Twas the month before Christmas

I found this online but it wasn't attributed to anyone. I liked it so wanted to share. Sometimes it feels like this is how life is but I know there is and always will be a remnant dedicated to Jesus. Since this is Black Friday I thought it appropriate.


Twas the month before Christmas


Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police
had taken away,
The reason for Christmas -
no one could say.

The children were told
by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men
and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings,
the teachers would say
December 25th
is just a "Holiday".

Yet the shoppers were ready
with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down
to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna,
an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing,
something quite odd!

Retailers promoted
Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by
Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging
their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas -
was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples
and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive,
Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used
to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden,
Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather,
on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate,
there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus,
in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word,
as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak
of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas
was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season,
stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break"
under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks,
listen to me.

Choose your words carefully,
choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!

Cats and pumpkins

Who would have ever thought cats would enjoy playing with pumpkins so much.

An Irish Ghost Story

This story happened a while ago in Dublin , and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Bradford, a Dublin University student, was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm. The night was rolling on and no car went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him.

Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped.


John, desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got into the car and closed the door.... only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn't on.

The car started moving slowly.. John looked at the road ahead and saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for his life. Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of nowhere through the window, and turned the wheel. John, paralyzed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him.



Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road,
so, gathering strength; he jumped out of the car and ran to it. Wet
and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had.


A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was
crying... and wasn't drunk.


Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the dark
and stormy night. They, like John , were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other....

Look Paddy....there's that idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!!!!'

National Breast Cancer Month

October is National Breast Cancer Month and sadly I am sure everyone out there has been touched by breast cancer somehow in their lives. Lets keep praying for a cure and even better a prevention.

MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do... However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you . But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God

Earthquakes in Divers places

Its been over a month since I blogged. I thought I would force myself to start back. I hope how soon open enrollment is for insurance at work. I really need to go to the doctor I think to get some meds for depression. I can't seem to win this one on my own.

Anyhow the point to this blog is to tell about the earthquake we had on Tuesday, August 23rd 2011. It happened about 3 minutes or so before 2:oo pm. I had just went to lay down trying to get some sleep before I had to go into work at 6:00pm. I sleep on an air mattress and about as soon as I got into bed, it was like a wave on a waterbed happened. It dipped and I felt the ripples. I was like what in the world so I got up and came into the living room where I saw my knick knacks on the entertainment center waving back and forth. I went outside and saw people standing around. I thought perhaps there had been an explosion here in Mount Airy. I called my aunt to see if she felt it and she had so then I got on facebook and saw everyone posting that there had just been a quake in Mineral, VA measuring 5.8. It was felt as far north as Ontario Canada and as far south as Florida. An earthquake never crossed my mind because we just don't have them here on the east coast.

The day before on the 22nd there had been an earthquake measuring 5.3 in Colorado. That was the largest earthquake there in over 40 years. Then on Tuesday night there was a small earthquake measuring 3.6 in San Francisco, CA. Some people say that its just nature, some say its global warming but I personally look to the Bible where in Matthew 24:7 it says "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." Divers means many. I honestly believe Jesus is getting ready to step out of Heaven and call His followers home. I actually feel physically sick from being surrounded by sin so much and that's never happened before. I long for the day when all the saints are gathered into Heaven to spend eternity worshipping and praising Christ.

I found there were 7 references to events that could be called earthquakes in the Bible.

1. Exodus 19:18: And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

2. 1 Kings 19:11: And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

3. Zechariah 14:5: And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

4. Matthew 27:54: Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

5. Matthew 28:2: And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

6. Acts 16:26: And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

7. Revelations 6:12: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

I say read the Bible and come to your own conclusions but as for me, my soul is saying the end draws near. I am ready to move on. If you aren't ready please think about it and make a choice to spend eternity in Heaven.

Skin Softening Sugar Scrub

I am so in love with this craft idea I found here. As soon as I read it I had to try it out and made a trial batch just to see if I liked it. You take a jar ( I used a plastic bowl because I don't like glass near the tub) fill it almost all the way to the top with sugar, add a layer (just a layer not top off the container) of dish liquid ( I used Dawn Botanicals in jasmine and lavender, it made such a lovely shade of lavender and smelled awesome) stir the dish liquid in with a case knife (easier than a spoon). I had to add a bit more dish liquid to get it the right consistancy. I went to take a bath and used it. My skin is super soft and the tub is so clean since there was dish liquid in the mix. I love bath products and have used the kind with oils in the mix but then the tub is a little slippery and you have to scrub it out afterwards. This was wonderful, easy to mix with ingredients you already have at the house. The original blog poster said she had made it and it was still good months later. I am going to make some of this for all the ladies on my Christmas list since its so easy and I just love it. I love the way my skin feels now. Its so silky soft.

Good bye Pikie

I have been to WV this week. My step-grandfather passed away so I took off and went up there. He was 85 and had been married 62 years to the same woman. They had 10 children. I remember being a little girl watching the Cowboys play on tv with him. He had me convinced for years he was Tom Landry :). He could be so funny but was so quiet you might miss it. Rest in Peace Pikie.

Catching up

I have been so busy with work, I have barely been online. The last 2 or 3 posts were actually ones that I had prescheduled. With all the summer vacations and stuff, we have been working 10-12 hours a day and since I drive almost an hour each way thats a large part of my day. By the time I work then get home, I just don't feel like being online. I have to work 3 12 shifts this week, then next week is a normal week then back to the 12 hour shifts for the 1st week of August then hopefully it will settle down for a while. Everyone at work seems to be arguing and tempers are real short. I think its just that everyone is so tired and its been so hot. Thankfully its been real cool the past 2 days so that might help some. We did all get $60 gift cards for Wal-Mart for meeting the quarterly safety goal. I used mine to buy a mini boom box. I haven't had one and really wanted one so got it and some blank cds so I could burn some songs to listen to at work.
Not much has really been happening. I started a new diet on June 15th and so far I have lost 19 lbs (go me). Basically I cut out Coke and have been drinking Minute Maid light lemonade. I haven't really been exercising or watching what I eat. I am trying to do it in baby steps. Once I am not so tired I am going to get more into it.
I haven't hardly been entering any contests but I did get a surprise win. I opened my door one evening to go to work and there was a box. I opened it up and I had won a Jensen JISS-85 iPod MP3 Docking AM FM Shower Radio Stereo w/LCD Clock as a second prize winner in the Dirty Dilemmas Sweepstakes from Axe. This is going in the gift box for someone's Christmas present.

Happy 4th of July

Contrary to some people's opinion, American was founded and considered a Christian nation.

Here is quiz about the founding fathers and their beliefs.

A Letter from Your Father

My Child ~

You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-3

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Dadsense

Since I posted one for Moms here is one for Dads.

Songs for the dads

Tomorrow is Father's day so I thought I would post a few songs to honor dads everywhere. I don't have a terribly close relationship with my dad but it is what it is. We are closer now that I am adult.



It doesn't take a blood tie to be a real dad.



I just love Conway Twitty.

June 16th- National Fudge Day

* National Fudge Day- What can you say about a day to honor fudge. We love fudge in this family.

This one is in honor of my oldest daughter because she doesn't really like chocolate.
Peanut Butter Fudge:
3 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 tsp.vanilla
1(7oz,)jar marshmallow cream
1 small jar peanut butter
Combine sugar and milk in a saucepan. Boil over med.heat or med.-high until
it forms a soft ball.Take off burner. Add vanilla,marshmallow cream and peanut
butter. Mix well.Pour on wax paper and cool. Cut in square.

One of the managers at a gas station I did accounting for gave me this recipe. I love this stuff.
DREAMSICLE FUDGE

1 lb. cream cheese, room temp.
6 cups powdered sugar
2 lbs. white chocolate
2 T. orange extract

Melt chocolate. Mix with cheese, then mix in powdered sugar and flavoring. Spread in pan to set up. Refrigerate because of cream cheese!

My youngest loves this and so did an ex-boyfriend.
Fantasy Fudge
3 c SUGAR
3/4 c MARGARINE
2/3 c EVAPORATED MILK
12 oz CHOCOLATE CHIPS
7 oz MARSHMALLOW CREAM
1 c CHOPPED NUTS
1 t VANILLA

COMBINE SUGAR, MILK AND MARGARINE IN A HEAVY SAUCE PAN AND BRING TO A BOIL. STIR CONSTANTLY. CONTINUE TO BOIL FOR 5 MINUTES OVER MEDIUM HEAT. REMOVE FROM HEAT AND STIR IN CHOCOLATE CHIPS. ADD MARSHMALLOW CREAM AND VANILLA EXTRACT. BEAT UNTIL WELL BLENDED. POUR INTO A WELL BUTTERED 9 X 13" PAN. COOL AT ROOM TEMPERATURE UNTIL FIRM. CUT INTO SQUARES.

Answers to Flag day Quiz

Here are the answers:

Q: What are the meanings of the colors on the flag?
A: Red - Stands for hardiness and courage.
White - Is the symbol of purity and innocence.
Blue - Is the color of vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Q: What is the Pledge of Allegiance?
A: I Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Q: How should one stand when saying the pledge?
A: You should stand facing the flag with your right hand placed over your heart.

Q: How many stripes appear on the flag?
A: Thirteen horizontal stripes

Q: Of that number, how many are red and how many white?
A: Seven red alternating with 6 white stripes.

Q: What do the stripes represent?
A: The original 13 colonies

Q: How many stars appear on the flag?
A: 50 stars

Q: What do the stars represent?
A: The 50 states of the Union

Flag Day Quiz

I remember flag day every year because a boy I had a crush on for years has his birthday that day :). So happy birthday to Jamey Cullop and the U.S. flag. Here is a little quiz about the US Flag. I will post the answers tomorrow morning.

What are the meanings of the colors on the flag?
What is the Pledge of Allegiance?
How should one stand when saying the Pledge?
How many stripes appear on the flag?
Of that number, how many are red and how many white?
What do the stripes represent?
How many stars appear on the flag?
What do the stars represent?

TSMS-Sometimes I cry

I was so blessed last year to hear Jason Crabb in person, at the WV Church of God campmeeting in Princeton WV. He is such a sweet and humble person when you meet him although just listening to him talk on tv, that same spirit comes through. I love his voice and pray that God blesses him abundantly in his ministry with all that he tries to do. He will again be at the WV state campmeeting on Friday June 17th at the Church of God Princeton WV. If you are ever in an area where you can hear Jason, I promise you will be wonderfully blessed to go see him. He is one of my all time favorite singers, in case you couldn't guess from this post :).

Week in review

I had a wonderful week last week. I won 3 giveaway prizes.

copy of Beth Kendrick's book, The Bake Off from Debbie's Book Bag. If you love books I recommend Debbie's blog.

A copy of the Magic Warble from One Crazy Cookie. Tiffanee has some awesome recipes on her site.

A ruffled kitchen towel from FrouFrouBritches. The picture is just lovely and I can't wait to get it in the mail.

I also bought myself some things this week. I went to Lowe's Foods and they had some hanging plants on clearance for $3 each. I don't have anywhere to hang them but I set them on each side of my balcony. They are perking up nicely with deheading and water. Also in the picture is a little tool I bought on clearance at Wal-Mart not knowing what I would use it for. Its a sonic scrubber pro detailer. I have rheumatoid arthritis and my hands aren't what they used to be. I have used this detailer for doing dishes. Its amazing for scrubbing. It gets in all the little tiny cracks and its better than a brillo pad for cleaning pots and pans plus it doesn't take the coating off pans. Its battery powered so it does the work for me. I wish I had bought way more of them. I don't keep it on the porch but I was trying for just one picture :)

This purchase here is the one that means the most to me. Growing up we had a little plastic ball that you plugged up and it chirped like a bird. I always got to be the one to plug it up and when I was an adult my grandmother gave it to me. 11 years ago someone in a fit of pique gave all my christmas stuff away. I had a lot of keepsake items in there but that ball was the most meaningful for me. I haven't really been in the christmas spirit since. I have seached antique shops, thrift stores, Ebay, Amazon, googled and never saw anything like it. Out of the blue God told me to google one more time and up popped this link. The reviews weren't very good but it was exactly what I was looking for and exactly what I was expecting. Shipping was almost as much as the item but $15 for something that means so much to me wasn't too much and I used my gift cards I earned at Swagbucks This video isn't very good quality but it works.

June 10th- Ice Tea day and Judy Garland's birthday

I dont' know if its because I am southern or not but I love tea and could drink it all day every day. Well with some Coke once in a while.

When I used to make ice tea it was hit or miss if it was going to be bitter or not until I found Southern Plate and tried Christy's recipe. I make perfect tea every time now.

Today is the birthday of the star of one of my very favorite movies of all time. Judy Garland.

June 6th

Today is
* First Drive-in Movie Theater Opens In New Jersey in 1933.
The drive in theater here in Mount Airy recently closed. It was so sad that no one with money wanted to keep it open. I used to love going to the drive in. This site lists local drive ins for NC but its not up to date since it still shows the one here in Mt Airy being open. If you go to the main menu you can check out your state.


* National Applesauce Cake Day
Here is a recipe I found over 10 years ago online. At the time I wasn't expecting to ever post stuff online so I don't have the credit information. Its really good though. Esp topped with ice cream while warm.

Applesauce Cake (1942)
½ C margarine
1C sugar
2 egg whites
1 ½ C applesauce
2 C flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
½ C raisins

Cream margarine with sugar until fluffy.
Add egg whites and beat well. Add applesauce and beat.
Sift dry ingredients together. Add to margarine mixture and mix well.
Stir in raisins. Pour into lightly oiled 9-inch square pan.
Bake in 350° oven for 45 minutes.