Shy- so sorry to hear your DD was in an accident, prayers she is soon back to young self.
Rosebud- Glad to hear DH is doing better, and for the updates on Tom, prayers they are able to combat CA in his lungs.
Counting- Thanks! Great idea, spending family time together as a family christmas present..
E.Z.- Thanks! your doing awesome... Yes my cruise is in January, we spend 2 days in Florida before we leave and 2 days in Florida when we return so will be gone11 day, can't wait to see sunshine again...
Karen- Nice pic of Pike's peak and of you and your dad So sorry to hear about the senseless shootings at the churches there, prayers for the families of the injured. It is amazing how many things we are spared because we are running late or whatever, think of all the people that were sick the day of 911 that didn't go to work, or missed the ferry ect. Divine providence..
Welcome Loriann! keep posting so we get to know ya...
I included this poem it was sent to me, and thought it was interesting how saying the word Christmas can be considered offensive... We are suppose to be a Christian nation! Food for thought!
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See 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 Wal-Mart and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-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*
Shy - thanks for sharing, what you are doing is commendable! I'm sure the family you bless is something your kids will remember forever!
Sue - thanks for sharing the poem - there is a lot of truth there. We are very blessed to live in an un-PC town. Over 40 churches in a town of 10,000 people. We have a creche in the city park, our public school children sing Christmas songs at their concerts. Most of the administrators in our school district are visibly Christian. We are most blessed to live in such a wonderful community.
Rosebud - your grandmother sounds like she was a very special person. What a lovely tradition to carry on!
I hope everyone had a wonderful day! I'm continuing to try to spend extra time in my devotions during Advent. I continue to struggle keeping the focus off of presents and hectic "to-do" lists. Practice makes perfect - LOL
Just a quick note to tell you I'm still alive! Just busy with getting ready for Christmas and keeping the kids from bouncing off the walls!
Not sure who was mentioning it, but when we went to India in '99 to bring home our Indian princesses, it sure was a wake-up call for sure. I was so happy that Mike, who was 13 at the time, was able to go with us. It has shaped his attitude and gratefulness for life. But one thing we were amazed at was that the Indian people were SO happy and nice to us and everyone around them. They had dirty water, animals all over in the streets, lots of dirt, but they didn't know anything else - now when my 12 year old princesses complain about something we just smile. Someday we want them to see their homeland - there is much beauty there also.
My healthy eating hasn't been so healthy - I'm just trying to maintain and hold my own until the new year - sigh - it's just SO hard!!
Hi everyone! Just a quick stop to say that I'm here and have been reading the posts. Just haven't had a lot of time to actually post. It's a little stressful getting things ready for all the company we're going to have this year. One day at a time. I have most of my shopping done and now just have to get the menus and grocery shopping done. I am taking a day off next week to do some baking so that should ease the stress somewhat.
It sounds like everyone here is doing great. I hope to post more later but for now just Have a great day!
Real quick ~ Angie and I are going to see Mannheim Steamroller tonight ~ wilma I weighed in at 170 on wed. I was up to 173 on Monday but hit the treadmill hard!
Prayers for all...good to see you Lori...was praying yesterday morning about your "house"....and AJ!! bet he is good right now with Santa coming...wink
A quick pop-in from me too. Doing well here. More freezing rain tonight - glad I don't have to go out. I'm off to walk away those pounds! I am hopeful to get one more pound off before we take of for CA next weekend. I so want to surprise the kids with a mom that is 50 lbs. smaller I've been hinting, but have intentionally not sent any pictures since I started on this journey in July.
Prayers continuing for everyone! Shy - that is so cool that you haven't told your kids. However, you might want to share it with them at some point. It is such a wonderful example of unselfish giving
Last edited by CountingDown; 12-13-2007 at 06:37 PM.
Very wise Dawn. You are right about kids keeping secrets. I forget since my boys are grown - LOL
That bike ministry is a wonderful idea! I can't even kid my sons to put my bike back together (they canibalized it for parts one day). Of course, when they do visit, it is for such a short period of time that we try to make the most of every minute.
It sounds like your kids are very well-rounded and have a wonderful base for serving others there whole life long!
That is so different from what I see in the high school where I work. So many spoiled, selfish kids.
And - you are so right about folks throwing out things that just need a little bit of TLC.
In our community, each church takes on a ministry and all donated items go to the appropriate church. We have a pantries for bikes, food, paper products, furniture, clothing, linens, school supplies, coats and mittens, personal care products, sporting goods, and a few more that I can't think of. Our kids helped staff the school supply pantry and help round up donations for the others.
Dawn, I know EXACTLY what you mean. DS got to drive our 13 year old Ford Ranger truck. Many of his friends got new cars for their 16th birthdays. One girl he knew was MORTIFIED that her parents got her a new Sebring convertible for her birthday - it wasn't "cool" enough to be seen in. I am absolutely astonished at the behavior of some parents that tolerate and even encourage this behavior. I remember the mother of that same girl when her kids were in 1st grade. She went nuts that she hadn't gotten all of the available Beanie Babies for her girls and they would be so disappointed that they didn't have them all.
And don't even get me started on the rude behavior of these kids...
Last edited by CountingDown; 12-13-2007 at 09:28 PM.
HELLO EVERYONE ~ Had a great day; housework in the morning, in to town for more errands, pick-ups we missed, coffee at a local shop, a few groceries, and back home again by a favorite lake. Very busy day, but did get my walking and exercising in. We set up the ERGOMETER (mini-cyle) and I used it for both my arms and legs. I am a wee bit sore in the shoulders, but I will have to learn to pace myself with it.
Had some more 'SNOW SHOWERS' for a while tonight; all the snow pushing was for naught ~ haha! It's nice and fluffy and makes everything look so clean, as my Dad always says. Well, Christmas wouldn't seem the same without it, that's for sure.
SUE ~ Nicely written poem; someone sure put a lot of thought into that one. WOW, you go on a cruise every year??? But you work so hard, and deserve some fun times too.
HELLO TO WILMA, LORI, GARY, SHY, COUNTING, LORIANN, and to anyone else who might be peek'in. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE ROSEBUD ^PRAYERS^ for you and yours ...
Awesome! the way you are raising your chilldren, and with assisting that family... The most important one knows "The LORD".
Rosebud- I go on a cruise every year, but I have a very good friend who is a travel agent, and we book at least a year in advance, we usually have such a large group going that we pay about half what others pay because we get a free berth for booking a certain # of cabins and we end up breaking the price down through all of us so we pay a cheaper rate, So I get a vacation for a whole lot less money with friends so that is pretty cool. Well gotta work Christmas party to get ready for, just wanted to pop in and say Hi! My niece flew home from college last night, in the storm. She ended up having to be re-routed but made it home safely PTL... Gotta run, home for weekend, Have a Blesses weekend!!! Hi to all I missed try to do better next post.. Your all in my prayers... E.Z.- enjoy manheim steamroller, they are awesome, like Trans -Siberian Orchestra Amazing!!!!
I will get back to you all this week-end. My grandma, my mom's mom, just passed away tonight. She had a stroke this morning and a blood vessel broke in her brain, went into a coma...Our Lord took her this evening. She was 92, hasn't done well since my mom "left" her in October.
Asking for prayers for my sister, she spent the last 4 years taking care of them both. I am fine, she is having a tough time.
Going to spread a little humor through 3FC now...See you this week-end.
Hi there!
HELLO EVERYONE ~ Had a great day; housework in the morning, in to town for more errands, pick-ups we missed, coffee at a local shop, a few groceries, and back home again by a favorite lake. Very busy day, but did get my walking and exercising in. We set up the ERGOMETER (mini-cyle) and I used it for both my arms and legs. I am a wee bit sore in the shoulders, but I will have to learn to pace myself with it.
ROSEBUD 
Someone sent this to me today; thought I'd share it with you all at this important time of year: I think it is full of WISDOM and TRUTH ... 
