Are Your Kids Staying Up Tonight?

I've gotten word that the triplets are. That might make for an active New Year.  Hope to have pictures later.

I have never seen the ball drop in NYC...not even on TV...well at least I can't remember ever having seen it.  Maybe the kids will be able to fill me in on Sunday.  Make that Monday. Surely they'll sleep through church and all afternoon as well. I'm anxious to find out just how it goes.

 Maybe Izzy will curl up in a ball in a closet somewhere and have a peaceful New Year's Eve.

Maybe I will as well.

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year in advance.  May God show you mercy and give you peace.

American Girl Do

When Ashley got the American Girl doll Sadie, she found she really wanted Julie.  So now, a couple of years later, Julie has come to live with her. I'm hoping that Chelle makes the doll some clothes to match Ashley's soon so that Julie does not get jealous of Sadie who had several outfits like her 'mother'.    

Speaking of jealousy.  There is so much of it these days. It has been fed by class envy. It once was in America where one started out at a lower paying job and worked himself up to the top or as near the top as he or she could.  No on expected to finish school and step into the highest paying positions.  But that was in the past. Now many do not get work when they finish school because they expect more than anyone is willing to pay for beginners.  Then instead of working hard and showing their worth, they would rather follow mobs of other non satisfied people around the country complaining about their situation and condemning the 'rich' for not giving them what they want.  

It's a sad situation, one that has happened over and over in history.  When people's lives get so cushy that  they become spoiled and expect to be given all they want, the nation fails.  It always happens.

Trust in God for in him is peace...the peace that passes all understanding.

Liberty

"Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others."- William Allen White

This statement is full of truth.  We all need to think about it these days when the world is full of those who, while doing what they please, complain about the slightest things they don't like others to do or say.  We were all given minds of our own, good for cooperating in some ways, yet individual.

I  got the quote in my inbox this morning along with my daily puzzle from Wordles.com. I love these cryptograms and am hoping (probably beyond reason) that they will help keep my mind sharp as I age and age and age...oh so quickly now.

Izzy, our grand cat, has the liberty to climb in there family's Christmas tree. She didn't wait until it was fully decorated, but tested it out pretty soon after it was raised in the stand.  Since this was taken, she has been up there a few times and has actually broken at least one ornament.  But it seems, she is loved more than the other  baubles  that just hang there.  So she gets away with this contrary behavior. She is pretty cute in there.

Christmas or Not

A few cays before Christmas our grand daughter Lauren, her friend Pat and some of his family members went to New York City. I'm guessing Christmas had something to do with it, if not just because that is when they got a break from college. I do have pictures of them with Christmas trees, which I'm sure are called Holiday trees in the city.  But here they are in Central Park .  Whether the trip was for Christmas, or not, I've mentioned.  However, the trip also threatened her Christmas celebration in Ohio because she and he both got the flu while there and had to return home 'spewing'. It took her a couple of days to recuperate and then her mother got sick as well. After two days for her, they were able to head this way, but Lauren made it only as far as West Virginia where her brother lives. We have not seen her since Thanksgiving. But we are thankful we saw her then.  April and Tim then drove here separately so that he could go back and do some work while she stayed a couple of days.  

As the flu threatened our celebration, Iran is threatening to close the Persian Gulf. I guess they are out to prove we are no longer a country of strength, but one of apology.   I pray to God that He will once again protect us from this evil.

Recipe for A Big Time

Last Friday I said I'd do a page of Jane in the Christmas hat she was given to wear at Phyllis' house. Here she is plus Diann and me. I've included a recipe for A Big Time in Phyllis' kitchen.

I'm anxious to show some pictures of the grandkids and am waiting for pictures since I didn't see even one of them in person.  We Skyped and did FaceTime, but I'm not sure how to get still pictures that way.

  Tomorrow night I hope to have a layout of Lauren and her friend in the Big Apple where they spent a few days along with his family members the week before Christmas.

Christmas Adam

Now that Christmas is over, I have time to make layouts. Teresa's daughter told her mother that Friday was Christmas Adam since Saturday was Christmas Eve. Never thought about that before, but I guess she's right...in a way.  But we didn't celebrate it at our house.

 We celebrated Christmas Eve at Outback Steak House, our favorite. Before retiring for the night and before the rush of Christmas day, we thought to get a picture.

Sympathy Card for Christmas

A friend gave me this card for Christmas.

 On the inside it says," Because Democrats always know what's best for you and your health."

You might say it is a sympathy card. 

Merry Christmas

I pray you will find the time this Christmas season to sit down and count your blessings.

It has been a rough year in America.  But to those who love the Lord and choose to serve Him, God gives an inner peace.

Hoping you will accept this peace and celebrate this blessed season, giving thanks to our God who sent his only son to be born in a stable, to live and die to cover our sins with forgiveness.

Christmas Party Hats

This is the most unique hat I've worn in a very long time...maybe in my lifetime. That is one of the pleasures of showing up at one of Phyllis' parties...the best of everything, including attire.
I was impressed by her ability to dress in animal print and Christmas at the very same time. She is quite talented.

You see that Jane does not have a special Holiday hat on in this picture; but tomorrow I hope to show that indeed she did have one...and that it looked quite good on her.

There was a 'gift exchange' that night...one of those...lets get rid of something elephants. Someone actually brought a toilet seat.  Now that in itself would not be worthy of posting on a blog, any blog, except that at a party our daughter attended last week the same 'gift' was given.  This must be the year of the toilet seat.  Has anyone checked the Chinese calendar on that?

In a few days now when the Christmas festivities are over, I'll need to put on another hat...that of a T Partyer.  Then it will be on to the business of trying to wake those who have been in a deep sleep lulled by the voice and platitudes of this man: Jimmy Obama

Making My List- Checking It Twice

Double click on the layout to read...

Baby Magnet

It's really hard in this family for a grandma...because grandpa is a baby magnet. They all just love him. So if he is around, grandma might as well pick up a camera, 'cause she isn't going to be holding the little one.  But I really don't mind. It warms my heart to see him so happy.  And it gives me a chance to get some great pictures that will live in our hearts and minds forever.

This is Ron with April's grand baby, Sam on Thanksgiving Day.

Animal Prints

Today was the first day in weeks that I didn't feel pressed for time. So, I did some leisurely shopping...just looking really. After having lunch with Phyllis and Sali, I kept finding things that reminded me of them. The two things that made me pull out my camera may as well have Phyllis written all over them...for THEY WERE PHYLLIS.  First, at TJMAXX I saw these animal print butterflies. Then tonight while Ron and I were at Wayside Furniture searching for just the right chair for him, I had to sit on this Phyllis chair. I know at least 8 girls who will get a 'kick' out this picture.

Came across a book on Amazon that Phyllis and I would both like: You may as well.

365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy by James Delingpole   

"Start every day off RIGHT! Try one of our 365 ways to drive a liberal (even more) crazy. Whether you quote from the Constitution (what, that old relic?) or point out the facts about global warming (as in, the planet has been steadily cooling for the past decade)—this is one sure-fire way to get under a lefty’s (thin) skin. 

Up and Coming Photographer

My mother started it. I followed suit, then Chelle and John came up to bat and now Ashley (and the boys) are up and coming photographers. We certainly do not lack photos in our family!

One Good/ One Bad

Okay, we are not talking about the triplets here.  All three are good.  And the boys make me laugh. Which one is the funniest? Time will tell.  On Tuesday, Aussie is the kid who cracked us up when he
threw off his jacket, put it on the handicap door opener and announced, "This is my new best friend, and he is single too."  Where do they come up with these things?

One good/ One bad...

We can now have a bright new year.  No longer are we doomed to a dim life of mercury filled lightbulbs.  Thanks to Republicans who overthrew the Obama administration law making it mandatory for us to buy foreign lightbulbs that are really inferior to those to which we have become accustomed here in the states.  The law was to become affective the first of 2012.  Hallelujah.  That is the good thing.

The bad thing is, the feds are attacking Sheriff Arpaio of Arizona for enforcing immigration laws in his state. In Arpaio's own words, "Obama has just put a welcome sign on the United States border with Mexico." That is one of the bad things this present administration is doing  to U.S. citizens.

In spite of these negatives, we must stay positive. "If God is for us, who can be against us? 
NIV Bible: Romans 8:31

Like a Ski Lodge

The quality of this picture is quite bad, but I really wanted a shot of all us 'girls' in front to this restaurant where we ate on Monday night. It was unfamiliar to me, but I was told they have the blue lights up year round...it's not a Christmas display.  The way it is perched up on a hill gives credence to the look of a ski lodge in the Rocky Mountains.  Inside, if I didn't know better, I would have thought we were in Colorado.  The architecture was of a ski lodge with big  heavy rafters and heavy beams.  And there was a huge and very cool chandelier of moose racks.    There was a large painting of a moose in a frame.  

Our dining room was also cold.   After we had been there about an hour, a lady asked us how everything was for us. We had been freezing the whole time. Sali had gone to fetch her coat and I had draped a shawl across my lap, but we had not complained too much and were trying to enjoy our friends. Well, it was an easy fix. They had a door open in the kitchen...guess it gets pretty hot back there.  With it closed  the draft was stopped and we were able to relax the rest of the evening. 

The food was superb and I would like to go again some time.

Back to the picture. We didn't all arrive at the same time, so we decided to take a picture after dinner.  However at that time, no one was really interested in standing out in the cold to get a shot.  So, I took the liberty of putting two pictures together. The later was taken at Jane's ill lit house by her tree.  Oh, and her dog Daisy was happy to pose with us.  I left it dark since we were supposed to be outside there at the lodge.  But there was another complication.  If the picture had been lightened enough to make it look good, it would have been grainy.  It's just for fun.  But I think I'll keep the black and blue picture of blue Canyon. It is very interesting with its reflection on the wet parking lot.

In the Spirit of Christmas

In the Spirit of Christmas, we girls get together every December to eat (mostly), give gifts and laugh a lot.  While our photographer was trying to get pictures some of us cracked up and just couldn't hold their composure. But we did get a good picture of Jane's front porch which she  ever so cleverly decorates for the holidays.

In the spirit of Christmas dumped, OWS plans to close west coast ports.  Did you ever hear, like I did as a child, "Don't cut off  your nose to spite your face"?  Evidently that has not occurred to this bunch of radicals. They are trying to get more jobs and thus the economy back on track by causing more loss by businesses.  That doesn't make any sense...but then sense is not something that is plentiful to that group.

Bow and Arrow

When someone  works long hours, he needs  to get far enough away from that world to actually rest his head. I'm very proud that our son-in-law takes his business seriously and works steadfastly for weeks on end. And I'm also happy he has a hobby that allows him to catch his breath and recoup.  He loves to hunt, enough so that  he  works at it.  But it still gives him a break from the norm and allows him to rest his head. He can sit very still in a tree watching for deer for hours.

 Check out this bow. It is a strange contraption, much different from how I picture one.

It has been said that the male of the species (Homo sapiens) has a brain with an empty box. This allows them to think about nothing. While the female is constantly thinking about everything else at once.  It makes sense that not many woman would want to hunt...not only would they not want to hurt someone's mother, for example, but they wouldn't be able to sit or stand there for long times without thinking. For example if I were out there, I'd have so many thoughts going through my mind that I would forget why I was out there to start with.

Sometimes when I go to the grocery store and am forced to look at the prices, I think that we would be better off if either my husband or I knew how to hunt. The prices are more scary each month.

I pray that God helps us come together to elect a president and congress with our needs in mind instead to the wants of those who would love to permanently destroy our freedom and take us back to the horse and buggy when we would be forced to hunt and fish or starve.

Ronald McDonald House

It would be very difficult to have a child in the hospital for a long period of time and worse yet to have that child be readmitted over and over.  We were able to tour the Ronald McDOnald House in Wilmington, DE a few weeks ago.  It is a wonderful, loving service that they provide and worthy of donations.

May the  good Lord bless and keep you.  Remember to bring the light of Christ to the world this week. Say Merry Christmas.  The younger generation is being taught in school to be PC. It won't be long before they will never hear of our Lord and Savior in this great land that was settled so that we could be  free to worship him in peace.

Cool, Funny, Unique

Cool, Funny, Unique...that is Mason.  And Gramma loves him lots. These pictures were made on their photo shoot day for the year. He is now in fourth grade .  He must have the best smile in his grade.

4th Grade

The layout here was done with Aussie's 4th grade 'school' pictures that were shot on a farm. Chelle took her camera and took all these photos after the hired photographer  had finished his shoot. The surroundings made a wonderful backdrop for photos and we will cherish these memories of the triplet's fourth year in grade school.

Well, I'm off to bed for a good night's sleep.  Have a very busy day coming up.

May God protect us each day, all along the way. We need Him every hour.

Red Trike

This picture couldn't be cuter in my opinion.  Caleb was shopping with Mom and Dad and tried out this red trike.  He found it a little big, or his legs a bit too short for peddling.  Maybe by summer, Caleb.

I am prayerfully reviewing some scripture I reviewed today that could change the whole tone of my blog.
Titus 3:12 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men."

It seems a little difficult to declare that I am rightly opinionated in a humble way.  So I respectfully ask you to pray that I can reconcile this within my heart and be able to continue blogging under this title...with all humility...or not.

Holly Tree

Whether tree or scrub, I love holly.  We have a small bush that must not  like it's location, since it grows so very slowly.  This year, however, it did have a wonderful show of red berries.

When I saw this nice full tree on the Hagley museum property in Delaware, I had to have a picture.  No matter what time of year I see it, I think of Christmas.

Although holly was considered sacred by the Druids, it was thought to be a symbol of fertility and eternal life.
Christians adopted the use of  holly, but gave it new meaning. Today it is symbolic of Jesus Christ. The red berries remind us of the blood He shed on the cross. Legend has it that the berries were originally white, but they were stained forever with  His blood.  The sharp and pointed leaves now remind us of  the crown of thorns that was placed on our Lord's head.

Since this picture with the holly tree was taken the day after Thanksgiving, I thought  it would be a good layout for the blog...it might even make a fairly good Christmas card, which I have yet to design.  Guess I'd better either get with it or forego cards for this year. Sigh.

School Memories

This layout shows off our Ashley.  Her pictures were snapped on a farm as part of a day for school pictures at the Academy.   I love the colors she  chose to wear that day and I used them in the layout.  One day we'll all look back at the pictures and wonder where the time went. Memories are kept well in a scrapbook.

Drink the Hot Chocolate...Not the Kool-aid

This  little guy works hard on his skills. He has now learned to drink from an open cup without dripping his hot chocolate down his shirt.

I'd like to do all I can to encourage those growing up here in America, with hope for individual freedom and the opportunity to make the best of themselves.

However, we have those in high positions in the land  now telling our children they need to be socialists in order for our country to recover.

Our very own president made a speech in Oklahoma yesterday that could have been given by any number of socialists including mao tse tung, Kruschev, Stalin or Hitler.  For one thing, he said that a supply side economy has never worked anywhere in the world.  I wonder how one could explain all the many, many decades we were doing quite well before he and his radical comrades either took office or became Czars.  The sad thing is, many of the youth today have been so very brainwashed in our public schools which have rejected God and individual freedom.  They have been molded into brain numbed followers who march when they hear  the piper playing.

If you know any of these kids, keep trying. If we don't get through to them, this country is history and a brand new socialist state will arise and suffocate all business and freedom.  We who know history don't want to live in a police state.

Caleb Meets Santa

This is Caleb's first time to meet Santa.  I wish I knew what he was thinking.

I had been really anxious to get these pictures of Caleb. But while waiting for them to appear in my inbox or on Facebook, I ran across the following sign on a friend's Facebook page and grabbed it for the blog.

It fits me well...even though I seldom say anything anyone could question.

I have been to the Sam Davis home in Smyrna, TN with the triplets.  But this time they were there to have pictures made for their school year  book.  I love the way the light played off Ashley's long hair.  And Aussie's self assured pose is great.  Mason has  a natural smile that would warm any heart.

Miracle on 34th Street

The triplets are appearing in a production of Miracle on 34th Street through Sunday, December 18th.
The boys ' style has been cramped by having to slick back their long hair.  But it doesn't seem to have hurt their enthusiasm one bit.  It has been a lot of fun for them as well as a good experience.

  In case you can not enlarge the layout on your screen enough to read the text. It just gives their names in the play.  Aussie is playing Tommy Mara, the DA's son, Mason is Harry Finford and Ashley portrays a kangaroo.  She gets the cute  costume.

The background is a poster from movieposter.com.

Polar Express

Sorry I'm rushing, but this is what we did last night.  We joined some church friends for a wonderful evening on the Polar Express. It was a great train trip to the North Pole. We really had  fun  seeing our friend and elf, Robin, doing her thing on the train entertaining adults as well as the little ones who were so very, very excited tone there.  They had such wide, bright eyes watching the elves and they got to see Santa as well. I loved it.  Hope to share the experience some time in the future.

Our Hope

Hoping to find a good photo opportunity, I decided to walk with the girls to a creek not far from April's.
It was a very pretty area and I was able to get this good 'sunny' picture of Sammy, Hope, Gracie and April on a bridge overlooking the stream.  As we stood there an Amish buggy approached and as it passed us there on the bridge, the driver cracked his whip and took off quickly. I doubt they were afraid of us; but he may have caught a glimpse of'my camera...an Amish no no.

The Amish hope is in Jesus, as is ours. for He said, "I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved."  John 10:9

Even though we do share that common belief, we certainly do not live our lives similarly.

God knows our hearts and blesses us accordingly.

May God bless you all with a blessed Christmas season.

We were introduced to Pat on Thanksgiving Day.  We are thankful that Lauren chooses good friends.




Current European tax Rates    United  Kingdom     Income Tax:   50%   
    VAT:   17.5%   TOTAL:   67.5%

France     
   Income Tax:   40%   
    VAT:   19.6%   TOTAL:   59.6%

Greece     
   Income Tax:   40%   
    VAT:   25%      TOTAL:   65%

Spain     
   Income Tax:  45%   
    VAT:  16%      TOTAL:   61%

Portugal  
   Income Tax:   42%   
    VAT:   20%      TOTAL:   62%

Sweden     
   Income Tax:   55%   
    VAT:   25%      TOTAL:   80%

Norway     
   Income Tax:   54.3%   
    VAT:   25%      TOTAL:   79.3%

Netherlands     
   Income Tax:   52%   
    VAT:   19%      TOTAL:   71%

Denmark     
   I! ncome Tax:   58%   
    VAT:   25%      TOTAL:   83%

Finland   
   Income Tax:   53%   
    VAT:   22%      TOTAL:   75% 

If you've started to wonder what the real costs of socialism are going to be -  once the full program in these United States hits your wallet, take a look at the table.  As you digest these  mind-boggling figures, keep in mind that in spite of these astronomical tax rates, these countries are still not financing their social welfare programs exclusively from tax revenues!  They are deeply mired in public debt of  gargantuan proportions.  Greece has reached the point where its debt is so huge it is in imminent danger of  defaulting.  That is the reason the European economic community has intervened to bail them out.  If you're  following the financial news, you know Spain and Portugal are  right behind Greece .

The United States is now heading  right down the same path.  The VAT tax in the table is the  national sales tax that Europeans pay.  Stay tuned because that is exactly what you can expect to see the administration proposing after the fall elections.  The initial percentage in the United States isn't going to be anywhere near the outrageous numbers you now see in Europe.  Guess what. the current outrageous numbers in Europe didn't start out as  outrageous either.  They started out as minuscule - right  around the 1% or 2% where they will start out in the United  States.  Magically, however, they ran up over the years to  where they are now.  Expect the same thing here.

It  is the very notion that with hard work and perseverance, anybody  can get ahead economically here in the USA.  Do you think  that can ever happen with tax rates between 60% and 80%?   Think again.  With the government taking that percentage of  your money,! your life will be exactly like life in Europe...  You will never be able to buy a home.  You will  never buy a car.  You will never send your children to college.  Let's not shuffle the battle cry of the  socialists under the rug either.  It's always the same  cry.  Equalize income.  Spread the wealth to the poor (whoever they are).  Level the economic playing  field.  Accomplish that and everything will be  rosy.

It's time to take a really hard look at  reality.  Greece is a perfect example.  Despite the  socialism system that has ruled this country for decades, with a  65% tax rate, they are drowning in public debt, would have  defaulted without hundreds of billions in bailout money from the  EU, and still. . .  20% of their population lives in  poverty.  What has all that socialism money bought, besides  ultimate power for the politicians running the show?  Do  you think these people are "free"?  They're not. 

They  are slaves to their economic  "system."