Christian Photographers Community

Liz it is good that you haven't lost your sence of humour

Sorry about my "short" post today.  I was really running late, and didn't even take the time to proof read what I had written.

Cold.....yes we have cold.  ,imus 40 and that is early for the time of year.  We don't usually have to contend with that till January.

I would up staying at the store till 8:30 tonight.  Heather was there and we were on a roll sewing our Christmas presents.  It is good that we have a boss who encourages that!

John will be callilng about midnight so I won't stay on too much longer.

Love to you all, praying for all the needs.

This is an email I received, not sure if it is true or not, but makes a good story for the season.


The "W" in Christmas


Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.

I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.

Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year old.

For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation.

All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.

Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

     "C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence... humbled by His love.
Again, HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON!

Hi Everyone,

I know, its me checking in every so often.   Sorry about that.   It's too cold here to do anything.   Talk to you later.

Love Ruthie

Good God MOrning everyone!!  Can you imagine the hopelesness of our lives if Christ wasn't born for our salvation?  He was born and we can and should praise Him for that.

Canada will be blanketted in white as on his week.  The first time in 37 years that the whole country will have a white Christmas!  At least that is what the news reported said.

Busy day, God bless
Judy

Hi everyone.  It has warmed up here as it started the morning at 31 degrees, which was much more tolerable than the 18 degrees we had yesterday morning.  After coffee we once again went to the gym and walked about 1 1/4 miles.  Last evening when I went to take my medicine at bedtime I discovered by I had problems walking yesterday and didn't feel good most of the day as I had forgotten to take my morning heart medicine.  This shows me how important the medicine is for me.

I have a meeting to attend this morning and then I may go down and pick up our daughter to bring her to the house for the holidays.  I thought she wanted to come out tomorrow but my wife says she may have changed her mind. 

Judy, I liked the little story you posted.  Don't envy you all the white Christmas.  I saw that same article about all of Canada having snow at the holidays and that it had been a long time since that happened.

Marilyn, glad the skunk smell has lessened.  That is certainly not the traditional Christmas aroma.

Ruthie, nice to see you post today.  It has been awhile since we have seen you here and you have been missed.

Liz, your picture looks like a Christmas card scene.  It looks like a time to stay inside and stay warm.

Janet, so sorry to hear of your being knocked down and hope you experience no lasting injury from that.  Hope the chiropractor helps.  My wife has made many of those neck pillows to give to friends and we use them all the time here at the house.  She has a pattern for them.  This Christmas she gave many of her friends the little rice bags that she made that you can put in the microware and then use on aching joints or muscles.

Al, thanks for the info and I hadn't remembered the problem with the hip as well as the legs. 

Becky, my wife and I have moved many times in our lives with job relocations and have  found getting involved in a new church is a wonderful way to make new friends in a new community. It seems that all of our churches have long lists of prayer needs and many of those are medically related.

Carol, do you have the Skype Out service on your Skype system?  This is required to be able to call other than another Skype person on a computer.  We use the Skype In and Skype Out service for our daughter and have been completely satisfied with it. 

Etta Sue, your doctor appointment experience yesterday certainly isn't typical of what we experience here as we almost always have to wait well past our appointment time.  I think restaurants are experiencing very difficult times.  Most of those we frequent seem to have mainly older folks eating there. 

I'm here, aches and pains and all.  You can't keep a good woman down!  I'm sure my early morning chiropractic treatment will help.  He advised me to put ice on my neck and my leg...brrr....doesn't sound fun, but I'm sure it would help.

I made breakfast for Darrel and John, put the kitchen in order, got laundry started, and when I finish here I will complete the framing project so I can take it to Hugoton right after lunch.  I want to open my Christmas gift (a lovely commercial Kitchen Aid mixer) and start on some baking.  Maybe I can do some when I get home from Hugoton.

Grandson Mark passed his test yesterday, so we now have a certified (or licensed or whatever) pilot instructor in the family!  His dad is really happy, said maybe some of that money that has been going out for flying time will start coming back in as Mark begins student instructing. 

Another smile for Marilyn:  A mother skunk and her children were being threatened by bigger animals.  The mother gathered the kids and said, "kids, let's all put our heads together."  They did so, then mom said "Now, let's spray!"

Liz, that photo is spectacular!  But not pleasant to have to deal with all the cold and snow.  Best wishes to you!

I wish you all a happy and peaceful day.

Did everyone miss me saying I got myself a Christmas present of Bose speakers for my laptop??  Hunh???  Did you miss that??  They sure do make listening to music and videos much better!  I am hearing sounds that I didn't even know existed on the videos that I have! 

I got an email from Kitty just before bedtime last night.  The pizza got her motivated and she got a lot accomplished in a few hours.

Today is much better temperature-wise.  22 degrees and suppose to rise 10 more degrees.   That is a great temperature for some snow.  It would be nice to have a White Christmas for the kiddies!!



 

I saw it, I saw it, Etta Sue!  I did!  I really, really did!  But I guess since I can't hear them, I failed to comment on it.  Glad you are enjoying them.  I have had a Bose radio with CD player on my Christmas, birthday, mother's day, whatever list for about five years now, and have about decided that if I am going to get one, I will have to buy it for myself. 

Now I am outa here!

Good Morning from the cool Lost Coast. OK Thanks for the Skunk  funnies. there is no more skunk smell here, I have a couple of cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove and the house smells oh so Christmasy I had forgotten those cinnamon sticks that I got last year at Christmas time for the Potpourri.

Keith will be on his way down the coast in a couple of hours. He has to stop in Gold Beach to call on a client and do some measuring. He should only have to drive in some showers, hopefully no snow or ice. I did read that there might be some high surf but that will have no effect on the highway.

Etta Sue I did read that yesterday i just didn't say anything. I think that lately I haven't been commenting on much of what has been posted here and I do apologize to you all for that.

Janet it looks like ice will be you best friend for a day or two. I had a Chiropractor that gave me a hand out on the icing instructions and the title was  "Ice is you Friend". I have one of those gel ice packs that wraps around that I got at the medical supply house. It takes up the whole shelf in the freezer because it has to lay flat. I also use Bio Freeze  a lot.

You should all be dropping by to coffee and tea just to taste the cookies and biscotti I baked.  I have been washing clothes & cleaning house & went to Wally Mart early this morning for fresh veggies.  I called daughter's house & g-daughter was home alone, and she told me that she was taking the day off & resting.  What a hoot!  Her mother will get her going on chores.  The big discussion is over which puzzle we will all work on tomorrow - I bought a 1500 piece puzzle loaded with animals & that is the chosen activity after eating - well, church will be first.  A walk if possible.  Snow expected today.

Larry:  Yes, we have the SKYPE Out & use it to call overseas as well. 

Janet:  Do hope that you are feeling better.  I only dropped a bar of soap on my foot in the shower and have a bruise and that is nothing like you had happen.  Glad for Beth that John is visiting. 

Son who is driving to Texas for Christmas just called & he is in Wichita Falls to see a friend - then to Fort Worth tomorrow.  I always dread that the family drives or flys there every year - especially drive but after the airplane that crashed at our airport the other day, flying & weather do have problems.  It may have been mechanical.  It is a miracle that people are alive - what a crew that got them out so fast with the plane on fire.  There isn't much news about it and I guess it is because there are not enough bodies & pictures.   

Janice:  I sent an email to you.  Will keep on checking my mail. 

Merry Christmas to all!  It is wonderful to have this place.

Carol, I would LOVE to stop by and have a cuppa with you and sample some of your goodies. Yum!  I need to do some baking myself.  I guess we will go to Hugoton tomorrow evening and watch Diane's family open their gifts---supper first, though, and I am to make a salad and a dessert.  Any dessert suggestions?  She is making lasagna.

I got some good Mark hugs today, that's always nice!    He was at the store doing gift wrapping for his mom.  (That's my grandson, for those who don't know yet.)  Abby also came and gave me a couple of hugs. 

John just called to tell me he will spend the night at the care home on his cot again tonight, as he is taking Beth to a movie.  Hope she makes it all right; it is getting harder and harder for her to sit in her chair very long.  I heard Beth saying something, and John said she was telling him to tell me she got roses today!  John said he had never gotten to see her face when any of the flowers he sent arrived, so he ordered those while he is here.  I asked if the look on her face was worth it, and he said, "Oh, yes, very much so!" 

Our dog, Sarah, is opening the gifts under the tree!  Naughty dog.  She gets whacked with a rolled-up newspaper, and she hates that.  But she has to learn.

Now I'm off to do more "stuff."

Well Keith should be here in about an hour. The house smells of Cinnamon, I have Cinnamon sticks in the potpourri pot simmering,they have been there all day. it smells so good in here. I don't know yet what we are having for supper, maybe go get a pizza or a Sub sandwich.

Janet it is so good that John is there to visit with Beth.

Well it is snowing again!   I already have a mountain of snow in front of my house? 

If I don't post tomorrow, I'm wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!    I hope to watch "A Christmas Carol"

Talk to you soon Pat!

Love Ruthie

Thank you Larry   

RUTHIE!!!!

It's so good to see you on here!  I'm so happy to see your name pop up!!!

Love you loads!

Around 2:45pm I noticed an SUV going real slow on my road.  I figured it was the mail man.  Then a pickup was going real slow.  Actually since 2:45 until 7:15 my road has been one car right after another but only going about 5mph.  ICE!!!  And I can see SR 32 out my living room window and it has been the same way since 2:45pm!!  It has started raining and temperature rising so it is all clear now.  At least until the temp drops again. 

It seemed so weird to look out my bathroom window and count 15 or more sets of headlights between my house and the next road...about a half a mile.  Some of the cars stopped in front and then they couldn't get going.  They were spinning their tires like mad. 

Entertainment right out my windows today!! 

It is fun watching entertainment like this as long as you aren't in it!  The worse thing they can fo is spin their tires, instead release the gas and let the idle start the vehicle moving.  Good idea to carry kitty litter in the car for times like this.

We have snow again.  If is no longer a novelty.  just work.  Interestingly I was at heather's and looked at  the innovation of some children.  Their steps have only half been cleared,  (double wide) and they have created a sledding path on it.  Then they climb the stairs and go down again.  beside this slide there is a snow cave with a thick roof and walls.  I guess they are using it as a clubhouse.

Have a good night folks
God bless and walk carefully we don't need any more tumbles!

Janet:  A very easy dessert is to have peppermint ice cream with a hot fudge sauce.  It is refreshing after a pasta type meal.  That is what I am bringing tomorrow - otherwise, lemon pie, any pie is great.  Really, we don't eat desserts but it is Christmas and we are on sugar overload. 

Hi Ruthie!  You always look great! 

Nothing on t.v.  I am knitting.  Don has been in the basement bowling on the Wii that the kids gave him.  Lots of phone calls with the kids checking in. 

Marilyn, Cinnamon smells to cover up skunk?   I am making Snicker doodles tomorrow.  These are our girls "Christmas" cookies, the ones they think of when Christmas comes.  Seems like the only time I make "doodles" is at Christmas. 

Etta Sue, Bose speakers?  Now that is a Christmas gift.  I had a Bose headset and it was great.  When I used it the music was centered in my body.

JudyB, the Christmas story was wonderful.  Making it even better is the fact that our grandson, William, knows his W, even when it is an M.

Well, I had mentioned some medical tests that I was scheduled for.  The MRI went well, even though my DH had to come in and put his hand on my leg to get me through it.  I am EXTREMELY claustrophobic.  However, the CT scan did not go so well.  The techs stuck me 9 times with needles and never could get a vein.  So they did the scan without the contrast dye added.  We'll see what happens with that. 

Peppermint ice cream with fudge sauce, now that would really intrigue me even in these dessert ridden days. 

To those of you in snow, be careful.  I like looking at pictures but am happy to be in south Georgia where I do not have to deal with it.

Grace and peace to you all,

Becky

Becky!  I love Snickerdoodles!  Love them!!!

Quote from: Pat on December 23, 2008, 10:54:27 PM
Becky!  I love Snickerdoodles!  Love them!!!

Ooohhh YEAH ... Me too!!   

Hi everyone.  We will not have a white Christmas here in Georgia but probably a wet one as they predict rain. 

I am going down after coffee to pick up our daughter and she will spend a couple of days with us. 

Etta Sue, I saw your posting about the Bose speakers and know you will really enjoy them and probably be asking yourself while you waited so long.  I don't have Bose speakers but do have a set of Altec Lansing with a subwoofer that my son gave me a number of years ago.  They have wonderful sound, so much better than the typical computer speakers.  I did get my new headset of the Sennheiser headphones yesterday and they also have great sound.  I seriously considered getting Bose headphones but came upon these, which many musician professionals use, and don't think I will regret having them.  I listened to music with them yesterday and, as you say, heard sounds I haven't heard before in the recordings.

Becky, sorry that they weren't able to find a vein for the dye to do the CT scan.  Hope you get good results from your tests.

Carol, your dessert idea sounds great.  I love peppermint ice cream (to tell the truth I love all flavors of ice cream) and chocolate sauce makes it all the much better.  Yesterday I had a homemade Almond Joy and it was delicious.

Judy, the kids love the snow.

Janet, sure that John got a lot of pleasure in giving the roses to Beth while he was there.  It sounds like he is making this a very special holiday for her.  Treat yourself and get the Bose unit that you want.  You work very hard and certainly deserve it.

Marilyn, hope Keith had a good drive down the coast.

Time to leave for coffee and then my trip to Atlanta.  I have the wheelchair in the car.

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas

John made it home last night, he was struggling with fair weather drivers.  We are able to spend time together for the next couple of days.  It sure is wonderful having him home.

Here in the north we have Christian Radio.  Today is all request day and the girls are sending in their requests for family.  If you care to listen the site is www.cjtk.com.  We sure enjoy listening to the "K".  Kass won a CD already today.

I have to run, will be back though.

God Bless
Judy

Carol, thanks for that idea!  Sounds yummy, and I will look for those items today.

I am about to head out the door to Pat's, she just got home from Texas and will do my hair in a little while.  Then I will go to the grocery store for last minute items (like peppermint ice cream and fudge sauce!)

Good to read all the comments and see the pretty graphics today.  I'll be back.

Oh----Ruthie!  Great to see you again!  Don't be a stranger now.

ok so details ya'll wanted... all i really have to say is it is amazing how time to grow up can change a person....the man i am marrying is an old flame... things between us got worse changed and are now better than ever... wedding is december 31 and both of us have grown and changed so much but for the better... we have both grown and matured.... his name is Alyx.... some may have heard of him before some may have not... he is in the army just got back from Iraq.... it just amazes me how some things work out... anyways i must be off now have several things to get done before i leave for hugoton to meet with him and his parents for christmas then to my grandmas house tonight then to my house tomorrow and his grandparents... busy busy busy ya know!
sarah

I am listening to CJTK radio.  Sounds amazing on my Bose!!

Again, congratulations, Sarah and Alyx.  I remember the name Alyx because of the spelling!! 

It is raining today and lots of water everywhere.  The temps are higher but the ground is still frozen so no where for the water to do.  Lakes all around me.  Still windy but much better since it is 46 degrees. 

I went to Ivalou to get some sweetened condensed milk for Magic Cookie Bars and took her mail from yesterday to her.  I keep styrofoam in my vents for the crawl space and there was styrofoam in my front yard...it was from my under my bedroom in the back of the house!!  I also took in Ivalou card tables and chairs from her garage to her family room for tomorrow. 

Ivalou called later and said that Marge wanted to meet us all for dinner tonight...Betty, Ivalou and I.  But after a few phone calls, we don't think anything will be open.  So Marge is going to drive us all the Christmas Eve service at church at 7pm! 

Everyone have a wonderful Christmas Eve!! !!

Congratulations Sarah.



I pray everyone has a blessed Christmas, and a peaceful New Year.  I will continue to pray for driving safety for everyone, as well as the needs spoken of.  May God bless each and everyone who comes into this site.

Our old friend, Dr. Suess, wrote: "And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

Tonight is Christmas Eve. I hope you all have a blessed Christmas. Make it a wonderful Holiday Season, and do an unexpected kindness for someone less fortunate than you.

Congratulations, Sarah.  Are you having a church wedding?

I had best come in now as the snow is falling heavily again.  Power may not stay.....

Ralph got us out to the store again.  The roads are terrible.  Plowing seems to be the last thing on the agenda for this part of the island.
Managed to get a fair bouquet of flowers for Wendy.  Stores are a tad bare at the moment.  Everyone is safe, Amanda seems to be over the terrible flu virus of the past few days, Misty is content to stay inside..at last!  So things are looking fine for this Christmas Eve.  No church 'tho as it would be impossible to get there.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day. 

God Bless,

Liz