This rings true with me in some ways.

I saw this from a friends status post on Face Book.

I liked the saying and it kind of rings true given my relationship with a certain someone :)

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her." -- Unknown

New Years Resolutions

I find when I make New Years Resolutions I almost never keep them. So I don't know why I bother but I still do. So I thought I would list just SOME of the things that I am going to try and work on this year. Trust me the list is much longer then what I am going to post here.

• Walk more..... I started walking in the fall of 08' about once every two weeks or so I was going down to the city park and walking around. As the weather around here has gotten colder I have stopped doing that. I will when spring gets here try to walk atleast once a week.
  
• This will be a shocker for many of you but..... Read the Bible daily.... When I was in Georgia over Christmas Amy gave me a reading schedule that we are both going to try and follow. Its "read the Bible in 52 weeks" So I will need to read at least a little bit each and everyday.
• More reading.....(I have to work at reading so thats why I posted this one) Mom got me a book for the first time EVER for Christmas Bill O'reilly's "A Bold Fresh Piece Of Humanity" I have a few other books of his so this one should be easy I am already a few chapters into this one.
• RELAX try not to be so uptight about things...... This is going to be the hardest one for me. Because of the way I am and the way things are right now I worry way to much about everything.
  

Along with the three top ones I have listed here there are a few that I am keeping to myself. I am looking forward to 09' with open eyes and arms and I am ready to put 08 behind me. It was a good year but at the same time a bad year. Business at my place or work could not have been worse.... Well ok I guess it could have.

I hope everyone has a GREAT 09'

Christmas Is Over And I Had A Good Time

I have been thinking (or trying to anyway) all the way back to my childhood.... I think this was the first Christmas EVER that I spent Christmas away from my own family to spend time with someone else well sort of........ I still spent Christmas with my family, we do our Christmas get together on Christmas eve.

On Christmas morning I got up bright and early to catch a flight to Georgia so I could spend Christmas with Amy, her son, & their family. They didn't have a Christmas get together until Friday the 26th so I was able to spend Christmas with them as well. It was funny to watch the small children opening gifts. All the small children in our family are for the most part grown up and some how it's not the same as watching little kids enjoy the gifts.

Brandon got a Wii from Santa I think Amy and I enjoyed playing with that as much as Brandon did. Well other then the fact I about broke my thumb when I hit my hand while playing bowling. Just a little side note: I BEAT AMY AT BOXING!!!! woohoo That's right I knocked her right out. On the Wii of course not for real thought I better say that before someone charges me with abuse....

Amy what a joy it was to spend Christmas with you, Brandon and your family. I am so lucky to have you!!!!

The Duggar Family Part 2

Here is the Duggar Family Web Site from my other post today

The Duggar Family

Wow I saw this news story today.... I can't believe it. If I was this guys wife I think I would have to start saying "Get away from me" LOL

Some more comments will be at the end of this story"

Credit Fox News:

ROGERS, Ark. — An Arkansas woman has given birth to her 18th child.

Michelle Duggar delivered the baby girl by Caesarean section Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. The baby, named Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long.

"The ultimate Christmas gift from God," said Jim Bob Duggar, the father of the 18 children. "She's just absolutely beautiful, like her mom and her sisters."

The Duggars now have 10 sons and eight daughters.

Jim Bob Duggar said Michelle started having contractions Wednesday night. She needed the C-section, her third, because the baby was lying sideways. Jim Bob said both baby and mother were doing well Thursday night.

"We both would love to have more," he said.

The cable network TLC broadcasts a weekly show about the Duggars, called "17 Kids and Counting." Chris Finnegan of TLC — which handles public relations for the Duggar family — said the show's name would be updated to account for the latest addition to the family. He said TLC also will air a show Monday on the baby's delivery.

I think its great that they want to have a BIG family they are stronger and make much more money then I do to be able to support all the children in that family. What is interesting is this story is close to the same facts that I always find with these big families. I have written about big Christian families. I did post here about a Big family who's vehicles we service. I have 3 questions one of them I asked the last time I posted about this.

1. What is it about "conservative" Christian families that makes them want to have hug families
   
2. Do you really think they are being good to our planet and it resources? I mean 18 children that family is using allot of consumable goods are they not?
   
3. Again there are enough children in this world that need a good home what about adoption?
   

Those Dang Christmas Shoes

Well I knew it was going to happen sooner or later I heard it on the radio just a little bit ago.... "Christmas Shoes" You know the song about the little boy buying his mom the Christmas Shoes. I like that song BUT do they have to play it while I am at work. You see I work around a bunch of men "tough guys" if you will. And you see the issue is that Christmas Shoes song makes me cry. It makes me cry EVERY TIME I hear it. There is nothing I can do about it when it comes on I have to listen and then soon after it starts I start crying.

You see most people that know me closely know that I am a very tender, caring, and kind person Although at times I am very harsh and don't seem very compassionate towards others. Again don't misread my lack of compassion sometimes. My lack of compassion is towards people who are freeloaders whiners & people that generally get on my nerves or take advantage of others or government systems.

But if I had a little boy infront of me like this one in the song I would for sure have to help him out how could you not.?

I will post the words to the song for you....

It was almost christmas time
there i stood in another line
trying to buy that last gift or two
im really in the christmas mood
standing right in front of me
was a little boy waiting anxiously
pacing around like little boys do
and in his hands he held
a pair of shoes

and his clothes were worn and old
he was dirty from head to toe
and when it came his time to pay
i couldn't believe what i heard him say

Sir i wanna buy these shoes for my momma please
its christmas eve and these shoes are just her size
could u hurry sir?
daddy says there's not much time
you see she's been sick for quite a while
and i know these shoes will make her smile
and i want her to look beautiful
if momma meets jesus tonight

they counted pennies for what seemed like years
and the cashier says son there's not enough here
he searched his pockets franticly
then he turned and he looked at me
and he said momma made christmas good at our house
most years she just did without
tell me sir
what am i gonna do?
some how i gotta buy her these christmas shoes

so i laid the money down
i just had to help him out
and i'll never forget
the look on his face
when he said momma's gonna look so great

sir i wanna buy these shoes for my momma please
it's christmas eve and these shoes are just her size
could u hurry sir?
daddy says there's not much time
you see she's been sick for quite a while
and i know these shoes will make her smile
and i want her to look beautiful
if momma meets jesus tonight

i knew i caught a glimpse of heaven's love as he thanked me and ran out
i knew that god had sent that little boy to remind me
what christmas is all about

sir i wanna buy these shoes for my momma please
it's christmas eve and these shoes are just her size
could u hurry sir?
daddy says there's not much time
you see she's been sick for quite a while
and i know these shoes will make her smile
and i want her to look beautiful
if momma meets jesus tonight

i want her to look beautiful
if momma meets jesus tonight

Let us not forget what Christmas is all about. Lets all help who we can help this year even if its something small .

Everyone have a GREAT DAY!

An Interesting Take On Creation & Evolution

I thought this was an interesting take on evolution from Bush's mind.

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush said his belief that God created the world is not incompatible with the scientific theory of evolution.

In an interview with ABC's "Nightline" on Monday, the president also said he probably is not a literalist when reading the Bible although an individual can learn a great deal from it, including the New Testament teaching that God sent his only son.

Asked about creation and evolution, Bush said: "I think you can have both. I think evolution can -- you're getting me way out of my lane here. I'm just a simple president. But it's, I think that God created the earth, created the world; I think the creation of the world is so mysterious it requires something as large as an almighty and I don't think it's incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution."

He added, "I happen to believe that evolution doesn't fully explain the mystery of life."

This is just part of the interview with him... I would have to say I am in agreement that there HAS TO be something other then JUST evolution. BUT I still say if there is a God he has turned his back on us....... There is to much suffering in this world to believe any other way. Plus I have a real hard time in believing in something I have NEVER seen.

Thankful On Thanksgiving

It is the time of year for me to reflect on things and to say that EVERYONE should do the same. Most that know me know I am not an optimistic person at all. Most of the time I stay in a negative state of mind I am always thinking the worst will happen. I find it very hard to stay positive about things. I should do this everyday of the year but on Thanksgiving I do look back and give thanks for all the great things I have in my life. I would like to list here just some of the things I am most happy for.

Mom and Dad I don't say it near enough I am so very thankful for you both and Love you both with all my heart. Thank you for all you do and thank you for putting up with me. And thank you for the unconditional love that I know is there.






Amy & Brandon,

Amy you have become such a big part of my life I would be utterly lost if it were not for you. Your insight into things, your outlook on life, Your love of God. Have all been things that have grounded me and made me think about how well I really do have.

Brandon is just unbelievable he has given me so many laughs that I can not count them all. I remember the very first time I met him and when I left Atlanta, you dropped me off at the airport. And with out asking for one Brandon reached out of the car and gave me a hug. That moment in time will be burned into my head forever. So I would like to say thank you to you both! I love you both very much.

I am thankful for life, I am thankful that my CP is not worse then it is.

I am thankful that as bad as things are right now that I still have a job and a boss / friend that is fiscally responsible enough to have seen this coming two years ago. Who put into place things that would enable our company to stay afloat in these hard times.

For the sake of time here I can not put down everything I am so very thankful for... There are countless family members. My sister Tammie her family, many cousins, many aunts, & uncles.

I am thankful for so many things on this Thanksgiving. Lets all remember at least a few things to be thankful for.

Have a GREAT Thanksgiving EVERYONE!

We Need More Like This

You know just when I think all hope is lost for people and there is no good left on this earth I read something like this. If only we had more people like the woman in this story there would be no need for an abused welfare system.

DALLAS — A Texas woman went to a housing auction distraught about the prospect of watching strangers bid on her foreclosed home.

Then one of those strangers bought it back for her.

Now Tracy Orr can return to her Pottsboro home, making payments to the woman who unexpectedly and impulsively bought it for her.

"It means so much to all of us," Orr told Dallas television station WFAA. "It's not just a house."

Marilyn Mock said she was acting on instinct on Saturday when she decided to buy a house she had never seen for a woman she had never met. Mock was at the foreclosure auction to help her 27-year-old son bid on a house when she struck up a conversation with Orr, who was crying about losing her home.

Orr had bought the house for $80,000 in 2004 but fell behind on the payments. She lost her job a month after taking out the loan, and earlier this year she lost the house. On the spot, Mock decided to buy it, eventually bidding $30,000.

"She didn't even know if I had a job or was a nut case," Orr said in a story for Wednesday's online edition of The Dallas Morning News. "She didn't even see a picture of the house."

Mock told a crying Orr she could stay in the house, making payments to her instead of a bank.

"She needed help. That was it," Mock told the newspaper. "I just happened to be there and anybody else would have done the same thing."

Orr said she hopes others will do as Mock did.

"More than my house, she gave me something inside, and that's more important than material or financial things," she said.

The two are waiting on final approval from Fannie Mae before visiting the home.

Mock's son also got a home at the auction.

The woman in this story saw something in the other person. You see I believe that you can tell when someone is trying to take you for a ride. The woman knew she needed to help and she did. You can tell when its not all smoke and mirrors. I hope everyone reads this story and will get something out of it!

"anybody else would have done the same thing."

And no that's the issue not just anyone would have done the same thing even if that had the money to do it!

A Good Point Of View From An Old Friend

FIrst of All this post is very long but please it is well worth reading.......

I had gotten into a bit of a discussion about Obama with an old friend of mine (Ken Jones) on Face Book One of my biggest fears with Obama is "Will he really up hold this county's Christian Values and moral standards?" My fear contrary to what some of you who read my blogs think is not "race" based I question Obama's believe system that is really my only fear of the man. (Well that and there is no way in hell we are going to be able to pay for his health care plan.) But thats another can of worms. Any way my question to Ken was this: "Do you really think that Obama will up hold this country's Christian values?"

For the record Ken is a Seventh-day Adventist so his view is of course from that of an Adventist.

And so a direct quote from Ken's replies on the topic of "Will Obama up hold this country's Christian Values."

Hey, re-read my post, I never said "you" or certainly wasn't attacking you, I was talking about the various fear based "talking points" that have been rolled out by the Republican machine. I certainly respect your opinion and your willingness to keep an open mind, so let me address your core question. How can a Christian, or furthermore an SDA, vote Democratic? I've given this a lot of thought personally, and I have a couple of opinions. 1) Neither party provides a completely compatible platform for SDA's, to me, our beliefs would most accurately line up with that of a conservative democrat or a liberal republican. I personally could be classed as either one.
My problem with the Republicans is that as an SDA we tend to value highly the separation of church and state, (or as some say, church and hate, lol). The GOP right loves to blur this line, by trying to legislate things I don't believe support the example Jesus left at all. The whole mix of the flag, our founding fathers, and Jesus is very uncomfortable if you really look at how our country was founded. Was it really some mandate from God? Built on the backs of slaves and stolen from the Native Americans?? But I digress....lets just say that the way Jesus chose to become a CHANGE agent did not involve legislation or working with the politicians of the day. He showed general disdain for these political structures, actually.
2) SDA's support LIFE. This makes the abortion stance of the Dems incompatible, no doubt. By the same token, the abortion issue is not the only flagrant disregard for the sanctity of life. The way the Repubs tend to be war hawkish, to be ready to send troops into harms way with little regard for diplomacy or their being a just cause is definately troubling for me! The Repubs tend to have this nationalistic flair that smacks of the Ugly American other countries loathe. The unilateral attitude sucks and won't work in this complicated world. We need allies!

....and this means more than just trying to buy or strong arm cooperation. This for us or against us crap! THAT is not diplomacy, but those overtones continue to reverberate through the GOP. Again, I digress...my point is the death tolls from a pointless and unjust war in Iraq I find hard to stomach. And I'm not just talking about American lives. I'm talking about Iraqi children whose daddies are not coming home, needless casualties. If we go to war, it needs to be for cause, for a just cause. Repubs carry that "the poor are usually that way b/c they're lazy" mentality. The Bible is clear about how a just society should treat the poor. I'm a social worker. I know what welfare pays. I talk to people all the time who have to choose between accepting welfare for their children, or fighting through barriers to land a min. wage job which won't even pay for daycare and food, so they make a "business decision," and stay on welfare so that they can spend time with their kids and scrape by. Is the system abused at times? Sure. But while we're talking about abused systems, shall we compare to the system which led to this billion dollar bailout?? At least when people abuse welfare, it doesn't lead to economic collapse!! But the Repubs don't want to make that comparison....Basically, I find the religious right extremely hypocritical, and most of the time I'm embarrassed by the way the misrepresent the Jesus I love. So here's my shocking statement.

I believe Jesus would be a Democrat!!! He was a liberal to the leaders of his day! He was definately not a conservative! He wrecked their traditions, hung out with pimps and hoes, partied with sinners and those who's sexual identity didnt sit well with the religious elite, He plucked grain on the Sabbath, and healed in the temple. These acts were heresy to the religious right of the day! He was a radical. Plain and simple.

And we haven't even talked about his treatment of the poor. It definitely wasn't an attitude of economic Darwinism. So my point is, from a Christian standpoint, I have NEVER understood the so many SDA's completely back a party which one day will be behind the total erosion of separation of church and state. There is a natural tension for SDA's in either party. We are faced with a decision between the lesser of two evils. I can be a pro-life Democrat, which is the position I've chosen because to me pro-life also means how we treat the less fortunate.
As for your Obama's comment about spreading the wealth, which was way taken out of context, I would only ask Christians to consider the early church in the book of Acts, where the people sold all and gave it to the apostles, who redistributed to all so that noone was wanting. Noone wants to talk about that, b/c it sounds like the S word, and we all know that Jesus founded this country on Capitalism, didn't He? Or is capitalism even Biblical??

Ken thank you very much for your point of view and your insight on Obama. You made a very clear point here I don't know that you will sway my vote by this but it was a good point none the less.

Disclaimer: I have not been a practicing Christian of any kind for MANY years to many to count really (although I have been to church more in the last year then I have in the last 15 years.... Thanks to Amy Kreismanis) well and maybe a Godly power :)

with that said though I do believe that it is important for Christians to have a voice in the country and I am just scared that "Christians" are losing the fight. And I really believe that we DO need the Christian point of view.

Things I Take Notice Of

My dad helps with a butchering at a community club in Burkittsville Maryland. The club is called the Ruritan. Once a year I guess as kind of a "thank you" to the people that help with this butchering. They hold a picnic of sorts lots of great hot food and people also bring in desserts. Its great food and great fellowship in a small community. I had the chance to go with dad last night to the picnic. I remember going to events for kids at this club years ago when I was a kid. The funny thing is last night I saw allot of people there that I remembered they just looked much older LOL as I am sure I did to them as well. Of course the flip side of that is I am also blown away by the amount of people that remember who I am and I sometimes have no clue who they are. LOL I seem to be very bad at remembering people whom I knew years ago and haven't seen in a long time.

One other thing that I noticed while I was there before everyone got their food they had a PRAYER! I thought that we as Christians had lost our right to do this in public. I can't believe they still do it or have not gotten sued by someone who says they can't do that. I mean after all they took prayer out of schools........ But then maybe the catch is this was a "club" dare I say private club I'm not sure it is classed as private but it may be.

I'm not saying that praying before a meal is bad don't misunderstand me. As a matter of fact it is a good thing I think its great that they still do this. I was just taken back a step or two when they did. In this time of having calls to remove "Under God" out of the pledge and "In God We Trust" off our money. Maybe there is hope for us yet although I doubt it. Christians seem to be becoming a minority in the USA. Or maybe its that they don't make as much noise for their rights as the many other religions.

Almost a CEO

How about that title it got your attention didn't it LOL. Well I'm not talking about the kind of CEO you maybe thinking. As I have said before I have not been to church regularly in over 15 years. So the story is this: Seeing how this past weekend was Easter weekend a friend of mine asked me on Friday if I would please come to church with him. Well to be honest the asking started on about Tuesday of last week. We got to Friday morning and I had a customer come in that goes to the same church my friend had invited me to and they also invited me. So I am thinking to my self at this point "You know if there is a God he sure is trying to get you to church you can't ignore all these invitations can you?" The day went on and my friend asked me one more time will you go?

To that I said you know I would go but this is how I feel I'm not going to be one of those people that only goes to church twice a year. (Christmas and Easter) = CE (only) = O = CEO. I said if I go I want to be able to go the rest of the year as well. And I don't want to go because I am not ready to commit to that yet. Well my friend said you have an out...... You have been invited so you don't need to make the commitment yet. Its not the same as wanting to do it all the time.

So now that I had my out for the rest of the year there was no reason not to go & I mean I don't ever sleep in so its not like I had to get up before I normally do on Sunday morning. So Sunday morning came and the angels in heaven started to sing cause I was on my way to Damascus Road Community Church

So you see I am well on my way to being one of those people that attends church on Christmas and Easter only (CEO)

All and all the word was good and you get what you take out of it. It was a good weekend and I had a great easter Sunday. I finished the day off at dinner with my sister and her family.