Kindergarden. We were visiting a man that I was going to marry; we were at his Army base. I think every sense we visited this Army Base B.C. wanted to join the Military.

















I would not have had to stoop to post these two picture of B.C. had he not made his funny comment about my blogging. This first picture is of B.C. at Christmas opening his presents, I have never seen a more enjoyable child to watch open presents as B.C. To this day B.C. gets this look on his face upon opening gifts. (You might think I'm joking but I am not, I love watching B.C. open presents, Hee, Hee)

















Every Halloween my Mom would dress B.C. up as Frankinstein. My Daugther-in-law get a chuckle out of these pictures.














Another Halloween! Yes, once again B.C. is is Frankenstein.

What is the origin of America's annual Thanksgiving Day?



Have you let someone know how thankful you are for them today? : )












I love Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday. I love getting together with family that I might only see once a year. It is that time that I get to see all my nieces and nephews, my sister and brothers, my Dad and mom and adopted sisters. It is always loud and crazy but I have to say I love every minute of it.

Here are a few things that I am thankful for today.

1. I am thankful that I have faith in God; for His sacrifice on the cross for my sins ; for His unselfish act of Love.
2. I am thankful for my Husband, my children and grandchildren and their good health. (My children and grandchildren are feeling better)
3. I am thankful for my church, were I can go and Worship my Lord and Savior.
4. I am thankful for all the blessings that I have.
5. I am thankful for the bounty of food that this earth gives us.
6. I am thankful for all of the people that I now know through blogging
7. I am thankful for my home, my front porch, were it has a swing that I can sit on to read my Bible and drink my glass of tea.
8. I am thankful for all the beauty of nature
9. I am thankful for all the good friends that I have.
10. I am thankful for all the people in the Armed Services that help protect our freedoms.

I just wanted to remind myself why we celebrate Thankgiving Day.

Pilgrims
Pilgrim William Brewster holds a Bible as the Pilgrims pray for a safe journey as they leave for America from Delft Haven, Holland, on July 22, 1620.

The Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. Their destination? The New World. Although filled with uncertainty and peril, it offered both civil and religious liberty.
For over two months, the 102 passengers braved the harsh elements of a vast storm-tossed sea. Finally, with firm purpose and a reliance on Divine Providence, the cry of "Land!" was heard.

Arriving in Massachusetts in late November, the Pilgrims sought a suitable landing place. On December 11, just before disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they signed the "Mayflower Compact" - America's first document of civil government and the first to introduce self-government.

Pumpkins. Photo copyrighted. After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began building hasty shelters. However, unprepared for the starvation and sickness of a harsh New England winter, nearly half died before spring. Yet, persevering in prayer, and assisted by helpful Indians, they reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer.

The grateful Pilgrims then declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America's first Thanksgiving Festival.

Artist's depiction of the first Thanksgiving. Courtesy of Eden Communications. Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving in these words:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling [bird hunting] so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as... served the company almost a week... Many of the Indians [came] amongst us and... their greatest King, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought... And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE... FAR FROM WANT."

George Washington, first President of the United States. Photo courtesy of Eden Communications. In 1789, following a proclamation issued by President George Washington, America celebrated its first Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution. That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which President Washington was a member, announced that the first Thursday in November would become its regular day for giving thanks, "unless another day be appointed by the civil authorities." Yet, despite these early national proclamations, official Thanksgiving observances usually occurred only at the State level.

Much of the credit for the adoption of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

Abraham Lincoln statute, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Wallbuilders. Lincoln's original 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation came - spiritually speaking - at a pivotal point in his life. During the first week of July of that year, the Battle of Gettysburg occurred, resulting in the loss of some 60,000 American lives. Four months later in November, Lincoln delivered his famous "Gettsysburg Address." It was while Lincoln was walking among the thousands of graves there at Gettysburg that he committed his life to Christ. As he explained to a friend:

When I left Springfield [to assume the Presidency] I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving each year, we hope they will retain the original gratefulness to God displayed by the Pilgrims and many other founding fathers , and remember that it is to those early and courageous Pilgrims that they owe not only the traditional Thanksgiving holiday but also the concepts of self-government, the "hard-work" ethic, self-reliant communities, and devout religious faith.

Sunday, November 12, 2006














This is my Grandfather and Grandmother in May after they got married in 1945, What an adorable couple. My Grandparents were so good to us kids; They would take us Up North to there Cabin on the lake every summer until my Grandmother got sick with cancer when I was 11. She died of Breat Cancer when she was 54; I was 13 at the time. My Grandfather died of cancer when he was 73; I was 24.







This is my Grandfather; what a handsome man I think he was.











Veterans Day reminded me of my Grandfather and my son. They both served in the Navy, my Grandfather also served in the Marines as well. I am so grateful for all the men and women who serve our Country so we stay a free nation. I asked my mom for some information regarding my Grandfather's service in the Military. I will post a picture of my son in his military uniform as soon as he sends me some information about his Navy days. He is pretty busy at work right now, it might take a while for him to find time.



He was in the Navy, he was a medic, I know that he also served somehow in the Marines too because he was on an island fighting, at one point the planes were shooting and I remember that they shot right up to the tree he was standing under and quit firing.
He was in World War II served 1941 till 1945 I think I know he served until the war was over. Grandpa and Grandma got married May 23, 1945 in San Diego. California when he came into to port.

Hope this is what you wanted I really do not know a whole lot more because he never talked about it much. I am sure he saw a lot that hurt to talk about.

Love
Mom

Friday, November 10, 2006

My Friend

My friend’s surgery went o.k. it took longer than what she expected it to take. They had to go in twice to get what they needed. The Doctor said she would find out by Wednesday of next week if it is Cancerous or not. This is the same friend that took me out for a very special birthday surprise.

Living for the simple things in life: The gift of Love

Thank you so much for all of your prayers; please continue to pray for her and her family. Her husband was going through a pretty rough time today. He loves his wife so much and doesn't like to see her go through this.

I got all my cooking done last night for my friend and my family.

I put a roast with potatoes and carrots in the roaster for my friend and her family. I also made them brownies for desert. I also made roast and potatoes and carrots for my family. I put it in my crock pots and turned them on before I left this morning at 5:30 a.m. I just got home and my kids said it was delicious; I pray my friend and her family think it was good as well.

Tonight I was suppose to take Bo and Josh (my son and grandson) to a fun night at their school. My daughter-in-law called me today to tell me Josh came home from school with a fever. Yes, he had the hands, mouth, and foot illness. My granddaughter has a fever as well.

I might still take Bo if he wants to go. He was crying when I asked him about it. It was suppose to be something special for Bo and Josh to do together. What can be done if someone is sick? I told Bo and Josh I would make this up to them by taking them to the movies next weekend.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Update on my Step-dad

Update on my Step-dad! Please keep him in your prayers.

I also ask for prayer for a friend of mine. She is having surgery tomorrow; please pray that they do not find cancer. I will be busy today buying the food and cooking them a meal for tomorrow. I took my cleaning job off tomorrow and one of my routes so I could be with her and her family. I will be able to stay with the family until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. I am very happy that I have a good sub for one of my routes.

My family is pretty much over the illness that we had, but it has spread to my older son’s family. Jack my 3 year old grandson has been sick for two days; he was throwing up early Wednesday morning. Today he has a fever and is complaining of a soar throat.
I just pray little Jenna doesn't get it. She is my 8 month old Granddaughter

Hi Lori

Dad is better later in the day. Mornings are sometimes rough. One minute he wants to go to the hospital right then he feels so bad and the next minute he is outside blowing leaves. I feel so bad for him. He aches in his back, legs, hips, chest can't breath and then all the sudden he is better.
I don't know what he is going to do. I just Pray God heals him, sometimes I know God works through Doctor's or he would not have made them. So I am just Praying for the right decision.
He gets depressed, today was one of those and he called Pastor to talk to him about some other things and he shared he feels depressed, Pastor told him it might be his medication. I think that made him feel better. So God knows how to help when we don't.
I have been busy with work, schooling and cleaning house since we were gone a lot of the summer I really am behind. Dad is not much help inside anymore. He does let the dogs out and blow leaves though. (LOL) Oh well!
Hey what do you want for Christmas, ask Jim too. How about the boys? I will look to see what I can find for the older girls, they are easier than boys (SOMETIMES) :o)

God Bless you my precious daughter.

Love
Mom

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

I GOT STOPPED FOR SPEEDING THE OTHER DAY.


I THOUGHT I COULD TALK MY WAY OUT OF IT UNTIL THE

COP LOOKED AT MY DOG IN THE BACK SEAT. ...


Tuesday, November 07, 2006

What should we thank God for?

There are so many things to be thankful to God for. I can name so many things in my own life. Today, I wanted to focus my attention on what the Bible tells me I should be thankful to God for. In my quiet time with the Lord today, I wanted to give Him thanks for all of His attributes.

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night," Psalm 92:1-2

In this verse I find that He is faithful and kind.

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9

In this verse I find that He is good, and I should be giving thanks for His wonderful works. He satisties my soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

"Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise?" Psalm 106:1-2

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

There are so many things to be thankful to God for. I can name so many things in my own life. Today I wanted to focus on what the Bible tell us we should be thankful to God for.

What should I thank God for? Here are just a few things I found in God's word today.

For what God did for me in sending His only son to die on the cross.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

Why does man need Salvation??

Mankind is lost spiritually. Sin separates man from God. God is holy and cannot have sin in His presence. God is a loving God and He so wants to have a close relationship with us but sin separates us from God. The Bible tells us that ALL on this earth have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they brought sin into the world and upon all mankind and the close fellowship that they had with God was no longer possible because of sin.

God instructed man to make unblemished animal sacrifices for their sin. The Bible tells us that "For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin." The blood of these animals covered man's sins but the blood of animals could not actually take sins away. God had a wonderful plan to restore mankind unto Himself. This plan would take away the sins of the world. All one would have to do is accept God's free gift of salvation. Man has been granted a free will by God and because of this God will not force Himself on anyone. But He wants His creation to come to Him and be saved. God's plan of salvation is so wonderful.

Salvation is a FREE gift. This means that you cannot earn your way into heaven. Your good works will not get you to heaven. Being a good person cannot get you into heaven. You can never be good enough to get into heaven because even one sin will keep you out of heaven. Jesus already paid the price for your sins. To say that you can save yourself is an insult to Him who gave His life for you. The Bible says that our righteousness is like filthy rags and there is no way that we can make it into heaven by our own works. The Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith and NOT of our own works. Salvation is a gift from God.

Here are more things that I am thankful to God for.

God's righteousness and holiness - Psalm 7:17, 30:4, 48:10, 71:16, 24, 99:3

All God's marvelous works - Psalm 9:1, 66:3-7, 71:16-17, 72:18, 92:4-6, 105:5

My body - Psalm 139:14-16

God's guidance and instruction to me - Psalm 16:7, 48:14, 71:17

The hope God has given me - Psalm 16:9

Salvation - Psalm 16:9-11, 71:23, 92:1, 96:2

The joy God gives me in His presence - Psalm 16:11

God is great and worthy of praise - Psalm 18:3, 48:1, 96:4, 145:3

When I was in trouble, God heard my cries for help - Psalm 18:6, 22:24

Deliverance - Psalm 18:49, 54:7, 68:20

Mercy and kindness - 117:2 , Psalm 18:49, 31:21, 57:10, 86:13, 100:5, 106:1

For not staying angry with me and not giving up on me - Psalm 30:5

God's blessings and benefits - Psalm 68:19

God's laws and commands - Psalm 19:7-8, 48:11, 112:1

God's judgments and the warning they have provided to me - Psalm 19:9-11

God's power - Psalm 21:13, 29:3-10

Faithfulness - 71:22

For preserving my ancestors - Psalm 22:4-5

For the strength and confidence God gives me - Psalm 27:1-6, 28:7-8, 29:11

For listening to my prayers - Psalm 28:6, 66:20, 116:1-2

God's Word - Psalm 56:4, 56:10

For being truthful - Psalm 33:2, 57:10, 117:2

For filling the earth with His love and goodness - Psalm 33:5

Creation of the stars - Psalm 19:1-4

God's thoughts, many and deep - Psalm 139:17-18

Ten Commandments Bible Trivia

In our Awana group this year we are really wanting the girls to understand at least the first two commandments. Here is a Bible Trivia to go along with that. I'll post the answers tomorrow.

Ten Commandments
1) "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" is which commandment?

1. second
2. first
3. tenth
4. fifth

2) "Thou shalt not commit adultery" is which commandment?

1. seventh
2. fifth
3. forth
4. ninth

3) Which commandment tells us that we should not steal?

1. first
2. seventh
3. eighth
4. second

4) In which commandment are we told not to make any graven images?

1. third
2. forth
3. tenth
4. second

5) We are told not to covet anything that our neighbour's have in which commandment?

1. fourth
2. tenth
3. ninth
4. seventh

6) "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" is which commandment?

1. ninth
2. third
3. second
4. sixth

7) If a person were to say to you "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" they would be referring to the _____ commandment?

1. first
2. second
3. third
4. fifth

8) "Honour thy father and thy mother" is which commandment?

1. fourth
2. fifth
3. seventh
4. eighth

9) "Thou shalt not kill" is the _____ commandment.

1. first
2. fourth
3. second
4. sixth

10) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" is the _____ commandment.

1. fourth
2. fifth
3. third
4. second

11) What day is the Sabbath day?

1. Saturday
2. Sunday
3. Jesus Christ has become our Sabbath
4. From Friday night at sun down to sun rise Sunday morning

12) In what book of the Bible will you find the Ten Commandments?

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Mark

13) The commandment that states "Thou shalt not kill" is _____.

1. a bad translation, the word should be murder and not kill
2. the proper translation
3. a bad translation, the word should be smite and not kill
4. the seventh commandment

14) When we have troubles in life, we should turn to _____ for help.

1. latest new age thing
2. some self help book
3. an idol
4. God

15) Your neighbour's have everything in life that you ever wanted. What do you do?

1. steal it from them when they are asleep
2. be angry because you don't have everything you want
3. be happy with what you do have
4. be envious of them


17) A graven image is _____?

1. something God told us not to make
2. a carving in wood or stone that some people worship
3. a idol
4. all of the above

18) When a person uses the names God, Lord or Jesus Christ and they are not praying to Them or talking to some one about Them, they are _____?

1. doing nothing wrong
2. exercising there freedom of speech
3. using the Names in vain
4. what ever they are doing is none of your business

19) You found twenty dollars on the floor. What do you do with it?

1. keep it and thank God for the blessing
2. buy your friend a gift
3. buy yourself a gift
4. try and find out who's it is and give it back to them


Answers to the Ten Commandments Bible Quiz

1. b first Exodus 20:2-3
2. a seventh Exodus 20:14
3. c eight Exodus 20:15
4. d second Exodus 20:4-6
5. b tenth Exodus 20:17
6. a ninth Exodus 20:16
7. c third Exodus 20:7
8. b fifth Exodus 20:12
9. d sixth Exodus 20:13
10. a forth Exodus 20:8-11
11. c Jesus Christ has become our Sabbath. See our Sabbath study.
12. b Exodus 20:1-17
13. a bad translation, the word should be murder and not kill. See our Ten Commandments study.
14. d God Exodus 20:2-3
15. c be happy with what you do have. Exodus 20:17
16. b that the person you don't like is the better worker. Exodus 20:16
17. d all of the above. Exodus 20:4-6
18. c using the Names in vain. Exodus 20:7
19. d try and find out who's it is and give it back to them. Exodus 20:15

Monday, November 06, 2006

The Awana Grand Prix

Wow! I don't know were to start with my weekend. Friday was a busy one, I worked my cleaning job in the morning, the route in the afternoon, and my daughter had her first Mary Kay party Friday evening. I took one of my routes off so I could clean my house and make cookies and brownies for the party. She had 8 women show up; I thought that was pretty good for her first party. One of the young women signed up to have a party at her house so that was very good for my daughter. My daughter used me as her model; she made me up so the other ladies could see how to apply their makeup. I don't want to brag but I loved the makeup she put on me so much I bought it. I told her she has to show me how to apply the makeup the way she did. That just about covers my Friday evening; except for the fact I had to run the twins to a birthday party before the Mary Kay party started. I made it through the evening with a few hours of sleep before having to start the next day.

I left to go to my AA News motor route at 2:30 a.m. I returned home around 8:15 a.m. just enough time to throw myself together to make it to our Awana Grand Prix by 9:00 a.m. check in. The races went great! I won first place in the Chums/Guard group. I feel a little badly now that they moved my car down, instead of racing in the open division. I am sure one of the girls would have like that first place trophy. Oh well, it didn't work out that way. Bo won first place in the Pals/Pioneer division better the record in time at our church. His car ran a 3.35, my car ran a 3.42. Bo won over all for bragging rights.

I already blogged about the National Anthem, what I didn't post was me humming my started note until it was my turn to sing. People were talking to me and then they had a little Gospel message for the children before it was my turn to sing. I left during the Gospel message so I could find my starting note. I didn't want to start too high or to low. Anyway, I got through that without to much pain. : )

I did my normal Saturday cleaning and getting my advances.

Sunday we didn't go to church, Jimmy came home from his friend’s house on Saturday with a fever and a sore throat, Bo had a fever and soar throat on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and this morning. I took him to the doctors this morning to make sure it was Strep. It is Hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild but highly contagious viral infection common in preschool children. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. It spreads from person to person, usually through unwashed hands or contaminated surfaces. The most common cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is coxsackievirus infection.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease isn't related to foot-and-mouth disease (sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease), which is a highly infectious viral disease found in farm animals. You can't contract hand-foot-and-mouth disease from pets or other animals, and you can't transmit it to them.

There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

We didn't go to church yesterday due to everyone being sick.

This week I am not as busy as my life has been. Tonight is a free night; I am going to start dinner soon and do laundry this evening.

I love it when life slows down.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

The National Anthem

I posted last week that the Commander of our Awana program asked me to sing The National Anthem at our Grand Prix on Saturday. The words are difficult to understand if you do not know the story behind the song and the tune is almost impossible to sing in the key it is written in, before I could sing this song I had to understand the meaning of it. I try never to sing a song, without it meaning anything to me. I asked a friend of mine if he knew what "O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?" meant. He grew up going to Baseball games and singing the "National Anthem" I on the other hand have never really sang this song. I know the first line of the song and couldn't have told you what the rest of the song said or why we sing it. Shame on me for never caring enough to look this information up. Did anyone know that there are 4 stanza to this song? I had "NO" idea. It took me a little time to research what this song was all about but when I stood up to sing the "National Anthem" I sang this song with everything I had in me. My husband and a lot of other people said that I did a great job with it. I did the best I could.

I now have a love for this song that I have never had before.

Now I want to tell you how it came to be written.

Isaac Asimov now writes.
In 1812, the United States went to war with Great Britain, primarily over freedom of the seas. We were in the right. For two years, we held off the British, even though we were still a rather weak country. Great Britain was in a life and death struggle with Napoleon. In fact, just as the United States declared war, Napoleon marched off to invade Russia. If he won, as everyone expected, he would control Europe, and Great Britain would be isolated. It was no time for her to be involved in an American war.

At first, our seamen proved better than the British. After we won a battle on Lake Erie in 1813, the American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, sent the message "We have met the enemy and they are ours." However, the weight of the British navy beat down our ships eventually. New England, hard-hit by a tightening blockade, threatened secession.

Meanwhile, Napoleon was beaten in Russia and in 1814 was forced to abdicate. Great Britain now turned its attention to the United States, launching a three-pronged attack. The northern prong was to come down Lake Champlain toward New York and seize parts of New England. The southern prong was to go up the Mississippi, take New Orleans and paralyze the west. The central prong was to head for the Mid-Atlantic States and then attack Baltimore, the greatest port south of New York. If Baltimore was taken, the nation, which still hugged the Atlantic coast, could be split in two. The fate of the United States, then, rested to a large extent on the success or failure of the central prong.

The British reached the American coast, and on August 24, 1814, took Washington, D. C. Then they moved up the Chesapeake Bay toward Baltimore. On September 12, they arrived and found 1000 men in Fort McHenry, whose guns controlled the harbor. If the British wished to take Baltimore, they would have to take the fort.

On one of the British ships was an aged physician, William Beanes, who had been arrested in Maryland and brought along as a prisoner. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and friend of the physician, had come to the ship to negotiate his release. The British captain was willing, but the two Americans would have to wait. It was now the night of September 13, and the bombardment of Fort McHenry was about to start.

As twilight deepened, Key and Beanes saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry. Through the night, they heard bombs bursting and saw the red glare of rockets. They knew the fort was resisting and the American flag was still flying. But toward morning the bombardment ceased, and a dread silence fell. Either Fort McHenry had surrendered and the British flag flew above it, or the bombardment had failed and the American flag still flew.

As dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Key and Beanes stared out at the fort, trying to see which flag flew over it. He and the physician must have asked each other over and over, "Can you see the flag?"

After it was all finished, Key wrote a four stanza poem telling the events of the night. Called "The Defence of Fort M'Henry," it was published in newspapers and swept the nation. Someone noted that the words fit an old English tune called "To Anacreon in Heaven" --a difficult melody with an uncomfortably large vocal range. For obvious reasons, Key's work became known as "The Star Spangled Banner," and in 1931 Congress declared it the official anthem of the United States.

ft mchenry

Now that you know the story, here are the words. Presumably, the old doctor is speaking. This is what he asks Key:

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

"Ramparts," in case you don't know, are the protective walls or other elevations that surround a fort.

The first stanza asks a question.

The second gives an answer:

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

"The towering steep" is again, the ramparts. The bombardment has failed, and the British can do nothing more but sail away, their mission a failure.

In the third stanza, I feel Key allows himself to gloat over the American triumph. In the aftermath of the bombardment, Key probably was in no mood to act otherwise.

This is the third stanza

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The fourth stanza,

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation.Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,
And this be our motto -- "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I hope you will look at the national anthem with new eyes.
Listen to it, the next time you have a chance, with new ears.
And don't let them ever take it away.

Friday, November 03, 2006

A little laughter for the Weekend

Inside every older person is a younger person -- wondering what in the world happened. -Cora Harvey Armstrong-

Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cookies. (Unknown)

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.
-Helen Hayes (at 73)-

I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows. -Janette Barber-

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first one being -- hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. -Erma Bombeck-

Old age ain't no place for sissies. -Bette Davis-

Every time I close the door on reality, it comes in through the windows. -Jennifer Unlimited-

Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart. -Caryn Leschen-

If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. -Catherine-

Behind every successful man is a surprised woman. -
Maryon Pearson-

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt-

Little things happen for a reason.



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 take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone .

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

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.

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ His Son.

And now let the weak say "I am strong."
Let the poor say "I am rich."
Because of what the Lord has done
for us Give thanks.

Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
offering praise and making melody with all your heart
unto the Lord, at all times and in everything, unto God the Father
in the name of ourLord Jesus Christ.

May you and your loved ones
be especially blest.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Finally a free Night!

I took 3 of my boys out for Halloween with my oldest son and daughter-in-law. Bo was a Scientist (He says Evil) and J & J the twins were football players. My oldest Grandson was a Scientist like Bo and Jack was a Chicken. (A very cute chicken) The kids all got two bags of candy each. It was a fun time for all of us.

I finally feel back to normal, I have energy to spare. (I always get myself in trouble when this happens)

I have no idea how this happened, but I was working in Awana minding my own business working with my young girls and the Commander came up and asked the girls if they knew of a good singer that could sing the National Anthem at our Awana Grand Prix on Saturday. I thought if I ignored him he would go away, it didn't work. He said he didn't want to put any pressure on anyone but if someone would step forward and say "She" will do it he would be free to leave. After the Worship Fest, I told myself I wasn't going to sing for a week. That is not going to happen now, I need to print out the sheet music and start practicing tomorrow. The Grand Prix is on Saturday.

Yes, I volunteered! I really have no idea how I get myself into these things. I am really very happy to use my talents God has given me anyway he desires for me too.

I have tonight "FREE" it will be so great to have a night to do nothing. I really want to get outside and rake the leaves. The fall colors are so beautiful and the temp in the day isn't too bad. I think before it gets to cold I'll spend sometime outdoors tonight.

I have my wonderful grandchildren over today so I think I am going to go enjoy them. They are sitting with Bo eating their breakfast right now but I hear a lot of noise coming from the kitchen, I'd better run and see what is going on.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Two Wolves

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

I badly want to be like the good wolf but at times I find myself being like the evil wolf.