HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMI!!

Wishing you a very

H A P P Y

Hope you have a super nice day, & year!!

We love you!,

Mom & Dad

**I've added a couple of Thanksgiving day photos to yesterday's post.

BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS

I grew up in central Florida, and the picture below could've been from our table. My grandfather, who lived next door, had almost every known fruit tree growing in his yard. My mother tells me that he used to carry me around through his yard when I was just a toddler, teaching me the names of all of the fruits and vegetables he had growing there...right down to the kumquats, loquats, satsumas, etc.

As this Thanksgiving weekend winds down, and family and friends are departing to their respective homes, I am humbled at the thought of how tremendously blessed we are.

I hope your Thanksgiving was not only a time of enjoying good food with family and friends, but a time of reflecting on the indescribable goodness of our great God!

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good
and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues
through all generations.
Psalm 100:4,5

Here we are on Thanksgiving Day.

R to L: Judy, Tom, Justin & I.

Bill took the picture, so isn't in this shot.

Justin eyeing the drumstick....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

And whatever you do,

whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father

through Him.

Col. 3:17

THE LAST COLOR...

Most all of the leaves are down, now. These red flame bushes (not sure what their real name is) are the last to go.

But wait! I see some new color taking the place of the dying leaves....

I'm taking a short bloggy break,

as we're off to Florida for a few days.

Have a wonderful week!

S: )

SILLY SATURDAY

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.


Leotard and bunny slippers! Gotta love that Maxine!!

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT 'FALL'

Are the leaves still falling where you live? We've been knee-deep in leaves for awhile, and now our trees are almost bare. The pear tree held out until after my hubby had spent all day cleaning the leaves up, then overnight, dropped all its leaves.

*****

I got tired of looking at all those leaves in my yard,
so I got up off the couch and went into action.
I closed the curtains.

*****

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

HARVESTING BLESSINGS

Instead of posting today,

I'm referring you to a wonderful blog called

'Counting Your Blessings'.

Polly has a beautiful post entitled

'Harvesting Blessings'

that you're sure to enjoy.

Just click on the link below:

http://countingyourblessings.blogspot.com/

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

...the grass withers and the flowers fall

but the word of the Lord stands forever.

1 Peter 1:25

Painting: 'The Flower Seller'
Augustus E. Mulready, UK
1844-1905

SILLY SATURDAY

It's my story, and I'm sticking to it....
(well, maybe the first seven, anyway!)



*I don't do windows because ... I love birds and don't want one to run into a clean window and get hurt.

*I don't wax floors because ... I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt then I'll feel terrible.

*I don't mind the dust bunnies because ... They are very good company, I have named most of them, and they agree with everything I say.

*I don't disturb cobwebs because ... I want every creature to have a home.

*I don't Spring Clean because ... I love all the seasons and don't want the others to get jealous.

*I don't pull weeds in the garden because ... I wouldn't want to mess with God's design.

*I don't put things away because ... My husband will never be able to find them again.

*I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because... I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over for dinner.

*I don't iron because ... I choose to believe them when they say "Permanent Press."


(You think I'm kidding?) S: )

By the way, don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour tonight!
Yea! An extra hour of sleep!!

FALL FUN

We've had company over the weekend. What a great time we had driving through the mountains. They picked the perfect time to come up from Florida, as the colors here are about at their peak.
In fact, we were enjoying ourselves so much that we thought only once to take pictures. Here they are:
This particular area was just outside of Franklin, NC.

Susan & Toni

Johnny & Toni


Susan , Bill & Toni

We stopped to check out all of the quaint little shops in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, and also took a trip over to Mercier's Apple Orchard Shop. It's very popular (especially this time of year), & we could hardly find a parking place. They grow & sell every type of apple imaginable, as well as jellies, jams, pies, breads, etc.

Toni and Johnny are two of our favorite people. The weekend went by much too fast, though, and now they're on their way back to Florida.

CAN YOU RELATE?

'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.

Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.

After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.'



MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.

2. Put down your car window.

3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

4. Enter amount of cash required and Withdraw.

5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.

6. Put window up.

7. Drive off.



FEMALE PROCEDURE: What is really funny is that most of this part is the Truth.!!!!

1. Drive up to cash machine.

2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.

3. Set parking brake, put the window down.

4 Find handbag, remove all contents onto passenger seat to locate card.

5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.

6. Attempt to insert card into machine.

7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.

8. Insert card.

9 Re-insert card the right way.

10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.

11. Enter PIN.

12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

13. Enter amount of cash required.

14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.

15. Retrieve cash and receipt.

16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.

17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.

18. Re-check makeup.

19. Drive forward 2 feet.

20. Reverse back to cash machine.

21. Retrieve card.

22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!

23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.

24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.

25. Redial person on cell phone.

26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.

27. Release Parking Brake.

GO GATORS!!

This past weekend, the University of Florida GATORS had their Homecoming Parade, Gator Growl and Homecoming Game! It's a really BIG weekend for
all Gator fans!


My daughter, Jami, who is employed @ UF Libraries, made this fabulous papier mache Gator head for the Library's parade car. Oh, by the way, did I mention that she also drove the car in the parade? (She wasn't about to let that gator out of her sight!!) LOL


She didn't like any of the pictures of her driving, but I've posted a few other photos below...............

UF Library parade car with Gator and book on the hood....

Close-up of the papier mache GATOR head....

Judy Russell, Dean of UF Libraries, and Gator's Outstanding Freshman of the Year 1996 , #92, Reggie McGrew....

All set for the parade to begin............

Jami and former Gator football player, Reggie McGrew....

Close-up of Gator.....................

The Gators have won eight Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, and three national championships (1996, 2006, 2008). The Gators have won more games than any other college football team in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as "Division I-A") since 1990.

The Gators beat Arkansas 23-20 this past Saturday, and remain undefeated so far this season @ 6-0.

GO GATORS!

SHOEBOX TIME!

A bit of History:

The concept of Operation Christmas Child began when a couple in Wales were watching a broadcast about Romanian orphanages.
They asked the question: "How can we help the real victims, the children, who live in these situations day after day?" They knew they couldn't stop the wars, but could offer something...the gift of love. Together, they filled a convoy of nine trucks with medical supplies, food, clothing and Christmas gifts for children, and headed into Romania, which had recently been devastated by war.
This was the beginning of the world's largest childrens' Christmas program.

In 1993, Franklin Graham, International President of Samaritan's Purse, adopted Operation Christmas Child. Since then, more than 61 million shoeboxes have been delivered to hurting children in more than 135 countries.

Would you like to fill a shoe box?

First you'll need an empty shoe box (standard size, please). If you wrap the box make sure to wrap lid separately, but wrapping is not required.

Next you need to decide if your gifts will be for a boy or a girl, and the child's age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Make sure to tape a label to the top of the box.

Now for the fun part, filling it with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Here are some suggestions from their web site.

TOYS: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER: Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries).

Once your box is filled they request a $7 donation for each shoe box to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can make a check to Samaritan's Purse (note "OCC" on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation. You can also give online by using our EZGIVE option.

Lastly place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week: Nov. 16-23.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:

Samaritan's Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage.

--the above quote is attributed to H. W. Prentiss, former president of the Nat. Assoc. of Manufacturers. The 'From bondage to spiritual faith' portion is thought to have originated with AlexanderFraser Tyler (1747-1813), a Scottish-born British lawyer.

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. -Psalm 8:2


This is Zoei Toh; singing Amazing Grace.
(Please mute Playlist first)




And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.’”) And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
—John 1:14-17

ROCKET SCIENCE?

Just in case you need a laugh:

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of you who fly routinely in your jobs.

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.
Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.




P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
*
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
*
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
*
P: Dead bugs on windshield..
S: Live bugs on back-order.
*
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a
200-feet-per-minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground..
*
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
*
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
*
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.
*
P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF is always inoperative in OFF mode.
*
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
*
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
*
P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up,
fly right and be serious.
*
P:Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
*
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
*
And the best one for last
*
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel.
Sounds like a midget pounding on something
with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from the midget.




(By the way, UPS is the only major airline that has
never, ever, had an accident).

HUNGARIAN CABBAGE ROLLS

A fellow blogger requested the recipe for our Cabbage Rolls, so I've included it here. This recipe (which I got from my MIL) is the one I use. My husband, however, doesn't use a recipe &
they always taste wonderful.
He prefers to use the refrigerated packages of sauerkraut instead of canned. He also likes to include chunks of Kolbasi in with the sauce around the rolls.


Hungarian Cabbage Rolls

1 large head Cabbage

Ingredients for cabbage rolls:
1 lb. ground Pork Shoulder*
1 Onion, minced
1/2 c. uncooked Rice
1 clove Garlic, minced (or
1/4 t. Garlic Powder)
1 t. Salt
1/4 t. Pepper

Cut core from cabbage; wash, shake,
& put in large pot of boiling water.
Cook about 5-7 min., covered. Remove
from heat and let stand in the water
10-15 min. to soften leaves; then drain.

Mix thoroughly next 6 ingredients.

Separate cabbage leaves carefully,
keeping them whole. Put one leaf at a time
on a board, and with a sharp knife, shave
off rib to the thickness of the rest of the
leaf. Put a spoonful of the meat mixture
at base of leaf and roll up loosely (to
permit swelling of the rice as it cooks).

Ingredients for mixture to pour over &
around cabbage rolls while cooking:

1 large Onion, sliced
1 T. Bacon fat
1 can (18 oz.) Tomato Juice
1 can Bavarian Sauerkraut (approx. 2 cups)
1 t. Brown sugar
1 cup Water

Cook sliced onion in fat in Dutch oven or
large kettle until golden. Add tomato juice
and sauerkraut. Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Arrange cabbage rolls in pot and pour water
over all. Make a couple of layers of rolls.
Don't crowd them too closely together.

Cover and simmer over low heat for at least
1 1/2 hours. Check to see if rice is soft.

Makes 18-20 rolls. About 6 servings

*Ground beef can be used, or half beef and
half pork, but the original Hungarian recipe
uses all pork, & I've found it to be softer and
tastier.

These freeze very well, so we always double
the recipe and put some in the freezer for
another day.

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

OCTOBER DREAM

If you've had a stressful day (or week),
click the center button to mute the Playlist,

then sit back and enjoy the sights and
soothing sounds of this beautiful Autumn video.

Music playing is 'La petite Fille de la Mer'
by Vangelis

SILLY SATURDAY

Can you recall how you felt when you were trying to learn to operate a computer?
I used to tell my hubby..."Just teach me one thing at a time & let me get used to that before you go on to something else."
This is what it may have been like back in early 'book' days......

HOW TO READ A BOOK...
(Please remember to mute Playlist first).





***No charge for this FREE lesson! S: )

HAPPY FALL, YA'LL!!

There's a reason for the 2 pictures
I've chosen for the first day of Autumn!

The first one is 'Joe, the Crow!'

We have a family of 4 crows that fly onto our driveway when we call them.

All I do is step outside & say, 'Hey, Joe!', and here they come.

This happens at least once, & usually twice every day. Sometimes, if we're not paying attention , they station themselves in nearby trees & 'Caw, Caw, CAW!' until we go out & toss them some raw peanuts.

For a long time, Joe came all by himself. Then he decided he trusted us enough to bring his new family. The group of four started coming when 2 of them were just little more than babies. Mr. & Mrs. Joe would take peanuts to the younger ones & feed them. This went on for months, then finally, all four started flying in together & each getting their own peanuts.

*****

Then, of course, here are two of my chipmunk pets.

This is Smoky & Jumper.

(Couldn't get the whole gang of them together for a portrait,

so these two will have to do!)

They're wishing you a whole peck of cool & beautiful days!

HAPPY FALL, YA'LL!!

BIRTH ORDER...1,2,3

This is funny, and probably something all you moms can relate to.
(Especially you, Lisa, since you have 3 children).


BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN:

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes. ____________________________________

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't' do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month
____________________________________

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
____________________________________
Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing. _____________________________________

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in. _____________________________________

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
_____________________________________

Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner. ____________________________________

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood. _____________________________________

At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children. _____________________________________

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!
_____________________________________

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

SO CUTE!

Please mute Playlist, because

this is 26 seconds you've just got to hear!

Isn't she adorable?

I don't know what she was saying,

but she was really trying to get her point across!

S: ))

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

***

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

***

KIDS IN CHURCH

KIDS IN CHURCH:

3-year-old Reese :
'Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name.
Amen.'

***

A little boy was overheard praying:
'Lord, if you can't make me a better boy,

don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am.'

***

After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home

in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied,
'That preacher said he wanted us to be

brought up in a Christian home,
and I wanted to stay with you guys.'

***

One particular four-year-old prayed,
'And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.'

***

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they
were on the way to church service,
'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?'
One bright little girl replied,
'Because people are sleeping.'

***

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons,

Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over

who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
'If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
' Ryan , you be Jesus !'

***


A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their

six-year-old daughter and said,
'Would you like to say the blessing?'
'I wouldn't know what to say,' the girl replied..
'Just say what you hear Mommy say,'

the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
'Lord, why on earth did I

invite all these people to dinner?'

***

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

September has always been a special time for me, as far back as I can remember.

Growing up in Florida, September meant that the long hot summer would soon be coming to an end, and cooler days were ahead. September also meant 'Back-to-School'; a time I loved & looked forward to with much excitement.

Unfortunately, for the two children pictured on my sidebar, their much anticipated first day of Kindergarten will have to wait awhile, as they are in the midst of chemo &/or radiation treatments for cancer.
(If you'd like to follow their journey, just click on the sidebar link marked 'Clayton's Journal' or 'Kate's Journal' for updates from their CaringBridge sites).

Here are a few statistics that'll pull at your heartstrings, as they did mine:

*Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

*One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

*Each year in the U.S., over 12,600 children are diagnosed with cancer.

*Although the 5-year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children diagnosed with cancer will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

*Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.

*80% of children have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis, as compared to only 20% of adults.

*There are currently more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S.

*Late effects of childhood cancer treatment are common in survivors, and approximately one-third are moderate to severe.

*****

YEA! IT'S SEPTEMBER!

We're back from Florida!

It was a wonderful trip!

I was able to spend a few days with my mother while Bill attended his 50th HS reunion.

We also got to visit with our children & grandchildren.
Then we enjoyed several days at Cocoa Beach. What fun!

Thanks, Jeff & Lisa, for the use of the condo!!



*****

Have a Great Day!