Glorious Gal

NEW BLOG

2010-07-29T17:00:00.001-04:00

I'd love to invite all of my readers to join me at my newest blog at www.coolbreezewalks.blogspot.com.

My devotional articles will be presented in the new blog along with daily photos. It's an exciting new adventure I'm sure you'll enjoy! :0)

MomSense 101

2010-07-13T22:49:00.006-04:00

Dear Mothers Everywhere,

If you notice your preteen son

wearing swimming goggles

at approximately bath time,

TAKE MY ADVICE!

Put two and two together.

Sincerely,
Scuba Mom

Salt at The Last Supper

2010-06-28T22:24:00.006-04:00

Not only was Leonardo DaVinci a great painter, he knew some things about salt that I just discovered. Of all the times I looked at this "Last Supper Painting" I never noticed there was salt on the table.

In Bible times, salt was used symbolically in covenants - in both Old Testament and New. Jehovah entered into a salt covenant with David that his seed would be on the throne forever. In Jesus' time, Roman soldiers carried pouches of salt, and when they made a covenant they would pour salt from their pouches into one container and shake it up. Then who could tell one man's salt from the other?

A salt covenant symbolizes:

Loyalty

Honesty

Friendship

Preservation

Now, take a peek at this close up of Judas from "The Last Supper" painting.

Not only does he have a bag in his hand, while the other reaches toward the bowl, but the salt is spilled in front of his arm.... symbolizing the broken covenant between him and Jesus.

Right Idea...

2010-06-28T00:59:00.001-04:00

When Time Drags.....

2010-06-24T23:53:00.002-04:00

Redi or Not?

2010-06-08T13:55:00.004-04:00

Redi or Not?

Four hundred years ago EVERYONE knew where flies came from. Rotting meat, of course! Every time meat started rotting, it wasn't long before flies began to buzz around it. Then along came Francesco Redi claiming that flies came from maggots. HA! What did he know? Flies had been coming from rotting meat since even the oldest person alive could remember.

I don't know about you, but one of my least favorite things in all the world is to be the one to upset the applecart. I like the people around me to be pleased with me, but most of all to agree with what I'm thinking. Unfortunately the reality is that too often when we spend time thinking things through the conclusions we come to or the dreams we create go against the grain of those around us, and presenting a new idea or defying an age-old belief is the quickest route to rolled eyes and cold shoulders. Of course it's uncomfortable and awkward, but is it a bad thing?

Francesco Redi, doesn't have a long list of scientific accomplishments to his credit, but he was a true visionary. He saw past the known reality and understood something everyone else touted to be fanciful and impractical. But the difference between Redi and me (maybe you too?), is the fact that he didn't let go of the belief until he had proved it to be true.

Are you "Redi"

to make your visions reality?

Rember this......

Not everything is as it appears.

~~~

"A dreamer can find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world." Oscar Wilde

~~~

Proof can't be refuted.

~~~

"People only see what they are prepared to see." Ralph Waldo Emerson

~~~

No one is remembered for being ordinary.

~~~

"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." Jonathan Swift

It's Time...

2010-06-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

...TIME TO DEFY GRAVITY!

After all...

Life is zooming past at break-neck speeds
It's smart to either slow down or soar
Before I come to the end of the runway

Wish me well!
...or kiss me goodbye

Perspective

2010-05-30T09:51:00.007-04:00

Why do Things Look the way they Do?

PERSPECTIVE

It all depends on....

Where you're standing today

What you've experienced in the past

Or the things you haven't learned yet

It may be influenced by....

Something you've heard

An item you've read

A person you've met

Even things you love, hate or dread

It will Effect...

Your destiny

Your potential

Your sphere of influence

Every choice you make today

Every now and then it's good to take a step back to see what we see....

Something on the Inside

2010-04-09T21:09:00.005-04:00

There's a lot of religion in the world today, but I believe that when a home has real religion in it the evidence will show up in the children. There's nothing more precious than being able to look at your children and see the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperence -Galations 5:22-23) in them.

As a parent working hard to develop good character in the children, it's easy to focus on the fruits we hope to see and forget what produces the fruit. We can wear ourselves out trying to teach love and all the rest and forget that Jesus is the seed that brings forth all of those fruits. If we keep "planting" Jesus in our home, He will grow and the fruit will show show up after a while.

For let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galations 6:9

Quick Chicken, Rice and Broccoli Casserole

2010-03-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

At the end of a long day, this recipe is a godsend. It's a simple, no-frills dinner that either one of the kids or I can have on the table in under half and hour. AND it's a family FAVORITE!

2 cups instant rice
1 bag frozen broccoli
6-8 frozen chicken tenders (1/2 chicken breast may be used but needs
more cooking time)
1 jar salsa con queso (medium)

Boil chicken and broccoli. Prepare 2 cups of instant rice according to directions. Cut chicken into small pieces. Mix rice, broccoli, chicken, and salsa con queso. May be served immediately or refridgerated in class cake pan to heat in oven for a pre-cooked quick meal.

Patrick Hughes - An Unforgettable Story

2010-02-12T18:11:00.003-05:00

Note: I have reviewed and approve this clip only. You Tube uses collected data from the Internet and the computer you are using to suggest other clips. Please use caution and common sense when exploring other clips they may suggest. I have no way of predicting these suggested clips.

A Warm Fuzzy Love Story

2010-02-06T22:04:00.008-05:00

So often it seems like the happiest couples look alike. Watch the anniversary notices in the newspaper and you'll soon agree with me. The 50th wedding celebration announcements sport two people who have grown to even look alike.... or maybe they've always looked alike. But every once in a while, you'll come across a Mutt and Jeff duo that seem to be at odds as a couple, and yet their relationship lasted a quarter or half a century.

What is the glue that ties people together for a lifetime? I've asked myself that question too many times to count. But until I've come up with the answer, I'll have to be satisfied with looking for clues in relationships like the one in this clip...

Band Aid Surgery

2010-02-02T11:11:00.006-05:00

Greetings!

It's been a long few weeks for me. If you've seen a middle-aged woman shuffling around resembling a 90-year-old duck, that was probably me! I've been sick with gall bladder issues, and I'm now sporting the band-aid version of the gall bladder surgery. Just today (almost a week later) I managed to stand erect for the first time. And to be truthful, I have a new phobia - going to the local Chinese restaurant. I heard one of my friend's children broke their Buddha and with all the swelling and belly rubbing I've been doing there's a pretty good chance they'll kidnap me to replace it!

What is band-aid surgery? For those of you who have never had it, and for those of you who may someday go through it, here's heads up on what Band-Aid Gall Bladder Surgery is all about.

1. Band-Aid Surgery means hire a nurse in a hurry!
Look at everyone around you with one last look of love before you head to surgery. The next time you see them, you may have forgotten the hugs. Young 'uns turned nurse do things like jump on the couch to show they love you, hand you a full glass of Ginger Ale (Ever try to sip from a full glass while in a reclining belly up position? The results are generally disastrous.) and of course everyone tries to cheer you up.... make you laugh.... which makes your belly jiggle... which makes you want to cry.

2. Band Aid Surgery means it's all in your head!
I told a friend I wasn't going to have a bunch of scars. He was pretty disappointed - said if he was going to get cut up he wanted the scars to prove it. I'm beginning to agree with his philosophy. There's something about a ragged, red, and bloody scar stapled shut that makes an impression. Four little bitty holes taped shut in various places around the belly just don't have the same effect and evoke only a small amount of sympathy. It seems impossible to believe there are hundreds of stitches hidden under the skin and the same organs were removed regardless of the visible evidence.

3. Band Aid Surgery means self-serve medical care is a reality.
Okay, I'm guilty. I use the self-serve gas stations and check-out's at Wal Mart. But honestly, these Band-Aid surgeries are the health care's version of self-service at it's most painful! Maybe they're getting even with us for checking up on our doctors online and self-diagnosing our medical ailments. We're all guilty. But really, it's a cruel and unusual punishment for even that!

So I'm home and surviving a surgery that will lay me up for 6 weeks regardless of whether it's the Band-Aid or open version of the surgery. The only difference: scars on my belly that won't show and several weeks of torturous recovery. Guess we'd all be smart to have at least one child train to be a nurse! And don't forget to invest in a hospital bed. It's a Herculean feat to extract yourself from a flat bed after surgery. My sweetheart daughter and I were both crying by the time we got me up the first and last time I made the mistake of laying flat on my bed.

PS. My last bit of advice: Don't develop an allergy to narcotics! A band-aid surgery with just tylenol for pain is the pits!

Homemade Marshmallows

2010-01-15T10:51:00.004-05:00

It's a hot chocolate kind of day here in PA. The view from my window is gray and white beyond the drip of melting snow falling from the roof. There's no sun in sight even though the weatherman promised some today.

While I'm sipping my hot chocolate, I'm going to write the ingredients for these homemade marshmallows on my grocery list. It had never crossed my mind to try homemade marshmallows until I came across this clip on You Tube. Now I can't wait to try :0)

True Art Requires Inspiration

2009-12-20T23:01:00.004-05:00

To all of my loyal and disappointed followers, I extend sincere apologies for my absent blogs. You see, writing is an art and every artist must have inspiration to produce a masterpiece. I came across this clip, and I feel my inspiration juices starting to flow ;) Enjoy!

Questions Nice Kids Don't Ask

2009-09-14T12:56:00.004-04:00

I read an interview with Dan Brown, author of The Divinci Code, in the paper yesterday. Who do you think turned him into the religious skeptic the book seems to portray? ...a bad friend, aetheistic teachers, unbelieving parents? Wrong! It was his minister.

According to Dan Brown, at a very crucial time in his life he went to school and heard the Big Bang Theory. Being a very religious kid, he also went to church and heard that God created the heaven and earth. So what was the answer? He was struggling to fit all of the pieces of the puzzle of religion and science together in his own mind. When he asked the question, his minister's response was that nice boys don't ask that question. And guess what? The science teacher was only too happy to explain his theory in a way that made sense to his young mind.

The truth is that kids have questions. The questions are big. At some point every human has to come to grips with how to interpret the world around them. The even scarier truth is that it's not always the person with the right answers who takes the time to answer those tough questions. When we avoid them, they find the answers somewhere. It might be in a book, from a friend, off a movie, or even a teacher at school. But the fact is that we won't have the opportunity to help them understand and leave them vulnerable to very slanted or even perverted viewpoints.

We must never forget that our children will get an answer to their questions! It's just a matter of who or what is providing those answers.

"The Heart of the Wood"

2009-08-21T23:31:00.005-04:00

Last week I came across this clip and fell in love with the song. So for the past week, I've been thinking of ways to convey the message it spoke to me. But just tonight it came to me that it would be presumptuous to superimposed my message on the gifted songwriter who has intertwined a great number of thought provoking messages into one song so beautifully.

Flying High

2009-08-10T09:49:00.004-04:00

Ah Monday morning. So far it's not a Garfield Monday, so that's all good. But the week ahead looks a little bit like this clip. I'm just hoping that I land as well. lol

Comedian Daren Streblow

2009-08-07T00:51:00.004-04:00

Rocking out of the Rut.

2009-08-01T15:49:00.006-04:00

Do you ever get stuck in a rut? I do. Sometimes life just seems like a series of bursts forward, hanging on the brim at the edge of the rut, and then a slow slide backwards - right back to where it all started. I don't know what your rut might be, but I've got two - dieting and my writing. I loose 15 pounds and suddenly I'm right back where I started. I get my writing material ready for a book or an article, then something comes up and I lose steam.

But, once in a blue moon life hands out a surprise gift....

About 10 years ago, on an irrational whim I decided to pick up a paintbrush and try to paint. And to my astonishment, I simply could. It was the biggest shock of my life. I hadn't expected it nor truthfully had I even hoped for success. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Leonardo DaVinci but my work is pleasantly recognizable and a great source of pleasure.

Just yesterday, I picked up a brush and painted the rocking chair that sits on my front porch as a reminder that life isn't ALWAYS the same old same old. And since it's my favorite place to sit and think, maybe reminding myself to try something new is just what I need to rock myself out of this rut!

It's a boy Thing

2009-07-22T13:35:00.004-04:00

I have a friend who has two daughters. Over the years I've tried to tell her that raising a son is different than raising a daughter. Usually these "lectures" come right after a comment about a mother being soft on her "little boy." Whenever I tell her that parenting a little boy is definitely different she rolls her eyes at me. "Parenting is parenting!" she says and shrugs her shoulders.

But the truth of the matter is that boys are different than little girls. And I know, cuz I haz one!

If you ask a daughter to pick up laundry off the bedroom floor and put it in the laundry basket the process goes something like this....
Step 1 Use hand to grab laundry item.
Step 2 Raise arm and walk to laundry hamper (note two processes at one time!)
Step 3 Release laundry item into basket.

If you ask a little boy to pick up laundry it's a much more intricate process...
Step 1 Use spacial reference to determine the path the laundry will take to the hamper
Step 2 Find a blanket
Step 3 Spread the blanket on the floor
Step 4 Put imagination into gear
Step 5 Allow arm to become a crane
Step 6 Operate crane to put laundry onto the blanket
Step 7 Look for rope to tie blanket shut
Step 8 Tie blanket shut around laundry
Step 9 Look for additional rope
Step 10 Rig a pulley system to hoist laundry
Step 11 Hoist laundry into air
Step 12 Swing laundry to basket (many attempts may be necessary to get the arc just right)
Step 13 Attempt to untie knot on laundry bag
Step 14 Holler for Mom
Step 15 Watch Mom simply slide the rope off the edge of blanket before turning red and beginning the "you're just now picking up the laundry after I told you two hours ago" lecture.

Never underestimate the creative powers of a boy. This morning I discovered several biscuits missing. Besides knowing that my daughter is out of town, I'm sure it was my son who ate them. I found the cutting board, two different kinds of knives and the meat cleaver... all covered with biscuit crumbs. Don't ask! The meat cleaver has been making regular journeys from the drawer since he discovered it. I'm just not sure why you'd need it for cucumbers, watermelon, biscuits, or strawberries.

Swine Flu Survival 101

2009-07-10T16:06:00.005-04:00

Well, if there's trouble to get into you can be sure that I'll find a way to get in on the action. You'd think a small city girl (just in from the country) wouldn't be so anxious to make a name in town. But alas, I now have the distinct honor of bringing the dreaded Swine Flu to our fair city (an honor equally shared with my two children and two children of a friend who traveled with us).

How Did We Get It?

We went to a church camp. I was counselor to 15 thirteen-year-old girls. In one afternoon a third of them began to complain of a fever. I started getting a little concerned at that point, but wanted to pack my bags a run for the hills by the next morning.

At lights out, one girl coughed softly in her bunk. Every time I rolled over in my cot (which by the way was 12 inches too narrow and rolling over consisted of rolling to one side, scooting to the center of the cot, then finishing the roll over process), I heard another cougher join the chorus. I literally seemed as if an unseen "thing" was walking from one bunk to the next infecting each child, and yes I wanted to pack up and run! But it was too late for me already...

What to Expect!

1. A fever: Our fevers ranged from 99 to 105 degrees. They did respond quite readily to Tylenol and Ibuprofin for the most part.

2. A cough: Absolutely the worst part of the swine flu is the cough. All of us have coughed excessively until we vomited. I swore I could've done 1000 sit-ups a day and not had sorer stomach muscles. To be honest, I had hoped for the same results! lol Unfortunately I'm not sporting a six-pack after a week of intense "work-outs."

3. Variables: Sore throats were a given for each of us. Some of us have had the "hershey quirts" or "boot scootin' boogie" (whatever pet name you prefer), other's have vomited (mostly from coughing), or had a headache. These symptoms were more minor than others.

4. The masked parade: We went to the hospital to be tested and were treated normally, UNTIL the rapid flu test results came back indicating that we were all positive for the Influenza A virus. This is the first indicator that you might be Swine Flu positive. That's when the doctor and nurses appeared clad in masks and carrying one for each of us to wear. The funniest part was when the doctor attempted to figure out a way to look at each of our throats without having us remove the masks! lol Since it's impossible, we removed the masks and he did a long distance peek routine.

5. Alien status: Armed with masks and clear instructions to stay out of the public as much as possible and prescriptions for Tamiflu, we marched from the emergency room, past an EMT who responded by fixing owl eyes on us and backing around the doctor's station as we passed.

Unfortunately Wal Mart needed an hour to fill the prescription. That meant two trips into the store (since I was too sick to sit there for an hour and suffocating in my mask). I have to say, people tend to stop in their tracks and stare when they see you walk into the store masked, and react even more violently if they ask what it's all about and you say, "Swine Flu."

6. 500 Questions: If you don't know who you've come in contact with you will have recalled every minor detail by the time you've been questioned by the nurse, the doctor, the local health department, the state health department, etc.

7. The Waiting Game: Once you've been tagged as being likely to have swine flu, it's a waiting game for the final results to come in. Ours were very prompt. We were notified by the state health department that we were indeed positively infected with Swine Flu and again instructed to stay away from the public.

8. Smart Friends: Don't worry, your friends won't drop in for a visit. But email and text messages begin to roll. The smart comments are endless. I finally hushed them by saying, "It's a good thing it's the Swine Flu and not the Donkey Flu or you'd be the one laying in bed!" lol But maybe you choose sweeter friends than I ;)

9. Support: I was blessed with some wonderful people who brought groceries to my door, checked on us regularly, and a local restaurant even sent meals to my family. There really are some wonderful people out there who stand by you when the chips are down. I thank God for each and every special action of love and care (even my smart aleck friends who were attempting to make me laugh)!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow this little piggy who stayed home gets to go out into the world! And joy of joys, after being inprisoned with two other little piggies for a week I managed to not not turn into the big bad wolf! lol I was tempted a few times. My bedroom became the camping grounds for the week. One sick piggy clacked away at the computer incessantly chatting with online friends, and one little piggy ransacked my room putting face prints on all my mirrors and inventing new hiding places for everything I'll need to use for the next month! Meanwhile I tried to rest, and give the appropriate comfort Mom's give to sick children..... so glad it's over!

Parenting 411

2009-06-22T22:42:00.006-04:00

I was given a precious gift today. A dear friend and former collegue stopped by and we began to chit chat about old times. During the conversation she told me that a comment I made when her oldest child was 8 or 9 totally impacted her parenting techniqes. It's wonderful to know that I was able to bless her relationship with her three children (one of whom was called home one wintery day three years ago.)

The comment....

Screaming at your children is a lot like

trying to steer your car by blowing the horn

You make a lot of noise,

but don't get where you're trying to go.

Now that summer vacation is here, I suspect that the average blood pressure for Mom's across the country is seeing an increase. Dirty little feet are tracking floors, bedroom clutter is mounting, and rules are being broken at alarming rates. Don't dispair! You are not alone.

Here are some of my tried and true suggestions for getting the youngsters in hand without popping a blood vessel or stripping your vocal cords.

1. Outline your expectations in a written format

2. Specifically list rewards and punishment for the behaviors you are hoping to inspire or discourage.

3. Orally address the issues with each individual child and be sure they understand your expectations and understant the rewards and consequences.

4. When a rule is broken: Ask the child which rule he/she broke, what the consequences are, and silently follow through. Follow the same procedure when a rule or chore has been carried out to your expectations and a reward is in order.

Why? This helps the child to understand that reward and punishment is in his/her hands. It's earned, not something you are handing down at random or when you've "had enough!"

In other words, get your hand of the horn and onto the steering wheel and you'll get much better results.

Here's to a blessed and enjoyable summer to you and yours!

Menu Planning Tool

2009-06-01T12:36:00.002-04:00

I have one major shortage in life... time! So to keep this short and simple, I came across a great tool for planning my weekly menu and writing my grocery shopping list.

http://orgjunkie.com/2009/04/free-weekly-menu-planning-template.html/comment-page-2#comment-31503

Country Music, My Liver, and a Rocking Chair

2009-05-26T12:54:00.005-04:00

I'm beginning to believe that I left my music in the country... literally. My piano still hasn't made it's way to my new city home. And to be honest, I'm feeling like I gave a child up for adoption. My heart has a big hole in it without my music!

I've had a few chuckles since moving to town. It's amazing how helpful male relatives are when it comes to moving. But as soon as I mention that my piano needs moved, their helpful smile slithers south and it's, "Uh.... groan.... yeah, let me know when you need me. How many guys do you think it'll take?"

OKAY guys.... it DOES have wheels, and I move it periodically around the livingroom to vacuum and dust behind it. And guess what? I haven't been admitted to the hospital for a hernia yet! lol

But my biggest laugh occurred in the middle of the night when I nearly had liver failure!

I was sound asleep and suddenly heard a loud truck go past my bedroom window. I immediately awoke thinking I was at my country home and for a loud truck to be going by my window there.... well, there's definitely something wrong with that picture. Some moron must've plowed through trees, grown wings or had a huge chain saw mounted to the front of the truck (sounded loud enough to! lol) So I laid there with my liver quivering like a bowl of jello in an earthquake for several minutes until I could put two and two together and realize where I really was.

Overall I do believe I'm adjusting quite nicely to city life though.

I've found a wonderful bike trail down along the river to walk on.
I've been keeping an eye on a goose family nesting along the shore.
I moved the rocking chair that left a bruise the size of a small plum on my left foot in the middle of the night to the OTHER side of the living room.
I started locking my doors - both house AND car.
I've figured out that when I open my door at night and hear feet shuffling down the sidewalk I don't have to run back inside. There really are harmless people in the city too!
I absolutely adore the lack of mud :)

To put it simply... I'm quite happy, content and at home here in the city!

Does Your Church Need Some "Life?"

2009-04-24T09:12:00.004-04:00

If you've never heard this song, you're in for a good belly laugh! If you're an old fan of the song (like me), you'll enjoy the visual format.

The Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens

A Sad Goodbye to my Country Music

2009-04-05T16:13:00.014-04:00

I went for a walk today - a four-mile country walk - and heard the most heart rending country tune I've ever heard. The crows on the telephone lines sang a raspy lyrics, the peepers fiddled in the background, a woodpecker banged a rythm accented by the staccatto of a horses hooves on the dirt road as an amish family came home from church. Finches, whipporwills and robins piped in their harmony. By the end of the last refrain my heart was full of a song of sadness and betrayal. It was a sadder song than Hank Williams, Kelly Pickler, or any other country artist -old or new - could ever write.

But the saddest part is that I am the betrayer! You see, I'm about to pack up my bags and leave my beloved country life for the city.

Luckily it's not all bad news. There are things about the country I will miss every day, but some things I'll enjoy leaving behind.

I'll be happy to say goodbye to...

The skunk who woke me up at three a.m., gasping and gagging last week. It cost me an arm and a leg for deodorizers to make the house liveable and possibly permanently damaged my olfactory apparatus.

I won't miss perils of August in the country... barn flies big enough to carry away a balogna sandwich and the stench downwind of the huge fans of the veal barns. (Did you know that veal never see the light of day? They live their entire lives in a barn stall. In fact, they are even loaded to go to the butcher in the dark of the night. And honey, in mid August a barn full of the critters doesn't smell pretty!)

I'll be happy when I don't have to keep my windows closed tight and stay indoors because the neighbors are haying. I am extremely allergic to hay...hayfever in it's truest form.

Wasting $7 every time I go to the car wash. One trip down a dirt road, and you'd never know I washed it.

But there are some things I'm going to miss!
Coming home at night and seeing deer in the apple trees behind the house.

Playing hostess to my city friends. City kids who have never squeezed a snapdragon are a wonder to watch. I'm not sure, but I might get just as much pleasure out of watching my city friends turn blue as they attempt to walk a quarter of a mile past a field freshly sprayed with manure without breathing. I know, I know. I'm a little sadistic at times.

I'll definitely miss seeing my daughter take her brother and his friends to woods to show them the teepees she built when she was their age, hearing their excited chatter when they return, and breathing in the scent of the woods still in their hair and clothes.

I'll miss those quiet moments that are so still you can hear the far-off hum of an aircraft much to far away to be seen in the sky.

I'll miss the warmth of the sun on my back for two hours as I watch row after row of grass buzz beneath a riding mower.

I'll miss the friendly waves of everyone who passes by.

I'll miss watching the corn grow in the fields, and the vegetable gardens ready to be harvested.

I'll miss the drives home on cool, crisp fall days when the countryside is pulsing with vibrant colors.

Some of my Fondest Memories are Here in the Country...

I remember the night I heard a strange noise through my open bedroom window. I quietly peered out to see a deer lapping water from the kiddy pool full of water.

I remember the night I walked the quarter of a mile to Grandma's house with just the moonlight to guide me and crossed paths with a coyote.

I'll always remember the Amish buggies every Sunday morning... and the bets to see whether it was Mom or Dad making the buggy tilt to one side ; ) lol

I'll never forget the rabid raccoon episode. At noon he was perched on top of the electric pole near my roof and acting strangely. I finally found a cousin who decided to help me get rid of him so that he didn't bite a kid or animal. The plan was for me to climb on the roof with a broom, and give him a shove off the pole. When he climbed down, my cousin would shoot him. But when the fiesty fellow responded to my jab with a violent and hissing snarl, it was I who vaulted from great heights in a hurry! Thankfully, my cousin didn't shoot me.

Every spring I revel in the sound of the thawing ground drinking in the water, I listen for the chorus of peepers waking out of sleep, watch for baby animals darting across the road and pull over to enjoy the sight of a new baby cow or foal in a nearby pasture.

And I wonder...
When I move to town, will my neighbors think I'm strange when I turn my back, cover my face and wave every time a car passes at more than 10 mph? Two decades of coming home from a walk with gritty teeth from the dust of speeding strangers has taught me to do that.

I wonder if I'll be happy in the city. Will my neighbors will be nice? Will my son will forget about nature? But the biggest question of all is, will I be back? Is this good-bye for a while, or good-bye for good?

It's going to be hard to say goodbye to my country life...

Monday Morning Financial Blues

2009-03-23T09:54:00.003-04:00

President Obama's not responding in anger (at least that what he's telling us)to the AIG bonuses, but it looks like American is. Tight budgets and empty wallets make many of us a bit hair-triggered emotionally.

But guess what? Anger doesn't change a think. Laughter on the other hand, at least loosens us up, erases those frown lines, and makes us a little easier to look at! ;)

If you're feeling the squeeze and tempted to go into the week a little grumpy, try a dose of laughter first....

10 Redneck Commandments

2009-03-16T11:40:00.003-04:00

It's Monday again, and as usual I've been looking for something light-hearted to get the week off to a bright start. When I came across this clip, I couldn't help but feel like I was at a family reunion. Believe me, my family reunion experiences have been more laughs than a a barrel of monkeys. I think story telling genes have a big share in my family pool.

I've never laughed so hard as when my mother's cousin told us about rigging a clawfoot bathtub with a 70 horsepower boat motor and launching it on Lake Erie. It cost him a good motor, but provided years of entertainment for the family and some good writing material for me.

So in honor of all you who have a few redneck roots out there, enjoy this authentic redneck rendition of the 10 commandments.

Afraid of Falling? Devotional

2009-03-10T10:49:00.004-04:00

Did you know that babies have a fear of falling almost from the moment they are born? Watch a baby when you just let them fall a couple of inches. Even if they are cradled in your arms the entire time you'll see their little arms spread out wide, and their eyes get large (the moro reflex).

If you really stop to think about it, it seems cruel that we as parents instinctively play games where we throw them in the air and catch them. Every toss makes their little hearts pound and their breath catch in their throats.

But there is something else going on as well. At the end of each "fall" Mommy's arms or Daddy's arms are there to catch them. What we are telling that little person is, "You are safe in Mommy's/Daddy's arms." We're building TRUST.

From my observation it must be an effective strategy. The fear of falling is replaced by a sense of security. Before long it's a full time job to keep the little tykes from jumping off bunk beds and riding their bikes over small cliffs. As a girl I remember climbing rocks near our house that were several stories high. I was a little mountain goat. My mother would've had heart failure if she had witnessed my sheer abandon as I perched on ledges just inches wide.

But that all changed later in life. My fear of falling returned. First I was thrown by a horse, broke an arm and severly bruised a hip. A few years later (when my son was 2 months old), I fell while roller blading and broke both arms. Within the next 5 years I went on to break on arm again and a foot. Life taught me that it HURTS to fall sometimes! Not only does it hurt, but it takes a long time to fully heal.

Life is like that in our Christian walk as well. We feel the loving arms of our Heavenly Father cushioning our falls and learn to put child-like trust in him. He allows us to feel those moments of fear so that we come to trust him. We learn that it's okay, we are safe.

Then somehow we get independent and leave the comforting arms of our Father to jump our own obstacles in life. Before long failed marriages, troubled children, mistakes.... so many things teach us that falling hurts, and that it can take a long time to recover.

But just like the parent who picks us up, bandages our bleeding knees, and wipes the tears from our cheeks, He's right there to wrap his loving arms back around us. And just maybe, we're content to rest safely in his arms.

For a while, anyway...

Spinning Your Wheels?

2009-03-09T12:07:00.003-04:00

Ah, it's Monday... rainy, gloomy, gray and just plain blah outside. The only antidote for a day like this is a little humor to brighten things up a bit.

Go ahead and enjoy a dose for yourself...

Things can always be worse! lol

Don't be Caught Unaware - Winter Alert

2009-02-25T09:02:00.004-05:00

I'm anxious for warm weather, the song of birds greeting me in the morning, and warm sunshine on my shoulders. Unfortunately winter still has an icy grip on northwestern Pennsylvania. It's no time to let down your guard if it's still winter where you live....

Find more videos like this on Everyone's Apostolic

A True Friend!

2009-02-19T10:18:00.003-05:00

Betrayal leaves an ugly scar. Those of you who've been in a relationship where you've felt the cutting sting of a lover turning their back on you, probably know the lasting affects that sometimes taint our expectations of those around us. We almost come to expect more of the same (shame on us).

Sometimes it's good to be reminded of those things that are true and faithful. I came across this little clip and had to smile.

This little reminder of faithfulness made me pause and reflect on the many true friends that I really have. And to all of you personal friends who read my blog, let me say that you mean the world to me!

I was also reminded of another friend... "a friend that sticks closer than a brother"... "a friend who laid down his life." JESUS

I don't want to get sappy sweet here, but there's no one in my life who knows me as well. I never have to smile when I don't feel like smiling, I never feel pressured to be strong and brave when I feel like hiding, I don't have to worry about interrupting his dinner to talk to Him or intruding on his family time...

He's just there. He knows. He shares. He listens. He cares. And yes, He even speaks or whispers His love in so many ways. It might be in the song of a bird, or the hug of a friend, a sermon from the pulpit, or a gentle reminder that true friends care and will always be there!

And the winner is...

2009-02-19T10:14:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Alicia on winning the Valentine's candle!

Thanks to all who participated :)

You Missed the Party!

2009-02-14T20:50:00.005-05:00

Yes, you missed the party, but don't feel too badly. It was a pity party. For me. Thrown by me. Attended by me.

I've been sick with pnemonia. Really, really sick, I was in the ER twice. In fact I coughed hard enough to damage my rib cage. I was sick enough to miss an entire week of work! I don't ever remember missing a week of work because of being sick.

Now do you feel bad you missed the party?

Seriously, I've missed blogging and even checking my email. But I'm starting to feel somewhat normal again. I still have an annoying cough, but that's not too bad considering.

If you've missed my blogs... awww, thanks :) I'm looking forward to getting back on track this week.

Drinking from the Fountain of Winter

2009-02-07T10:29:00.004-05:00

I woke up this morning thinking that it was raining outside. When I tentatively poked my head out the door I realized that it was just ice melting from the roof. Believe me when I say that it was music to my ears! After weeks of mostly single digit and negative numbers, I was ecstatic to realize it's 43 degrees outside today.

I believe I suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I've never been medically diagnosed but all the signs are there...

Oversleeping
Loss of energy
Food craving
Difficulty concentrating

Every year I can predict that my housework will pile up, my skirts will get too tight, and I'll be running out the door at the last possible minute every morning when February rolls around.

I have some very compassionate friends. One sent me an email with a solution to hitting the snooze 3 times too many every morning. She suggested that I put a set mousetrap on top of the alarm - a sure-fire guarantee that I wouldn't hit the snooze then roll over and fall back to sleep. (No doubt it would work!)

But I think my son my have a better solution. In his 10-year-old, socially unaware, sage mind he can just forget about everthing and enjoy the smallest wonders of the season...

Does Phil Work for the DMV?

2009-02-02T09:16:00.005-05:00

It's no surprise to me that the famed woodchuck predicted six more weeks of winter. And I'd be willing to bet that he's right! But out of curiosity, I did a little fact checking this morning. Acoording to the National Climatic Data Center, groundhog weather predictions are 39% accurate.

Where else can you find a thousand people in line to see someone who only gets things right about 39% of the time? That's right... the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).

Okay, maybe that's an exageration, but listen to this! Last Spring I recieved a letter from the DMV notifying me that 2 points had been put on my license for a vehicle accident (don't tell anyone that I hit an ambulance). But get this... the accident had occurred 6 years prior to the notice! I'm NOT kidding you.

I immediately called the number at the bottom of the letter and talked to Scott who assured me that it was nothing out of the ordinary. Some things just take time!

(Here's a hot tip: If you're hunting a job where you can procrastinate for 6 years, the DMV has the perfect position for you!)

Personally, I'm thinking that a rotund little marmot was bound to see his shadow. I saw mine this morning. And no, it wasn't one of those long skinny shadows. It was short and dumpy reminding me that...

sigh....

I gained 1/2 pound this week instead of losing on the Mexico Weight Loss Program. (For once I'm hoping you didn't read all the way to the end of this blog!).

Don't for get to sign up for my free Valentine give away here!

Valentine Give Away!

2009-01-29T21:38:00.012-05:00

Ah... the day of hearts, roses and chocolate is about to appear on the calendar. This year, there's no significant other in my life. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I got busy and painted a beautiful kiwi/strawberry candle. I'd love to brighten your Valentine's day with it :)

If you'd like a chance at winning, just CLICK HERE. The winning entry will be announce on Feb. 10 and shipped as soon as you respond to the winning email with your address.

Good luck and God Bless!

Just for the record....
I will never give away your email contact information!

Please feel free to tell your friends and family about the give away!

And don't forget to subscribe to my blog or become a fan :)

Much Luv!
Angela Marie

The Mexico Weight Loss Weigh In.

2009-01-26T11:49:00.006-05:00

This Week's Loss: 2.4 pounds

Total Weight Loss: 7.8 Pounds

Yeah for me!!

This week, I attempted to cut out soda's. This has lead to an amazing question and scientific experiment. I'm going to employ the mad scientist on this one (see the Dangerous Christmas Gift story). We're going to put together a real experiment that may very well lead to shocking results!

My question...
Am I drinking antifreeze?

Check back tomorrow to find out what is puzzling me

A Warm Story for the Frigid Winter Blues in NW PA!

2009-01-21T09:09:00.006-05:00

If life were a theater

Would your heart dance center stage?

Or has it been too wounded

To ever dance again?

The beauty of these two wounded dancers will inspire your heart to believe that it too can learn to dance again!

The Mexico Weight Loss Plan Update

2009-01-20T09:05:00.010-05:00

I'm excited to announce the results for week 2 of my Mexico Weight Loss Program!

Week 2 results: -2.8 pounds

Total weight loss: 5.4 pounds

I must be a little more serious about dieting this year. Here's a little clip from my dieting diary last year...

At some point most of us have one of those "oh no" moments when we realize it's time to shape up. For me it was in the coat room at church one Sunday morning. I bent over to unzip my dress boots and felt my eyes bulge from a too-large abdomen being squeezed like a coke can in a trash compactor.

Day 1
Took the dog for a walk
Need to remember to swap the leash from one hand to the other several times tomorrow. My right arm is 3 inches longer than the left.

Day 2
Offered to baby-sit a two-year-old. I figured keeping up with a mini tornado would be a great fitness guage.
No wonder the Mom has that "Please rescue me" look in her eyes!

Day 3
Walked through the supermarket parking lot.
Don't know how many steps I added, but seeing the "Humpty Dumpty" version of me reflected on the sides of all those cars had a psychologically motivating impact.

Day 4
Bought a new pair of running shoes.
Not sure I'm ready to start running, but remembered the bulging eye scenario and figure if I bend over to tie and untie them enough times a day it should have some sort of effect.

Day 5
Made dessert for my friends.
I don't get as many calories when I just get to lick the spoon. Plus, I'll look thinner if my friends get fatter.

Day 6
Took a nap.
I ready a study that says Americans don't sleep enough and that it's causing weight gain. there's quite a few facts to back it up, so I thought I should take it serious.

Day 7
Worked on balancing my diet.
Not sure if a cookie in each hands counts as a balanced diet though.

Day 8
Pinpointed several sources of stress.
Stress releases chemicals that store calories as fat... wonder if that will hold up in court if I should take the writer's advice seriously and eliminate the sources?

Day 9
Went to an amusement park and played one of those crazy "dance/jump on the squares" games with the kids.
Figured if I passed out during the game the doctor would put me on a diet and that will make the whole process a lot easier, right?

Day 10
Laughed
The wise man said laughter is good medicine. I also kind of figure it's the perfect fitness indicater... when the jiggle factor declines I'll know I've reached my goal.

Frigid Winter Storm Survival and Entertainment

2009-01-16T00:09:00.003-05:00

Well, I should've listened to my Dad (again!). But the end result was that I earned a winter survival badge...

It's subzero here in PA. I knew that without looking at a thermometer! I was outside and my eyebrows got all prickly. It's funny how you never notice that you have individual eyebrow hairs until each one of them is strangely stiff from the arctic air.

The second reason I knew it was below zero is that when I came indoors, my fingers were too cold to unzip my coat. Which leads to the bit about listening to Dad. Earlier, my Mom called to say Dad thought they should tell me to leave my water running so it didn't freeze up (their usual MO). Unfortunately, I thought I had outsmarted the weather and didn't have to worry. Ha!

I had piled snow around the foundation hip high so no air could get under the house, therefore I had a good workout unpiling the snow so that I could crawl under the house and put an electric heater there to warm things up a bit. Oh the joys of being single with no man to do the dirty work!

My second major accomplishment of the evening was to teach my 10-year-old mad scientist son the fine art of eating jello with a straw (believe me it's not as easy as it sounds). No, I'm not crazy! Remember the frozen water? Well.... no clean spoons. We laughed at the silly slurping sounds it made and eventually he got good enough to make it nearly musical.

Alas, it was the first little cup of jello in a pack of 24. I'm afraid I'll have a jello addict on my hands by the time the pack is gone (which could be tomorrow if I don't watch him carefully!).

The good news! My water just started running again (12:23 a.m.). I think I'll leave it running, Dad!

33 Free Parenting Ebooks

2009-01-15T09:04:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to put 33 parenting ebooks at your disposal 100% free!

Simply click on the widget the top right side bar of my blog.

Happy Reading :)

Inspiration for Today

2009-01-13T12:13:00.002-05:00

Sit back, enjoy and be inspired!

God bless!

The Mexico Weight Loss Plan

2009-01-12T10:42:00.005-05:00

I did some research and found out that Polar Bears don't do well in Mexico. That's not good news! You see, I've got approximately the same amount of body fat that one of these arctic critters uses to insulate them from the frigid temperatures of North Pole. And I'm headed for a mission trip to Mexico in JULY!

Whew boy! To be honest it has lit a fire under me to get busy about my New Year's resolution to lose weight. My first step has been to just cut back on goodies. I've been chewing green tea gum when I get the urge to start munching. The results....

WEEK 1 on the Mexican Weight Loss Plan

2.4 Pounds Lost!

The Octogenerian Exterminator

2009-01-09T12:05:00.005-05:00

She's eighty-three and recovering from a ruptured intestine, but Grandma is still ready to battle any critter who dares invade her home!

Now, Grandma's a classy lady. She's always worried that her clothes will be outdated and she'll embarrass her kids and grandchildren. But growing up as a farm girl is still part of who she is.

I was 11 years old. My sister was screaming that a mouse was in the kitchen. I remember walking in at the exact moment that Grandma stepped on the invader... in her bare feet. My siblings and I stared at Grandma with wide eyes for days! Who was this gentle woman who babied and pampered us, yet could kill a mouse in a nanosecond and without a weapon?

At 83, and weaker than a newborn kitten, no mouse who's worth his weight in cheese had better take up residence at Grandma's house. My daughter came home the other day with that same wide-eyed look of wonder my siblings and I shared so long ago.

The visiting nurse was at Grandma's house and filling out papers. Grandma spied on of those dispicable critters running across the floor. He darted behind the stereo. She tottered to the stereo right beside the door and stood guard. When she was sure the nurse wasn't looking she opened the door a crack. The mouse, seeing a way of escape, darted through the door. He wasn't fast enough. Grandma shut the door on him with enough force to kill him, grabbed him by the tail and with an expert toss disposed of the carcass.

The last I'd heard, Grandma exterminated two mice with her latest plot. I may have inherited some of Grandma's toughness, but I think I'll stick to keeping a cat on hand for exterminating those pesky buggers!

Ordinary Miracle, Extraordinary Love

2009-01-06T12:15:00.001-05:00

Feeling lonely, unloved, sad or just "unspecial?"

Take a minute to look at your hands. Have you ever wondered why your fingers don't grow eyelashes? When you stop to realize that there are 50,000,000,000 cells in your body that hold 20,000 genes on strands of DNA 6 feet long coiled into the nucleus of each cell, and that each cell has it's own codes so that it knows just what to look like (which is why you can scratch an itch instead of giving it a butterfly kiss).... WOW!

Unless you think you just happened and the world is an accident, it's impossible not to realize just how special you are!

Psalm 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Dangerous Christmas Gifts!

2009-01-02T20:59:00.005-05:00

When you've got a child who thinks outside the box, Christmas shopping can take on a different kind of challenge. You have to look for "safe" gifts.... the kind that can't be used for an unexpected scientific experiment or worse! lol

This year, I really thought I had managed to get my son a gift that would encourage his amazingly curious 10-year-old mind and keep all of us safe. I found a wonderful science kit that explored experiments with the weather. Cool :)

What I never dreamed was that the real scientific experiment of the season would have nothing to do with the weather. You see, I bought Andrew an IPod and knowing the ear buds would never stay in his ears, I also bought him a set of those kind that you stick over the outside of your ears. They worked wonderfully.

So what happened to the original set? It went something like this....

"Hey Mom, look. I've plugged my ear buds into my CD player so they could get some real volume. Now watch!"

Cringing for his eardrums, I was afraid to look. But that's not what he had in mind! This child who carries my DNA crammed the ear buds up his nostrils (these are about the diameter of marbles btw) and began flapping his mouth open and shut.

What appeared to me to be an imitation of a monkey having a seizures was my son attempting to channel sound up through his nasal passage, down his throat and out his mouth. The flapping mouth was his volume control!

Sigh.... What a kid!!!!

I'm just praying we all survive long enough to see him become the world's next Thomas Edison or Bill Gates.

Resolution Song ~ lol

2008-12-30T07:00:00.004-05:00

How is that resolution list coming? Time's running out!

Articles I suggest:
Bathrobe Therapy: Accountability

Wounded Dance

2008-12-27T17:08:00.002-05:00

Here We Go Again :)

2008-12-27T11:49:00.007-05:00

Christmas is over and things are quieting down. In fact I was just at Wal Mart and the silence was deafening. There was no Christmas music playing or the wonderful spicy smell of the holidays. It was back to business as usual. The festive spirit has floated away.

So it's time to say good-bye to another year and get down to the nitty gritty of preparing for the next. Now, I'm one of those gals who make a New Year's resolution list every year. I enjoy accomplishing things, learning something new, or improving a skill that I already possess. But I've got to be honest. I've accomplished very little on my list for 2008.

On the bright side, I won't have to make a new resolution list! lol I can just recycle last year's, save some paper, time, and decision making energy. Somehow I just don't feel too good about it all though! I like to accomplish what I set out to do.

Somewhere in all of my pondering I came across this clip. Watch it if you dare! I guarantee you'll never forget it and YOU WILL BE IMPACTED. I was. And I guarantee that 2009 will be different because of it.

Just One Bite!

2008-12-17T14:24:00.007-05:00

Ahhhh! Have you ever watched chocolate cooking? I mean really looked at it! Who knew there were so many shades of brown? Every swirl of the spoon reveals a brand new pattern to glory in.

Oh the mesmerizing power of liquid satin that reflects the mood of light, and so smooth you can see your reflection it!

...chocolate, the most divine food this side of heaven!

...such a blessing

...such a curse!

In case you haven't guessed, I'm fighting temptation. There's a bake sale tomorrow and I'm making dozens and dozens of chocolate things. Help! I wonder if Eve felt this when she was tempted to take that one bite?

If I close my eyes, I go back to last March... Hershey, PA. I'm riding a little tram through the chocolate factory. On both side are giant glistening vats of chocolate being stirred by huge paddles and a fan gentle blows the aroma of chocolate in my face. My lungs are filled with chocolate air, my clothes smell like chocolate, I'm bathed in chocolate perfume, I'm....

I'm being tempted is what I am. There's not doubt about it. I hear voices whispering, "Eat!"

To be honest, I've always been a little hard on Eve. What'd she go and eat an apple and put all of these curses on womankind for? But then maybe it wasn't an apple after all that tempted her. It just could be that Satan pulled a cocoa bean from the tree, broke it open and wafted it under her nose. Now that I can understand.

I'm determined to not gain another pound this holiday! (Fat chance of that;) lol But here's a little research that I came across to help me get through the horrible temptations of the season.

Aura Cacia Essential Oil - Grapefruit, 0.5 oz

Oh what bliss!

I don't need to fight the temptation any longer.

The doctors now say chocolate is good for me.

Maybe it wasn't the cocoa bean

that was Eve's downfall after all ;)

Seventeen and Wrinkles? You do the Math!

2008-12-13T11:41:00.000-05:00

Today is a bittersweet day for me. Seventeen years ago, the most beautiful little four-pound bundle of joy entered my world. So today I celebrate the birth of one of God's greatest gifts in my life with heartfelt enthusiasm and much thanksgiving. She's stunning, sweet, sincere, and beautiful. Her laughter and love have been music to my heart. She's every mother's dream child... and everyone tells her she looks, acts and sounds just like her mother! ;) lol That's probably just to keep her humble. She obviously has blond hair and mine's quite dark.

Now for the bitter part...
It's getting SO much harder for people to believe that I'm still 29 when they see us together. They don't know that at 17 years of age I was married, and only 19 when she came along. Even when I explained all of this, anyone who isn't extremely mathematically challenged lifts and eyebrow. So I guess it's about time to start claiming that she's my sister! I'm not usually a stubborn person, but I'm finding it difficult to age. But then, I guess the curse of female vanity attaches itself to so many of us. I'm not alone.

But the question remains....

Should I fight it?

Or shake hands and concede graciously?

Before you answer, check this out...

I guess she's got a point!

But maybe a little "natural" help could make "Mother Nature" a little kinder. I'm feeling the urge to invest several cases of anti-wrinkle cream - not that I've spotted any yet, mind you! And if I play my cards just right, maybe the "sister idea" will be a genuine case of mistaken idea instead of a desperate alias on my part. What do you think?

Devita Try Me, Anti-Aging Kit - 1 kit

$20.35

SALE PRICE

$16.21

Car Repair 101 - My Way

2008-12-12T11:45:00.000-05:00

It finally happened. Just as I passed the mailbox I nearly wiped out the day I discovered a mouse in my car (remind me to tell you the story sometime), I heard a terrible racket coming from under my car. My exhaust had fallen and was dragging.

Now, I wouldn't add car repair to my list of hobbies or skills any more than I'd consider weight lifting or drag racing, but a woman has to do what a women has to do. That's especially true when you're a single woman. So I thought I'd share my woman smart car repair secrets with you.

1. Never brag on your car. Pride goeth before a break down. I must admit that the night before the break down I was ribbing my father who bought his "lemon" the same month I bought mine. "It'll be paid for next week, and I wouldn't be afraid to jump in it and go to California," I boasted. My father muttered something about two more years of payments and putting his in the garage again tomorrow.

2. Bungy cords and duct tape will get you out of most situations. Keep a toolbox full of them in your trunk. It only took me a minute to wrap a bungy cord around the tailpipe, pop the trunk, and hoist the exhaust by stretching the cord to a "hookable" spot inside the trunk.

3. Practice looking helpless and distressed. Pop the hood, the trunk (or both) and wander around the car wringing your hands. If you're like me and refuse to panic, there won't be a good Samaritan to stop and help you. When the car pulled up beside me and the passenger window rolled down, I thought heaven had sent an angel to rescue me. Instead, the occupant let me know that my car was too far out in the road!

Just my luck... Instead of a knight in shining armor coming to the rescue, I get a lame footman in tinfoil spouting advice from his seat in the chariot! lol

"Thanks Buddy - whoever you were, but I took care of it just fine... even if I did ruin a new pair of hose kneeling on the pavement."

You've got Mail

2008-12-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

I received this little reminder in my email and thought I'd share it....

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.I

would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.'

There would have been more 'I love you's.' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

A Crown or a Shoe? - Devotional

2008-12-06T23:29:00.000-05:00

I've had a couple of things on my mind this week. First, one of my students asked me a startling question out of the blue. She said, "Sister Beatty, how do you know the difference between someone being depressed and someone being a pessimist?" To be honest, it caught me totally off guard and the best answer I could come up with on the spot was that I imagine the negativity of depression is out of character for that person, but pessimism is a way of life and a way of thinking.

On the flip side of the coin, I heard an advertisement that seemed to blatantly ignore the state of affairs our economy is in with this statement...

"America's greatest renewable resource is opportunity.''

All of this has been swirling in my head and I've been pondering how much our perception of things affects the end results. If you think about it, you probably know people who just seem to ALWAYS get the short end of the stick, and others who have EVERYTHING - talent, looks, money, family. Doesn't it sometimes seem that those who have everything are magnets for even more success?

Then my mind went to the parable of the ten talents (Matt. 25:14-30), and sure enough

29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have an abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath

If we could interview the servant whose one lone talent was being taken away and given to the one with ten talents, I wonder what he'd have to say?

24. Then he which had recieved the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou has not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewn
25. I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine

Do you think he may have tried before and failed, and was afraid to fail again?
Maybe he was resentful that "Mr. Five Talents" had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Was his pessimistic viewpoint a learned trait or even "genetic?"

I don't know the answers to these questions, but do believe I'll take the Paul's advice to heart.

Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I plan to check my perspective and....

I'll wear it!

Indian Traditions and Cherokee Chili

2008-12-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

For the last week I've been cleaning the snow off my car in the mornings, hearing gunshots in the distance, and catching peeps of flourescent orange through the trees as I head out for work. It's hunting season in Pennsylvania again. Now, I'm not a hunter, but hunting season brings to surface nastalgia for an age-old tradition that I attribute to my American Indian ancestry.

Hunting season means oiling guns, sighting in guns, gathering gear, scouting for buck rubs, and all of that stuff to the men of my family, but it has a much cozier implication to the ladies. It's girl time. As a young girl we loved to have Mom to ourselves for a whole day while the men were getting meat for the winter.

We'd put chili on the stove to simmer so that if the men folk came home for lunch to rest and get dry clothes they had something to warm them up. Then we'd go shopping. I know I've mentioned that I'm not a shopper, but there are times when shopping is fun - times when it brings a "together" kind of feeling. (So okay, maybe I'm a social shopper! lol) And of course shopping is a modern tradition, not something my Cherokee or Shawnee ancestors engaged in. But I'm sure they must've had their own lady pastimes for those days when the villages were male-free.

We never spent a lot of money on those shopping trips, maybe it was just the linking of hearts that made the rest of the week so special. After the hunt there was a lot of work for us to do. We canned dear meet, and made jerky or deer balogna. For a week the house smelled of chili, and cooking venison. The dinner table talk was full of laughter and hunting stories told by men who still smelled like the woods.

One of my favorites (don't tell my brother I'm broadcasting this) occurred when Larry was a young hunter. Dad had missed several shots waiting for Larry to get his first deer. Finally the moment came. Dad whispered, "There he is, Larry. Shoot!" When he didn't hear any movement he looked around. Larry wasn't there. He was about 100 yards back in the brush with his lip snagged on a briar bush! lol Needless to say he took a lot of ribbing over that one.

So when I feel the crunch of snow under my feet and hear gunshots in the distance, I get a little hungry for the past. I don't have any hunters in the family since I'm a single lady and my son is young, but when I see my dad and brother I'm sure to hear about their hunting expeditions - and I'll soak up every detail. I'll miss the sounds of canning lids popping as they cool and seal. And there won't be the smell of venison simmering.

But you can bet there will be a pot of chili on the stove!

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Cherokee Chili Recipe

2 pounds of ground burger chopped fine and browned
4 cans of dark kidney beans
2 cans of pinto beans
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 small cans of diced tomatoes with spices (can be replace with regular cans of diced tomatoes for a less spicy chili)
2 cans of corn (drained)
2 packets of taco seasoning

Pour it all in a kettle and simmer.

Feeds 8-12

Optional servings: Line bottom of bowl with Fritos, pour chili into bowl and top with shredded cheese.

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So there you are ladies - a little recipe to warm your kitchen.

May it bring you "togetherness"

with those you love!

Black Friday Confession

2008-11-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

I have a deep dark secret and I guess Black Friday is the perfect day to confess. I know that some of you sitting there might tsk! tsk! my claim to womanhood when you read this. Are you ready?

I was NOT born to shop!

Black Friday is a nightmare day for me. I wake up in the morning and pull the blankets over my head and repeat, I will NOT go to the store today. I WILL not go to the store today. I will not go to the STORE today. And I will repeat it until my brain is alert enough to get the message. I know exactly what I'll find if I do...

Wet shopping carts! You know full well that all of the dry shopping carts have been left outside in those little cart bins and are filling up with snow just for me. No matter how long I wait for the Wal Mart greeter to rub them buggies down they still soak the front of my skirt and my purse before I've reached aisle one.

Crabby shoppers! Now, I'm not being critical here. I totally empathize with anyone who has had their Achilles tendons wheeled over and their bohunkus rear-ended a dozen times every five minutes by maniac cart drivers. It generally doesn't bring out the best - even in the gentlest Christian.

Eternal lines! I'm one of those shoppers who head straight for the self-check out counter. I like a no-mess check-out process. Besides, the self-check counters are closest to the door ;) Honey, if you don't mind standing in the stationary department until your feet are numb while the person 50 people up can't figure out how to swipe their debit card, bless your heart! Would you mind putting an extra of the best deal in the store in your cart for me?

So there it is... my deep dark confession. While you're elbowing your way through the crowd, looking at the empty shelves where the item you wanted used to be and dealing with rubber knees, I'll be here surfing my day away... where the shopping carts are always dry, my heals are safe, my derriere is cushioned, and the lines are always short. =D

I wish you well!

Thanksgiving Blessings

2008-11-27T23:16:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is always my favorite holiday. The last few years have been bittersweet. While I still cherish the tradition of feasting, family, and thanks, there's a special person missing in my life who used to be the key-stone of our family gathering - Pop.

Things are different now. Instead of going to my Grandpa's house, my family now comes to mine to celebrate. Isn't it funny how quickly the baton can be passed from one generation to the next?

To be honest, there's always a little piece of my heart that is sad on Thanksgiving day. But I can't focus on those things. It's a day to count our blessings and thank God for his providence in our lives.

Just two nights ago I was lying in bed and asking God to give me just one more Thanksgiving with my Grandma who was ready to undergo surgery for a life-threatening problem. Grandma is doing well, and though she wasn't able to feast with us today, we've been granted more time to share our love with her. For this I'm SO THANKFUL!

Every day has it's own blessings. This Thanksgiving I didn't make a list of things I'm thankful for. Instead, I've committed myself to being thankful one day at a time. Isn't that how God provides?

Maybe you'd like to join me in keeping a journal of daily blessings...

11/27 Grammy is recovering and God granted my request for another Thanksgiving with her.

11/28 My son went to the dr. for a follow up. Monday while Grandma was heading for surgery, Andrew sustained a concussion. The doc says he'll be good to go if he rests well for a week or so :)All's well that ends well.

11/29 I'm thankful for a day of rest. It's not often than I get the opportunity to sleep as late as I want and have an entire morning with no to do list.

11/30 It was wonderful to get a few minutes to visit with my childhood friend, Jen. Childhood friends and memories get more precious as time passes.

12/1 This morning it rained, then snowed, then rained again on my dirt road. It was such a blessing to have 4 snow tires on my car! I didn't spin a tire :)

12/2 I'm thankful for a night of pleasant dreams :) Isn't it amazing how dreams can affect your mood for the day?

12/3 Children are so great for putting things in perspective. They just take things at face value. Teaching and working with children is a blessing :)

12/4 It's a blessing to have children who love and care for each other :) It's rare for them to bicker

12/5I'm thankful for the hush after a snowfall. When the landscape is powdered with crystals from heaven, it seems to absorb the nosie of life and create a world of peace and tranquility

Oops! I forgot to copy and paste a few here from the blessing list on my main blog page.

12/11I'm thankful to be able to go to college.

12/12Ah, a quiet, uninterrupted evening at home - just the kids and I. What can compare? What could be more rare?I'm thankful for another one to cherish :)

12/13I'm thankful that the little urchin who used to stand in her crib and yell, "Morny punkin!" when she wanted out has grown to be a beautiful, gracious and Godly young lady.Happy 17th Birthday Anita!

12/15God has been gracious this season. The kids have both been sick, but I haven't caught it. I don't have time to get sick or the energy to catch up if I do, so I'm extremely thankful!

Are You Ready?

2008-11-26T11:09:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day. I'm sure I'll have time to count my blessing tomorrow when the turkey is in the oven But today is that long, long day before Thanksgiving. There's so much to do and so little time to get it done.

So why am I on the computer? Don't ask! It's an addiction I think. No, I'm just resting my feet. That's why! But while I'm here, let me share a little Thanksgiving humor with those of you who should be in the kitchen right now.

Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Eskimo Kisses, the Apple and a Testimony

2008-11-22T23:00:00.002-05:00

The words "School is canceled" evokes a hallelujah chorus at my house. A few times every winter the heavens open up in the night and shower us with a foot or more of snow. To the kids it's a much prayed for miracle that means no school, snowballs, hot chocolate, and quite often a little unexpected snuggle time with Mom.

Like a bunch of polar bear cubs, we snuggle on the couch or bed and read together. Sooner or later someone on tries to get more comfortable and jabs an elbow in my ribs, eye, or kidney and a wrestling or tickling match ensues. Then in the calm after the "storm" we start just chatting and having those rare heart-to-heart moments that last a life time.

You fair-weather folks probably know what a butterfly kiss is, but maybe you've never had an Eskimo kiss. We northern folks who've been outside when it was cold enough to make your nostril hair freeze stiff and nasal passages stick closed know. You simply rub nose tips very gently.

Did you know that when you get really close to someone you can see your reflection in their eyes?

When you look into the heart of a love ones eyes, you see your reflection staring right back at you. I can't help but think of the Scripture that tells us we are the apple of God's eye (Deut. 22:8). There have been a lot of instances in my life when I wondered what I looked like through God's eyes, but just recently I've discovered my reflection in the deepths of His all-seeing eyes in a brand new way.

I was facing a tough situation financially. My children's father is between jobs and I was counting the weeks when no child support checks would be coming my way. For a single mom needing to pay bills, buy boots, heat, and all that jazz it's a big deal. So one night in prayer I was feeling especially close to God and began having one of those heart-to-heart chats. I told him all about it. If you're thinking it was one of those sappy sweet "I trust you to take care all me needs" conversations think again. I was tired, frustrated and felt like it was God's turn to do the worrying. I guess I was feeling a bit neglected, alone, and hungering for a protector.

In the midst of it all He spoke to me in a quiet voice, "Don't worry. I'm going to take care of it for you." I was excited, but before long I began looking ahead at everything I needed to get through the coming months. I got upset, and literally heard that voice again say, "I'm going to take care of it." This went on for weeks. I'd start worrying, and I'd hear that quiet voice chiding me with a reminder, "I'm going to take care of it."

On a Friday, I deposited my last child support check. By Sunday night, God had supplied the entire amount of child support I was expecting to miss. Of course I was thankful!!!! As I was lying in bed a week later and thanking God for his providence, he spoke again in that quiet voice and said, "I'm not done."

Blessing after blessing has been flowing my way. I'm not sure just what else God has in store for me! I am just marveling at His goodness, and am ever so thankful to know the I am the apple of His eye.

Lessons from The Buffalo - Devotional

2008-11-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to waste a lot of time talking about this. There are so many lessons to be learned from God's creatures. Take a look and see what happens when The Buffalos meet The Lions.

To Nag or Not to Nag?

2008-11-11T23:48:00.000-05:00

Quite frankly, one of the biggest complaints I hear from my women friends is that they feel underappreciate, overburdened and ignored. How many times do we have to repeat ourselves to get the point across?

"If I've told you once I've told you a hundred times! I am NOT going to tell you again! PICK UP YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY OFF THE BATHROOM FLOOR!"

That was 10 years ago for me. I was at my whits end with a young daughter who just didn't get the message. It seemed like all I did was fuss at her, but it didn't do any good. Then one day I came across a picture of the ugliest old nag of a horse I'd ever seen. Her teeth were protruding, her back swayed and she had that worn out frazzled look.... the same look I'd seen in the mirror that morning.

I started crying. No one enjoys feeling like a broken down old nag. Worse than that is the feeling that everyone around you sees you as an old nag instead of the beautiful and majestic creature God created you to be.

Then it dawned on me that just maybe the problem was me! Maybe I'd been playing the role of a nag so long that everyone around me was beginning to think that's who I really was! So here's what I did.... honest to goodness! I cut out that old picture of the nag and hung it on my fridge. It was there to remind me every day - THAT was the end product of nagging.

Now let me interrupt to say this.... There's no stopping a woman scorned! lol I made up my mind then and there that the people I loved WOULD look up to me and respect me. I would be an Arabian beauty - her neck arched and head held high with tail and mane flowing gracefully in the breeze.

And let me tell you it worked!

Instead of screaming and fuming after I'd looked at the same pair of dirty undies on the bathroom floor, I regally pulled back my shoulders, lifted my chin, arched an eye-brow and looked at the culprit with expectancy in my eyes. I graciously asked once and just once that the offending laundry be removed from my sight. The second reminder was a swat on the posterior. And do you know what I found out?

*When you act like royalty you get respected as royalty.

*Kids are quick learners. If they know you're only going to ask once, they'll do what you ask the first time around.

*The whole world is more pleasant and at peace when there's not a fuming nag on the loose!

*You don't even have to demand things be done. You can politely ask a child to do a chore and expect compliance. They enjoy the respect too.

*I enjoyed looking in the mirror most mornings :)

That was 10 years ago...
I lost my picture of the old nag. If you've got one laying around somewhere, PLEASE send it to me. I know I've told my son 239 times today to pick his laundry up off the bathroom floor.

Alas, some lessons have to be relearned!

Young 'Uns are Full of Surprises

2008-11-10T08:17:00.000-05:00

The IM-Perfect Hostess - Devotional

2008-11-02T12:22:00.000-05:00

Okay Ladies,

It's time for a little confession...

A few weeks ago, I had a college class and couldn't attend prayer meeting. I left the kids at the church and instructed them to find a ride home with their uncle or other church member. I also delivered a threat that maybe a few of you have utilized. "Do not, under ANY circumstances, bring anyone into the house when you come home!"

It appeared as if Hurricane Katrina had paid us a personal visit instead of the water pump having been off for four days (my excuse for the whole mess! lol). To be honest, I was afraid that someone would call the president to declare my kitchen a natural disaster area. You know what that would mean! TV film crews... national coverage... the whole world would see me at my worst... a woman's worst nightmare.

Every now and then, life gets crazy and destroys our willingness to invite people into our homes, our lives, our hearts - depending on whether we're talking in a physical, emotional, or spiritual sense.

It all kind of struck home when I was reading Luke 24:28-31.

28. And they (Jesus and his disciples) drew nigh unto the village whither they went: and he(Jesus) made as though he would have gone further.
29. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

What if I had been the lady of the house?

30. And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to them.
31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him ...

It looks like I would've missed out on a golden opportunity. Maybe it's time to do a little decluttering!

Christian Softball - Devotional

2008-10-11T15:33:00.000-04:00

It was the perfect pitch on the perfect fall day. A 10-year-old boy couldn't have managed a better pitch - straight over the plate, and waist high. Dad swung the bat and it was out of there! WOW!

I got a call from the emergency room shortly after 1 p.m. My son was there crying for Mom with lips swollen three times their nomal size. I guess when a perfect pitch meets up with a perfect bat, it doesn't always add up to good results.

With wry humor I looked at my son gingerly balancing a bloody ice pack on his distorted mouth and said, "Kiddo, sometimes life is just like that. We give it our best shot and it turns around and smacks us in the face."

Ever been there? I have too many times to count. David was there too.

Psalm 73:13-14
13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14. For all the day long I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

To be honest, it sounds like David might have had a "fat lip" of his own. He had been looking around at the unfairness of life. Evil doers were seemingly blessed while he who had dedicated his life to living for God was in a rough spot.

I think we all get there at some point in life. But the fact of the matter is that it rains on the just and the unjust. And no, life isn't always fair. But if we read a little further we find David in the sanctuary. In that place he manages to refocus on the important things and we find him saying, "It is good for me to draw near to God."

So the next time you're giving it your best shot and out of the nowhere you see stars, your body goes numb, and you drop to your knees from the impact of a perfect pitch gone wrong, find your way to the Sanctuary of God. It's the best place to refocus.

And by the way.... "fat lips" don't last forever. You'd never guess that just five days ago my son strongly resembled a duck-billed platypus!