History Photo

See how many faces you recognize from history! (click to enlarge)

If Cars were like Computers!

According to Snopes this is not true, but it's still funny & I thought I'd share it with you! ~D

At a recent computer exposition, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: "If General Motors had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, GM issued a press release stating: "If General Motors had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason, you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "General Protection Fault" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

1930s Wife -- Take the Test!

97 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

This was hilarious! I thought I'd fail because of putting my cold feet on Andrew's, but alas, I did okay!!! HA!

Ministry Appreciation Month!

Did you know?
- Those in ministry and their families often deal with loneliness, criticism, and financial burdens. They also live with the stress of trying to please the God who called them to ministry while meeting the expectations of their congregations.

- Christianity Today shared that 17% of pastors are experiencing burn out and another 40% are headed for burnout.

- Time magazine reported that 80% of pastors' wives feel unaccepted or unappreciated by their husband's congregation.

- According to Focus on the Family, 4 out of 5 pastors feel their families are negatively impacted by unrealistic expectations.

~~
Since I have three brother-in-laws who are pastors, this issue is close to my heart. You don't have to spend a whole lot of money on your minister -- just let him know that you appreciate him and his work. Pray for him and let him know that you're praying for him. And maybe send him a card to encourage him and his wife! Click here for free ministry appreciate e-cards that you can send.

Something to Ponder...

John Wesley's Holy Club Questions

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley's Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

My Paper Route

I have a paper route. No it's not my kids' route. It's mine! Why? Well, here's the story...I love walking for exercise but like a lot of people, I was finding it difficult to get out there and actually walk. Life has a way of getting in the way of whatever you want to do...especially exercise...then I saw an ad looking for a paper delivery person -- and the route was the route that I usually take when I walk! So, after consulting with my hubby, I called the number and went in to meet the woman who later became my rep! That was over 7 years ago!! LOL It's been a fun job -- most times anyway. I've met my neighbours and gotten to know quite a few of them. Most of them are nice, happy people and there are alot who are sad, lonely and some who are downright miserable. I've met them too. There are some who think that they are better than I am because I'm just a lowly paper carrier! And their attitudes are very evident! HA! I think I'm pretty smart -- I mean, I get paid to WALK!

The worst part of the job? Delivering in the lousy weather. Lousy weather to me is icy weather. Trudging through the snow isn't easy either, but it's great exercise and I remind myself of that. Really hot weather isn't easy either -- on some streets there aren't very many spots of shade and that makes it difficult. The other negative aspects of the job is that I need to deliver my papers when they need to be delivered -- however, it forces me to take my walk so that's good! Sometimes it's inconvenient to deliver them -- when we've got other plans or finding a replacement during holiday time. But most times it works out.

I have fallen as least once per year while delivering papers! The worst time was when I broke into a jog and slipped on some wet leaves. I was bruised all along my leg for a few weeks! Then I've slipped on ice and I've tripped in the summer too! It always feels like everyone is watching when I go down -- and sometimes I am being watched! Once while I was talking to the mailman I slid down. Embarrassing!

I've had people stop their cars beside me to chat -- sometimes scaring the daylights out of me because I'm deep into my thinking or praying! Once our mail truck slowed down beside me to let me know how fast I was walking (he clocked me on his odometer!).

The best part of the job? Getting to know the people on my route. I have made some good friends from this job -- I have had some good chats with some neighbours and I always get waves when I'm walking down the street! It's funny but now I wave to everyone who passes by because I've been told various times that "I waved at you, but you didn't wave back!" Oops!

Sometimes getting to know people so well has it's drawbacks -- like this past spring when a single man on my route passed away unexpectedly. He died while on vacation. It really hit me hard. It's not that I was great friends with this man, it was just that we spoke to each other on a regular basis and he had become a part of my life. And then he was gone. A few times after he died I accidently delivered papers to his empty house! Routine is sometimes hard to break.

Last winter I got my first Christmas gift from one of my customers! That was a nice surprise. They gave me a nice card along with some chocolates (that turned out to be gluten-free -- yah! they didn't know that I can't eat gluten) and a Tim Horton's gift card! They didn't know that I love gifts, but this one was really appreciated!

Once I had a customer come out and give me mittens to wear -- I usually don't bother with mittens because it's awkward to grab the papers with mittens, plus when I walk I warm up so much that I'm sweating by the time that I'm done. But the gesture was very thoughtful.

There are certain times that I've learned I shouldn't deliver my papers -- like around the late morning on Saturdays. Why? Because it will end up taking me hours (instead of 1 hour) to deliver them -- because of all of the people that will come & chat with me!! Of course I like chatting, but I also like to get the papers delivered so I can get on with my other activities!

My pedometer gets a good workout when I deliver my papers. I get around 7,000 aerobic steps each time! (I aim for at least 10,000 steps per day, so on paper day it's very easy to get my steps in.) My route is about 4 km long.

Lately I've been an in-style walker -- my kids bought me an MP3 player for Mother's Day! So now I get to listen to some great music while I walk along. Don't worry -- I still stop to chat with the people -- they wouldn't let me get by without that!

Want to get paid for exercising? Sign up for a paper route! The other benefits? Get to know your neighbours, get a tan, get some thinking/praying time -- share your love of God with your neighbours! And you get to keep the extra samples or coupons that come with your papers! I'm still using up the 75cents off per loaf of bread coupons that we got a while back!! Whoo-hoo! ~ D



I'm taking a blog break for the month of August! Stay tuned for more book reviews (I hope!) come September!

Shenandoah Series by Michael Phillips

Last summer I participated in a book reading program at our local library in which you read books during the summer and review them for the library and win prizes. It was fun because I love reading, but also because I won a free book. BUT, our library doesn't have the program this year so I thought I'd review the books that I've read here, on my blog instead.

The series that I just finished is written by Michael Phillips and is called The Shenandoah Series. There are four books in this series and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed all four of them. In fact, they kept me wanting to read more and I was tense when I finished a book and had to wait for the library to get the next book for me!

The story is set in the 1800s in the Southern United States, just after Lincoln pronounced the Emancipation Proclamation, making the black slaves free. This story has a unique twist in that it is about two unlikely friends -- both around the same age, both orphaned by marauders who went around killing families -- one friend is black, the other is white. Now this may not seem unlikely to you (it wasn't to me) -- the fact that a white would/could be friends with a black person -- but in those days, in that time (and perhaps still now, I sure hope not though), blacks were not seen as persons and it was not accepted that whites would have anything to do with blacks. I cannot fathom that myself, having grown up in a basically multicultural society and having black friends myself. But I have heard that in the Southern States, even now, this sort of racism exists.

Anyway, without giving the story away, I would highly recommend this series. I did find that the first few chapters of the first book (Angels Watching Over Me) went slowly and I got frustrated at the author. But once I made it through those chapters, I was hooked! Let me know what you think!


Here are some excerpts that stuck with me:

That's the trouble with people of all colors -- they judge folks by what they see, which is usually only on the outside. But it's what's inside that counts. That's what makes a person who he or she really is. And sometimes it takes a little work to dig down inside and see what someone's made of, what kind of stuff their character has in it. That's just about one of the most important things in life -- learning how to do that, learning how to find out what people are made of.

...right then the words I'm sorry were too hard for me to say. They ought to be such easy words for people to say to each other, but for some reason they're not. People seem to choke on the two words that would make the world such a kindlier and happier place.

That's the way life is -- you learn thing slowly, especially things about yourself. Sometimes it takes a lot of years before some of the best things in life sink in. If you're trying to get rid of it, self-centeredness seems to gradually fall off you through the years. It's probably not because it gets easier when you get older, but that it gets easier because you've been practicing so long at it.

I think what might make forgiveness so hard for some folks is that they expect other people to be perfect. They especially never want anyone to do or say anything that might hurt them. But when it comes to looking inside themselves, they don't expect their own actions and words and attitudes to be perfect. And they make all kinds of excuses for themselves when they aren't. At least that's the conclusion I've come to from trying to figure myself out. I can be so cantankerously mean-tempered when I'm looking at somebody else, and so sweet and forgiving and understanding when looking at myself. Doesn't make much sense, does it? It seems like we'd want to treat everyone else the same as we do ourselves.

Growth is one of those things you can't see up close. You have to stand back to see how something or someone has changed as time has passed. ...What an amazing thing it was. God had been so good to us!

Yah PIZZA PIZZA!

This is my pizza that I had recently! Yummy! Below is a copy of the email that I received from Pizza Pizza:

Dear Pizza Pizza Customer:

You had expressed an interest in our Gluten-Free pizza crust, and I'm pleased to announce that we now offer Gluten-Free crust chain-wide in all of our traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants.

Before fully launching, we initially tested this product, and the results of our tests allowed us to further refine our processes before going chain-wide.

I've attached below the press release that was recently issued that provides a little more information.

We appreciate and thank you for your past patronage, and hope to serve you again in the future.

Best regards,
Andrew Martin
Customer Care Specialist

Hot & Fresh Off the Press

Gluten-free pizza makes its debut in Pizza Pizza traditional restaurants

Responding to the dietary needs and trends expressed by consumers, Pizza Pizza will now offer gluten-free pizza at all of its traditional restaurants. The wide-scale introduction of gluten-free pizza by Pizza Pizza follows the favorable results of a recent pilot test of the product in select GTA restaurants.

“The pilot results exceeded our expectations,” said Pizza Pizza’s Chief Marketing Officer, Pat Finelli. “One of our objectives in offering this menu option is to provide a dietary alternative for people that are unable to eat gluten products. The reaction we received from market testing was extremely positive, especially from those with celiac disease. Consumers that had been unable to enjoy pizza were thanking us for introducing this new menu offering and allowing them to enjoy pizza once again.”

Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, affects an estimated 1 in 133 Canadians, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Celiac Association. It is an inherited immune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, a protein found in such grains as wheat, barley and rye. The only therapy for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.

Pizza Pizza is the first major player in the quick-service restaurant industry to provide a gluten-free crust, which uses rice and potato-based flour as the main ingredient. By choosing the light and crispy rice-based dough – along with toppings from our gluten-free list – consumers can enjoy a delicious gluten-free meal made especially for them. Currently, Pizza Pizza’s gluten-free crusts are available in the 12-inch medium format, the company’s most popular pizza size.

In making the gluten-free crust, Pizza Pizza has implemented a series of procedures and controls to prevent product cross-contamination. Mr. Brian S. Payne, Director, Commissary and Supply Chain Management for Pizza Pizza, says it is no different than handling any other allergen. In addition to having specific utensils for the product, the company has sent all franchisees an updated training guide containing new product information, educational material about celiac disease, as well as cooking and sanitizing procedures.

The gluten-free crust is another in a series of health-conscious innovations by Pizza Pizza. In recent years, the cutting-edge company has introduced whole-wheat multigrain dough, a source of Omega 3’s and fiber, partly skimmed mozzarella cheese and sodium-reduced sauces and cheese to its menu offerings. Pizza Pizza was one of the first in the industry to remove industrially-added trans-fats from its entire menu.

“The introduction of this new gluten-free menu offering is a natural extension of our initiatives in striving to provide our customers with a variety of healthy options that respond to their individual needs,” said Finelli. “We know that a significant segment of the population is gluten sensitive or intolerant, and offering this new menu option is a way of bringing pizza back into their lives and routine.”

For a complete list of allergens and menu options at Pizza Pizza, please visit www.pizzapizza.ca.

Signs of Spring

take a trip through our "signs of spring" with me!
the view from my kitchen window has become greener and the thermometer has been showing higher temps

my begonia is growing away -- it will be put outside to grow all summer

once the threat of frost is gone

my raspberry plants are growing

my herbs are sprouting yet again!

we're taking more "rubber boot" walks

(these are my friend, Susanne's, three boys

-- I "borrow" them once in a while!)the deer are coming closer again

"mr. & mrs. mallard" are visiting for another year!

(and eggs are hatching -- maybe a baby duck?)

our chickens are enjoying roaming around our yard again

my vinca is blooming!

my rhubarb is growing and we've been enjoying rhubarb cobbler and muffins...
(okay, my family has been enjoying them -- they're not gluten-free so I haven't had any...but I do enjoy making them!)

everything is blooming!

including the weeds...

and the best of all?

clean laundry drying outside on the clothesline!
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR SPRING!

I AM

This song has really touched me lately -- I've been going through a bit of a tough time and a friend pointed this song out to me. I've owned the CD for a while but it hasn't been until now that this song has hit me. It's so comforting that, when life doesn't seem to make any sense, God has our times in His hands and HE KNOWS!

I dedicate this to my friend, K. I miss you already. ((( hugs ))) ~ D

I Believe!

One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite artists! With spring all around us and a long winter finally over, how CAN we say there is no God?! Enjoy! ~ D

Donuts

I received this in an email the other day and thought that it was worth posting. Good thinking stuff!

"DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK"

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christi anson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten. "

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

I Will Bow to You

This is one of my favourite songs! Enjoy! It's sung by Bob Fitts.

Hallelujah!

Here's something special for you! Enjoy -- and MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christ is born!

The Lord is My Shepherd

This is so sweet -- from the mouths of babes! How sweet to hear scripture from children's mouths -- recently I've heard so many young children taking God's name in vain. It really saddens me. But this is refreshing -- enjoy!

For Moms!

If you haven't heard this song, you HAVE to hear it!

Click for more on Anita
Anita Renfroe: Mom's William Tell Overture...what a mother says in a 24 hour period!
All the details on Anita & her career in one place!
Anita's Website
Read about Anita on her own website.
*VIDEO CLIP~~Good Morning America Oct 3 INTERVIEW
The anchors at Good Morning America have fun when Anita Renfroe appears on the show to tell how her Mom Video has affected her life and her career

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Here are the lyrics:

Get up now

Get up now

Get up out of bed

Wash your face

Brush your teeth

Comb your sleepy head

Here's your clothes

And your shoes

Hear the words I said

Get up now

Get up and make your bed

Are you hot?

Are you cold?

Are you wearing that?

Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?

Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat

Don't forget you got to feed the cat

Eat your breakfast

The experts tell us it's the most important meal of all

Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall

Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?

Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon
So you must play

Don't shovel

Chew slowly

But hurry

The bus is here

Be careful

Come back here

Did you wash behind your ears?

Play outside

Don't play rough

Would you just play fair?

Be polite

Make a friend

Don't forget to share

Work it out

Wait your turn

Never take a dare

Get along

Don't make me come down there

Clean your room

Fold your clothes

Put your stuff away

Make your bed

Do it now

Do we have all day?

Were you born in a barn?

Would you like some hay

Can you even hear a word I say?

Answer the phone

Get Off the phone

Don't sit so close

Turn it down

No texting at the table

No more computer time tonight

Your iPod's my iPod if you don't listen up

Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you're coming home?

Saying thank you, please, excuse me

Makes you welcome everywhere you roam

You'll appreciate my wisdom

Someday when you're older and you're grown

Can't wait 'til you have a couple little children of your own

You'll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly

But right now

I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me

Close your mouth when you chew

Would appreciate

Take a bite

Maybe two

Of the stuff you hate

Use your fork

Do not you burp

Or I'll set you straight

Eat the food I put upon your plate

Get an egg A, Get the door

Don't get smart with me

Get a Grip

Get in here I'll count to 3

Get a job

Get a life

Get a PhD

Get a dose of reality

I don't care who started it

You're grounded until your 36

Get your story straight

And tell the truth for once for heaven's sake

And if all your friends jumped off a cliff

Would you jump too?

If I've said it once, I've said at least a thousand times before that

You're too old to act this way

It must be your father's DNA

Look at me when I am talking

Stand up straight when you walk

A place for everything

And everything must be in place

Stop crying or I'll give you something real to cry about

Oh!

Brush your teeth

Wash your face

Get your PJs on

Get in bed

Get a hug

Say a prayer with Mom

Don't forget

I love you**KISS**

And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom's work never ends

You don't need the reason why

Because

Because

Because

Because

I said so

I said so

I said so

I said so

I'm the Mom

The mom

The mom

The mom

The mom

Ta-da

.

Paul Harvey and Prayer

I received this via email and thought I'd share it here instead of forwarding it on. I'm not American, but we have the same problems here. Yes, God help us. ~ D

Paul Harvey says:
I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for
singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I
didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his
Theory of Evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered
because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.
So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the
entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and
asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans
going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on
Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian
churches outnumber all others... better than 200-to-1. So what would you
expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome.

But what about the atheists?
Is another argument.
What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized.
We're not going to pass the collection plate.
Just humor us for 30 seconds.
If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or
a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom.
Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell
thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a
football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our
courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught
us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and
their lawyers are telling us to cease
praying.

God, help us.

And if that last sentence offends you, well... just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we let that one
or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't
care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It's time we tell
them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of
allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that
honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right . But by
golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting
back.

and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all... especially those who denounce Him, God bless
America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of
all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to
protect our right to pray and worship God.

2007 will be the year the silent majority is heard and
we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions...
and our Military come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.

"AND THAT'S THE REST OF THE STORY"

Keeper of the Home

I used to have this poem hanging in my kitchen and, when I did some spring (summer!) cleaning a few weeks ago, I found it stored in a box. It's a good reminder of the important job of being a 'keeper of the home'. Enjoy! ~ D

Beautitudes for Homemakers

Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labour of love;

for her willing hands and happy heart transform duty

into joyous service

to all her family and to God.

Blessed is she who opens the door

to welcome both stranger

and well-loved friend;

for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends stockings

and toys and broken hearts;

for her understanding is a balm

to her husband and children.

Blessed is she who scours and scrubs;

for well she knows that cleanliness

is one expression of godliness.

Blessed is she whom children love;

for the love of a child is of greater value

than fortune or fame.

Blessed is she who sings at her work;

for music lightens the heaviest load

and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear

and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion;

for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal;

for her cheerfulness is an aid

to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who introduces Jesus Christ to her children;

for godly sons and daughters shall be her reward.

Blessed is she who preserves the sacredness of the Christian home;

for hers is a divine trust that crowns her with dignity.

"Little bit" of sin?

Here's a devotional that a Christian sister sent to me -- wow, what a good reminder! I need to go do some pruning -- how about you? ~D

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

Source: A Lamp For My Feet

Scripture: Matthew 5:29

You Can't Keep Both Eyes
A young man was delivered from a life of self-destruction in the form of drug abuse. He turned from his old ways, but of course was pursued by the enemy and tempted back. It was clear to him that he could not afford to be lenient with himself in allowing the least indulgence in the old habit. One day he said to his pastor, "Don't ever allow me to use the word 'struggle.' Every time I use it I am excusing disobedience, I am really preferring to 'struggle' rather than to quit."

Jesus made this necessity sharply clear when He said, "If it is your eye that is your undoing, tear it out and fling it away; it is better to enter into life with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell" (Mt 5:29).

To struggle--that is, to allow a "little bit" of sin, to be cautious with ourselves, tolerant of a certain amount of plain disobedience, is to try to keep both eyes.

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The End of a Generation

Mabel's 105th birthday, 2006

Last night my mom called to tell me that my great-aunt had passed away. It felt strange to hear -- as if it was just a formality. I mean, Aunt Mabel was 106! We'd known that death was imminent for years. She wasn't sick -- hardly ever was. Just the fact that her body was old and weary. But she kept living. Many, many times she asked us why the Lord wasn't taking her. It became a joke -- how do you answer that question? Why is it that some die young and some live on and on, even when they'd rather be gone? Our world would tell us that it's because they ate well, or didn't smoke or drink, or some other thing that they did or didn't do. But the bible spells it out clearly in Psalm 139 -- "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (vs. 16)

106th birthday, 2007

Mabel came from very 'good stock' -- most of the women in her family lived to their hundreds, some beyond (Aunt Georgie -- her sister -- lived past 102 years *edited: actually, Georgie lived just past 100 years), some almost to 100 (my grandmother, their sister Lillian, lived until 3 weeks before her 100th birthday), and some well into their '80s (Mabel's twin sister, Winnie, died in her late '80s). As a family we got pretty good at celebrating these birthdays, many times with media coverage. We also knew all about the certificates given by the various government officials when one reaches certain age goals. Those plaques were in each of their homes!

I remember when Andrew & I were dating in the 1980s and I told him about my three great aunts and my grandmother. At that time the great-aunts lived together and looked after each other. The youngest was in her '80s and she was 'looking after' the older two!! I was used to the idea but it was hilarious to him! We'd go to visit them and Andrew would laugh at how they were Toronto Maple Leaf fans and how they could tell you how the Leafs were doing and how they could/should improve their game, who they should trade etc. In fact, at the nursing home that Mabel lived in during the last few years, they'd decorate with Toronto Maple Leaf memorabilia on Mabel's birthday, even bringing a Maple Leaf jersey for Mabel to wear! There was a Maple Leaf flag above Mabel's bed in her room!

These women were funny, witty, and very healthy. My grandmother lived in her own home away from her sisters, and she was in her '90s at that time (for a long while my aunt lived with her and then she lived alone). I don't think that Andrew had ever seen so many old relatives in one place! The family gatherings were loud, boisterous occasions -- certainly not somber, quiet affairs!

One thing that I remember about visiting my grandmother and aunts when I was much younger is that, at that time, they all lived one street over from one another. Both of their backyards had an alleyway behind them with a little garage-type building so you could go from one backyard, across the alleyway and into someone else's backyard! It was pretty neat to me as a child. I was always impressed at how they took frequent jaunts to visit one another, admire the flowers growing in their backyards and have a cup of tea together. What a life! They weren't stuck up, serious women but rather funny and fun women. They enjoyed life.

Another memory is how they dressed. Usually they were in simple dresses, "house dresses" if there's such a thing today, but they had strands of pearls (fake I think) or other 'jewels' around their necks. If they liked it, they wore it. It didn't matter if it was in style or not! Often in winter we'd see them with fur coats or some sort of dressy coat. Aunt Georgie especially always had bright nail polish on and red rouge cheeks. Her cheeks were like those countryish dolls that you see, with two round dollops of rouge on each cheek. I'm sure they would have been a cosmetician's nightmare, but they were Aunt Georgie through and through.

Their houses weren't overly fancy but they were cozy. And I'm pretty sure that tea was always on or would be put on whenever someone popped by. It seemed to me that they didn't care how they looked or what they were busy with -- there was always time for a cup of tea.

So now that generation is completely gone. Many families don't have generations lasting for as long as we did and we're so very thankful. It feels strange that all of these ladies have gone on to their eternal lives.

One thing that I didn't see in these ladies lives was a love for the Lord. Not that they didn't love the Lord, but it wasn't evident to me and it wasn't something that jumped at you from their lives. I know that Mabel professed to be a Christian and my grandmother and Aunt Georgie said that they loved the Lord too. But it wasn't something that you heard them speak of or that you saw from their lives. It wasn't something that was unmistakable. I didn't see opened bibles in their homes, but that doesn't mean that they weren't there. I don't ever recall eating a meal there, so I don't recall praying at their homes. They lived moral lives, and grew up in an era where most people were moral, at least from the outside. As far as I know, they all belonged to churches and attended when they were younger, but I don't know how much. I didn't hear them speak of an active church life. From what I remember, these ladies spoke of knowing the Lord and of going to heaven, and we have to rest in the comfort of that.

I just read this prayer on a friend's blog and it really spoke to me -- this is what I wish my life to be. I hope and pray that there may be no mistake about Who I serve. And may there be no mistake about where I'm headed when I die. I always say that I want to know that I know that I know -- about everything, especially spiritual things. And if I become known as a fanatic for Jesus -- what better compliment can there be?

May God bless you in your life. Enjoy it. And know where you're going -- it has eternal consequences.

Lord of immortality,

before whom angels bow and archangels veil their faces,

enable me to serve Thee with reverence and godly fear.

Thou who art Spirit and requirest truth in the inward parts,

help me to worship Thee in spirit and in truth.

Thou who art righteous,

let me not harbour sin in my heart,

or indulge a worldly temper,

or seek satisfaction in things that perish.

I hasten towards an hour when earthly pursuits and possessions will appear vain,

when it will be indifferent

whether I have been rich or poor,

successful or disappointed, admired or despised.

But it will be of eternal moment that I have mourned for sin,

hungered and thirsted after righteousness,

loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity,

gloried in His cross.

May these objects engross my chief solicitude!

Produce in me those principles and dispositions

that make Thy service perfect freedom.

Expel from my mind all sinful fear and shame,

so that with firmness and courage

I may confess the Redeemer before men,

go forth with Him hearing His reproach,

be zealous with His knowledge,

be filled with His wisdom,

walk with His circumspection,

ask counsel of Him in all things,

repair to the Scriptures for His orders,

stay my mind on His peace,

knowing that nothing can befall me without His permission,

appointment and administration

~~Puritan Prayer