Saturday, December 26, 2009

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

One of a Kind!!!




HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere is
1
person with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Friday, September 11, 2009

"Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it".

Let the Buyer BEWARE!!!


New Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Flavor

In honor of the 44th President of the United States, Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream has introduced a new flavor: "Barocky Road."

Barocky Road is a blend of half vanilla, half chocolate, and surrounded by nuts and flakes. The vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and usually denied as an ingredient. The nuts and flakes are all very bitter and hard to swallow.

The cost is $100.00 per scoop. When purchased it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but then the ice cream is taken away and given to the person in line behind you.

You are left with an empty wallet and no change, holding an empty cone with no hope of getting any ice cream.

Are you stimulated?

Friday, August 28, 2009

Reason for Hope



Pres. Obama was carried to victory last November on a wave of hope which has dissipated faster than any previous administration's.

Obviously, we cannot rely on politics or politicians to give us the hope we seek.

But, there is a source of Hope which has never failed, and to which both individuals and nations may look for answers to the problems which face us. That one, unfailing, unchageable Source is Jesus Christ.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are men designated as modern prophets, with the same calling and authority as Moses and Isaiah: to speak God’s will to His people, and to warn us and help us prepare for what lies ahead. One of these modern prophets was Harold B. Lee (1899 - 1973), who offers these words of hope:

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America ; you and I must have faith in America , if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

"I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through." (Ye Are the Light of the World, 350-51)
Our scriptures teach us that "When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:21)

So, what is the law upon which this blessing of greatness, freedom, and hope is based?

A prophet who lived anciently in America said it best:

"And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity." (Ether 2:9)

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to compute the distance this nation and her laws have separated themselves from the Christian principles upon which she was founded. And when the elected leader of our nation travels the world, making a point of informing everyone that we are NOT a Christian Nation, one can only speculate how near we must be to enduring the wrath of an offended God.

But there IS HOPE! It is not too late! We can still turn it around, if we but choose to repent of our pride and wickedness, and return to our merciful Brother, who gave His Life for us.

We must be ready at all times to stand up for what we believe in; to defend the principles of truth upon which this Nation was founded, and which we know to be the only means of securing for ourselves and our posterity the blessings of freedom our forefathers died that we might enjoy.

This struggle will not be won in Congress, or the White House, or the courts, or the battlefields, or in foreign lands -- as important as all of those battlegrounds may be. Ultimately, the struggle will be won or lost in each home, as Americans choose whether to follow the Author of our liberties, or to adopt the secular humanism that is fast becoming the new state religion. May we choose well.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A Nation "Under God," or a Nation "Gone Under?"

Congressman Randy Forbes hits the nail SQUARELY on the head!


Christ will NEVER turn away from us.

But if WE turn OUR backs on HIM, we can hardly expect Him to continue to LEAD and protect us as He has in the past.

Let us not make this mistake. As Pres. Reagan so aptly put it, "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

PAYDAY!!!

It just doesn't get any better than this!!


(I'm putting the baby picture here so you'll know which Daddy he belongs to)

But the REAL story of the blogpost is THE GRADUATES!!

Not to forget those who have already received their post-graduate degrees

and entered into the most challenging career ever invented!!

Are we PROUD of our kids???

YOU BET!!!!!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mama's Panacea

Would you believe, ANOTHER ONE???

And this is TEN YEARS AGO!!!

WHAT were the idiots SMOKING, that they passed up talent like this???

NOT just a "one hit wonder!"

GO, SUSAN BOYLE!!!

Who says there's no MAGIC in our modern world?

Here's hoping we can see a LOT MORE of these incredible, MAGICAL MOMENTS everywhere in the world in the coming years.



Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, one and all!!!

"And I shall make weak things become strong unto them."

What an incredibly beautiful love story!!

Amazing!

Every one of these incredible performers is completely deaf.

Monday, April 20, 2009

It's PURE MAGIC!!!

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to have flown beside Wilbur Wright in that VERY FIRST airplane?

Well, wonder no longer!!!

Thanks to a group of German documentarians in 1909, and some modern film archivists, this PRICELESS piece of film has been discovered and restored.

Go here to witness, FIRST HAND, a cockpit view of flying in the Wright airplane!

http://www.europafilmtreasures.eu/PY/322/see-the-film-wilbur_wright_and_his_flying_machine

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, one and all!
To the filmographers, who took the movie in the first place;
to the people who carefully preserved it through all these years and at least two devastating world conflicts;
to the dedicated technicians who have restored it and posted it so that everyone, everywhere can enjoy it and benefit;
THANK YOU!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

This is one you have GOT to see!!!

I fear I got there too late to imbed the video (DRAT!!!), so you'll just have to follow the link. but, believe me - - - it's WORTH IT!!!!!

What do you title this one?

"Dreams *DO* Come True!!!"

"NEVER Judge a 'Book' by Its cover!"

We all have a gift as an inheritance from our Divine Father, if we will but look deep enough to find it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY


Susan Boyle, may ALL your dreams come true!!!

I can't *wait* for your first CD!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

OK, I'll Bite. Sounds like fun.

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:



1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done withing a year. [ie - before Easter 2010]
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a song. It may be a [comic collection] or maybe even some creation I haven't yet dreamed up. I may draw. I may bake you something and mail it to you. It may not be big or impressive. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! But lets be honest here. This is me and I will likely do something amazing. =) So come on, sign up!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.


The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!



The *other* catch is: I need a way to send you whatever it is I dream up for you. But, we can work out that out once I see you've re-posted this offer on YOUR blog!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Saturday, March 28, 2009

What Does Your Favorite Dessert Say About YOU?

If each of the eight desserts listed below were sitting in front of you, which would you choose? (Sorry, you can only pick one!)

Pick *your* favorite dessert, and then look to see what psychiatrists think about you.


Here are your choices:

1. Angel Food Cake
2. Brownies
3. Lemon Meringue Pie
4. Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Icing
5. Strawberry Short Cake
6. Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Icing
7. Ice Cream
8. Carrot Cake

My problem is, I don't have just one *Sure Fire,* pick-it-every-time winner!

I'm very fussy about my brownies. I want them chewey and nutty and melt-in-your-mouth. And I've *never* succeeded in making any that turned out that way!

My favorite birthday cake is vanilla cake, but I don't want chocolate icing! I want a vanilla butter cream icing, or, better still, a whipped cream icing - - - still vanilla - - - like wedding cake.

I absolutely ADORE strawberry short cake!!! But, not ALL THE TIME!

If it's a real, German milk chocolate cake, that's not too dry, with a lovely fudge icing, there are times I would do almost anything for a piece of chocolate cake. Pepperidge Farms makes a particularly nice, albeit rather small, chocolate cake. . .

Do this mean I'm schizophrenic?


Well, here's what Your Favorite Dessert is *Supposed* to indicate about your personality:


1. ANGEL FOOD CAKE -- Sweet, loving cuddly. You love all warm and fuzzy items. A little nutty at times. Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day. Others perceive you as being childlike and immature at times.

2. BROWNIES -- You are adventurous, love new ideas , and are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons When tempers flare up you whip out your saber. You are always the oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction. You tend to be very
loyal.

3 LEMON MERINGUE -- Smooth, sexy, & articulate with your hands, you are an excellent caregiver and a good teacher.But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, you set your own style because you do your own thing. You shine when it comes to helping others and have many friends.

4. VANILLA CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING -- Fun-loving, sassy,humorous, not very grounded in life; very indecisive and lacking motivation.. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker. Others should be cautious in making you mad. However, you are a friend for life.

5. STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE -- Romantic , warm, loving. You care about other people, can be counted on in a pinch and expect the same in return. Intuitively keen. You can be very emotional at times but a true person in every way. You like to do things for yourself and help others learn about themselves.

6. CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING-- Sexy; always ready to give and receive. Very creative, adventurous, ambitious, and passionate. You can appear to have a cold exterior but are warm on the inside. Not afraid to take chances . Will not settle for anything average in life. Love to laugh.

7. ICE CREAM -- You like sports, whether it be baseball,football,basketball, or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but you enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control. You tend to be self-centered and high maintenance.

8. CARROT CAKE -- You are a very fun loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warm hearted person and a little quirky at times. You have many loyal friends. You were meant to lead and teach others. A wonderful role model.

Well - - - what do you think? Any truth to this theory?

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Why Socialism Will NEVER Work

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student before but had -- once -- failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism." All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied little.. The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because WHEN THE REWARD IS GREAT, THE EFFORT TO SUCCEED IS GREAT; BUT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TAKES ALL THE REWARD AWAY, NO ONE WILL TRY OR WANT TO SUCCEED.

Could not be any simpler than that....
'nough said

Monday, March 23, 2009

GREAT video!

You have GOT to see this CLEVER, *funny* spot ad for Famiy Home Evening!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

My son, Derrill, just posted this on Facebook. But, since my husband can't access Facebook, and he's GOT to see it, I'm gonna swipe it and re-post it here. . . .

This is GREAT!!!!!


NEW CELEBRATIONS

We normally get together with some good friends to watch a movie (Darby O'Gill and the Little People with a very young Sean Connery) and enjoy some Irish food. We can't get together today, so I was pondering how to celebrate St. Pat's. Last night, as part of our retroactive celebration, Joy learned that Harry Potter is a Parseltongue. Here are some ideas for anyone still stumped:

Food:
Corned beef and cabbage (boil together with salt and pepper - done)
Dubliner coddle (potatoes, onions, sausage, and bacon steamed together. We're having that tonight)
Green eggs and ham
Anything with potatoes
Go to Rodizio Grill and eat snake

Movies:
Darby O'Gill; Happiest Millionaire; Finnian's Rainbow
Or any of the 275 films mentioned here: http://www.irishfilm.net/index-2.html
Snakes on a Plane (turn off the volume and read the lines in your best Leprechaun)
Wizard of Oz and celebrate being over the rainbow with the little people in the shamrock city.

Rip off Talk like a Pirate Day:
Spread some blarney
Greet people: Top o' the marnin to ya
Respond: And the rest o' the day to yourself
Say me instead of my
Add an O' in front of every name. "I'm going down to O'Binghamton to visit me brother, O'Charlie."
Other good phrases for wannabe leprechauns: By the powers; Sure'n; Faith an begorrah (note: it means By my faith and by God).
Refer to your favorite demographic as "the wee folk."
Yes, you can call people lads and lassies, but be careful you don't do it in Scottish.

Wackyness:
Run up to someone randomly and say, "They're after me lucky charms!" and run away again.
Do something violent to an orange
Wear a Leprechaun hat your mother crocheted for you


Thanks, Grandma!

Assume all stop lights are green today
Cover any LEDs that aren't green
If anyone asks where you're from, the answer is County Cork.
Equip your fighter/cleric with a shillelagh.
Photoshop your favorite TV series or sports team and give em some green. (I'm envisioning Picard as the Green Lantern, myself.)
Read the Guinness Book of Records.
Tag people with Green, Mc, Mac, or a starting O in their name (My favorite is Curtis O'Scarson) in a Facebook note.

Sure, anyone can listen to Enya, Celtic Women, or the Chieftans. Music by not very Irish tenors is also pretty cool though: Bing Crosby (1/4 Irish), Perry Como, Roger Whittaker. I'm waiting for Neil Diamond to do Christmas in Killarny in his next Christmas album.

Monday, March 2, 2009

The Battle is the Lord's

A local church leader was visibly moved, Sunday, as he thanked us all for our overwhelming response to his call for support of Proposition 8. He cited scriptural incidents of when a few wicked men tried to overthrow the lawfully appointed government. Such is the case here, as the California Attorney General is arguing that there are some things that are so fundamental the people *shouldn't* have the right to change them at the ballot box (NEVER MIND that the State Constitution says we HAVE that right). The California Supreme Court will hear arguments on the case Thursday, March 5.



We believe that the Lord, Himself, caused our Constitution to be written, and our Nation to be founded upon the principles it sets forth, and we believe we will each be held accountable for how we support our Constitution. Yesterday, our local leader ended this remarks by saying in effect "This week, and particularly on Thursday, as the Justices of the Supreme Court meet to decide this issue, I ask that each of you will pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of those Justices: that they will be blessed with courage to uphold the oath they took to sustain the Constitution, and with the wisdom and integrity to honor the voice of the people. We have done all that we can do. The battle is now the Lord's."

And he quoted Goliath taunting little David, and David's response, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." (1 Samuel 17:45)

Our God has all power, both in Heaven and in Earth. He lives; He loves us; He hears our prayers.



Please join us in beseeching the Throne of Grace to intercede now, as He has so many times in the past. We HAVE done all that we can do. Now, it is up to our All-powerful God to bless Ken Starr (who is presenting the case on behalf of Proposition 8) with abilities beyond his own as he argues on behalf of marriage and family before the California Supreme Court, and to soften or otherwise touch the hearts of those judges, that they will remember the oaths they have sworn: to uphold the constitutional law of the land, and render a verdict in favor of Proposition 8 and the will of the people of California.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Prophecy Fulfilled

It gives me goosebumps every time I watch this video, and realize that I am witnessing, largely in my own lifetime, the fulfillment of the prophecy recorded in Daniel 2:44-45.



It is thrilling to know that I and my family have been a small part of this great work from the beginning, even as my family had a small part in the founding of this precious Nation, and in the settlement of this promised New World.

One does not have to be rich or famous or popular to have a significant impact on the world. Usually, as the prophet Alma taught us, it is through small and simple things that God chooses to accomplish His great purposes. (Alma 37:6)

As Gandalf says to Bilbo Baggins at the conclusion of "The Hobbit," "Surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies because you helped bring them about?"

Let us not make the mistake of denying that the ocean exists because, as a drop of water, we cannot see the ocean around us; nor the opposite mistake of taking credit for the ocean because we are a drop of water within it's vast boundaries. But, let us do take joy in being part of something wonderful.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Disney Magic is Life as it Should Be!

Disney World as a ProtoType of the Plan of Salvation

The Great Creator has designed a place carefully tailored to suit every souls’ needs and desires. Ranging from the elegance of the Grand Floridian to the simplicity of the Wilderness Lodge, you can find a home here where everyone can feel comfortable. All you have to do is: CHOOSE!

Do you want to live the Palatial life of the Rich and Famous? Then, the Grand Floridian is for you.

Do you prefer comfort, with all the conveniences of home, in a relaxing setting at the heart of the action, with superb dining at your beck and call? Then you should choose the Beach or Yacht Club.




Is your dream an exotic get-away to extraordinary locations? Choose The Polynesian or the Animal Kingdom Lodge, where you can look out your bedroom window and see wild African animals roaming free!

Would you rather "rough it" and save a few bucks? The All-Star Resorts or Fort Wilderness were created with you in mind.



They even have Pleasure Island, for those who want to do nothing more than abandon themselves to hedonism.

You can spend your vacation, just as you can spend your eternity, in whatever setting you feel most comfortable in!!!!!


And another perfect parallel: You don’t just get to sit on your overstuffed couch and dream and wish about it an expect it to happen. If you want to spend a week at the Grand Floridian, it’s going to take most people YEARS of working and saving, and maybe just a little bit of luck or some Disney Magic, to pull together the funds to afford it!!!


The Beach or Yacht Club are more reasonable, but still not something you can do on a burger-flipper’s salary!

The higher your dreams, the more work you are going to have to put in to achieve them.



It is all here for us. God has "many mansions" in His house. He has prepared wonders great and small for those who love Him and who keep His commandments. He is *eager* for us to come home and choose a place to live for all eternity. And we qualify for that by the things we do here, in this life.

Will we choose to follow Jesus, even though it may be difficult, and earn a prime location in God’s mansion; or will we choose to focus on ourselves, our own wants and pleasures to the exclusion of everything else, and find that we haven’t earned enough "credits" for more than a tent in a field?

Or, worse still, will we choose to attempt to force our will on others, and demand that everyone cater to our whims and opinions? I hope not, for I fear such folks will find themselves banned from the Magic Kingdom, and sent to live in Death Valley, where they may scream and protest all they like without disturbing the enjoyment of those who have earned a vacation.



Of course, it takes more than our choice and earnings to come to the Disney World resorts. A lot of very talented people have worked long hours and invested vast sums to build up this world and make it a place of magic.



Even so, our work and choices would be meaningless without our Savior, who has bought us with the price of His precious blood. But with all that love, with all those gifts He has uniquely given us, one of the greatest remains the recognition of our agency to choose, by our faith, manifested in our works, whether we will enjoy what He has provided.

The Psalmist wrote: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." But we may choose whether we would be found on our Lord’s right hand.



And just as Disney sets the price of its resorts, so our Savior sets the price for us. It isn’t the cost of building the resort. That great price has already been paid. But we must choose to come and bring the price He has set.




Sunday, January 25, 2009

Part of Me!!

I have some of the GREATEST kids!!

Talented, clever, successful, brilliant, happily married in God's Holy Temple for time and all eternity, independent (!!!) . . . and our friends!!!

They are such wonderfully gifted people!
Joy and Steve both are excellent singers;
Derrill is an outstanding keyboardist;
Emilee has returned to the flute after setting it aside for many years, and she sounds WONDERFUL!
Derrill just received his Doctorate Degree from Cornell;
Emilee just completed her Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University;
Steve will shortly complete his Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University;
Joy received her Master's Degree from Edinborough University several years ago.

But, you don't have to take MY word for it! Click on this link to hear Steve sing a song he wrote. As Steve notes on his blog: "At last, mixing/mastering is done on my song! Affectionately referred to as Steve's Song by Impact, my official title is Part of Me. Head on over to this link to have a listen!"

Once you're finished being blown away by Steve's Song, remember: That's Just ONE of MY KIDS!!!