Been Awhile...

It has been quite some time since my last post...even longer since I said something with any substance. Sorry gang. It may be just a bit longer until I really get on this thing. Suffice it to say that life has bee pretty busy these past few weeks. We had a friend stay with us for nearly a week just last week. It was a much needed vacation for her as she has two teenage kids and a husband with early onset Alzheimer's; he's considered at stage six, so it's progressed quite a bit. We just wanted to make sure she got spoiled rotten, as her last visit out here was all about everyone else getting refreshed - everyone, that is, except herself. She was yielding at their every whim to ensure everyone stayed happy. Needless to say, she is the one who was in the greatest need of the vacation, and the one who benefitted the least from that round. This time however, we did it up really good! It was all about pampering her. She called this week and said she's going through "Uyehara withdrawals".

This upcoming week we will be hosting a major ministry event in our county. It's going to be Hawaiian Luau theme, "God's Aloha tu da Max!" Half of the state will be coming together. Walter and another gentleman are going outside the box to take on the Children's Fellowship portion of the day. I will be working with another lady to coordinate group contests/activities for a two hour time slot. Should our timed activities come up short, I have a back-up plan to teach some basic hula dance steps/motions...did I say "basic"? Yes, that's precisely what I meant to say, "Basic with a capital B." I'm ready to teach the kao, kahalo, hela, havela, kui, and ami...show some hand motions that are commonly used, and perform one of the most elementary dances that most toddlers start with, "Pearly Shells". David says I'm getting pretty good now . (Boy, I've got hime fooled!) The main thing is to not bob up and down, but to stay as level in your dance (knees gently bent, lift heel and hip at same time) as possible, all the while, making sure you smile really big, and perform graceful hand motions (viewing hands while dancing - the body performs the dance, but the hands tell the story). At least you can "look" like you have a little bit of aloha with this bit of knowledge/ability. It is fun, I must admit.
So, a big weekend...praying for sunshine, but light rain is in the forecast...we are prepared to do our activities under a pavilion (worst case scenario). We'll break bread together, have musical performances, teachings of the Bible, worship, activities - basically, a whole lotta godly fun!

I Posted a New Poll: What Is Your Favorite Color?

Just in case your favorite color is not listed (or if you want to specify more accurately your exact shade of your favorite color) you can utilize this spot for your posting. Feel free to elaborate "why" if you so desire.

A Worthwhile Quote...

"Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best. God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best and man will not take it."

~George MacDonald

Frugal Tips...

Please submit your favorite frugal/thrift (not cheap) tips. I distinguish cheap as that which is done to save money at the expense of others (i.e., stiffing a waitress of her tip or stealing hotel room items...CHEAP!).

One recent frugal tip that I did this past month was to write an email to request coupons from my favorite cheese manufacturer. They mailed me 4 coupons for $1 off, and threw in one FREE purchase to boot. I use their cheese as frequent as is feasible, but it's not cheap in our local grocery stores. I told them that as much as I love their cheese, it's not economical for me to buy very often, so I have been left to buy it for special occassions, like when I have guests over. I have recruited quite a few folks to their cheese. (You are all probably wondering what cheese I'm referring to: Boursin, Gournay Cheese with garlic and fine herb flavoring).

Buy online overstock/clearance items from high end stores. I recently found several items from Lands End for less than what I'd pay at Walmart, but rather than cheap quality, they are well made and in classic styles that will endure for years rather than for a season. Also, avoid buying trendy pieces, rather go trendy on small ticket items like accessories that can update a classic, enduring article of clothing.

Check out the scratch and dent section of the grocery store for canned and boxed food items. For perishables, you can consider the day old baked goods and freeze them for later use. I do this with meats and produce that is discounted for quick sell. I immediately will prepare it (i.e., portion out meat servings, cut up fruits and veggies, and then freeze them for later use). I also will make a big pot of beans or grains and portion them out into one cup servings and freeze them for meals. Saves me time and money! When I have leftovers I will do likewise, portion out a serving or two for a meal later. I find that others are more inclined to eat leftovers if some time has passed before you reintroduce the food again. Also, I will use leftovers to make a stew, soup, or casserole.

Poll Results of Favorite White Wine Variety

Reisling was the BIG WINNER with NINE VOTES. Runner up was Chardonnay with ONE VOTE. Thanks for submitting your vote(s). Now, go out and pick yourself a nice bottle of Reisling, pour yourself a glass, fix yourself a nice hot bath, and open up a good book. Enjoy!

Learing about the Lymphatic System!

I typically will spend a few days learning about random things that I think will be profitable either to myself or to others. These past couple of days I've been learning more about the lymphatic system and it is quite fascinating!

The lymphatic system doesn't pump the lymph throughout your body on it's own, it needs you to make some effort. Can you say exercise? A really great exercise that helps keep the lymphatic system moving along smoothly (as opposed to getting clogged up in the nodes) is rebounding. A rebounder is basically a mini trampoline, though there are varying degrees of quality. A gentle bounce, called the "health bounce" for five minutes a day is all that is needed to capitalize on rebounding's benefits for lymphatic health. In fact, it's encouraged that you start out gently in your routine rather than starting a rigorous workout.

The gentle action is enough to move the fluids so they can promote healing throughout your body. After all, you wouldn't want to counter the healing benefit by injuring yourself! Also, drink plenty of fluids, water being the ideal, to keep the lymph fluids moving along nicely.

One other notable tidbit is gentle massage to your lymph node areas, especially where there may be excessive build up. This is what was happening to me with my right under arm shoulder area. For years I thought I was having carpal tunnel issues as the pain was affecting the rest of my right arm, even down to my hands. Who knew? I simply started to massage the area to try and isolate where the pain was sourced from. Ultimately, I ended up at the swollen lymph node under my right armpit. (I just had a mammogram about two months ago with a clean bill of health, so was able to rule that out right away). Every opportunity I get, I try and massage this area to work the node. It's amazing to me the relief I have experienced. Though not 100%, there is a very noticeable improvement. It must be that the swollen node was not allowing room for nerve activity to happen fully.

About 3-4 years ago I was encouraged to have carpal tunnel surgery. I didn't feel conforatble with that; it just didn't seem like getting cut up was the solution, but rather seemed quite rash and extreme! I am SO GLAD that I didn't go that route, as clearly, the source of the problem would still exist and I'd have had a needless surgery. I am one of those folks who likes to explore the least invasive, most natural/gentle form of remedy first. I just don't understand how medical professionals can honestly go there as the first mode of solution, that, or drugs! But, then again, I DO KNOW that they have to work with health insurance policies, and sadly, homeopathic/ natural cures are not covered!

I have nothing against medical professionals, rather, I know they're of great value when you really need them. Same with meds and surgical procedures. It's just that these days, there's way too much relinquishing of our own will to the will of our caregivers. There's also not enough information being provided to the patient as a natural alternative to all these drastic measures. We have to take charge of our own health and learn what is available, especially what's going to have the least consequences and be the least invasive.

It's okay to ask your healthcare provider about alternative options to things they suggest. Ask them what is the least invasive option. And also, don't feel compelled to have something done that you're not at peace about. Sometimes the doctors are right, but sometimes they have been know to misdiagnose things. Not because they're stupid, but because they may not have all the facts about your situation.

Good health to you!

Inspirational Blog - Roy Lessin's Meet Me in the Meadow

I found this inspirational blog from the co-founder of daysprings. On many occasions it has enriched my life. You may enjoy it too, so I have posted it here. Please feel free to bookmark it to your favorites if you so desire. I did!

http://roy.dayspring.com/

Recent excerpts from Roy Lessin's blog:

Fret Busters #23, #24

There is one thing that God says to every believer, regardless of his circumstances — “Trust Me.”

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Psalm 37:3

Confidence is not based on you having all the resources needed to take care of yourself; confidence is based upon the truth that God is faithful.

Great Quotes

You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16

It is much that He should satisfy the need, the want; but He goes far beyond that. Pity is moved to meet our need; duty may sometimes look after our wants; but to satisfy the desire implies a tender watchfulness, a sweet and gracious knowledge of us, an eagerness of blessing. God is never satisfied until He has satisfied our desires. –Mark Guy Pearse

God chooses the weak things and the despised. Paul seems almost at a loss to know how to define the things, so weak and despicable in men’s eyes, that God elects to use. In a telling phrase he sums them up as the “the things which are not.” I Corinthians 1:28.

Do you fall in that category? Do not despair. Far from being at a disadvantage as compared with others, you may in fact have the edge over them. For at least you are already at zero, and have not a long way still to go to reach God’s starting point!
–Watchman Nee

Humility

Those who walk before God in humility are:

Weak enough to lean upon His strength;
Small enough to look upon His greatness;
Patient enough to wait upon His timing;
Empty enough to draw upon His fullness;
Poor enough to depend upon His riches;
Needy enough to count upon His grace.

“I love being nothing so He can be my all.” -Don Lessin

Emerson - A Heart Reignited

Reading an Introduction into The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, I was stirred by the words of Mary Oliver. As she described Emerson I was reminded of how “like-souled” we are and how in many ways I desire to be like him in his simplicity in observing life, his contentment, and yet his deep thinking, active mind to find beauty in the most common observances of everyday life.

I have felt for some days, perhaps even weeks, as though I were half dead in my soul, trying to figure out why I should still draw breath daily when my life felt purposeless and empty of aim. Mind you, I was not suicidal, but rather, just sort of living on "empty". Life lacked something.

Last night, my soul’s embers, once thought smoldered and cold, were suddenly stirred while reading. Reignited was this small spark, a flicker, that turned into a slow and steady flame. I know now that much of what was lost was my own observation of life, life with its daily common happenings. Instead, I had been filling my day with the clutter of duty, chores, deadlines, etc… the mundane…all these calling me to attend to them, but all the while neglecting what has been a passion in life, the keen observation of life all around, and drawing upon the hidden lessons that life wants to teach me if I will stop and observe.

How seldom I had opened the doors so that I might step outside and see the happenings in my community. Here, I have been granted this unique privilege to live in this particular time, and in this unique area of the world. But sadly, my only portals to see outside this vessel had been the media…the news, magazines, articles, television, the internet, etc. To my own detriment I had ignored the most obvious portal of all – my own eyes, my own heart, my own understanding. How about those things I look upon, learn about, apply my heart to understand about what I am seeing. What about my perspective? Why should everyone else's perspective about life be more esteemed than my own? After all, they cannot see what only I can see. If perchance I understand what I am observing, I might in turn also elevate those who are involved.

Emerson in his introduction to his first published essay entitled Nature wrote, “The sun shines to-day also.” (This is our day to live, much like others who lived so fully before us! They had their time; we now have ours!)

Harriet Martineau wrote of Emerson, “His influence is of the curious sort. There is a vague nobleness and thorough sweetness about him, which move people to their very depths, without their being able to explain why… He conquers minds, as well as hearts, wherever he goes; and without convincing anybody’s reason of any one thing, exalts their reason, and makes their minds worth more than they ever were before.” 9th June, 1848

I want this to be the theme of my life, that others were better for having been in my presence, that they were edified, elevated, improved, for having known me. People should be left better than we find them! As a young girl I can recall my mother's teachings: "People cannot be replaced," she would say, "things can be replaced, but not people!" She helped me realize the worth of a man.

Emerson would daily jot notes in his journal – simple observances versed profoundly, and vice versa, profound observances versed simply. He wrote with eloquence. He was inspirational, yet modest. Some favorites of the thoughts he preserved in his journals:

“We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them.”

And perhaps my favorite (taken from Ms. Oliver's introduction):

Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view."

This last quote noted here gives wings to my petitions, reminding me that yes, I see the situation…indeed, it is right here; I am not denying it. I simply choose to change my perception, viewing it instead with God beside me. He is in the picture. Viewing it from God’s vantage point, suddenly, all appears possible!

Consumer Reports Picks the Best Cup o' Brew (Article)

Consumer Reports Picks the Best Cup o' Brew
Our top-rated Colombian coffee is also a CR Best Buy
By ConsumerReports.org

Folgers, Maxwell House, and Starbucks are America's best-selling ground coffees. But all three were iced by Eight O'Clock Colombian coffee in our taste tests. As for Starbucks, it didn't even place among the top regular coffees and trailed among decafs.

Our tests of 19 coffees also show that some of the best cost the least. At about $6 per pound, Eight O'Clock costs less than half the price of Gloria Jean's, Peet's, and other more expensive brands.

Like your joe without all the caffeine? Dunkin' Donuts and Millstone were the front runners among the decafs. But Folgers Gourmet Selection Lively Colombian came in close behind and costs up to $3 less per pound. But even the best decaffeinated coffees couldn't match the best regular brews in our taste tests.

What we tasted
Our coffee experts focused on 100 percent Colombian — a best-selling bean — for regular coffee. Most of our decaffeinated coffees are a blend of different beans.

What makes a great cup of Colombian? Lots of aroma and flavor, some floral notes and fruitiness, a touch of bitterness, and enough body to provide a feeling of fullness in the mouth. Woody, papery, or burnt tastes are off-notes.

Weeks of sipping and swirling confirmed that even 100 percent Colombian coffee and its Juan Valdez logo don't guarantee quality. Our trained testers unearthed other surprises:

Still so-so after all these years
Chock full o'Nuts and Maxwell House have pushed coffee that's "heavenly" and "good to the last drop" since 1932 and 1907, respectively. But off-notes, little complexity, and, for Chock full o' Nuts, variable quality put both behind Eight O'Clock.

When boutique isn't better
Midwest-based Caribou and Kickapoo beat an array of larger players among regular coffees. But Bucks County Coffee, from Langhorne, Penn., tasted only OK, and Peet's, from Berkeley, Calif., was burnt and bitter, despite costing $14 per pound. Peet's, Archer Farms, and Kickapoo also varied from batch to batch.

Caffeine differences
None of our decaffeinated coffees had more than 5 milligrams of caffeine per 6-ounce serving. But among regular coffees, Caribou and Bucks County had roughly four times the caffeine (195 milligrams) of some of the lowest-level brews. Medical experts say up to 600 milligrams per day is probably safe for most and can help keep you alert. But heart patients and women who are pregnant or nursing should stay below 200 milligrams, which might mean sidestepping those brands among the caffeinated coffees we tested.

How to choose
Several of our top coffees could save you $25 to $70 per year over pricier brands even if you drank just one 6-ounce cup per day. Here's what else to think about:

Consider how you take it
Coffees judged very good taste fine black. Milk and sugar can improve a mediocre coffee, but not even cream is likely to help the lowest-scoring decafs.

Choose a good coffeemaker
The best coffeemakers from our January report reached the 195º to 205º F required to get the best from the beans and avoid a weak or bitter brew. A top Michael Graves model costs just $40.

Consider grinding for fresher flavor
Even the best pre-ground coffee can't beat the best fresh-ground when it comes to taste. One top grinder from our January report, the Mr. Coffee IDS77, costs only $20.

A Great Article About Judging a Good Cup of Coffee

10 Ways to Judge Good and Bad Coffee
Posted Fri, Dec 12, 2008, 4:34 pm PST

What kind of coffee drinker are you? Is Folgers fine or do you shudder to think of a day without your Italian roast? Can there be a universal right or wrong when it comes to determining personal taste? Aficionados who make tasting brews their business would like to think there is. Want to know how your cup of coffee measures up? Check out coffee expert Michaele Weissman's tips to see how to judge your java.

Michaele Weissman's 10 Ways to Judge a Cup of Coffee:

1. The Scent
Our sense of smell is much more sensitive than our sense of taste. Anyone who has been captivated by the smell of coffee won't be surprised to learn that coffee releases more aromatic compounds than any other food. These should be pleasing aromas, but bad coffee may include onion-y and vegetable-y elements in its scent.

2. The First Sip
Try tasting each new coffee black. Nothing is wrong with milk and sugar, but they alter the taste and texture of the coffee. So, when learning about coffee, it's a good idea to take a few pure sips. Also, let it cool slightly to make the range of flavors in the cup more accessible.

3. Sweetness and Saltiness
Look for an underlying natural sweetness. That taste comes from the ripeness of the coffee cherry. Professional tasters rank sweetness as the most important taste characteristic of high-grade coffee. Coffee should never taste salty. Saltiness is caused by processing defects.

4. Acidity
Taste for a bright, light acidity that is pleasing. This is not to be confused with the stomach-churning acidity that you get, say, from coffee that has been sitting on an office hotplate for four hours.

5. Texture
A nice texture for coffee has a little thickness. It's not thin and watery. The last taste you experience with good coffee should be smooth, and there should be a pleasing, sweet aftertaste.

6. Fruits and Vegetables
Finding words to describe the interplay of what our taste buds detect (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory) isn't easy. Many of the world's most prized coffees, such as those from Yirgacheffe in Ethiopia, abound in flavors that are described as bright, lemony, orangey, berry-like, and floral. When the fruity flavors go bad, however, they can degenerate into vegetable tastes. Not so good. Who wants sautéed onions or steamed cauliflower in their coffee cup?

7. Spices
Exotic flavors that are spicy (think cinnamon and cloves), smoky, and woodsy can be desirable. Such tastes often appear in Indonesian coffees. In excess, they can be unpleasant.

8. Natural Sugar
Chocolaty, caramel-like, nutty, and toasty flavors come from the sugar browning that occurs during roasting. Latin American coffees at their best have lots of these yummy, warm, sweet notes. In lower quality coffees from Latin America (like some of the national brands you buy at the supermarket), this sugar browning can produce the sense of swallowing a mouthful of dry, bitter grain.

9. The Roast
Roasting can be light, medium, dark, or very dark. If you detect a burnt quality in a coffee, it may be a bad roast. In the U.S. there are regional differences in roasting. Companies from the Pacific Northwest tend toward darker roasts.

10. Espresso Notes
Espresso is made from a blend of coffees brewed under great pressure, using a large amount of coffee and a small amount of water. Espresso is dense and intense and can stand up to other flavorings. High quality espresso has just as complex a flavor range as brewed coffee. If you order an espresso in a café, the layer of reddish brown foam on the top, called the crema, should be thick and creamy, and you should be able to push it away from you with the back of a spoon. If you order a cappuccino, the milk foam should be thick, creamy, and sweet.

Tip: Knowing where your coffee comes from can help you pick one that will taste great to you. Latin American coffees tend to be chocolaty and mild. Coffees from east Africa tend to have a wake-up-your-mouth kind of perkiness that coffee pros call brightness. Coffees from Indonesia tend to be earthy, dark, and more intense.

Superbowl Pick! Go Arizona Cardinals!!!

Okay, so I finally figured out who to root for on Sunday. The Arizona Cardinals win hands down!

How did I come to this conclusion? No, Kathy. It wasn't your response, but thank you anyways.
No, I decided to find out who Dave Krieg would be cheering on, seeing that he is my all time favorite football player - EVER!!! (Along with Steve Largent.) I did a Google search on him to see any input he might have. While he didn't divulge his team of choice, I did manage to reason out by logic who he might cheer for, Arizona. Krieg played for Seattle (growing up in Oregon and liking the uniforms this became my team of choice) http://www.davekrieg.com/. He then went to Kansas City shortly after I moved there. (Did I ever happen to mention that a limerick of mine was published that I had written for him when I lived there? I don't know if he ever read it, but I will post it here for good measure):

A Seahawk fan I used to be,
Since Dave Krieg used to pass to Steve.
You're pulling my leg!
The Chiefs picked up Krieg?!
Sorry Seattle, I'm cheering the Chiefs!

Back to the post...
Well, sadly, Joe Montana overshadowed Krieg's career with the Chiefs, though he actually could do no better than Krieg did, seeing they had a weak offensive line and NOT a weak QB. It was after this that I stopped following football. Enter the times that Krieg played for Detroit, Arizona, and get this...Tennessee Oilers! I lived in Tennessee and didn't realize he was on the team... so three teams out of 6 were local teams for me (unbeknownst to me). So, now you have it...the reason for my rooting on the Cardinals this year. (The Titans didn't make the Superbowl or I certainly would have went with them.)

(Add to this that Kurt Warner is a bold professing Christian who QBs for the Cardinals and that I like a team that plays a strong offense rather than a defensive team...all great reasons to go with Arizona. And of course, two of my sisters live in Arizona - now I'm really in!)

And one last comment to add here:

Dave Krieg should be inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. He was a truly amazing quarterback who happened to play on rather mediocre teams with a couple of key players (insert Steve Largent here). But the true reason I am his fan? When I watched him play each week with my dad and brother, I liked his integrity. When he made a mistake he would point to himself and make sure his receiver didn't take the heat and condemn himself. And when he did it right and the other guy messed up, it was clear. But he would be discouraged, but only for half a second; he immediately changed gears and encouraged the team toward the next play. He didn't let things spiral downward but stayed optimistic.
Just look at the game (Nov. 11, 1990) against the Chiefs where he got sacked all day long by Derrick Thomas (still the record number of sacks in a given game = 7), yet Krieg still, in spite of all that pressure, managed to escape another sack to pass the winning touchdown in the last seconds of the game! That kind of determination is worthy of recognition in my book!
I have several of his cards, his rookie card included, and some day I would like to get Krieg to autograph them. Presently, he is not autographing except for fundraisers.

Checking In...

No, not checking into a rehab, but rather my blog. It has been quite some time. Sorry folks.

Since Christmas there have been some changes, most notably, I am working from home now. Goodbye corporate America. I can truly say that I don't miss it. The toughest part about transitioning is that when working from home, there are constant nagging tasks, both domestic and business, and the work never seems to stop. I will have to figure out a routine so that I have more personal time, or at least not feel guilty for personal time that I take. As it stands, I find that work is always calling me and I am always answering its call.

I am learning quite a bit about Walter's business (our business) and what he does so that I can work up marketing strategies and target specific companies and industries. So far I have been mostly doing note taking, but pretty soon I will be drafting some advertising letters and brochures to introduce targeted potential clients to his services. I like the learning aspects of marketing, so this will be fun the more I get into it.

David started his new job at a nationally acclaimed conference center as a server. He is really enjoying his job as he gets to take care of people. This is more exciting to him than the other job he had for the holidays at Brookstone selling merchandise. Additionally, David got accepted to become a volunteer firefighter for our community. He really enjoys that too, though mostly he has been in training or doing administrative tasks; he won't be expected to fight fires until he is properly trained - thank God! Last week he learned to attach the hose to the fire hydrant, he also did the paperwork for a house fire that occured up the street. Thankfully everyone got out of the house and there were no injuries, but it was pretty scary for a while when we saw the fire lapping blue flames alternately with orange in huge billows throughout the living room windows, all the while, not knowing if everyone was out. One can only pray in a moment like that.

Well, on another grim note (albeit, not entirely negative on account of the outcome), David was in a car accident while taking an exit too fast. He said that another car was tailing him closely, so he felt pressured to go faster. As a result, he lost control and hit the exit guard rails on either side of the ramp and totalled the car, both airbags deploying. What is miraculous, is that althought the car is sure to be a total loss, he was not hurt at all, furthermore, the other car avoided him and was able to stop and assist him. So, now we have a rental and are awaiting the report from the claims adjuster about replacing/repairing the car. Walter got a free upgrade on the rental to a red luxury Saab with leather interior and some sort of "turbo-booster" feature (can't recall exactly what Walter called it). I just thank God that given the circumstances of going 60 mph with someone tailing him, David came through unscathed, as well as the other fellow. Thank God!! Thank you Father!!!

This weekend we will be hosting a Superbowl party with the fellowship. I used to be "up" on the football scene. Sadly, I slowed my momentum watching after Dave Krieg retired from the Kansas City Chiefs, and finally stopped altogether when we moved from Nashville to Knoxville. Folks on the eastern side of the state are not into the Tennessee Titans, but rather are quite absorbed with college ball/UT; it's orange country. In fact, there are more fans for the Colts because of the Peyton Manning following, than Titan fans. Sad, truly sad...when I lived there, they treated Peyton like a demi-god. I found it quite repulsive. Needless to say, I have not embraced a team here in New York. I don't know if I can make the conversion (no pun intended with football terminology, but heh, it works). I am a west coast gal, living in the northeast. So, should I go with Philly or Arizona? I'm torn, as neither is a team for which I have any allegiances. I guess I will have to do a bit on recon work, or maybe make my decision based on respective divisions.

Greetings...

As they say in Hawaii...

Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A little holiday trivia:
Did you know Santa comes to town on a surfboard in Hawaii, wearing a tank-top and swim trunks? This is Hawaiian tradition, since they have no chimneys and the weather doesn't require a fur-lined suit.

How Great Thou Art!

I love this hymn!

David and I sang this song for our church group last week Sunday. I sang melody, he accompanied on guitar and sang the harmonies. We followed up with another song, with audience participation on the chorus, Give Me Oil For My Lamp.

Well, I mention this because just moments ago, in the distance, the church bell chimes were playing How Great Thou Art. How wonderful to hear the melody and to be reminded of such edifying lyrics.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Career Match - What's Your Personality Style?

Take the Color Match/Color Q Personality Style Self-Assessment by clicking on the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0814473644/ref=sib_dp_ptu#reader-link

This will help you determine your primary style. If you REALLY want to make the most of the test, borrow the book from the library so you can determine your secondary style, as well as whether your introverted or extroverted.

My test results (having completed the entire test with the book) are:

Primary: Green
Secondary: Red
Introvert

The book Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What You'll Love to Do helps you determine occupations and ideal work scenarios that line up with your style. It also helps you identify strengths and challenges, leadership and teamwork styles, and interviewing tips. Great book!

Hi Gang!

I know it's been quite a while. Yes, I'm still alive on this planet. Many of you may have wondered if I had taken my leave. Only a temporary haitus.

I wanted to let you all know that I am leaving the workforce of corporate America. This is something I have wanted to do for some time now, but always had a compelling reason to stay. Walter's business is picking up speed and he is at a point where he could use extra help on the administrative end, as well as the marketing strategies. David is not interested in coming aboard, and I am the next most affordable person Walter can hire at this juncture. January 2nd will be my last day with Castle.

At first I felt guilty about wanting to leave the workforce because of the earnings and health benefits I was able to supply for my family; but once the decision was made, everything else started coming together. Walter's business started expanding immediately, we were able to find benefits, and most importantly (to me at least) I started to embrace this idea as a gift of God. What time could possibly be more optimum for me to start focusing efforts on my writing while still able to contribute to our business? Why not now? Now my excitement is building!

Granted, there will be time of re-focus with the transition itself; and there will be the need for catching up on things that neglectfully fell by the wayside in having to prioritize my time. (I barely had time to even move into this house when we first got here, and certainly not time to go through things in storage, to organize and weed out "stuff".) I will need to set up workable systems with my time and physical surroundings, and then begin the actual daily work for our company. Once I get my general schedules in place, I will begin to add daily writing and marketing to a fledgling writing career.

For now though, I am wrapping up work at Castle, including putting on a holiday luncheon & company wide food drive, finalizing some new hires, completeing affirmative action plan reports (our biggest reporting endeavor each year as government contractors), holding down the fort while my boss goes on vacation, and finally, training the new guy who is to replace me as the human resources administrator. All before I leave!

Meanwhile, Walter's birthday is today, David's was two weeks ago, and the holidays are upon us. My goal each year is to get through the birthdays before I start with the holiday rush.

So, while I plan to take up my writing with greater frequency, do not hold it against me if I put it off posting to my blog just a little bit longer. Life is still busy and I am in transition!

God bless you, one and all!!!

A Great Article - Thanks Mom, for Sending This!

Los Angeles times opinion editorial

SACRAMENTO, September 22 -- The Los Angeles Times has published an Opinion Editorial which shows arguments against same-sex marriage due to its detrimental effect on our children. What is noteworthy is the source: the author of the Op-Ed piece is a Liberal Democrat, which underscores the broad support for Proposition 8 in order to protect marriage for society, our institutions, and for children in California. Read the full text here:

Protecting Marriage to Protect Children Marriage as a human institution is constantly evolving. But in all societies, marriage shapes the rights and obligations of parenthood.
Los Angeles TimesBy David Blankenhorn September 19, 2008
I'm a liberal Democrat. And I do not favor same-sex marriage. Do those positions sound contradictory? To me, they fit together.
Many seem to believe that marriage is simply a private love relationship between two people. They accept this view, in part, because Americans have increasingly emphasized and come to value the intimate, emotional side of marriage, and in part because almost all opinion leaders today, from journalists to judges, strongly embrace this position. That's certainly the idea that underpinned the California Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage.
But I spent a year studying the history and anthropology of marriage, and I've come to a different conclusion.
Marriage as a human institution is constantly evolving, and many of its features vary across groups and cultures. But there is one constant. In all societies, marriage shapes the rights and obligations of parenthood. Among us humans, the scholars report, marriage is not primarily a license to have sex. Nor is it primarily a license to receive benefits or social recognition. It is primarily a license to have children.
In this sense, marriage is a gift that society bestows on its next generation. Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood -- biological, social and legal -- into one pro-child form: the married couple. Marriage says to a child: The man and the woman whose sexual union made you will also be there to love and raise you. Marriage says to society as a whole: For every child born, there is a recognized mother and a father, accountable to the child and to each other.
Marriage is society's most pro-child institution. In 2002 -- just moments before it became highly unfashionable to say so -- a team of researchers from Child Trends, a nonpartisan research center, reported that "family structure clearly matters for children, and the family structure that helps children the most is a family headed by two biological parents in a low- conflict marriage."
All our scholarly instruments seem to agree: For healthy development, what a child needs more than anything else is the mother and father who together made the child, who love the child and love each other.
For these reasons, children have the right, insofar as society can make it possible, to know and to be cared for by the two parents who brought them into this world. The foundational human rights document in the world today regarding children, the 1989 U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically guarantees children this right. The last time I checked, liberals like me were supposed to be in favor of internationally recognized human rights, particularly concerning children, who are typically society's most voiceless and vulnerable group. Or have I now said something I shouldn't?
Every child being raised by gay or lesbian couples will be denied his birthright to both parents who made him. Every single one. Moreover, losing that right will not be a consequence of something that at least most of us view as tragic, such as a marriage that didn't last, or an unexpected pregnancy where the father-to- be has no intention of sticking around. On the contrary, in the case of same-sex marriage and the children of those unions, it will be explained to everyone, including the children that something wonderful has happened!
For me, what we are encouraged or permitted to say, or not say, to one another about what our society owes its children is crucially important in the debate over initiatives like California's Proposition 8, which would reinstate marriage's customary man-woman form. Do you think that every child deserves his mother and father, with adoption available for those children whose natural parents cannot care for them? Do you suspect that fathers and mothers are different from one another? Do you imagine that biological ties matter to children? How many parents per child are best? Do you think that "two" is a better answer than one, three, four or whatever? If you do, be careful. In making the case for same-sex marriage, more than a few grown-ups will be quite willing to question your integrity and goodwill. Children, of course, are rarely consulted.
The liberal philosopher Isaiah Berlin famously argued that, in many cases, the real conflict we face is not good versus bad but good versus good. Reducing homophobia is good. Protecting the birthright of the child is good. How should we reason together as a society when these two good things conflict?
Here is my reasoning. I reject homophobia and believe in the equal dignity of gay and lesbian love. Because I also believe with all my heart in the right of the child to the mother and father who made her, I believe that we as a society should seek to maintain and to strengthen the only human institution -- marriage -- that is specifically intended to safeguard that right and make it real for our children.
Legalized same-sex marriage almost certainly benefits those same-sex couples who choose to marry, as well as the children being raised in those homes. But changing the meaning of marriage to accommodate homosexual orientation further and perhaps definitively undermines for all of us the very thing -- the gift, the birthright -- that is marriage's most distinctive contribution to human society. That's a change that, in the final analysis, I cannot support.

David Blankenhorn is president of the New York- based Institute for American Values and the author of "The Future of Marriage."

Living in the Liberty of God's Grace

I have been working the book of Galatians of late. What a tremendous epistle of great truth in order to live and abound in liberty. I read the book first in the King James Version, but it seemed rote, having read and listened to that version many, many times. I then took a look at the Amplified Version. Good. But this time, I still needed something more. Then I explored the Message Bible. WOW!!! I really like this version for the heart and impact it resonates. I felt like I was sitting down, one on one with the Apostle Paul. Granted, I am not endorsing any particular version; all have their flaws and strengths and often the KJV has a lot of resources that make it a great study version, besides the great attribute of the translators adding italized words when they added words not in the Stephens Greek Text from which it was translated.

For the brevity of time I will give a capsulized rundown of the theme and the heart of this epistle. Paul is encouraging the Galatians to embrace the liberty that is to be found in giving up your own personal ego and embracing instead, who you truly are in the gift of holy spirit, the inner man, also referred to as "Christ in you". This is where rest resides...in embracing what has already been done, and not in the works to enter in by our own futile efforts. In ourselves there is defeat; in Him we are complete.

Too often I observe people running around like crazy, striving to do things to be approved by others, or to feel acceptible to God. We are already acceptible, the work was already done in the new birth when perfection of what God did in Christ was imparted to us...not by works we did, but by His perfect work. The perfection is not in our flesh: perfecting our homes, our bodies, our hair and wardrobe, the car we drive, the job we have, our education. Notice here how the focus is upon ourselves. It's not about how perfect we are in and of ourselves. We are limited in what we can do and how perfect we can be via the body and soul categories of life. These are temporal and they perish day by day. But the inner man! The perfection of the spirit within man upon getting born again! That's incorruptible, it's perfect, it's complete. We have this perfection within simply because we believed on Christ, that he is Lord because God the Father gave him glory and dominion over all things. We believe that he died, but didn't remain in the grave, but that God raised him by His great power and that he lives today and forever more.

So, what do we do with this new found liberty? Good question, I'm glad you asked.

We serve in love. The only law we are now to be under is Christ's Law which is the law of love: Love God all out! With all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And after that (not before), love your neighbor (others...not just those down the street) as you would love yourself. That's it! That's all there is to do. If people would live this way, there would be no need for all the other laws that are set up by governments, places of employment, communities, house rule, tradition, religion, etc...

The sad thing about liberty is when people claim it but do not exercise it unto service out of love for others but rather abuse it in selfish gain for themselves. This is when the works of the flesh prevail in a persons life and they bring forth putrid fruit. But when we do things God's way, the fruit is beautiful and wholesome. This liberty at it's best. Eyes focused upon the needs of others (though not at one's total expense, for we love others AS WE LOVE OURSELVES). So the same care we would give ourselves it what we extend to others, the same courtesies, etc. If we were doing this, then we wouldn't be violating God's commandments; instead they would be axiomatic!

The thing is, we look for opportunities to do good to others, expecially among those closest to us in the community of fellow believing people. Clearly, we extend grace to all, but the priority of our time, resources and energies should go to those who have believed on Christ, as they are brethren. The first place to practice this grace, this liberty is among those closest to us, our immediate families. And remember, grace is unmerited, undeserved favor. We don't encourage, edify, comfort, exhort...in other words, extend grace...because they deserve it, more precisely, it's because they DON'T deserve it. People need love, prayers, and grace when they deserve it least. When did we deserve what God gave us?

If I have stirred up your heart even a little by this little blog passage, I encourage you to go read the church epistles of the Apostle Paul for yourselves. Go check out various versions of the Bible and see the threads of liberty that is woven throughout these letters that Paul wrote to the saints, the born again believers he counted as brethren, not kin by the flesh, but united by the spirit that dwells within. There is SO MUCH GRACE available in this day and time! This whole time period since the day of Pentocost has been with a focus of God extending goodness and grace to those who simply believe, no works required. (Makes me think of the boxed packages...there's no assembly require and batteries are included!)

Selah! (Think on, ponder these things, awhile.)

Here's a great link to Bible Gateway that has various versions...also a great scriptural study aid on many other levels. Play around with it and see what God reveals of His heart to you; only He can give you understanding of His heart and will: http://www.biblegateway.com/ (you may want to save this site to favorites for frequent reading).

God bless you and may you find rest in the liberating grace that sets you free, only truly found in God and in the knowledge of His son Jesus Christ! He led captivity captive. It's already done...enter in, rest awhile, get rejuivanted. Once you're recharged, reach out in love to help others get release from what's captivating them. This is how liberty grows in our lives, when we help others discover their liberty too. We are then working the work of Christ who, according to Luke 4:18 did this:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

(Please pardon any grammatical errors, this was done quickly and I have not made any edits yet.)

Visual DNA Personality Test by Youniverse

My results of the Youniverse personality test (a photo selection test):

Mood: Dreamer
Fun: Escape Artist
Habits: Back to Basics
Social: Thoughtful

http://youniverse.com/personality/feedback/982599c29967c226a0269b41cb27749b (not sure if the link will work to show my results, but hey, it's worth a try.

Take the test too. It's fun and easy!

Go to Http://DNA.imagini.net/friends then post your results here...

For other male vocalists elected, but not listed in poll, please post reply here: