an age old question, finally answered...

Obviously, I WOULD jump off a cliff

if all the other kids were doing it!!

Especially the really cool ones!!

I just started a facebook account.

I think I'm proud...

... and then they said there's no such thing as Santa

You know that old thing we've all been taught that goes something like:

"sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?

WELL,.. they LIED!!! They LIED BAD!!!

Just thought ya'll needed to know that I know!!

(P.S. I'm still holding out hope that the whole "there's no SANTA" thing is a lie too.)

CASE SENSITIVE? ABSOLUTELY!! & BOLD & UNDERLINED!!!

“… for I KNOW whom I have believed and am persuaded that HE is able…” (II Timothy 1:12)

And THAT is where I find the most comfort in these strange & trying times. And because of THAT, I will continue to pray to GOD that HE will continue to bless and keep his people. And just as I have in the past, I will continue to pray that GOD will bless our leaders, ESPECIALLY our president, with the much needed wisdom to make the right choices for our country and the strength necessary to lead us in the right direction. Just as WE elected them to do.

But above all, I will continue to pray to the one and only GOD that, in his infinite GRACE and MERCY, and in spite of our ignorance, he will continue to BLESS my Parents, Siblings, Husband, Friends, and me with the abundant gifts we enjoy each and every day of our lives: Food, clothing, homes, PRECIOUS children, jobs, entertainments, and the knowledge and comfort of having FAMILY & FRIENDS who love us in spite of our faults and failures, and a GOD who loves us unconditionally.

We would all (including & especially our president and leaders) do well to heed the psalmist's words:

“…Be still, and know that I am GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10)

Playing Possum!!!

So, we figure the conversation might have gone something like this:

As Harold the possum rushes into his house out of breath, covered with dirt, hair all out of place and his eyes bugging out, he manages to squeeze out a squeaky:
“…you’re never gonna believe this…”
when he notices that his Mother and Father and siblings are all sitting quietly around the table waiting for dinner to be served. His mother looks at him sternly and says:

Mom O’possum: Harold, you’re late for dinner AGAIN, what AM I going to do with you?

Harold (still out of breath): but, but, but MOM, DAD, GUYS, you won’t believe…

Dad O’possum: Son, How many times have I warned you about being late for dinner?

Harold (bursting at the seams): SERIOUSLY, you’re never going to believe what just happened!!

Mom O’possum: OK, Harold, hurry up. Dinner’s getting cold. Tell us what POSSIBLY could have been important enough to make you late for supper. And wipe that dirt, and …is that dog food… off your face. And slick your hair down, you look a mess.

Harold (speaking a mile a minute): Well, see… I was on my way home and I came across this pile of dog food that someone had just thrown out and I thought that I’d bring a bunch of it home for dinner. So I stopped to fill my pockets, and I was just minding my own business when out of nowhere, this giant monster came running at me. My first thought was HOLY SH…

(at the same time)
Dad O’possum: Son, watch your mouth…
Mom O’possum: Harold Norman O’possum…!!!

Harold: … but guys, it was as big as a horse, I mean a house, yea, it was as big as a house and it was coming straight for me and it was growling and snapping it’s awful fangs and the horns, oh the horns were horrible, and I just knew I was going to be torn to tiny shreds and die. But Dad, remember how you told me to never run, and that if I just played like I was dead, then I’d be OK?

Dad O’possum (under his breath): I was talking about Bullies son, not monsters…

Harold:… WELL IT WORKED!!! I put all my training into use and when he hit me, I just went limp and laid there. The Monster stood over me growling and snapping, and drooling , and then … get this… and then… as I glanced out from under my eyelids, his MASTERS came up and they were talking about how the Monster killed me and, and then the Big one Kicked me!! But I didn’t cave, I just laid there and held my breath and finally, they moved on. I waited just a little longer, lifted my head to make sure no one was around and then I came home as fast as I could. I’m telling you, THAT was a close one!! It’s a wonder I’m even here.

Mom O’possum: (sigh) eat your soup Harold…


Here’s what really happened:

We were out for our evening stroll with Jiro. As we rounded the corner of the house, I saw Jiro take off like a streak of lightning and like a linebacker, hit something furry in the yard. The furry thing rolled and I yelled at Jiro to “LEAVE IT”, which he finally did after a few more sniffs. As I got closer, I realized that the furry thing was a possum and it was lying there as limp and still as a dishrag. By that time Roger had walked up and we stood over the dead possum. Roger figured that it must have been hit by a car and just happened to make it to the yard before it died. I said, "No, I had actually seen Jiro “roll” it, so if it was dead, it hadn’t been that way long". Roger nudged it with his foot and said, "see… it’s dea… no, wait, I just saw a lip move". We both walked a little ways away and turned to watch. Sure enough, the little guy, lifted his head, looked around, got up, shook himself off and waddled away. I had never actually seen a possum “playing possum” before. It was totally cool!!! Poor guy!! Even funnier was the look of total confusion when Jiro came back to check on his “kill” and it was gone!! Oh the joys of living in the South!!

SERIOUSLY...????!!!

OMG!!! I think, I'm LIKE..., soooo,

JEALOUS of an 8 yr old!!

Whilst sitting in church this morning, another family walked in. As they got to their pew, the littlest girl, no more than 8 yrs old, very carefully pulled her

The NORTH FACE fleece off,

and hung it over the pew in front of her.

Then she placed her COACH purse on the seat beside her.

She settled her bible on her lap, then dug into her purse

and pulled out her PALM PILOT

so that she could take notes (I'm certain) during the service.

Thankfully, I didn't ever hear her cell phone (I'm sure she had one) ring so she must have been considerate enough to turn it off before she came in.

It did make me feel somewhat better when she pulled out the

strawberry scented Hello Kitty pen.

(I have an Office Max TUL pen in my purse.)

SERIOUSLY!!????

(I'm going to refrain from stepping on my soap box, because I fear I'm beginning to sound more and more like my increasingly intelligent mother every day, however I will use one familiar, but ever more understandable phrase:..

What's the world coming to?)

All is Calm, All is Bright...

We were so wonderfully Blessed

@ Christmas this year!!

It was simple, quiet, and shared with Family & Friends

as it should be!!

(and totally "unblogged". i started the entry early but forgot to publish it)

Thanks to my Sister Susan, who drew my name, I was able to

display my first ever Nativity Scene.

Though the true meaning of Christmas

is meant to be portrayed by all Nativity scenes,

others that I've seen have always seemed over done,

and somewhat garrish.

Because of that, I have avoided displaying one at my house.

This one however, touched my heart with it's simplicity and serenity.

This one FELT like Christmas to me,

and brought a warmth to my heart

each time I looked at it and was reminded of

the REASON we celebrate Christmas.

Many Blessings to one and all!!

Nothing less than al dente will do...

Set-up: I've got a cold and I came home from work early on Monday. When the counselor got off work, he called to see if there was anything that he could pick up for me. I couldn't think of anything exotic, but the thought ran through my head that one should eat chicken noodle soup when one has a cold, so I asked him to stop by the store and and get some noodles. Not just any noodles mind you, I wanted a specific noodle and he knew just what to look for. There is only one store around here that sells these noodles, and even then you're not assured that there will be any on the shelf when you get there, so... Roger went to look for noodles.

This is where the real story starts:

When he got home, I was pleased to see that not only had he found my noodles, but he had several packs of them in his bag. I said, "I hope you got every bag they had!!"

In answer to my statement, Roger gave me this cute little sheepish grin and then said:
"I had every bag of noodles that were on the shelf in my basket, but I put 2 of them back."
When I raised an eyebrow at him, he continued:
"...well, I got to thinking. What if someone else happened to go into the store tonight with the sole intent of getting these specific noodles for someone they loved who was sick, but when they got there, the shelf was bare? ...so I left them some."

After a moment to let the mist in my eyes dry and the swelling of my heart subside, I just gave him a great big hug. Nothing I could have said would have been adequate, but it turned my thoughts to the young women out there who want so desperately to find "that special someone", (sometimes at any cost). I wish that I could tell them this: Never settle for less than a man such as this. If something as un-important as noodles can make him think of the comfort and well being of a complete stranger, how much more loving, caring and protective will he be towards the woman he chooses as his wife? No woman, or any person for that matter, should accept less!

And as I said my prayers that night, I asked God to hold Roger especially tight and keep him safe from all harm. I have been truly blessed to have been given such an amazing treasure.