Goodbye 2009

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."
- Robert Burns

2009 Events:

Feb:  Purchased 2004 Crossfire w/17,700 miles.
Mar:  Nina got new desk-top computer.
June:  Keziah got a trip to Disneyland w/her Dad. 
         Sabrina got a new job as a receptionist.
         Back deck is finally done!  
          My father passed away on the 24th.
July:  Dale got a small raise in spite of the recession. 
         Grandbaby was born on the 12th - Luke.
Aug:  Took a week trip to Las Vegas.
Sept:  My brother passed away on the 19th. 
Oct:  Dale got a new laptop computer.
Nov:  Jordache got a new job as a marketer.
         Sabrina hit her weight loss goal - 30 lbs.
Dec:  Vacationed in Ocean Shores for a week. 

What a year.  Looking toward 2010 with anticipation!

Christmas Day

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man

the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!"

- Charles Dickens

The Night Before Christmas

To the rest of the world, today is Christmas Eve.  But to my husband & I, it's our 31st wedding anniversary!  Yes, I can hardly believe it.  My, how time passes!  It's been great to live my life with my most favorite person in the world and my best friend.  Few people get that chance.  I've been one of the fortunate ones.  Looking forward to another 31 years or more together!

It's My Birthday!

Ten Ways to Know if You Are a SWAG

(Southern Woman Aging Gracefully)

1. You feel the urge to bake a pound cake after reading the obituaries.

2. You have had professional photographs made of your children barefoot and dressed in their Sunday clothes.

3. You believe that cocktail dresses do not double as church clothes.

4. You’d rather have a fight with your husband than with your best friend.

5. You have stolen magnolia leaves, or you know someone who has.

6. You have monogrammed the middle of your shower curtain.

7. You could live without Yankees who equate your accent with a low IQ.

8. You know better than to eat the potato salad at a family reunion.

9. You are socially conditioned to believe that tanned fat looks better than white fat.

10. Your children hide their Easter baskets and Valentine’s Day candy from you just in case you have a dieting lapse.

There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat has gotten to be really good friends.

If You Look for Me at Christmas

If you look for Me at Christmas... you won't need a special star,

I'm no longer still in Bethlehem, I'm right there where you are.

You may not be aware of Me amid the celebrations,

You'll have to look beyond the stores and all the decorations.

But if you take a moment from your list of things to do,

And listen to your heart, you'll find I'm waiting there for you.

You're the one I want to be with, you're the reason that I came,

And you'll find me in the stillness as I'm whispering your name.

Love, Jesus

--Author unknown

First Corinthians 13 Christmas

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,

but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family. I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity,

but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, through harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,

golf clubs will rust...but giving the gift of love will endure.

~Author Unknown~

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

Twas the night before Jesus came & all thru the house  Not a creature was praying not one in the house.  Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head.
It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.
And through I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It’s not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He arose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear.
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!

---Author Unknown

Jesus is Better Than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.    
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.    
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.    
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.    
JESUS stands at your door and knocks...then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa.    
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"    
JESUS knew our name before we did.

Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too.  He knows our history and future and He
even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.    
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.    
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."    
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys. 
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but    
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree    
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

'Tis the Season

To Be Jolly!  You can almost hear the sleighbells in the distance as our neighbors and friends roll out the tinsel in preparation for the season. 

Christmas is anticipated by almost everyone.  Luckily, routine days become brightened by long-awaited holidays. There are many things to be joyful about at Christmas: family gatherings, church programs, festive food, shopping, Christmas cards, gift wrapping, holiday music, parties, gift exchanges, decorated tree, ...

With the recession, I realize that for some, things seem dismal.  Try your best to focus on the good in life, while trusting God to see you through.

Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la la la la la... 

Merry Christmas!

One of my most favorite holiday movies is the 1994 make of Little Women starring Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandan.  It's a delightful screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 novel. 

Story: With her husband off in the U. S. Civil War serving as chaplain for the Union, Marmee is left alone in New England to raise their four daughters, her little women. There is the spirited & imaginative Jo; conservative & sophisticated Meg; fragile & compassionate Beth; and romantic Amy. The girls share a bond that can't be penetrated by outsiders.  As the years pass, the sisters share some of the most cherished and painful memories of coming of age, as Marmee and Aunt March guide them through issues of independence, romance and virtue. 

The story has lived in my heart for many years.  Love how family connection remains strong in the face of tragedies. 

The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven

The turkey shot out of the oven and rocketed into the air,

It knocked every plate off the table and partly demolished a chair.

It ricocheted into a corner and burst with a deafening boom,

Then splattered all over the kitchen, completely obscuring the room.

It stuck to the walls and the windows, it totally coated the floor,

There was turkey attached to the ceiling, where there'd never been turkey before.

It blanketed every appliance, It smeared every saucer and bowl,

There wasn't a way I could stop it, that turkey was out of control.

I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure, and thought with chagrin as I mopped,

That I'd never again stuff a turkey, with popcorn that hadn't been popped.

by Jack Prelutsky

Stuffed!

I Ate Too Much Turkey by Jack Prelutsky

I ate too much turkey,

I ate too much corn,

I ate too much pudding and pie,

I'm stuffed up with muffins

and much too much stuffin',

I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate

and I ate and I ate,

but I wish I had known when to stop,

for I'm so crammed with yams,

sauces, gravies, and jams

that my buttons are starting to pop.

I'm full of tomatoes
and french fried potatoes,
my stomach is swollen and sore,
but there's still some dessert,
so I guess it won't hurt
if I eat just a little bit more.

Over the River!

Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood -
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding,"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood,
Trot fast, and dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood -
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow,
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood -
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

By: Lydia Marie Child

When I was growing up, we always went to my maternal grandmother's house every Thanksgiving.  We lived near Birmingham in Garywood (Hueytown) and my grandmother lived in the outskirts of West Blocton on Smith Hill.  Without fail, our family would sing this song in the car on our way.  It seemed fitting since we were traveling through more rural country.  Thinking about this always brings back good memories for me. 

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
he chastens and hastens his will to make known;
the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
sing praise to his Name, he forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
so from the beginning the fight we were winning:
thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
and pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation:
thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

We Gather Together is a Christian hymn of Netherlands origin written in 1597 by Adrianus Lalerius to celebrate Dutch victory over Spanish forces in the Battle of Turnhout. In the United States, it is popularly associated with Thanksgiving Day and is often sung at family meals and at religious services on that day.

At the time the hymn was written, the Dutch were engaged in a war of national liberation against the Catholic King Philip II of Spain. "Wilt heden nu treden," "We gather together" resonated because under the Spanish King, Dutch Protestants were forbidden to gather for worship. The hymn first appeared in print in a 1626 collection of Dutch patriotic songs, "Nederlandtsch Gedencklanck."

According to the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, We Gather Together first appeared in an American hymnal in 1903. The hymn gained popularity, especially in services of Thanksgiving.

Gratitude

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.