We've Come a Long Way

Today, Ron and I got an email from our friend Lenore that impressed both of us. Ron liked it so much he played it on the television. Just seconds after he started it, Maggie ran into the room and right up to the TV. She sat there first tilting her head one way and then the other way. She was immersed in that music. Maggie has good taste. It was beautiful.  Andre Rieu conducted I Will Follow Him from Sister Act. 

Seeing her there reminded Ron of the RCA dog and the gramophone...hence this layout.

It's much more pleasant than anything in the news these days.  Perhaps we could just stick our heads in the proverbial sand and pretend everything is all right. I would do that, but my brain tells me better. That is just exactly what our liberal leaders (pushers) want us to do. That is what good people have done in the past, and their countries were decimated by those who wanted power over the people.

Without God's influence, the power hungry are nonstoppable.  We must please Him and pray for deliverance.

Black Friday

Am I misled or isn't it generally the woman of the house who is the shopper? In Hartville today we noticed many men who had found chairs and were 'resting' while their wives spent their money.  

On the other hand Ron, my husband, was the one on a 'hunting expedition'...He had searched the web for Carhartt work clothes for cold weather.  It was a 'shoot and bag it' trip.  He quickly spied the clothing department, found his size and tried them on over his jeans in the aisle. Okay, they were not his size...and neither was the next pair. But the third was just right. If you've ever been to Filene's Basement in Boston, you have the idea how that works. Then all of a sudden, there seemed to be an abundance of store employees in the area. I'm not sure they were used to such behavior and may have suspected he would walk out in those stiff things.

I had gone along willingly, tempted by dinner at the Hartville Kitchen next door to the hardware store.  It turned out, I only needed to help him hold his purchases. I really didn't mind too much and was able to snap a few photos for this layout.

Tonight I fell asleep watching what Ron thought was the best Superman movie ever. Don't think I've ever stayed awake for Superman. When I woke up, I decided to sit there for the news, which was quite a mistake.  Was this really happening or did I die and go to hell? What has happened to this world?  It was wild and crazy. They showed and talked about everything nutty...Miley Cyrus and her disgusting tongue, a mushroom festival in Colorado where there were many noticeably high on those mushrooms and Mary Jane, and then the new 'fun' craze of knocking out strangers with a surprise punch.  They even showed the painful thing misnamed Affordable Care.

It was a far cry from yesterday's Thanksgiving.

Farm Work Balanced with Fun

Farm School has been a great learning opportunity for Caleb.  He learns much as he would if he actually lived 'on the land'. I believe  that on this one day, he not only rode a pig, but he milked a goat, worked repairing something and then walked a balance beam in the barn.

Today is Thanksgiving and  I am most thankful that our God in heaven has promised those who serve him a much better life in the hereafter. As good as it can be here at  times, it will be much better then...and we will not suffer any illness, hurt feelings, or pain.  There will be no results of sin.

Next, I am thankful for the parents who raised me and my husband who  keeps me strong, my children who have made my life full and my grand children, who have me rejoicing daily.  Thank you, God for my blessings. And I pray that you will intervene in this mess we've made of our country, so that we can continue to live free from an overpowering state.

Leah and Leah

Our granddaughter, Leah, on your right plans to teach theater arts. It is my opinion that she is a fine actress herself. On the day this picture was made, she and her friend, also Leah, showed up at the scene of a friend's video shoot.  It was a coincidence that they were dressed in similar style. It made for a great shoot, especially with that rusted door on the abandoned warehouse.  I hope I haven't overly embellished this page. I must admit that I got carried away with so many spectacular choices in my digital scrapbooking stash.

Les Mis

Lles Miserable has a wonderful message. We have  a friend, whose name is Robin, who has seen it 'a million times'. That is a slight exaggeration. But she loves it so much. I have enjoyed it the few times I've seen it as well. However, I would have really liked to have seen it this fall in Nashville, since our granddaughter, Ashley, and her dad, Greg, were both it is. I know there was lots of work that went into it over several months. It just doesn't seem right that a grandmother should have to miss something like that. 

I am glad they are interested in theater and are able to get roles and play the parts well. I am happy they are healthy. But most of all, I am thankful  that they and beloved children of the living God.

Our Founding Fathers

I'm posting one last fall layout for this year. These pictures were taken October 25, just 3 days before the very colorful picture of the same area that you saw on Monday, October 28th. What an amazing difference. And  tonight, after another nice fall day, we have snow. 

We had planned a trip to the eastern side of Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, but have changed our minds due to a storm passing up the coast. Actually, I suppose the weather is bad over much of the country. It was snowing in Nashville today.  Good bye autumn. Hello winter.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, let us examine the first part of a favorite Psalm of those who founded this country...Psalm 95 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before Yahweh our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” 

May we praise our God, thanking him for all he has done for us and this nation. May we ask his help as we return to his way.

Is Neatness Innate?

Is neatness inborn, or trained?  Neatness has been a part of my life since I was in grade school. I did not get it from my mother, and my father was only moderately neat.

The first it made a mark on me was about third grade when my teacher said she could tell how neat our fathers and mothers were by the way we kept our desks. Well, I didn't want anyone to know that my mom was not neat, so that is when I started keeping everything in perfect order in and on my desk. That followed me home and I became organized there as well. I liked it and  continued until it actually became a problem after I was married and had four children and was teaching school. I worked so hard keeping things going well, that I overtired myself and started passing out in the classroom. I didn't go to a shrink, but my family doctor explained to me that I needed to let things slide a little. I had to have time for sleep. He made me stay home from school a week and I was not to do anything but rest and take a long walk every day. Extreme neatness was a hard habit to break, but I did it somewhat.

Now, in my 'old age', I've gotten a little slovenly...or at least disorganized in places...my desk for example sports a variety of piles, some of which should definitely by trashed ASAP. It's just easier to shove them aside than to check each piece...

Okay, so now that I've told that secret...Tonight I got an email that equates me and the first lady. We both have longer ring fingers than index fingers. I had never heard of such a thing, but they showed studies that indicate women like me are not that feminine. They had a worse description, that I dare not even state...Cause it can't be true.  

I like better one study which stated that  women with longer ring that index fingers are more successful in life.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/women-with-longer-ring-finger-than-their-index-more-successful-in-life/1080610/

Sweet Kitty

Lauren met this kitty at her brother, Jerod's, new house. He has a neighbor who has so many cats that they may as well be strays. This little one came over to Lauren and she fell in love with it. If she didn't have a cat already, and if that cat, Boo, would accept another cat in the house, I can see Lauren trying to adopt this new baby.

As a dog person, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want a house full of cats. Do they really think they are doing the animals a favor by keeping them in a place where they can't get the best care? Well, I do realize that many of them would have no home at all. And I do suppose that a crowded, even dirty home, might be better for a cat than living outdoors in the cold world with predators.  Okay, so I do get it. But that said, I would not be one to take in cat after cat. I learned my lesson with the first one. I know that no matter how much I do, I will not get her love and affection. She will never consider herself my cat. She will always think of me as a meal ticket living in her home.

See, that is why I'm a dog person all the way. But still, I can see why Lauren likes this little ball of fur. And I love to see that smile on her face.

Art Expression

Caleb is expressing himself through a paintbrush. The class was asked to paint a place they liked.
Caleb chose the mountains. Considering he lives in Colorado, it is very understandable. Of course, I live far away from the Rockies, but I am also drawn to mountains...always have been. Our family never went to the ocean for vacations, but always headed toward the mountains when we had a vacation and were not going to visit relatives

My father had sold Bibles during the summer months to pay his college tuition. His territory was in the mountains or North Carolina and West Virginia. He fell in love with them and so did  I as a youth.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Mountains call out to me... and I listen.  Caleb may be getting that same call.

P is for Pig

Caleb likes to ride pigs. Don't think I had ever thought of riding a pig before; so this was a pleasant surprise for me. It is great that Ft Collins has a 'City' Farm so the kids can learn about that rural life.  It prevents the kind of ignorance I have heard even from adults about their food sources, etc.

The class has given Caleb many joyful hours with the animals and learning about chores that are needed to keep a farm going. 

Education is more than books and slide rules. Oh, I need not use that antique instrument to make a point today. Many would have no clue what I mean.   Just put down your calculators and computers now and then...skip over google and go straight to the land. There is a truth that experience teaches more thoroughly at times.

I don't want to downplay the books. We need more of that as well. It is obvious that the last couple of generations, at least, have not learned their history.  If they had, we would not be in the mess we are in right now with this medi(non)care.  We would have appreciated the top notch medical system we have in this nation and are about to lose. 

If we had been taught properly, neither would we have strayed so far from the Biblical morals that keep people healthy and happy. We would not have thrown God out of our schools, courts, etc.

In the old testament of the Bible we were told to teach our young children as we go through the day...

1. Deuteronomy 4:10
   Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”
   Deuteronomy 4:9-11 (in Context) Deuteronomy 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Deuteronomy 11:19
   Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Preparing for a Train Ride

Preparing for a train ride, John photographs Beth, Caleb and Rado. The Aspen leaves are fully yellow and the sky is blue, blue, blue. The pictures were taken September 29th, only a few of the many really good ones.

Today was a beautiful day in OH...the type of day that Colorado has routinely.

Now, nearly two months later, we are all waiting for a train WRECK, called Obamacare. It is openly failing to come to fruition with all the incompetence of government run anything. Yes, it is much, much worse than the Post Office. I would say openly that I'm glad it is falling apart, yet, my conjecture is that it is all part of the progressive (communist) plan to break all the insurance companies and go straight to the one payer system, which is what Obama wanted all along. That means the government does it all...they just throw the insurance companies out of business like they have done so many others since they took over the presidency. The progressive liberals like it that way. They want to be IN CONTROL. They want to be everyone's boss, because they think they are much more intelligent than the rest of us. They may be more than some of us, but common sense is just as important a factor...and that is lacking big time on the left.

Tim and Kids

Either I'm getting old, or  something is running me down. Can't believe it is only 11:18 and I am falling asleep over and over again in my chair here at the computer.

Am going straight for the punch, so that I can get to be.  there was a poll taken today. The results were, if an election had been today, Romney would win. Too bad it took so long for the country to wake up. I'm hoping they will remember by the time that we do vote...and of course, I'm still hoping to have a fair election this next time.  One citizen, one vote. That shouldn't be so hard. 

Caleb and Vail

Vail is a lovely place, one that I'd really like to see in person.  I really need a bucket list.  These pictures were taken by John and Beth on their little trip in late September.   I love the interest Caleb showed in Albert Einstein.  Cute.

I suppose I should just go entirely to a scrapbooking blog. It seems I'm tiring more easily and lacking motivation to dig into the news today. Yes, I'm tired from work. It has been a trying day. But I'm also tired of seeing our country fall into the hands of communists while it seems no one is doing anything....or at least no one is doing enough about it. 

Do you remember when Nikita Khrushchev appeared at the U.N. and banged his shoe on the podium?  It was on September 29, 1959. I remember it clearly. It was quite frightening. 

Here is the exact quote:

"Your children's children will live under communism.  You Americans are so gullible. No, you won't accept communism outright; but we'll keep feeding you small doses of Socialism until you will finally wake up and find that you already have Communism.  We won't have to fight you; We'll so weaken your economy, until you fall like overripe fruit into our hands."

file:///Users/louannmckinney/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail%20Downloads/8CE2C187-2E64-41B4-92EC-B7B7316BA74F/image.jpg

Okay, there it is. It seems that each night when I'm too tired to even think about the situation, I am inspired some how.

Awesome God= Awesome Mountains

Our Awesome God Formed Awesome Mountains. I've put these two pages side by side in my book for a panoramic effect.

Trail and Rail

I was just checking John's pictures on flickr and found that I hadn't even seen all of them from their trip to Vail last month. They are all so beautiful. I could probably fill two books with them. There just isn't much prettier than those mountains with the yellow aspens, blue skies and gorgeous lakes. And of course some of my most favorite people are in featured as well.

I think I may have to pass up some Words with Friends games and leave some email unread in order to work (play) with these pictures.  Oh, and of course Christmas is coming up way too quickly to suit me. It seems it was just last week that I got a puppy for my birthday.  That was early June.

Our time on earth is short.

Eponine

Ashley played Eponine in Les Miserable in Nashville this last week. Although I have several pictures from the play, I was drawn to this one. I'll do another layout later; but I could hardly wait to work with this photo. I love the costume, the colors and her sweet smile.

It is terrible to be a grandmother so far from her 'babies' that she can not take in all their special activities...especially plays. I haven't missed them all, but way too many. I especially wanted to see this musical. It is a wonderful play, even when I don't have a granddaughter in the cast.

Many of the uninformed or misinformed are now realizing that Obamacare is a disaster. Please pray that God works in this and saves this nation from pillaging by leftists set on destroying our freedoms.

So far, we still have free elections. Even though there is an extreme amount of cheating at the polls, I believe we can still strike back if we Christians will unite and vote our godly principles.

First Snow

My layout pictures for  First Snow were taken on October 18th. It's been  over 3 weeks since they had their first snow of the season in Ft Collins, CO. Today we had ours.

It is especially pretty for a first snow. We had coverage...probably 1 1/2 inch of the perfect stuff...perfect for making snowmen. I would have liked to build one, but today was my cleaning day.

It was particularly fun to share for the first time. Maggie had not seen snow and she thoroughly enjoyed stepping in it and eating it.  My friend Jane's granddaughter built a snowman with her pop pop and joy filled her face.

 It's always enjoyable  to see the reactions of those who haven't really seen real snow. Our new minister at church , from Florida, having originally been from Tennessee, shard his little girl's reaction to the snow on her front lawn.

I took a few pictures of our yard, but have not yet made a layout, perhaps I'll never get around to it. So I'll just post them here now.

Happy Birthday to Mommy

The triplets are eleven and pretty clever. They asked Chelle to stay upstairs for an hour while they prepared for her party. At the end of that time, she came down to a scrumptious dessert and a poster that was cute as can be. You can click on the picture of the layout above and read it. 

And speaking of clever youth, it took three 20 year olds a couple of nights, at no cost to the taxpayers, to build what  the government spent at least $394 million trying to do. After failing to meet the deadline, the feds failed to deliver.  Check it out here.

Miss Molly's For Tea

I'm in a hurry to get this posted. It's been a very busy day. This is the only thing I have accomplished on the  computer today. I want to get it posted so that each girl can see how beautiful she was...now, I have to say, they are always quite attractive, but there is something about a Victorian tea shop that sparks a little more femininity.  Well that's my opinion, but that's what I'm here for...

We were very happy to have Teresa visiting from the Texas branch of ORU.

Art Class

Caleb takes all his work seriously. I love to see the look on his face when he is concentrating on a task at hand. We should all care so much about how well we are doing things.

We should especially take an interest in our vote. We not only have a right to vote; We have an obligation. And with that right is the responsibility to know what we are doing. We must never again elect a man or woman to any office whom we have found to be anti-American.   We can't take the journalists word for anything. They are indoctrinated themselves in schools that teach journalism.  We must either study to know candidates pasts, for their past will indicate their future paths, or stay home from the polls.

I recommend we go back to one voting day, where there is not so much opportunity to drive 'voters' from poll to poll for multiple voting. There is so much cheating at the ballot box these days.  Some times I'm surprised that the good guys are given any votes at all.

While we are looking ahead to the next election, we need to check out this man for the presidential office: Ben Carson, Dr. Ben Carson. As of right now, I would choose him over all I've read about who are interested in doing something for our nation.  

He has a new book out that each one of should read...to decide whether or not we would want him in the White House. It is America the Beautiful, Rediscovering what made this nation great.

It is already  a New York Times best seller.

I've been totally impressed by the man so far. I will keep reading. For I want to see the very best candidate this next time. We do not need anyone like Hillary Clinton in the White House. If you haven't read about her. Please do...and read those on both sides of the fence before you make any decisions.

May the God of creation bless us once again with freedom to do his will..

Ski Slopes

I love this big smile on John's face. That is the smile I look for when taking pictures, but if he sees I'm snapping, he gives me another expression.  So, I'm saying, when Beth took his picture at the ski slopes, he must have been thinking of skiing and not the camera.  Or maybe she can make him smile better than I can... In any case, I'm publishing this tonight, sans title or anything else, just because I'm tried and this is the only layout I've worked on today.

I love email, but sometimes it takes up way too much time.  And then there are also word games on the iPhone...another time waster. Not that it isn't a learning experience. It is, but I'm sure I could use all that time more wisely.

In the news is the Country Music Awards  and the controversial song sung by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley about Obamacare. I'm posting it here in case you haven't heard it.  It must have started enough conversation, because our president actually apologized today for promising no one would have to change their plans, if they had one they liked, instead of trying to lie out of it for days.  Listen to the song. It's pretty clever and one can see that it hit some in the audience like a lightning bolt.

Ski Lift

Although Caleb does not yet ski, John and Beth took him on the ski lift in Vail, Colorado in September.  It was pretty exciting for him.

Les Mis Opening

Les Miserables is opening in Nashville this week and I'm not able to go see it.  Bummer. Our son-in-law plays the bishop and our granddaughter, Ashley, who is in it as well, sometimes plays  Eponine and  sometimes one of the poor children.  

I really enjoyed making the layout, but I'd rather see the play.  I have one consolation.  Our dear friend, Teresa will be traveling from Texas and we will get to see her this Saturday.  Yipee! I'm sure w'll talk some politics.

Today was voting day.  We had guests over tonight and one couple was telling us that at their polling place voters did not need to have IDs. All they had to do was tell their address and the last 4 digits of their social security numbers.  I wonder who will track down all that info to guarantee  those people were actual citizens or hadn't voted several times using different addresses, etc.  I wonder how many of those social security numbers belonged to the dead or to those who in some other way were unable to make it to the polls.

I also have a problem with people who are not with it enough to have a valid ID. Should they really be voting?

 I'm proud to be on the right where people are honest; yet, it could certainly mean we will lose our country to cheats.

Just Say Boo!

Finishing up Halloween for 2013.   Here we have the triplets who have minds of their own. Each chose his/her own costume and Chelle quickly made them...all in one night, I think.  

They were not scary costumes, but they were not intended to be. There is enough scary going on in this country as it is.  Just look at what is coming out of Washington, DC these days.  The health (don't)care law is killing people with worry, if nothing else. Many who had a good plan and wanted to keep it are losing it, or having to pay twice as much for it. What a way to upset ones life.  So far 1.5 million have lost their insurance. 

Of course it doesn't help that the president knew this was going to happen quite some time ago, but told people otherwise, right up until the time it started happening. Many others are finding that the insurance they MUST buy costs more than they can possibly afford.  Instead, they will op to pay the fine and go without insurance.  Wait a minute, isn't that what we were trying to prevent?

Remember before they came to the Oval office, how Michelle confided in others that she had not been proud of her country until her husband was elected to office.  I wonder if she is proud now that  people are losing their jobs, prices are escalating,  taxes are rising and we are  terribly over our heads in debt. 

Ghost of Halloween Past

This is as scary as I like to get. I dressed up like an old teenager for the party at Curves. I think I may have told you that. Anyway, when I started the layout, I decided on the name and thus the ghost.

I must make sure you know that I do not believe in ghosts, except for the Holy Ghost which lives within every Christian and guides our way. How do I know that? It is in the Holy Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 6:19

New International Version (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

The Holy Spirit entered us when we were baptized.

Acts 2:38

New International Version (NIV)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:32

New International Version (NIV)

32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

What does the Holy Spirit do for us?

Romans 5:5

New International Version (NIV)

5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us.

2 Timothy 1:14

New International Version (NIV)

14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

John 14:26

New International Version (NIV)

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.


While I do not believe in ghosts, I do very much know the Holy Spirit that resides within me.

Luke 12:10

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against theHoly Spirit will not be forgiven.

* Blaspheme: blas·pheme

blasˈfēm,ˈblasˌfēm/

verb

3rd person present: blasphemes

1. 1.

   speak irreverently about God or sacred things.

   "he has blasphemed against God"

Popular Halloween Costumes 2013

It was interesting to me that Duck Dynasty costumes were the most popular ones for boys this year. It sure beats the 1st choice of girls, in my opinion.  As I heard one lady say at Curves today, "What kind of mother would let her daughter dress like Miley Cyrus?" I'm wondering the same and yet I know more and more parents cannot bear to say 'no' to their children these days. I've been trying to come up with a reason for that and many things come to mind...mostly poor advise from those who are so called experts.  Parents need to know that because we love these kids, we need to make rules to protect them, rules that are good for them. Our rules are not punishment, but good.

It's like our relationship to God, our Father. He set down 10 rules, commandments for us. None are just so we know he is the boss. Every one is for our own good...to protect use from dire consequences. If you've always thought of the 10 commandments as something you just could not obey, read them again. Think about consequences  of breaking those rules. It is a much easier and pleasant life when you can use those rules to keep yourself out of trouble.  Once we realize that for ourselves, perhaps we can feel better about making rules that will keep our children out of trouble and on the right path to maturity.