Great Advice

Here is some advice from Pastor Tim on weight loss..

1.Weigh yourself with clothes on, after dinner...as well as in the morning, without clothes, before breakfast, because it's nice to see how much weight you've lost overnight.

2. Never weigh yourself with wet hair.

3. When weighing, remove everything, including glasses. In this case, blurred vision is an asset. Don't forget the earrings, these things can weigh at least a pound.

4. Use cheap scales only, never the medical kind, because they are always five pounds off...to your advantage, of course.

5. Always go to the bathroom first.

6. Stand with arms raised, making pressure on the scale lighter. (Waving them is optional but occasionally helps!)

7. Don't eat or drink in the morning until AFTER you've weighed in,completely naked, of course.

8. Weigh yourself after a haircut, this is good for at least half a pound of hair (hopefully).

9. Exhale with all your might BEFORE stepping onto the scale (air has to weigh something, right?)

10. Start out with just one foot on the scale, then holding onto the towel rack in front of you, slowly edge your other foot on and slowly let off of the rack. Admittedly, this takes time, but it's worth it. You will weigh at least two pounds less than if you'd stepped on normally.

Big

Carmi's photograph theme this week is "big."  When Ella was here in June, we visited Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, and she had the opportunity to feed a giraffe. I walked up on the platform with her, and standing close to the giraffe, realized just how big they are...big beautiful brown eyes, that long tongue that reaches so far to take hold of leaves, the long neck and legs.

Giraffe

A giraffe came by the willow tree
Stopped to gaze and talk to me.
For he was very lean and tall
A pillar, a column, a walking wall.

And as he looked down upon my face
His eyes were wide two pools in space,
As they engulfed, the countryside,
The sky above, held me inside -
Their special height and slant of things
Their special view of every thing,
And I could see by looking up
The wealth within his loving cup
That thinks and drinks the sun and sky
And watches us from way up high.

And yet I found it sad to see
That he could never reach down to me
For he was too tall, too much ideal
And I was too small, too much the real.

So, this angular figure, graceful and wise
Of astounding vision and cool clear eyes
Watched the sun rise, then watched it set
Looked down on me and seemed to forget
That I was as much a part of this scene
As the sun in the sky, the oak in the green.

Then the willow tree watching standing near by
Saw the distance between us and started to cry
she bowed down her head touching the ground
And from that day to this,
it's the way she'll be found.

Author Unknown

 

Monday Morning Manna

Are you amazed by God? We often look at present day "miracles" and say, "What an amazing God we serve."  We look at the miracles in the Bible and think "Wow." Scripture says that people were amazed out our Lord's sayings.
God did an amazing thing in the family of some of Don's relatives during this past month.

In July, one of Don's great aunts died. Her youngest son and his family had flown out to Arizona for the graduation of one of their boys from motorcycle mechanic school.  Doris died while they were there.  After graduation, the son wanted to accompany his family back to New York where the service for his grandma would take place.

His dad went online, and there was one ticket left for the flight they were taking home. That was amazing, but the even more amazing thing was that it was right by the rest of the family.  When it came time to change planes in Atlanta, they again sought a seat for the son.  Where was it? You guessed it...right with the family.  This family was impressed with God's interest in the little details of their lives, and I think amazed.
Take time to day to be amazed by God.

Looking for lunch

When I pulled into my driveway yesterday, instead of pulling into the garage, I stopped outside.  When I got out of my car, I heard a loud rat-a-tat-tat, so I knew there must be a woodpecker nearby.  It was much too loud for him to be on a tree, so I looked at the utility pole across the street from my house, and there he was way up at the top, pecking away.

We often see pileated woodpeckers in our neighborhood, and this one appears to be a young one.

One day a few years ago, I walked outside and saw four young pileated woodpeckers on the tall Washington palm that is in the yard next door. That was exciting to see!

When Sarah was in kindergarten, she learned this poem about woodpeckers.  Seeing this woodpecker on the pole reminded me of that poem, so here is your literature bit for the day.

The woodpecker pecked out a little round hole
And made him a house in a telephone pole.
One day when I watched he poked out his head,
And he had on a hood and a collar of red.

When the streams of rain pour out of the sky,
And the sparkles of lightning go flashing by,
And the big, big sheels of thunder roll,
He can snuggle back in the telephone pole.

Elizabeth Roberts

Punny

To err is human; to purr, feline.
To err is human; two curs, canine.
To err is human; to do nothing, benign.
To err is human; to quit, resign.
To err is human; to howl, lupine.
To err is human; to solve, design.
To err is human; to moo, bovine.
To err is human; to soothe, calamine.
To err is human; to pretend, pantomime.
To err is human; to bloom, columbine.
To err is human; to prance, equine.
To err is human; to add, combine.
To err is human; to befriend, pal o' mine.
To err is human; to woo, Valentine.
To err is human; to horrify, Frankenstein.
To err is human; to straighten, align.
To err is human; to drown, Clementine.
To err is human; to twist, serpentine.
To err is human; to love, sublime.
To err is human; to cut in, go back in line!

Thanks, Pastor Tim

cybersalt.org

Monday Morning Manna

Every new day brings new reasons to praise God. With each dawn, the wonders of creation and God's grace are evident anew.

from biblegateway.com

                     

A Room With a View

I recently returned from a trip to the Maritime Provinces of Canada. A group called Tropical Harmony from Sweet Adelines takes a tour each year, and they were sorely needing another person to complete the tour, so I decided to go. I didn't sing with the group, simply went along for the ride, and what a ride it was. We landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia and from there visited Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The photos in this blog post are from near the end of the trip. We stopped in Baddeck, Nova Scotia and visited the Alexander Graham Bell museum and stayed two nights in the Silver Dart Lodge.

Bell, most famous for the invention of the telephone, had many other inventions, as well.  Visiting his museum was one of the highlights of the trip.  His mother began losing her hearing when he was a boy, and then he married a lady who was deaf, and so he was very interested in communication and how to make it better for the ladies of his life.

Although most famous for the telephone, he would not permit one in his laboratory because of the interruptions it would bring.  Whatever would he think of all of today's different forms of communication.

The museum contained a special section for children, quite appropriate as the above quote and the photo below surely show that he had a great love for little ones.

April 30

No matter how many years pass, the anniversary of one's loved one is generally foremost in one's thoughts.  Earlier this week, my sister-in-law's status on Face Book was one of remembrance.  Their dear baby girl, who had been born with a heart defect, died during a procedure.  She was fifteen months old.  Had she lived she would be 17 today.

April 30 was the day that my husband died, being taken in a horrific traffic accident.  Nine years ago.  The emotions become raw once again as I think of him.  Believing as we do that heaven is real and that he is there is comfort knowing we'll see him again, but it doesn't fill the void that is left with one's leaving.

I watched the Dove awards the other night, something I don't think I've ever done before.  I guess I did because I had recently spent a weekend in Nashville at a Sandi Patty event, and she was being honored at that awards night.  During the evening an award was given to Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife who have helped so many families with adoption.  Mrs. Chapman spoke of their little Maria who was taken suddenly from them, and she said something like this..."we had her for such a short time here, but we'll be together for eternity."  Blessed hope!

A few years ago at a WOF meeting, Kathy Troccoli sang a song that she had written in remembrance of her mother, I think, who had died from cancer.  I believe it speaks for all of us who have lost loved ones.

Men's Thesaurus

Here's another gem from Pastor Tim.  I certainly am not trying to be a male basher here, but these are funny.

"IT'S A GUY THING"
Translated: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."

"CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?"
Translated: "Why isn't it already on the table?"

"UH HUH," "SURE, HONEY," OR "YES, DEAR"
Translated: Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.

"IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN"
Translated: "I have no idea how it works."

"TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD."
Translated: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."

"THAT'S INTERESTING, DEAR."
Translated: "Are you still talking?"

"YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS."
Translated: "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop,' the address of the first girl I ever kissed, and the vehicle identification number of every car I've ever owned... but I forgot your birthday."

"OH, DON'T FUSS -- I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT'S NO BIG DEAL."
Translated: "I have actually severed a limb but will bleed to death before I admit that I'm hurt."

"HEY, I'VE GOT MY REASONS FOR WHAT I'M DOING."
Translated: "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."

"I CAN'T FIND IT."
Translated: "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."

"WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?"
Translated: "What did you catch me at?"

"I HEARD YOU."
Translated: "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next three days yelling at me."

"YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE."
Translated: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse."

"YOU LOOK TERRIFIC."
Translated: "Oh, please don't try on one more outfit. I'm starving."

"I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE."
Translated: "No one will ever see us alive again."

"WE SHARE THE HOUSEWORK."
Translated: "I make the messes; she cleans them up."

Leave it to kids

I read these in Pastor Tim's website this morning...always good for a laugh.

"I teach fourth grade in Ventura County, California. As a fun assignment, I gave the students the beginning of a list of famous sayings and asked them to provide original endings for each one. Here are some examples of what my students submitted.

- The grass is always greener when you leave the sprinkler on.

- A rolling stone plays the guitar.

- The grass is always greener when you remember to water it.

- A bird in the hand is a real mess.

- No news is no newspaper.

- It's better to light one candle than to waste electricity.

- It's always darkest just before I open my eyes.

- You have nothing to fear but homework.

- If you can't stand the heat, don't start the fireplace.

- If you can't stand the heat, go swimming.

- Never put off 'til tomorrow what you should have done yesterday.

- A penny saved is nothing in the real world.

- The squeaking wheel gets annoying.

- We have nothing to fear but our principal.

- To err is human. To eat a muskrat is not.

- I think, therefore I get a headache.

- Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry, and someone yells, "Shut up!"

- Better to light a candle than to light an explosive.

- It's always darkest before 9:30 p.m.

- Early to bed and early to rise is first in the bathroom.

- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a blister.

- There is nothing new under the bed.

- The grass is always greener when you put manure on it.

- Don't count your chickens -- it takes too long."

.

"

Happy Resurrection Day

Amazing Love

Our choir is preparing music for Easter.  This is one of my favorites...such wonderful truth written there.
I've always said that the people who get the most out of the music is the ones who perform it.  As I practice over and over, the truth burns in my heart.  The sound of this video is not very good, but the words are there for you to contemplate as you listen.

Playing Tourist

This past weekend I was host to my dear friend, Tiina, from Estonia.  She was longing for some sunshine after a long, very cold winter in her homeland.  Knowing how she loves gardening, we took a morning to visit Selby Gardens in Sarasota.

Upon entering the gardens, we passed though an area which had many of the blooming plants.  There were beautiful orchids in abundance, as well as many other flowering plants.

This anthurium is beautiful in its simplicity.  I was amazed at is size.

We strolled along the walk and came upon this huge banyan tree.  This is one tree you wouldn't want to have growing in your yard.  As it grows, roots descend from the branches and grow into the ground to give support to the ever-spreading tree.  On this day, this tree provided fun hiding places to some children who were there with their parents.

 

I don't know the name of this tree, but it wouldn't work well in your yard either.  I love how the roots grow out, again giving support to the tree.  It reminds me of Psalm 1.  The psalmist writes that the man who delights in the Lord and in his Word will be like a tree planted by streams of water...a tree that yields its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

After our visit to the gardens, we drove up Longboat Key, then up to Bradenton Beach where we had a yummy lunch at the Beach House.  We ended our day by going to see The King's Speech.

Playing tourist with Tiina reminded me of the wonderful week I spent with my new friends in California.  They seemed to revel in showing me places that were dear to them in their state.  I won't forget that trip for a long time, and I hope Tiina will take home many fond memories from her days here in Florida this past week.

Happy Birthday, Sarah

 January 20, 1977 was a VERY cold day in Florida...26 degrees as we went to the hospital.

 Happy birthday to you, dear daughter.

Sarah's living now in Virginia.  She moved in October so that she could be near Ella and see her grow up.  I don't blame her a bit.

A Choice to Make

 Every Tuesday when I'm in Bradenton, I volunteer in my church office, answering the phone while the staff his its weekly meeting.  While I'm there, I have a few tasks that I do.  This week I was asked to call a few people to let them know that their offering envelopes were ready to be picked up.  One lady that I called is one whom I've known for a long time.  She and her husband used to listen to my son recite the verses that he had learned in Awana.

She told me that she wasn't able to be in church but that she would stop by and pick them up on her way to or from a chemo session.  She had been recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  Along with that she was receiving injections in her eyes for wet macular degeneration.  What struck me as I talked to her was her attitude.  It was not one of complaining or self-pity.  She spoke with compassion about the other people that she saw at the cancer place.  She did say that she had said to her husband, "Who would have thought ten years ago that we would be in this situation?"  I found out this morning that she had a heart attack and died today.  While sad at her passing, we rejoice that she's with her Savior.

 After hearing about Sue, I received an e-mail from Steve Goodier, who sends out inspiring his stories.  His post today was about attitude.  I thought of Sue as I read it.  The title of his post if "A Choice to Make."  I believe Sue had made that choice.

"I believe that, at least to some degree, we can each exercise control over our outlook and attitudes. And the problem is - if we don't control our attitudes, they will surely control us.

One farmer took charge of his outlook. He did it by filling his mind with awe and gratitude. He found that doing this gave him more energy to work on problems and to tackle those things that needed his attention. His neighbor's outlook could not have been more different.

One summer morning he exclaimed, "Look at the beautiful sky. Did you ever see such a glorious
sunrise?"

She countered. "It'll probably get so hot the crops will scorch."

During an afternoon shower, he commented, "Isn't this wonderful? Mother Nature is giving the corn a drink today."

"And if it doesn't stop before too long," came the sour reply, "we'll wish we'd taken out flood insurance on the crops." And so it went.

Convinced that he could instill some awe and wonder in this hardened woman, he bought a remarkable dog. Not just any mutt, but the most expensive, highly trained and gifted dog he could find. The animal
was exquisite. It could perform remarkable and impossible feats that, the farmer thought, would surely amaze even his neighbor. So he invited her to watch his dog perform.

"Fetch!" he commanded, as he tossed a stick into a lake, where it bobbed up and down in the rippling water. The dog bounded after the stick, walked ON the water, and retrieved it. "What do you think of
that?" he smirked.

Her brow wrinkled. "Hmmm. Can't swim, can he?"

Not to sound too Pollyanna, but I agree with newscaster Paul Harvey when he said that he has never seen a monument erected for a pessimist. A stubbornly positive attitude can often make the difference between happiness and misery, between health and illness and even between life and death.

Viktor Frankl would have agreed. Dr. Frankl chronicled his experiences as a Holocaust and concentration camp survivor in his book MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING. In it he asserts something really quite remarkable. He says that everything can be taken from a person except one thing. What can never be taken away is the power to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.

We can decide to choose our attitudes every day. That may be one of the most important decisions we will make. I don't want to neglect making that choice."

I believe Sue had made that choice.

photos taken in Savannah last spring

God Will Take Care of You

Do you remember singing this song in church?  This song was just what I needed this morning.  I originally saw it on Pastor Tim's newletter but then searched for it on YouTube, and there it was right at the top.  Listen to the words and enjoy the little singer.

May we be aware of His presence with us this year in ALL things.  He's always there.  We just have to recognize Him.

Warmest Christmas greetings to you all

Need Christmas Gift Suggestions?

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

To Jesus, all.

Thanks to Pastor Tim from Cybersalt.org

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Poem by Christina Rossetti

The Program

I flew up to Virginia last week to spend with my kids.  Sarah has moved up Virginia to be closer to Ella.   She wants to see her grow up and not see her a couple of times a year.  I've been fortunate to be able to go often, and I do.  We had our Christmas while I was there.  One of the main reasons for going was to go to Ella's pre-K Christmas program at the local Lutheran church.

During the days before the program, any time that we asked Ella to sing the songs for us, she did along with all the motions.  We wondered, "Will she perform when she's in front of a large group?"  We didn't need to worry.

I asked Ginny if I could reproduce her post here.  Ginny has a great blog, "Let Your Light Shine."  She and her husband Phil have cared for Ella since she was an infant.  Now that she's in pre-K, they keep her a couple of afternoons a week.  Ella loves them dearly.  The photos below are Ginny's and the post is hers, as well.  Thanks, Ginny.  Ella is in the photos at the bottom.

We went to another children's Christmas program last night! This is the one that Ella is in. These programs are so adorable, touching, and funny. One of the little wise men had a crown problem, it kept sliding all the way down his face. As the audience howled with laughter, it only got worse because he could not keep it up and it covered his whole face. It is the fifth picture. Finally his teacher had to come on the stage and fix it. Yes, I admit that I got carried away with the pictures, especially the ones of Ella. But looking at her wonderful expressions, how was I to choose? This little girl gave it all she had, she knew every word of every song and belted them out loudly in a very heartfelt and touching manner. She lived every story in the songs and just threw herself into it, it was an inspiration to watch. It is too bad that a lot of adults in church services seem bored with singing or don't sing at all, maybe they need to watch the children.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Like 18:16

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

My Christmas Gift

I flew to Virginia this past Thursday to have an early Christmas with my family.  David asked me before I came what I would like for Christmas.  I told him I did not want anything that I had to bring home.  He then asked if I would like to go to a Christmas concert in Charlottesville.  And that is where I have just come from.  A lovely concert was presented by the Virginia Consort, with the Virginia Consort Youth Chorale, Brass Ensemble and Organ.

This concert consisted of many old pieces, some from Latin and German, but the text was translated in the program, which was a great help.  The video above is John Rutter's "What Sweeter Music."  Between the chorale's singing, the youth chorale presented six numbers.  It was wonderful to see all these young people singing with joy on their faces.

The concert ended with "The Hallelujah Chorus" and the audience singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."  We were surrounded by the chorale lining the aisles.  Pure bliss.

After the concert was over, I was standing in line to go to the bathroom (of course.)  A young girl was in front of me, and I asked her if she had been part of the youth group singing.  She looked at me, her eyes glowing, and said, "Next year."  She really has something wonderful to look forward to.

It had begun snowing in the afternoon, and when we came out of the church the ground was covered.  I'll be out in the morning taking lots of pictures.  I'll have a white pre-Christmas here in Virginia.