Has America gone bonkers?

I love my country. Many of my relatives have served in the military including my husband and my brother. I am proud to be an American. I think this is the best place to be in the world. But, I am having a problem with things going on here in America right now. I would hope many others out there feel the same as I do. America is changing, and it is not for the better, although many may feel that it is.

I just read a news article this morning stating that the Colorado Governor had okayed open bathrooms! Transgender has been added to the list for non-discrimination. This means that someone can pose as Transgender, whether they or are not, and have access to either the women's or men's bathrooms in a public setting. I was shocked, to say the least. This is taking non-discrimination a little too far, in my opinion.

Although there was an amendment that would protect churches, synagogues, mosque, or other areas strictly used for religious purposes, others might not be so lucky. A sexual predator could find a victim as easily as visiting one of these open bathrooms.

What is America coming to? We have hurried to accomodate 'all' in order not to offend anyone. But, what is it doing for the average American who is a law-abiding citizen and wants only to live a normal life - something that is quickly dissipating around here? What happens to the employers who are Christian companies and are against this lifestyle? They will be forced to do something against their conscience simply because you have a Governor who is into appeasing everyone at the cost of many!

We've had same-sex marriages legalized in Massachussetts and California. They are being considered in New York. Where will it stop?

In my life time, I've seen many changes and most not for the better. As a student in school, there was always a feeling of peace. We had a morning devotional on the loudspeaker by a student and a prayer. Anyone was able to speak about God opening, and praying was not prohibited at school functions. In fact, it was encouraged. Even then, we had a diversity of religions in our school, but you never heard of anyone being offended. But, as outside religions began to find their way into America, the government steps in along with other organizations to make sure everyone is protected, even if it offends others. As for Christianity, it has begun to be pushed aside to make room for these 'diverse' religions. Christians are discouraged on sharing their gospel while these others are given free reign. We are told not to pray in our schools while some school systems have made room for some to have their 'prayer time' in order to make them feel wanted. This is a slap in the face to Christians!

Where has equality gone? Right out the door! Leave it to the government to become so involved in our lives that they are ruining this very country we live in. Where has their claim to 'separation of church and state' gone when they allow some to do what they have stopped Christians from doing?

Below is something that Thomas Jefferson, principle author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States had to say:

• I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling in religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in religious discipline has been delegated to the General Government. It must rest with the States, as far as it can be in any human authority (letter to Samuel Miller, Jan. 23, 1808).

Regardless to what some might say, God is being shoved out of America little by little. And, I don't believe He is happy with what He is seeing today in America. A nation once prosperous has been going down for sometime. Congress has not allowed oil companies to drill in the US or it's surrounding waters, so we have to rely on outside companies to provide us with what we are in need of. That brings on a higher price, something America is feeling today at the gas pumps. Taxes and wages have gotten so high that many companies have taken their business operations overseas where they get cheap labor, ship it back to the US where we usually get cheap products for a higher price. Today, it is getting harder for a teenager to find a job because companies that hire teenagers are finding themselves slowing going down hill because the rise in prices is causing people to reconsider the need to shop as much as they once did. Also the influx of illegals who will work for less wages has influenced the market as well.

Linked to Conservative Cat
Gribbit's Word

Technorati Tags: America, Marriage, Religion, Christianity, Government, Freedom

It is raining again

It has rained almost continually since yesterday morning. We had a few hours yesterday afternoon that was clear. But, the rain woke me up again this morning.

I’m not complaining because we have needed the rain. But so many times we do complain because of not enough rain or too much rain. Seems our ground is so dry nothing, including the grass, will grow. The grass will parch without water and, with prices as they are and big yards, we can’t afford to water the whole yard. And, if we have too much rain, then we have flooded yards to contend with and everything is soggy. Can we even be satisfied? Is there ever a happy medium?

I think back to the time of Noah when God told him to build an ark. (Gen 6:14) Descendants of Seth and Cain had began to intermarry and this caused a generation of people who were known for their ungodliness. So God entered into a covenant with Noah and told Noah to build an ark to save his people and He was going to destroy the earth by a flood. (Gen 6:17) It took 120 years to build the ark. Noah constantly talked against the ungodliness of the people. I am sure they thought he was a nut, constantly harping on what was going to happen if they didn’t shape up and follow God. But, they didn’t believe him and were destroyed when the waters covered the earth. The ark floated in the waters for one hundred and fifty days until it came to rest on the mountain where God had intended that they land. But Noah and his family had to wait for God to give them permission to come out. So they stayed in the ark for a whole year.

The covenant between Noah and God was the first covenant made between God and man. He granted Noah permission of the earth under this new charter. He had to erect an altar and give thanks and praises to God. God said he would never again destroy the earth by water.

So when I see the rain, it brings back thoughts of the flood. But it also reminds me that God is in charge and we can believe His promises. He will let it rain on the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45), but He will never destroy us with a flood.

Technorati Tags: Rain, Noah, Flood, God, Earth, Covenant, Ark

When you have nothing to write

Third Word Chaos has some great ideas to help you when your brain doesn’t function properly and you don’t have anything to post about on your blog. He gives five good ideas, some of which I may try:

1. Try the Free Articles sites for a post that will fit with your blog.
   
2. Try reposting one of your most popular post from the past.
3. Check out your favorite blogs for content you may be interested in and write it up in your own way.
4. Promote other bloggers that you like. They may, in turn, decide to do the same for you. I have used this action before.
5. Then there is YouTube when all else has failed you. Check out their videos for something that you like and post it to your site.
   

Third World Chaos has some great tips for blogger hacks, too.

Technorati Tags: Blog, Content, Ideas, Third World Chaos

To All Veterans

My husband served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was stationed both in Thailand and in Vietnam in the DMZ zone. At times, I never knew where he was, but we wrote to each other every day. I believe love and support sustained him through those times. Many of our boys didn't have the support that he did. He often told me that many of the guys never got a letter at mail time, which was so sad. Some never got a package from home.

So today, for all those soldiers who served then and all those who have served since, and who are serving their country now, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have made it possible for us at home to have freedom that we may not have had. We want you to know you are loved, prayed for and thought of often. God bless all those families who have given up a son, daughter, Father, or Mother in any of our wars.

There are many who will follow in your footsteps and we wish them well. May God bless you all for your service to your country - the good ole' U. S.A.!


Freedom Is Not Free
Copyright - Kelly Strong

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Wake Up America
Third World County

Technorati Tags Memorial Day, Veterans, America

Graphic by Doc's Military Graphics

A Must Read

• The Detergent Church by Doug Giles
• The Appeasement Chronicles
• Memorial Day: Time to Remember, Never to Forget
• Appeasement By Any Other Name
  

Technorati Tags: Church, Appeasement, Memorial Day

Life has just begun

Thursday night, we watched a group of 287 seniors walk across the field to get their high school diplomas. Our granddaughter was one of those students.

Most of those students were anxious to get the diploma in hand and head out for a new life. Our granddaughter was among those students that wanted to ‘vacate’ the premises immediately. She will be in college in the fall and can hardly wait. She will be embarking on a new way of life for a young girl. Hopefully, it will be an experience of a life time for her and all the other college-bound students. And, there are many of those from this graduating class.

The crowd was overflowing for this year to see the graduating class walk that last mile in their high school. And we got to see the last funny pranks by those boys and girls, ranging from blowing balloons and bouncing them over the heads of the graduates until they were taken away to giving the principal a bouncy ball when they received their diplomas. The seniors unleashed 1500 bouncy balls for their senior day prank this year. Every year the seniors have a funny prank they pull on the staff. I can imagine how long it took for them to pick up those bouncy balls, too. But, then, it was clean fun for the kids! We wondered why they didn’t just let the blue balloons bounce through the crowd all night instead of taking them up. Clean fun is much better than the kids doing some nasty prank.

When the last diploma was given and the students were presented to the large crowd as graduates, hats when up in unison. And they all got out of their seats, running across the field, ending in little groups, congratulating others on their accomplishment. Of course, a few of those students didn’t get their diplomas that night because of their not passing all their exit exams. That will have to be accomplished before the diplomas are handed out. Otherwise, they will have to take a GED test.

As those students began to disassemble and go their separate ways, I thought about our years in school and those of our two children. We seemed to be grown and most of us were off to jobs. My daughter married and had 4 children, the second of whom just graduated. Our older son went off to college and worked all through his college career. I wonder how these graduates will meet the challenge to grow into mature adults, able to manage their lives as responsible adults. They think they are grown now, having made it through high school. But tough times will surely come for most of them, challenges that they will have to learn to overcome. I pray that each of them have learned it’s okay to come back to their parents for advice and don’t think they are too old to need help with every day problems. They need to realize that parents have gone through similar things and can be a sounding board for troubles. It is much better for them to come to their parents than go to a peer. Peers seem to have the same outlook on life as the one seeking advice, and sometimes their advice is not what the seeker needs to hear.

Technorati Tags: Graduation, High School, Life, Seniors, Peers

America has lost her way

With the decision by the judges in California to over turn the ban on gay marriage tells me that something is wrong here in America. We have become the nation of appeasers. Doesn’t matter whether something is right or wrong, ‘if it feels good, do it’. Or, at least do it for those groups that pressure to have their way or threaten a lawsuit.

It has definitely become the norm for judges to be liberal and go against the desires of most of the public. This is what has happened in the state of California. The people want marriage to be between a man and woman the way God intended. But, apparently, God’s Word has been forgotten and man is doing things ‘his way’. And, that’s when man gets in trouble – leaving God out of the plans.

This nation has been a very prosperous nation over the years. We have been said to be the nation that all the others look up to. But, lately, the appeasers have gone into action, not only about gay marriage but also in many more areas of our lives. Rather than standing firm, we seem to want to do whatever it takes to make everyone like us. But, history will tell us that everybody will never be our friend, and we will suffer the consequences of going against what is right.

Today, America is paying for our past mistakes. We have oil that could be drilled here, but there are those that will not let us drill. So we are paying for that decision at the pumps. Other countries have the gas under control; therefore, we pay higher prices at the pump. The price of groceries has gone up tremendously. Consumers are also paying at retail stores because most companies have taken their business over to other countries so they can pay lower wages and ship it back to America. By moving businesses overseas, it takes away from the job market in America.

When a child disobeys their parents, they usually have consequences to pay. We, as children of God, are going to have to answer to the Father. I know there are people out there that do not believe that God has anything to do with what is happening. But, God has been stuck in the background so long in America, I believe He is letting America suffer because of our disobedience to His Word. We have not done our best to stop those who go against what He wants for His people. God has been ushered out of schools (even some Christians are against prayer or the Bible in schools). A moment of silence in schools is not prayer, regardless of what some say. Christians are being persecuted because of their beliefs while other religions are being given free reign.

God says there will be no other gods before him. (Exodus 23:3) America thinks more of what other countries think of us than what God thinks of us. We do the earthly thing and try to unify all religions. We forget that His Word says “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). There is but one GOD, and He is a loving God, but He is also a jealous God. He wants His creation to serve Him and only Him. And, there will be a consequence to pay if we choose not to serve Him. That will come the day we die – as one person said at my granddaughter’s Baccalaureate service last night – we travel one of two ways – the right way or the wrong way – the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, or the wide road that leads to destruction: hell.

It is that plain and simple. Either America, as a whole, turns back to God, or we have a hard road ahead of us. He said He would send rain on the just and the unjust. And only those who choose to stay with Him through thick and thin, bad times and the good times, will be able to stand with Him eternally. We personally have to decide which way to choose, not follow the politically correct society.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: America, Christ, God, Destruction, Consequences

Dottie Rambo - Sheltered In The Arms of God

I heard the news about the death of Dottie Rambo yesterday. The Gospel singing industry has surely lost a wonderful singer and one whom you knew loved the Lord. She had just sang in Granite City, which would turn out to be her last appearance.

Calvary Life Pastor Mark Maynard described her death as “a huge loss for the gospel music world,” saying the concert “was a wonderful night of laughter and tears.”

Singing the following song, Dottie talks about the friendship between her and Porter Wagoner who preceded her in death.



Dottie Rambo Bio
List of Dottie's Songs

Technorati Tags: Dottie Rambo, Death

Happy Mother's Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to every Mother. Praying each of you had a blessed day. I believe each child is a blessing sent from God above. Each of us has been blessed tremendously from the day we heard that first cry until today.

I believe God equipped Mothers with that inward feeling of love for the child from the moment she conceives. I know I could hardly wait until the birth of my children, to be able to hold and love on them. It's been the same with my grandchildren. There just seems to be an over abundance in a mother's heart and it could only have been put there by the Lord.

Technorati Tags: Mother's Day, Roses, God, Children

Country legend Eddy Arnold dies

Photo from CMT

Eddy Arnold was one of my favorite country singers. And, he left this world today at the age of 89, just days short of his May 15th birthday.

His song, Make the World Go Away, was one of my favorites of all his songs. I don't know of a song he recorded that we didn't like, though.

I had the opportunity to see Eddy Arnold at the Birmingham Auditorium back in the late 70's. He was on the ticket with Floyd Cramer, and Boots Randolph (Yakety Sax). Floyd Cramer passed away in 1997 at the young age of 64. Boots Randolph passed away in 2007 at the age of 80.

The night of the concert, everyone was excited. They were flashing their cameras all over the auditorium, and some right in front of the stage. I think it sort of got to Eddy Arnold, and he stopped singing and asked everyone with a camera who wanted a picture to come up front and he'd let them take one picture. Then, he didn't want to see the flash anymore. Lots of people went up front, and to the surprise of all of us, he told them to get ready, and then turned his back to them. I'm sure it upset lots of fans. I vowed never to go see him again, but it didn't stop me from loving to hear him sing.

He lived in Brentwood, TN, right next to Nashville. We lived there for 5 years in the 1990's, knew where he lived, but never saw him out. He will be missed!

Technorati Tags: Eddy Arnold, Death, Country Singer, Music, Brentwood, Tennessee

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone

• Romans 8:21, "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
• Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Technorati Tags: Amazing Grace, Chains, Chris Tomlin

Taking pictures

My husband and I got out in the yard this afternoon and I took my camera. We have lilies blooming in the front and I wanted to get a picture. I have a Canon Powershot S3 IS camera with image stabilizer. My hands shake somewhat when I am trying to take a picture and the image stabilizer lets me get some pictures without them appearing fuzzy.

I really enjoy taking pictures of flower, birds, and other animals. I would really like to go to a wildlife or bird sanctuary in Alabama to be able to take some nice bird pictures. We see lots of birds here in our yard, but you have to sit for a long time just waiting on them to appear. And it is not very often that you see a new bird at the feeders.


Yesterday, I made a picture of a rose bush at my Mother's house. It is called Seven Sisters which is a very old rose and was handed down in her family. I was amazed at how many different colors of roses were on the same bush. I suppose that is how it got it's name.



Technorati Tags: Pictures, Camera, Canon Powershot, Lilies, Roses, Seven Sisters

As we grow older

Each of us, if we live long enough, will get old. Some of us may live a long and vivacious life. Others may live a long life but not be so lively, perhaps with a diseased body. But, each of us want friends and family to still be there for us no matter what our age.

A friend sent me the following link this morning.

• Parent's Wish

As I viewed it, I couldn't help but think of my ninety-one year "young" Mother. She still lives alone (her wish) in the home in which I was born. She only drives in her small town to church. I do her grocery shopping and getting her mail. I do most of her house cleaning, although she does some,does her washing, and gets out in the yard occasionally. I know the years have been good to her since she has outlived her entire family and she was the second child of ten. But, she is no longer youthful, no longer able to do the things she would like and her legs don't carry her as well as they once did. But, she still loves life and wants company and to be able to be with others. One of the things she loved most in her later years was to be able to take bus tours, but that is no longer available. The couple who once got those together is no longer able to do so, and we sit at home.

The desire for elderly people is not to be overlooked, looked down upon, or forgotten. So, as you watch this link, remember your parents and visualize the life that awaits you in the not so distant future. It will bring tears to your eyes, so grab a kleenex!

Linked at Conservative Cat

Photo from All Posters

Technorati Tags: Aging, Elderly, Life, Parents

Discount Shopping with Online Coupon Codes

Most women I know enjoy shopping any time. But, shopping is even made better when you are provided with a discount coupon or other promotions. And you will find codes for discounts at 1-Coupons.com.

You will find a Discount Promo Code at many different stores that have a variety of products. These products run from clothing, baby articles, to electronics and even cruises. There is something for every shopper at 1-Coupons.com.

For instance, you will find several laptop computer bargains at Dell. They also are featuring bargains on desktops and digital cameras.

Newegg.com is a favorite place my husband shops online for electronics, so it comes highly recommended. Right now, they have a coupon code for a TOSHIBA Satellite A215-S5802 NoteBook. It is listed at a very reasonable price.

And for the woman who loves Lane Bryant, you will find many discount offers. Many of those have free shipping, such as orders for $75 or more and maternity orders. Be sure to use the coupon code when ordering.

At 1-Coupons.com, you will also tips on how to make your online shopping more feasible. You can learn how to avoid fraud while shopping on the Internet. You can also learn tips on how to save money by using the coupon codes and comparing prices on items. 1-Coupons.com is the place to go to learn how to save money at a large variety of stores.

Technorati Tags: Shopping, Discounts, Coupons, Promotions

Jesus must come first

I was reading Diane’s post from Saturday today at Crossroads. She was writing about the analysis of the evangelical church that she had gotten from a post by Ingrid at A Slice of Laodicea.

I went to Ingrid’s and started reading the entire post. At the end, she had written the following:

The bottom issue is that we can’t compromise the name and Gospel of Christ so that we can still run interfaith political action committees to end temporal problems in this country. I’m not against working against these evils and have, in fact, done so for many years in Christian information radio. I also don’t believe in a doctrinal litmus test before you sign some guy’s petition against higher taxes or whatever. We can work on public policy issues with those we don’t theologically agree with. But we must never stop being outspoken representatives of Christ whatever we are doing. If we work with Jewish people, Muslims, Mormons, etc. in the civil sphere, we can’t allow that to impede our sharing the truth with them when given the opportunity. We can’t put more value on their political influence than on their soul’s worth. And we must not worship together or pray together with those who reject our Savior. We must keep our Christian integrity. We must be faithful. Jesus must come first. That is the point.

The lines that stood out to me were “We must keep our Christian integrity. We must be faithful. Jesus must come first. That is the point.” And, that is just the point. When we shove Jesus aside for any reason, we are letting the devil get a foot in the door. And, he only needs a small opening to impact our lives and others! We should never be ashamed to let people know what we believe or to share Christ with them in a loving way.

Ingrid had given a press release at Christian Newswire in which she spoke about Dr. Ravi Zacharias not praying in the name of Jesus on the official National Day of Prayer website. The Bible specifically says that we are pray to the Father in the name of Jesus.

NDP Chairwoman, Shirley Dobson, owes a biblical explanation to Christians around the nation as to why the name of Jesus is absent from the official prayer. We are not here as Christians to appease those of other world religions. We cannot come to God except through His Son's righteous merits. To pray as "Christians" in any other way is both a farce and a mockery. While other believers around the world are dying for that name, in America, Dr. Zacharias will not even breathe that name in his official public prayer because it might "offend".

Christians need to get back to the business of doing what God’s Word says, without the fear of offending anyone. If anyone is offended, it is by the Word, not the person. We may appease the people, but God isn’t pleased. The Christians of this nation have bowed down to outsiders long enough in order to appease and it hasn’t worked. Why not get back to God’s business, do things HIS way, and see what the outcome is. I believe we could benefit by acting like we were truly made in HIS image!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Sunday OTB at Cao's Blog

Technorati Tags: Jesus, Christians, Prayer, Dr. Ravi Zacharias

Parenting

Parenting is not always an easy task. There are so many ways one can go wrong. But, scripture says to ‘train up a child in the way he should go and, when he is old, he will not depart from it’. (Proverbs 22:6) That does not mean you will not have conflicts along the way, or the child will love you through it all. It means that, in the future, he will come to realize that you were trying to make sure he develops into a well-rounded adult, able to function in an adult world.

Our children weren’t allowed to do everything they asked to do, or go everywhere they wanted to go. In fact, they weren’t able to hang around all the kids that they may have wanted to hang around. I suppose you can say we were strict parents. And, we got flack from our kids, at times. I often got the comment, “but ‘so and so’s’ Mom lets so and so do such and such.” I followed up with, “but I’m not so and so’s Mom; I’m yours.”

Well, we were strict to a point. We allowed them to date at 16, even by themselves. In fact, we always felt it was usually safer for teens to be alone on a date than with others who might pressure them into doing things they would not ordinarily do. But, they always knew we might check on them at any given time, and I did. They never knew when it might be, so they had better be where they should be when I called. Otherwise, they faced discipline they may perhaps not like! They had curfews and they always respected them. We weren’t perfect parents, but we tried our best to bring them up in a good environment and teach them to respect themselves and others.

Bringing up your children to have good manners, to not smoke, drink, do drugs, or go to wild parties has its rewards. After our son got out of school, into college and working (he worked a full time job during college days), he called home one night to tell us how he appreciated how he had been brought up. He told us that had he not been taken to church and taught right from wrong, that he could have been a drunkard, doing drugs, homeless, and on the street. Seems he had come in contact with a former classmate that had not faired so good in life.

Even if a child strays after being parented correctly, there is hope. God’s Word is truth. I put full trust in what He has said about a child not departing from the truth when he grows older. A child usually returns to their childhood faith in later years, even when they don’t follow it in their earlier years. So, if your child has strayed, don’t give up. Hold on to God’s promises, and pray that his path crosses that of another Christian who can be guidance back to God.

Technorati Tags: Parenting, Child, Guidance, God, Promises

Hope

1 Corinthians 15:19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

• Video - Here's Hope
• Streaming Video - The Hope
• Hope Worldwide Charity - "bringing hope to a hurting world"
  
• City of Hope - "dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening illness"
• "For every apparent blessing contains the seeds of danger--every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope--and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable." - John F. Kennedy, State of the Union Address January 11, 1962

Technorati Tags: Hope, Christ

Meme

I am a Child of God

Cathy, at Melodies and Hymnsongs, has tagged me for a six word memoir.

The rules are:

1.Write your own six word memoir.
2.Post it on your blog, and include a visual illustration if you like.
3.Link to the person who tagged you in their post.
4.Tag five more blogs with links.
5.Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs inviting them to play.

I am new on this one and really have no idea what to write, but will give it a try.

So my memoir is:

I’m a Citizen of two worlds

I tag:

1. Cindy at Notes in the Key of Life
2. Big Mama
3. Mimi at Listen to Grammie
4. Carol at She Lives
5. Barb at A Chelsea Morning

Technorati Tags: Meme, God

End of an era - beginning of another

When we have children, we relish every moment of their growing years. But there comes a time when we realize they are growing up, becoming a woman or man of their own. Being a Mother, I certainly know how it feels to have your children grown and gone from home. Both of mine have children of their own. But, my daughter had a son to graduate from high school last year and is a freshman in college. Her only daughter graduates this year - only about one month away.

What is so sad is the fact it ends her career in soccer. She has played since a young child - on City League on a Co-Ed team to start with, playing with her older brother. Then, she later played on an all-girl team. When she got to JR High and High school, she began playing for her high school. She plays Varsity and has been the team captain for 2 years running. The coach said, on Senior night, that she had been the only girl chosen captain two years in a row. We are so proud of her, and really hate to see her soccer days coming to an end. They played their last home game last Thursday. They played an away game last night, and on Thursday night, she and two other seniors will wrap up their days as high school soccer players.

The Varsity girls and boys played in an Invitational Soccer Tournament last month in which both teams from their school won first place trophies. The picture here is of my granddaughter. She and one other girl were the only ones to score for the Varsity girls from their school in the entire tournament. We were so proud of her!

She has had a great time at soccer. She has also played Premier soccer ball for the last three years. But, right now, we are almost certain she will not continue to play in college. But, she will beginning another wonderful phase of her life, and we wish her well!

Technorati Tags: Soccer, High School, Graduation

Pet peeves

There are so many pet peeves - but there is one that just irritates me more than any other. That happens to be the anonymity that some use in order to attack others through email or comments on a blog.

If a person has a problem with something I write, it would give them more credibility if they emailed me with the name and a way to get in touch with them. Then we could discuss what they see as a problem. I have had numerous people email me to discuss certain things on my web site, but also more felt it was necessary to downgrade me through anonymity. I just received one email calling me a 'complete faggot' because they disagreed with my page on the Potter controversey.

I am wondering if this is a teenager or perhaps a disgruntled adult. I've had many adults tell me how good these books are and how they do not have anything wrong with them that they wouldn't let their children read. We all have our opinions on everything. What I wrote reflects how I would feel, but I also give lots of links to other sites that are more indepth with explanations. There are also those links to the pros and cons of the Potter books. Either way, if you want credibility in my sight, please give me your name and the ability to make a response. Otherwise, I just view this as juvenile and that doesn't mean I am passing this off as a child writing. Adults are sometimes juvenile in their approach with such things, as well.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Anonymity, Pet Peeves, Email, Comments

Chaste in a runaway society

In this fast society we live in, young people find it hard to abstain in their teenage years. The talk and actions of others pressure them. They want to be in the ‘in crowd’ and not made fun of. Sometimes they give into the pressure and do things that perhaps they would not do if they were more informed or perhaps had different friends.

We can’t be with the teenagers every minute of the day. But, we can give them lots of reasons to abstain from sexual activity until they are married. Promiscuity can bring on sexual-transmitted diseases, an early pregnancy and perhaps a low self-esteem. Teenagers think they are invincible when they are young and parents are viewed as too controlling. What they don’t understand is the fact that parents do not want their teenager in a situation that may leave him/her scared for life.

Parents need to start early encouraging teenagers to talk to them about any and every thing. If they grow up sharing their problems with parents, they will tend to share more of their activities, as they grow older. They are more apt to listen to parents who are willing to listen to them rather than listening to their peers. Teens are able to make wiser decisions when they have the true facts rather than misinformation they pick up from their peers. But parents do need to inform teenagers early rather than letting them learn wrong ideas from their peers who haven’t been well informed. My daughter has always talked to her children from a very early age. She’s let them know that she is willing to listen to them and to their friends. She keeps abreast of their activities, with whom they are keeping company, and, when she doesn’t know someone they know, she makes a point of finding out about that person. She wants to keep them free of problems that would hinder them from having a carefree teenage experience. So many teenagers have gotten into trouble at an early age, and it seems the ages of early pregnancy are getting earlier by the year!

I believe also that a child brought up in church – not just sent, but taken - has a better approach to life than a child who hasn’t been taught the Bible. A teenager who knows Christ as his/her personal Savior and studies the Word is equipped with the knowledge that Jesus is there for them. Also, they should have been taught that abstinence until marriage is what they should be striving for. Today’s teenagers are put into too many situations that can cause a wrong decision in a heated moment. And they need to be strong enough in their minds to handle the situation without giving into pressure.

Ephesians 6:11-13, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Picture from Allposters.com

As parents, we need to always live a good life in front of our children. Don’t do things you would not want repeated by them. You can’t be an effective parent when you try the ‘do as I say do, not as I do’ approach. You may find your child not listening and trouble may be brewing. A good solid marriage and conversation goes as long way when your child is watching.

Technorati Tags: Chaste, Teenagers, Promiscuity, Disease, Self-Esteem

Wake up, America, before it's too late!

Obama will make America a sitting duck for destruction if he wins the Presidency. People need to wake up and see what this man is all about before it is too late.

Technorati Tags: Obama, Defense, Space, Nuclear Weapons

Three strikes and you are out

When the baseball games start, everybody is out there in the stands cheering for their favorite team. With each ball thrown, we look for a home run or, at least, for the batter to get on the base. With each strike, our heart misses a beat, wondering if the next one will be a hit or miss. And, when that third strike comes, we know our batter had made an out! No turning back the clock – it’s over, done; he is out!

Obama has been playing the game of hit and miss for awhile. He calls it ‘change’. First, we find that he has been in a church for 20 years where his pastor has taught hatred toward whites, another form of racism or bigotry. He is for abortion, including late term abortions. 75% of Americans are against late term abortions. He feels that parents of young teenagers should not be told their child is having an abortion. In other words, parents, you have no right to making decisions that will impact your child for the rest of her life. Then, there is his statement in which he thinks a young girl would be ‘punished’ with a child, if she made a mistake – he spoke about his own girls here. A child is a ‘gift from God’ the last time I looked.

Then just a few days ago, Mr. Obama commented in unscripted remarks to a Pennsylvania audience that if when his daughters become teenagers, he does not want them to be “punished with a baby” if they make a mistake.

Punished with a baby? Is that any way to refer to the miracle of life, even under unfortunate circumstances?

In a 1996 questionnaire, Obama said he is for the absolute ban on Americans owning handguns. 75% of Americans believe the Second Amendment gives citizen the right to own firearms. And, to add insult in injury, last week, Obama said he was against law-abiding citizens ‘who pass a background check and complete any required classes’, from having a concealed-carry permit.

Mr. Obama’s extreme views on the Second Amendment and abortions, coupled with giving benefits and driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, and his opposition to surveillance of terrorist phone calls overseas, start to form a coherent portrait of a political radical with a pleasant smile and easy manner. The candidate who has said that evangelical leaders who speak out on issues like religious liberty and same-sex marriage, have “hijacked” Christianity, has provided us with an ample supply of social and national security issues to vet.

When we add to this picture his positions on economic issues, we get a firm grasp of what Mr. Obama is all about. It is the pattern that is disturbing and newsworthy.

Voters are being sold a bill of goods. It is far more than Mr. Obama not being a moderate. The more we discover about him, the more he goes from looking like a big-government, doctrinaire liberal, to being a radical on the fringe of the political spectrum.

I wonder when the media will start asking the correct questions and letting the public know exactly what this man believes and what his intentions really are, if he became President. Give the public the full picture in order for them to make an ‘informed decision’ rather than taking Obama at his Word. He himself says they are ‘just words’.

Linked at Conservative Cat
A Newt One
Pirate's Cove

Technorati Tags: Obama, Politics, Change, Abortion, Gun Ban, Racism, Just Words

We need more proofreaders – or grammar teachers, possibly

I just came from Third World County. David has a post entitled It’s the little things. He speaks about the lack of correct grammar in sentences and the problem with too many apostrophes. That has long been a sore spot of mine as well. I am known to proofread when I am visiting blogs or reading articles on the Internet. If you are like me, you aren’t surprised to find some very bad mistakes. I know we all make them sometimes, but there are journalists who should know better. If all else fails, put your article into a grammar checker and get it right!

When I first started working, I worked my way up to the advertising department of a jewelry company. I proofread ads daily for the local newspaper and it taught me sight-reading like you would not believe. I skim lots of pages and my eyes just seem to fall on mistakes. Oh, I have to add, if I make a mistake (accidentally hit a wrong key and do not see my mistake), I have friends who find it. So there are other proofreaders out there, for sure. I once read an article that said the most important thing to remember before publishing an article to your blog is to proofread it to make sure everything is correct. We sometimes overlook that and, in haste, publish a faulty post.

The one thing that students aren’t taught today is how to diagram a sentence. When they learn this correctly, other things fall into place. Once you learn, you never forget. It is like typing; once you learn where to put your fingers on the keys, it is just automatic to place them there. It is the same way with taking dictation, playing the piano, etc. These things never leave your mind. I say go back to the old ways of teaching; kids came out of high school knowing how to write a paper correctly and how to punctuate!

Technorati Tags: Grammar, Punctuation, Diagram, School

Grandchildren will make you do crazy things

Yesterday was a very rainy day. The weatherman said it would clear up and be nice by lunch time. Well, it did neither! It rained or misted rain all day long. But, we endured it to see two of our daughter's children play in an Invitational Soccer Tournament. I believe there were possibly 8 different Varsity teams playing. Our 14 year old grandson, an eighth grader, made starter on the Varsity team. He has played soccer since he was about 6 years of age.

The one in black is our grandson. He may be small, but he is loud! He will go up against the largest player and give them a run for their money! And, he is able to score against the best.



Our grand daughter is a senior and Captain of her team. She's been a Captain for the past two years. She has also played since she was about 6 years of age. She played on City League until she started playing Varsity. She has also played Premier Soccer for a traveling team for 3 years in the Fall. We are truly going to miss her playing next year because we don't think she will continue to play in college. She is the one in white about to kick the ball. She scored the winning point in the last game of the day. Both the boys and girls teams from their school took home first place trophies and medals. The day was well spent although it meant a bad hair day today! Yes, grandparents will do crazy things for their grandkids!

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Technorati Tags: Soccer, Varsity, First Place, Captain, Grandparents, Grandchildren

Charlton Heston dead at age 84

Charlton Heston, born Charles Carter, in 1923 in a Chicago suburb, changed his name when he went into films. His Mom and Dad had divorced and she remarried. He took on his mother's maiden name and his step-father's last name and became Charlton Heston. He died yesterday at the age of 84 at home with his wife. He had announced in 2002 that he was showing symptoms of Alzheimer's. He had always included his audience of fans in everything that happened in his life.

"America has lost a great patriot. The Second Amendment has lost a faithful friend," said Wayne LaPierre, of the National Rifle Association of America, in a statement. "So have I, and so have four million NRA members and eighty million gun owners. And so has every American who cares about the Bill of Rights, individual liberty, and Freedom.

Technorati Tags: Charlton Heston, Death, Actor, NRA

First grader suspended for sexual harassment

Give me a break! What child of six knows what sexual harassment is? This world has gone wild when it comes to the ‘No tolerance’ rule in our schools, especially with these little children.

Apparently, a child touching another because the other child had touched him (in playing – wouldn’t you expect this in this age group?) causes such a stir among the teachers of first graders now days. At least, it does in Brockton, Mass., where a six-year-old boy was suspended for three days from school. The child was afraid the police was coming to get him. He had no idea what he had done wrong. Why do we have to scare these little children with ‘adult’ worries? No doubt this child was doing nothing but touching this little girl back when she touched him. But the teacher took her word that ‘he touched my skin’ to mean he was sexually harassing her!

We need to get a grip! Children will be children until they grow into teenagers. They will be teenagers until they learn how to be adults. Some children never learn because we pressure them into growing up long before they are ready. They don’t understand the adults’ worries and concerns. I think adults worry too much about children and their way of playing. Heaven help this child if they ever engage in a game of ‘doctor and nurse’! He will be ushered into reform school until he is 18!

We are stealing our children’s innocent years by teaching them things for which they are not ready. Some assume children at this age should be told about sex, sexual harassment, etc. But, I assure you, unless you are doing things you shouldn’t be doing in front of your child (or others are), and they aren’t watching unsuitable programs on television, they don’t understand half of what they are being told. There is a time to teach children about sexual harassment, but hopefully, it is not at the age of six! Keep your hands to yourself should be a rule taught to these children. And, if they are continually touching others inappropriately (which I doubt this boy was), then you have a talk with him about minding – not remove him from his school room of first graders (his friends) and make a spectacle of him in front of those children!

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Children, Innocence, Sexual Harassment, First Graders

Having election wearies?

Has the impending election in November got you anguished? Are you stressed out because it is hard to believe what a candidate is saying because of past experiences, or the way the particular candidate has acted/talked in the past?

Maxine, over at Scraps of Glory, has a great article called “Our refuge in This Election”. There is only one person to whom we can turn for relief when we are anguished, stressed out, and think we have no answers for our problems. There is always someone who is listening to our hearts, knows us better than anyone. He has the answer to all life’s problems, although the answer He provides may not be the answer we were anticipating. But, He is never wrong in his assessment of our needs. His name is Jesus.

All PostersPsalms 62:7-8, "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

The Church of Oprah Exposed

People need to wake up! New Age is creeping more and more into the lives of people without them even realizing it. This teaching is far from what scripture teaches. She says 'God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience'. She is saying that there are other ways to heaven other than God. That is not what scripture says.

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Linked at Conservative Cat
Stuck on Stupid
Technorati Tags: New Age, Oprah, God, Church, Salvation

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Whose fool are you?

As the years pass, April 1st, considered April Fool’s Day by most, has become just another day for me. I am not a person of jokes, especially those for fools. They once were funny, but they have just lost their appeal to me.

Here is The American Heritage Dictionary’s top three definitions of a fool:

1. One who is regarded as deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding.
2. One who acts unwisely on a given occasion.
3. One who has been tricked or made to appear ridiculous; a dupe.

Today, Fox News reported that Google had a problem with their search engine. They are reporting a bug someone has slipped in there to cause someone to be sent to a ‘rogue’ place and then their own computer is then hacked. So they are saying to keep your security software on your computers updated. This we do every day by letting it update automatically. Popups occur nearly every day. I sent the information to my son who replied: “Do you think it might be an April Fool’s joke?”

A very close friend of mine sent her son, who loves to play jokes, the following announcement (remember Sarah in the Old Testament?) :

“Setting a new Guiness record
Your Mom, at 67, is old
And you thought I was going to say pregnant
But OLD it is not; Pregnant it is; your baby sister will arrive in 9 months, more or less”

To which her son responded (you would just have to know this kid to appreciate his quip!) “Funny coincidence. I was just about to tell you I was pregnant too.”

But, the best answer for a fool’s joke is something I received in an email this morning. It goes as follows:

I love a quote I heard the first time years ago.. A youth was accused of being a fanatic about his faith and of making a fool of himself. He replied, "So..I'm a fool for God. Whose fool are YOU??"

April 1st has been considered April Fool’s Day for a long time, and it probably won’t go away. And, it’s origin is skeptical, at best. Many will play jokes on others all through the day today. Hopefully, none will be harsh enough to cause problems.

So, to those reading, I ask the question: “Whose fool are you?” I, like the youth, prefer to appear as a fool for Christ. He is not into trickery or joking. He was absolutely serious when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one cometh to the Father but through me.”

Linked at Planck's Constant

Third World County
Church and State

Technorati Tags: April Fools Day, Jokes, Christ,

Minorites need our sympathy

I just received this email talking about the minorities and wanted to share it with everyone. I thought it was very appropriate for the nation today!

MAXINE SAYS THIS ABOUT MINORITIES:

We need to show more sympathy for these people. They travel miles in the heat. They risk their lives crossing a border. They don't get paid enough wages. They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do. They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language. They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day, every day. I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans; I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR TROOPS!

Doesn't it seem strange that many Democrats and Republicans are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegal's, but don't support our troops and their families with sufficient healthcare, rehabilitation facilities, retraining and education when they return.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Sympathy, Maxine, Minorities, Troops

Protecting the innocent

I received an email today from a visitor to my web site. The person had gone to my April page of facts and clicked on the April Fool's link I had there. Low and behold, the link now went to a porn site! They quickly closed the page and alerted me.

I have recently installed a great program on my laptop that keeps porn and other sites with questionable material out of the sight of the young, or anyone who happens to be using my laptop. So, when I clicked on that questionable page from my laptop, a page from Blue Coat's K9 Web Protection popped up, letting me know that the page was unavailable. Although it can be set to be viewed through the program, it has to be done by the administrator and a password. So, there is no way anyone accessing my computer can get to questionable places.

The questionable link was quickly fixed the moment I read the email. So, it is safe to view the link put in it's place. Also, the K9 Web Protection is a free service. I am sure there may be better ones out there, but, for now, this is good enough for me. It works! You can set your own preferences for each site that may pop up as questionable when you first go to them. The two that popped us for us was MySpace and YouTube which we go to frequently. But, these are not considered porn, but parents of young children may not want them to be able to view them.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Woman Honor Thyself
Stuck on Stupid

Technorati Tags: Internet, Protection, Innocent, K9 Web Protection

An untimely death

Teenagers are hit with so many things today, one being their sense of appeal. Young girls see the fashion models, commercials, etc., that seem to say 'if you do not look a certain way, then you aren't looking as good as you should'. They are encouraged by these things to have breast augmentation, liposuction, among other procedures, to make their bodies more appealing. And, sometimes these procedures have unnecessary endings.

18 year old senior and high school captain of the Cheerleaders, Stephanie Kuleba, died from what they think was a genetic reaction to general anesthesia. She was undergoing the surgery at a Boca Raton outpatient surgery unit. She had to be rushed to Delray Medical Center when something went wrong.

About an hour and 45 minutes after Kuleba went into the surgical suite, Dr. Steven Schuster came out to tell her mother that there had been an emergency and paramedics had been called to take the girl to nearby Delray Medical Center.

An intravenous muscle relaxant known as Dantrolene sodium (brand name Dantrium) is typically administered in the event of malignant hyperthermia, as it's the only effective treatment for the reaction. But the drug wasn't given to Kuleba at the outpatient center — only later, when she was at the hospital.

Our children are too precious to be pressured to look better than they do as teenagers. We, as parents, should not give into the 'look better' attitude that is going around. We need to make teenagers feel good in their own skin. There is plenty of time in life to make physical adjustments if they are actually wanted or warranted as they grow older. Life can be cut short just as this young teenager's life was just to make the body more acceptable or beautiful.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Adam's Blog

Technorati Tags: Death, Teenagers, Florida, Boca Raton

The day after Easter

Hopefully, everyone had a blessed Easter and enjoyed the Sunday service at church. We also had family, including my 91 year old Mother for lunch yesterday. We ate too much and had some great fellowship!

The day after Easter just seems like another day to us. We got through the holiday, and now we are back to 'the real world' of work and school. But, I read something yesterday that made sense. The article said every day should be Easter to us. That statement is different than saying 'every day should be Christmas'. We celebrate Jesus birth on Christmas. And, we should remember he came to earth to make a difference. But, on Easter, we celebrate his resurrection. He died, was buried, arose, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. And, He said, that when he left, he would send another comforter to us, which is the Holy Spirit. But, Jesus died for us that we might live for him, and some day be with him again eternally.

Too often, we do 'holidays'; in other words, we go to church in our Sunday best, and sit through the sermon and then go home. We don't prepare ourselves for the spiritual aspects of the day and the after affect it will have on our every day lives.

Lots of people only show up for church on Easter and Christmas. I often wonder what God is thinking when He sees those that seem to be only interested in Him on those two holidays. Does He think that perhaps they are only coming to be seen in their new Easter attire? Or, perhaps those two holidays are the only time they feel guilty for not recognizing Him other days of the year? I don't know the answer, since I've always gone to church. Scripture tells us not to forsake the assembling together (Hebrews 10:25). So how do these people justify what they are doing with what the Word says?

Linked at Conservative Cat
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Easter, Holiday, Christmas, God, Church, Resurrection

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day. It also happens to be my Mother's 91st birthday. We celebrated that yesterday by taking her out to eat at a nice restaurant. Her children and most all her grandchildren were there. We really enjoyed the afternoon.

To read about Patrick's life, check out the St.Patrick's Day page on my personal web site. He was born in Britain, but captured by pirates from his wealthy, Christian father, and taken to Ireland and raised as a slave for 6 years. This set the stage for the rest of his life - converting the Irish to Christianity after his experience there.

St. Patrick's Day is considered a religious day in Ireland where they attend religious services. But, in America, it is mostly a secular holiday where people wear green clothing. Parties and parades are held. New York City holds the largest parade here.

AN IRISH BLESSING

May your neighbor respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.
Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: St. Patrick's Day, Holiday, Irish, Ireland

Death comes calling

Scripture says in Ecclesiastes 3:2 that there is “a time to be born, and a time to die.” So, each of us comes into this world leaving. We don’t know when nor where it will happen. We are just encouraged to live for the Lord, endure in this life, and one day we will go home to meet the Lord.

This past week has been one of home-going for several people we know. First, it was a cousin of my Mother’s. He left us at the age of 86. Then came my Daddy’s niece who was also 86. Both of these had lived a long and full life. One had cancer for many years and the other had gotten to the point she was only here, didn’t know anyone. But, still her sister told me tonight that she would be missed because ‘although she wasn’t herself, she was with us’.

And, last night we learned of my husband’s niece dying in the nursing home where she had been the last 6 years after a tragic accident that left her paralyzed and unable to speak. But, she had her right mind and knew you, just unable to communicate except with her eyes and moving her head for yes or no. And, what hurt is the fact she was the young age of 60. At the age of 54 her expected life came to a halt. She had been the manager of the local branch bank in her hometown. But, that faithful day, she and a friend had gone out to lunch. They had started across the highway to the cleaners and were hit broadside by a drunk driver that ran a red light. Life went on for 6 years, but not in the expected way. That day will never leave my mind, considering it was on my granddaughter’s 12th birthday. Bill’s niece died exactly 1 day after the 6th anniversary of that accident.

Death will come to each of us sooner or later. But, we are encouraged to live our lives as though today would be our last. Always be ready to face God regardless of the day or time. Live for him fully, place your trust in Him and His promises to us. He will never leave nor forsake us. No matter what we got through in our lives, He is to help us overcome. And, when death comes calling, He is ready to give us comfort and the peace that passes all understanding.

Technorati Tags: Death, Scripture, God

The Cactus Cuties Singing National Anthem

A friend sent this video to me of the young girls singing. It amazes me the voices they have and they are so young. I believe patriotism is still alive in America!



Technorati Tags: National Anthem, Cactus Cuties

Apologize - ALONE!

I am with Neil Cavuto on this one! When a person gets in trouble, they usually do it alone. This is what happened with some recent politicians. Yet, when they are caught, they go before the microphones with wife in hand, for ‘support’. To me, it’s only humiliation in the highest form!

The wife and family are the ones that need support for what they have already been put through. But, these men seem to be so needy they bring their wives to stand with them on the podium. I could see the humiliation written all over New York Governor Spitzer’s wife today as he announced his recognition. What wife would not be humiliated when she finds out her husband has been using prostitutes! I, for one, would not be a wife standing on stage were my husband to be found using prostitutes! He would have to bear the burden by himself; after all, he got himself into the mess!

Going back to the last few men who have been caught at something, whether it was the prostitution rings or the homosexual scandals, they have brought their wives out for support. When I see a woman standing on stage, I wonder if she’s there for his support or for her children. Today, Governor Spitzer’s wife looked as though she wanted to be every where but with him. But she was made to endure his long speech of how sorry he was – probably sorry he had been caught. But, pictures sometimes speak louder than words. And, then, the footage showing them arriving back at their apartment only 15 minutes later, she jumped out of the SUV and made it for the door very hastily. That is not the way of a loving wife – one that actually supports her husband. Or, it is not my way!

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Governor Spitzer, Resignation, Apology

We got snow

The weathermen kept preparing us for snow, or perhaps a dusting during the night. We never say they don't know what they are talking about, considering they have been right a few times. So, I really went to bed hoping we'd have a decent snow for the weekend.

Well, at 6:30, I woke up, looked out the window, and, sure enough, the ground was covered and the trees were white. But, that is about the extent of it. Right now, at 9:45, looking at our yard, you would never know we had snow if it wasn't still on the swing and up in the woods under the trees.

My husband put out bird seed this morning while he was out taking pictures of the snow. Seems the birds loved the snow! They were out in droves. We have had blue jays, robins, and wood peckers galore, along with a number of other species of birds. I looked out in the front yard awhile ago, and there were three northern yellow-shafted flickers and three blue jays pecking at the ground, probably eating the acorns from the trees. We usually don't see that many together around here.

This snow was nothing to compare with our snow storm of 1993. I had come home that day from Nashville where my husband had been transferred. I was coming to my granddaughter's third birthday party. My daughter was trying to discourage me because of the snow that was to come. We never have enough snow to paralyze us, so I came home anyway, even though I drove through a blizzard to within seven miles of our home. Within one hour, everything was white. The electricity went out around 7PM and came back on within 22 hours. But, I was snowed in at my house here for 6 days. Our state just is not prepared for a big snowstorm because it happens so rarely. They put sand on the main bridges around the towns, but never come out to these small side roads. Thank goodness, I had a way of keeping warm the first day and plenty of food to eat for the week ahead. It was quite an experience.

And, I might add - it also happened in March, in fact on Friday, March 12th. So, who knows; we might have a snow storm yet!

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Snow, Weather, Cold

Frustrated but not giving up

This has been a trying week. If you've been around my blog very much, you know I never leave off posting for this long a time without a reason. Sometimes it is just that I have absolutely nothing to post about. But, it was not like that this time.

We have had bad internet connections problems these past few weeks. Started off with what we thought was a small problem. The serviceman came out, checked it out and said we had a bad underground cable (it has been laid when we built our house over 30 years ago) and a bad modem (the modem is fine! - but he gave us a new one). Well, he laid a temporary line across our driveway and we got the fast access DSL we should have been getting for a long time! But he kept insisting that we should not be getting DSL given the distance we are from the hub.

Well, that lasted for awhile - last Thursday, and all of a sudden, out of the blue, we lost our entire service except the ability to send out email. That is - until Friday morning and it was gone completely! The serviceman came out again, and again, out of his mouth came 'you shouldn't even have this service'. By that time, we were really getting mad. He checked out at the box and left us Friday morning with no service! He told my husband he would be back Monday morning and he would send out a crew to cut line out of a line that had excess. Well, he never called on Monday morning and my husband finally called him. He said, "I have no work order to come out.' We were under the impression he was coming out on the same one he came out on Friday since he did absolutely nothing to get us back online. Well, my husband called service again - he came out this morning with a new modem - and left AGAIN with us having absolutely no service! He said, as he came in our house, 'Well, you shouldn't be on DSL anyway'. DUH! And, as he left, he told my husband that he was cutting us off from DSL and my husband said let me work on it for awhile. So he left saying, well, it's in your hands now. We had already decided he was too lazy to follow up on the hub and see what our problem really was.

Well,we played around with it and couldn't get the modem to synch. So, he redid the wire outside and got us on about lunch, but it lasted until I got my email half downloaded and went down again. So he got the idea to get the wire out the crew left when they put in the new cable (the wire the serviceman laid) - and he re-attached it to the pole and to the phone box. Well, that's the only reason we are on right now! I think my husband needs a job with the telephone company! If it wasn't for him - NOT their 'experienced' serviceman, we would still be offline.

Right now, he's trying to find out what supervisor he needs to go see. He's going to complain and try to get them back out here, redo the wire underground (he thinks they damaged the cable when they put it underground) and get us back on the FAST DSL, not the lite. It aggravates me to no end that one guy can determine whether we have fast or slow DSL, simply because they give a certain number of feet to be able to get DSL. Well, time should tell that we've had it 4 years this month, and we've had fast DSL. It doesn't take a smart man to realize it doesn't turn off overnight, unless something is wrong! And, besides, if it wasn't for the phone company telling us we were eligible, we would never have had it in the first place!

Techorati Tags: DSL, Fast Access, Phone

And If I Die - Book Review

And If I Die
The Black and White Chronicles Book Three
Author: John Aubrey Anderson
Publisher: Faith Words

In the year of 1968, the story finds Mose Mann (Washington) and his ‘grandson’, Bill Mann, hiding out in Pilot Hill, Texas. They live only 15 miles from Missy Parker, his ‘almost daughter’, and her husband. Only a handful of people know where Mose and Bill have gone.

Bill has yet to decide he needs God in his life. And, he has taken up a very dangerous sport, bull riding in the rodeo. He also has taken to driving his car very fast. Nothing seems to bother this young man. His ‘grandfather’ has spent his last years trying to bring up Bill in the way his Mother would have had him do, since she left him in the care of Mose the night she was killed. Bill thinks God is not the God he wants to know because he let his Mother die. He doesn’t realize that angels are watching out for him and the prayers of the people who care are the main reason this young man is still alive.

Two times in his life, A. J. Mason was told to ‘be ready’ by a spirit voice. The first was in 1945 and the second time was in 1960 when he saved the life of Missy Parker. The forces of evil seem to be after Missy Parker to end her life. And, up until 1968, Missy had escaped from being drawn into the their line of fire.

Bill Mann, while waiting to go into the service, chose to take up bull riding. This would prove to be a very dangerous hobby. And, it would almost end his life. But, again, angels were watching after him. And, all his friends were praying.

Missy Parker hears that voice of the spirit telling her to ‘be ready’. She doesn’t understand why God would single her out to be the one. But, she and her husband armed themselves with guns around their home and on their person. She was going to be ready for whatever came her way. And, knowing that she was going to protect Mose and his ‘grandson’ Bill, she took that warning very seriously.

Death plays a big part in this book along with warfare against the evils that came their way. As I read the last chapter, I was already wishing there were a sequel to these books! These have been some of the best books I have ever read. If you like fiction touching on Christianity and warfare, you will enjoy these three books.

Technorati Tags: Book Review, And If I Die, John Aubrey Anderson