A New Poetry Book

Sammy Kaye's Sunday Serenade, Book of Poetry. Marie gave this to me for Christmas. Sammy Kaye was a radio show celebrity. Come "Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye." He played orchestra style music and read poetry sent in from listeners. I plan to add a few songs from iTunes soon.

Pg. 57
"I never saw a woman
More like a garden...

And no one loves a garden
More tenderly than I."

Love you Mom!

~Marie

I love the book Marie.

The poem is in the book and was written by Norine Freeman. Here is the complete poem which I want to pass on to all the women in my life. My own Mom, my husbands Mom, my sisters, my brothers wives, my daughters, nieces, cousins and friends :

Alma

I never saw a woman
More like a garden
Than you, with flowers of loveliness
Shining through your eyes.
Blowing all around you
Are the sweet winds of beauty
Singing the majestic psalm that never, never dies.

You may have known the shadows.
Most women know them.
Clouds pass over gardens, too,
And leave them bright with rain.
But love is all around you...
Part of your being.
And any clouds you may have known
Have threatened you in vain.

I never saw a woman
More like a garden.
You give your flowers of loveliness
To all who wander by;
Color, light, and sweetness
To carry through a lifetime,
And no one loves a garden
More tenderly than I.

Tend your gardens ladies!

*madly pulling weeds here trying to keep it beautiful*

Thanks Marie.

Some Day

Alexis, me, Ashlee and Baby Raegan.

So, Christmas 2007 is over! I hope you had a good one. I got lots of things from my family. Doug gave me new outdoor wear. The kids gave perfume, slippers, hair clips, shower gels, soap, a basket made by my daughter Karla, antique trivets, it was sure a fun day with the whole bunch here.

We all worked to make dinner together. We were out on a quick four-wheeler ride and I asked Doug what time it was and it was 2:45 and dinner was supposed to be done about 3:30 so that Klint and Calli could eat with us and still get over to her family's get together too. We hustled home and cooked quickly. Everything was good and we all ate way too much!

Oh boy, it sure can get wild around here with all the grandkids together and watching how they get along or don't get along is interesting. Each of my daughters and their husbands deal differently with discipline. The results are observed in their kids. Gramma and Gramppa are supposed to love, love, love, but love also must come out in the word "No." It really does not concern me that there are some in the world who get disgruntled with that. I've was written to before - by those who think Gramma should only be sweet, smile and never, ever be negative. pppbbbbt!

I don't know if you believe that there are spirits, or demons if you desire, that are with us every day ----since birth. These beings, are determined to destroy every creation of God, especially His most loved creation, me and you. If he can keep us from realizing we have a free gift of eternal life because of Calvary he has won the ultimate game of deception, this for those who don't believe that will have suffered an eternal loss.

In my own war against these beings I didn't know at first that they really existed. I heard people talk about the dark, scary things and thought to myself they all are so superstitious. I believed that that was as far as spiritual activity went. A child comes to us as a beautiful baby and by the end of growing up there are serious self-doubts and feelings that one is not really worth anything to anybody and these come not from God but from God's enemy.

In response to self-doubts and inferiority, I "wilted." Marie noticed and told me one day that I always wilted quickly in every situation. Most people do not react to accusations from spirits as I have. Other people will bristle, fight back, and take out their self-frustations on those around them. These are the ones that are always mad for some reason and no one really knows why. No one has really told us that these spiritual creatures are with us everyday - not only on halloween or on dark nights when things are going bump! bump!

Have you considered if these mostly ugly thoughts have come from a spiritual source? We end up believing whatever they are suggesting and then we take it out on all of those around us. The enemy of God is also mankind's enemy. He is sneaky and will even transform into angels of light to decieve. Sadly, most of us can be decieved much sooner than that though! We spend entire lives holding grudges against others we believe spend their days trying to mess up our own life! So life is not happy with grudges, jealousies, anger, fighting back! Persons finding themselves in this situation are not a threat to the evil one, evil does not want people to know God and if we are busy fighting, we do not have time to know God.

It is truly a sad thing when one does not realize where discontent, dissatisfaction, bitterness, jealousy, inferiority and all that will bring discord into families and friends relationships is truly coming from. Try to suggest that one should pray and ask God to banquish spirit-beings wrecking havoc in a life and many people will look like you've gone bananas and what a Bible-thumping fanatic! hehehe

Someday, these unholy creatures will be entering into the eternal destruction that has been prepared for them and we will be finally completely free!

I long for that some day...

Last Post Before Christmas

Wish all that stop by a very happy season. I hope you each have a holiday that is satisfying and especially pleasant.

All the best intentions are so easily slammed off track occassionally when family and friends come together to enjoy this time of the year together--- I sadly am thinking of myself.

I apologize for my ugly side a head of time and I hope my chili stops boiling over today and the grandkids will be exceptional until these HAPPY times return to normal. ha

Happy, happy Christmas everyone! May God bless you and yours in the coming New Year too.

Now, big smile on the face and back to the kitchen!

Sweet Memories

From my diary:
December 12, 2007

"We (Doug, Klint, Calli, me) are enjoying the impressive beauty of Hawaii once again. I love the trees, the never stopping motions here are captivating. Ocean, clouds, trees, birds all move to bring my heart to be humbled by the creative powers of my Lord and Savior. I am thankful to be here and I thank God for captivating my heart so that I can know Him and praise Him every day. God is so powerful. His imagination has been spilled out in all of creation. Coconuts, papayas, pineapples, plumeria (not in one color alone but many), the fragrances, the rain showers as they cross the beaches. It boggles my mind to imagine how fascinating it had to be to watch each of these being created!"

We learned while we were in Hawaii that Doug's Uncle Dick passed away. He had just begun to go in for dialysis three times a week, he had a heart attack and in the process of helping him with that he passed on. What a great guy he was.

My first memory of him was as a young Mom, meeting for the first time Doug's very large family of uncles, aunts and cousins. I was so shy back then it was painful, but he seemed to understand and he was so kind and sweet.

He sat beside me and helped me beat Doug at checkers and his stifled laugh will never be forgotten and he would whisper to me which checker to move, we ended up winning and he would chuckle and it was good for me. I thank the Lord that I knew him and that he knew Jesus Christ. Someday we shall sit together again and I will hear him chuckle again.

Our prayers have been with the Black's as they learn to function with such a great loss in this world. He is being remembered fondly.

See you again --- we hope soon, Uncle Dick.

All the pictures should show a sentence of explanation if you hold your cursor over each one.

Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas - my family and friends.

Aloha... Camai'i!

Camai'i!

Alohaaaaaaa...

I'm home!

I was pretty much on aloha style mode when I left Alaska but now that I have spent time with the real aloha crowd... I am even more of a lady of leisure!

I am so happy to be home.

In comparison, Hawaii to Alaska.

Approximately 82F everyday while we were there - we came home to -22F!
It is so quiet here, the wind in the palm trees outside our window will be missed.
Sunshine, rain, wind and sunshine all within a hour in Hawaii. Here we have sunshine, no wind, no rain and there is new snow on the ground here besides the very cold temp I mentioned above.
Marie is home! YES!
We have Matthew visiting with us too.
Besides him the whole family will all be here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It's so good to be home.
I had access to the internet while in Hawaii but opted to refrain from having to use a slow wireless connection to keep the aloha spirit intact, so this is why I've been away so long.

We got home after midnight then I could not sleep until I saw Marie and she got here probably about 2 a.m.

I will post pictures soon as I get up enough gumption to dig out all the necessary wires to connect to my cameras.

I am back! Aloha to all!

Happy Birthday Millie

Today is Millie's birthday. I will be seeing her. Actually whoever can make it today is spending some time with her in a conference room at the hospital for her birthday. I am looking forward to that.

This time of the year is a big birthday time for my family.

Millie fires up the whole birthday train, then we have all these birthdays following hers up until the end of January.

Tony
Don
Lexie
Calli
SJ
Toby
Becca
Ashlee
Raegan Mae
Ruth
Mark
Chanel
Nichole

Those are all the BD's - I can remember right off the top of my head. I probably missed somebody too!

Yesterday, I visited with Mil and she sobbed! This is the first time I've seen her do that. I've seen her sort of sigh and grimace, but never sob with sound. She began to move around, sob loudly and I thought she was going to open her eyes and return to her right mind. I thought maybe she was remembering the day she fell and was reacting to that. She is definitely showing new movements.

I watched a show on t.v. when I got back from Anchorage yesterday and it was all about the brain and how new computerized ways to research is revealing how it works. According to this documentary the way we program our minds to lead us through life can be changed. Our brain is an amazing organ. It changes when we change. This I already knew: when there is brain damage it will work to reroute around the damaged areas, but they said that as long as there is active stimulation then the brain can work to recover from major setbacks such as Millie's. I was convinced that active stimulation would be incredibly good for Millie's recovery. She may not be what she was before her collapse but I believe that she can work towards it with help. Her caregivers said that she gets stimulation every day when they clean her and put her into her chair, I don't think that is enough. She has much too long to just lay there and sleep without any type of input.

I am in awe of the brain that God created. I've heard people say, "Well that was how I was raised and that is how I will be." Or, "That was how I was born and that is the way I am."

NEGATIVE! With new thoughts, one can change!

The brain will even change physically to accommodate the new thoughts, actions, interests, if we work to change our thought life by changing how we think, the things we do, the actions and reactions we allow to rule in our daily lives. We definitely don't have to remain the old, sinful person we are, our very nature, even our physical brain will be changed when our minds are fed the life-changing Truths from God's Word! How incredibly encouraging is that?

Paul knew because he said:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1,2.

They spoke about dementia and how physical activity will prolong a healthy mind. Learning new things. Learning new hobbies. Going past your comfort zone to learn, to stimulate the brain is really good for us all. Of course the body will deteriorate eventually as we live in this fallen state now and live under the curse of sin, but it can be put off if we will keep our minds healthy by healthy thinking and healthy action.

I believe blogging is good for the brain!

Marriage Monday - What Makes a Marriage Christian?

It is Marriage Monday once again! Time is really flying by. Just like the wind outside, we must be getting gusts close to a 100 mph out there! It is humbling to stand on the deck and listen to the howling wind.

I am kind of at a loss for words on this subject because my answer is simple.

Just as believing Him, praising Him, loving Him and patterning my life after Jesus Christ makes me a Christian, in order for a couple to have a marriage that is "Christian" we should be reflecting Jesus Christ ---- together.

Maybe I don't get the question, but that is my contribution to Marriage Monday.

I know I will learn a lot by all those that will be participating. Visit our hostess blog for her write and links to others participating on this Marriage Monday topic. You will be blessed! You can join the group by checking out e-Mom's blog if you would like to share too.

Happy Monday!

When Push Comes To Shove

Four years ago, I purchased this wallpaper. I saw that it was pretty and the display was inspiring. I picked up all the tools that a wallpapering job needed. I brought all the stuff home, lugged it upstairs and then looked at it. I read the instructions. I rubbed the flat walls (I had asked the guys to leave without texturing). I read the instructions again and then decided I am not ready to attempt this. I told myself that the walls needed much more prepping.

On Friday Doug picked up door trim. I asked him where he was going to put up door trim. He said, "At the top of the stairs, I going to finish around the doors." I immediately thought of my wallpaper job. I knew that Doug would be putting up the trim SOON. Unlike me, when he decides to do a job - he does it, pronto!

When I got home I went up into the "Chickadee Room" (an attic room way up at the peak of the house) and sat on the stairs and looked at the wallpaper once again. I read the instructions and looked at the walls. For a fleeting lazy second I wondered what the walls would look like painted.

Okay! I am going to do this.

I've never wallpapered and I've never watched it being done. I have a big bucket of wallpaper paste and tried the first strip of paper that way. The paper is prepasted, but the bucket instructions says this paste should be used with prepasted paper to insure a good stick. So, I did it. Not only did it add a lot of time to preparing the paper, it was messy.

The prepasted papers instructions says, roll your cut strip and slip it into water for 30 seconds. I thought, that sounds way easier! I did that. Dipped into water and then stuck it up on the wall.

Two strips up, one pasted and one just dipped in water for thirty seconds. A friend of mine told me that when she wallpapered she got up in the morning and the paper had unstuck and was hanging down. I decided I am going to watch this. I will make sure it's gonna stick up there. I woke up the next day and it was still up. Smile.

Today, the Trim Man brought his tools into my garage (put my car out into the FREEZING driveway!) and I knew I needed to get this wallpaper job done if I didn't want the added trouble of trim in the way. I went upstairs and began to work.

I worked all day. I am sore! My back - aching. But - I love the walls. My daughter Marie called. I told her I was papering and that I was so tired. "Stop now Mom, and do more tomorrow, you might hurt your back."

I think that maybe wallpapering should be a job for two. It is hard to match the design and mark where the wallpaper needs to be cut at the same time! I am not tall enough to reach the ceiling even while standing on my step-stool without fully stretching and getting up on my tippy toes. When I am in that position then my legs start shaking too.

Anyway, I need to do some prep work on one of the walls but I am almost done with getting papered around all the doorways and Doug can finish his work.

While I spent the day with Millie on Thursday I read some more on the "Signature of God." I found this information to be so incredible. First of all I cannot even fathom the billions and trillions of miles that make up our Galaxy, and then to read that "the known universe contains more than fifty billion galaxies" makes me giggle in awe of our Creator! The author suggested this exercise to get an idea of the vastness of our universe.

Take a sheet of paper, draw one small circle at the top of the page to represent the Sun, draw another much smaller circle nine inches below, that is Earth... now to see just how far away our closest star Alpha Centauri is to Earth - draw another circle ---over forty five miles away! I can understand those terms and this all fills me with awe of my Creator.

Light travels at 187,000 miles every SECOND or six trillion miles every year. A flicker of light from our closest star will take four years to reach Earth. That flicker of light has to cross twenty four trillion miles of empty space! I can't even imagine that number, or even assign the right zeros to a zillion number!

Have an wonderful day viewing our incredible universe - created by my INCREDIBLE God!

"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth...For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" Psalm 33: 6, 9.