Three Favorites ~ New Site

Have you heard they're combining

YouTube, Twitter and Facebook?

Yeah, they're calling it YouTwitFace.

Thanks, Lynne, I just could NOT let this one go. It made me laugh out loud!

Things That Made Me Laugh ~

Things that made me laugh today ~

watching Noah hurriedly say his prayer,

when he really wanted to be eating;

(I know, I didn't have my eyes closed)

listening to Ian laugh when we played chase

in Penney's (yeah, we did, sorry Jen);

watching Noah and Ian trying to get

their pinwheels going by blowing on them;

realizing the child I was waving to

in the playyard at ChickFilA

was NOT my grandchild! (thanks, Jen);

listening to Johnny talk about his workday

(yeah, the man cracks me up!);

hearing Noah say, "I hold you, Nan"

about four dozen times today

when he wanted to be held (I love those words);

watching the movie trailer for New Moon

with Lauren and liking the shot of Jacob

without his shirt (wink, wink);

reading about the continuing media fascination

with Jon and Kate & thinking out loud how crazy

it is that two people with millions

can't be happy with each other and/or their life;

(Get a clue, people! Be happy!)

putting Sprite in Noah's sippy cup,

and having it spray his face while his mom

cleaned up Ian's mess in the backseat;

watching the Sonic commercials on TV;

seeing the look on John's face as I use his computer

(he's not crazy about it);

and, listening to Nelson laugh when he called

and woke me up this morning.

What made you laugh today?

Just a note ~ I'm playing with this background. If you'll notice up on the left hand side, I have a listing of places to go if you enjoy dressing your blog as much as me. I really really really like the blues and beige of the last look, and may go back to it, but for now this reminds me of the colors in nature right now. Pink faces from this hot sun!

A Question ~

Like a lot of folks in this state, I had a job. I worked, they paid me. I paid my taxes, and the government distributed my taxes as it saw fit. In order to get that paycheck, I was required to pass a random urine test, with which I had no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who didn't, and don't, have to pass a urine test.

So here is my question ~ shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check, because we have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their rump -- doing drugs, while I work. Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.

Parting of the Red Sea ~

Chariot Wheels found at the bottom of the Red Sea. See pictures below and the route~

Proof has been found to support the biblical story of the crossing of the Red Sea. Scientists have found pieces of Pharaoh's chariot & bones of horses & men in the Red Sea. Physical evidence of the crossing of the Red Sea by Pharaoh's drowned army.
Confirmation of the actual Exodus route has come from divers finding coral-encrusted bones and chariot remains in the Gulf of Aqaba. One of the most dramatic records of Divine intervention in history is the account of the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt.

The subsequent drowning of the entire Egyptian army in the Red Sea was not an insignificant event, and confirmation of this event is compelling evidence that the Biblical narrative is truly authentic. Over the years, many divers have searched the Gulf of Suez in vain for artifacts to verify the Biblical account. But carefully following the Biblical and historical records of the Exodus brings you to Nuweiba, a large beach in the Gulf of Aqaba, as Ron Wyatt discovered in 1978.

Repeated dives in depths ranging from 60 to 200 feet deep (18m to 60m), over a stretch of almost 2.5 km, has shown that the chariot parts are scattered across the sea bed. Artifacts found include wheels, chariot bodies, as well as human and horse bones. Divers have located on the Saudi coastline opposite Nuweiba as well.

Since 1987, Ron Wyatt found three four-spoke gilded chariot wheels. Coral does not grow on gold hence the shape has remained very distinct, although the wood inside the gold veneer has disintegrated making them too fragile to move.

(gilded chariot wheel)

The hope for future expeditions is to explore the deeper waters with remote cameras or mini-subs. Mute witness to the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea by the Hebrews 3,500 years ago. Found with a metal detector- Coral-encrusted chariot wheel, filmed off the Saudi coastline, matches chariot wheels found in Tutankhamen's tomb. Mineralized bone, one of many found at the crossing site (above center). This one tested by the Department of Osteology at Stockholm University, was found to be a human femur, from the right leg of a 165-170cm tall man. It is essentially 'fossilized ' i.e.- replaced by minerals and coral, hence cannot be dated by radiocarbon methods, although this specimen was obviously from antiquity.

Chariot wheel and axle covered with coral and up-ended. 'And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily...' Exodus 14:25

Solomon's memorial pillars ~ when Ron Wyatt first visited Nuweiba in 1978, he found a Phoenician style column lying in the water. Unfortunately the inscriptions had been eroded away, hence the column's importance was not understood until 1984 when a second granite column was found on the Saudi coastline opposite -- identical to the first except on this one the inscription was still intact !!!

In Phoenician letters (Archaic Hebrew), it contained the words: Mizraim (Egypt); Solomon; Edom ; death; Pharaoh; Moses; and Yahweh, indicating that King Solomon had set up these columns as a memorial to the miracle of the crossing of the sea.

Saudi Arabia does not admit tourists, and perhaps fearing unauthorized visitors, the Saudi Authorities have since removed this column, and replaced it with a flag marker where it once stood.

How deep is the water? The Gulf of Aqaba is very deep, in places over a mile (1,600m) deep. Even with the sea dried up, walking across would be difficult due to the steep grade down the sides. But, there is one spot where if the water were removed it would be an easy descent for people and animals. This is the line between Nuweiba and the opposite shore in Saudi Arabia.
Depth-sounding expeditions have revealed a smooth, gentle slope descending from Nuweiba out into the Gulf. This shows up almost like a pathway on depth-recording equipment, confirming it's Biblical description, '...a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters.' (Isaiah 43:16)

The Bible writers frequently refer to the miracle of the Red Sea crossing, for it was an event which finds no equal in history. The Hebrew prophets describe the sea at the crossing site as;
'...the waters of the great deep...the depths of the sea...' (Isaiah 51:10)

Knowing the exact spot to which the Bible writers were referring, what is the depth there?
The distance between Nuweiba and where artifacts have been found on Saudi coast is about 18km (11 miles).

Above, Nuweiba Beach, the spot where the crossing began. Along this line, the deepest point is 800m (2,600 feet). No wonder inspired writers of the Bible described it as the mighty waters. And no wonder that not a single Egyptian survived when the water collapsed in upon them! God's Word ~ once more confirmed!

Thank you, Lisa, for forwarding this to me from your father, Lester Hulett. I just love bringing the stories of 'old' to our present day!

Yummy ~

Lemon BarsCrust:
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup confectioner's sugar (plus more for dusting)

Topping:
1 1/2 cup plain sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan.

To make crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and confectioner's sugar.
Cut in butter until combined and crumbly.
Press mixture into bottom of pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

To make topping:
While crust is baking, prepare topping.
In a larger bowl, add sugar, flour, and baking powder.
Then add slightly beaten eggs and lemon juice.
Mix well and pour on top of warm baked crust.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
When cool, dust with confectioner's sugar and refrigerate.
Cut into bars and enjoy them cold! This is an awesome site for those of you that love to cook! Jenny, I thought of you when I found it tonight while blog surfing~click on one of the photographs to be connected to Bakerella!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Heartstrings has a new post*

Ooh, ooh, ooh, stop the presses!

I've found yet another blog with backgrounds!

For those of you that visit my page,

and not just read the feeds,

you'll note that on the left are several blogs

you can visit for free backgrounds!

While surfing blogs this evening, I found another!

Oh my, I just THOUGHT I loved the way

my page looked. Maybe not now!

Click on their header and be transported

to a world of beautiful backgrounds!

Then leave me a comment and tell me,

so I can visit your page and see which one

you picked! Now, if I can just decide.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE ~ These have caught my eye! Which do you think has captured my heart?!

Pattern A

Pattern B

Pattern C

Pattern D

Pattern E

"Noah Got New Eyeballs?!"

If you don't read 'all because two people fell in love',

you've got to go there as soon as you finish reading this!

Click on the snapshot of Noah to read the latest edition

of Seen and Heard. I laughed so hard I had to quit

reading them out loud to John, and continued to laugh

so hard it created a coughing fit. Don't you just love

laughing that hard?! It's so good for the soul.

Ah Jen, I love these posts of yours, these

Seen and Heard posts. They capture the very essence

of childhood and the fact that children make life

funny, hilarious, and joyful ~ and okay, maybe

it'll remind you of a happier time on those days

that temper tantrums and stubborn wills

make your days tough and rough ~

Noah & the Hat, the Cowboy Hat!

Jenny called late this afternoon asking if they could come over. I was sitting in Logan's, sipping some iced tea, nibbling on a great salad, with ranch dressing, and waiting for my meal to come so I could dig in, relax, and read the newest issue of People magazine. John was working and I was having some 'Nancy time' and loving it. Then Jen called. Hey, I got it all boxed up and I came home. Who wouldn't? When there's this precious baby waiting for you?!

This week is VBS and it's a western theme. Which means there are cowboy boots, shirts, and HATS! And Noah James has one! (He also had dilated pupils from an eye appointment, but just ignore those. If you can. They're quite large.) But the hat? Well, he loves looking at the photos on my computer, so while we were looking, I thought I'd try and get a picture of Noah and this hat. Here are the efforts. Now mind you, I was pretty much laughing hysterically while clicking.

All this time he is fascinated and yelling "there's Noah, there's my hat!" and he's moving all over the place. I can't get him to look at the camera, for then I heard "where did I go? where is my hat?" And then I get this! He begins grabbing the rim and dragging it around his head and pulling on it. Well, see for yourself.

Like Otis in Andy's jail down in Mayberry.

This child makes me laugh out loud.

And I always do.

Thanks for the visit, Jen ~

I so needed this laughter today!
And I will always need his love and smiles~

 

PS ~ The spots on his face, down around his mouth? Yeah, that would be chocolate from a brownie ~ hey, this child was at grandmother's home!

You will notice the counter at the top of the page.

I am not crazy about the colors, for I do have an OCD

that demands harmony and likeness in color schemes.

But I am happily married to a man that happily and totally

loves him some Alabama football. And the season approaches,

and since he checks in here each day he will now know

how long until Alabama meets Virginia Tech for the first game.

Yeah, his blood bleeds not just red, but crimson red.

UPDATE ~ couldn't stand that the colors didn't match.

The counter is history~

Life Isn't Fair ~

Written by Regina Brett, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Ohio, says, "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life has taught me. It has been the most requested column I've ever written."

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2 When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's okay to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's okay to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood, but the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is a special occasion.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matter in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd take our back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, get dressed, and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Sounds & Smells of Saturdays~

Yum, the smells and sounds of a Saturday morning! As I type, John has coffee brewing, eggs boiling, and I'll be getting my oatmeal together soon. Settling in with the paper, good coffee that he fixes just right, and I'm set ~

And to top that off, we slept in this morning and it felt wickedly good. Gone are the days when children got me up at 6:30 (I could set a clock by Jenny), gone are the days of cooking breakfast or making sure there was breakfast food even in the house! Now if there isn't, we cross the road to IHOP, Waffle House, or Cracker Barrel. What an awesome thought ~

But for today, this is what is delighting my senses at the moment. Soon, I'll be driving into Montgomery to have lunch with a dear girlfriend and her mother. You can come back later today for snapshots and an update. Until then, here's hoping your day has begun with some pretty good smells and sounds of your own ~

Yuck, Double Yuck & a Eeeek!

Yuck! Double Yuck!! Is this not a serious nightmare?!

A 97 pound rattler! Supposedly in Alabama.

Alabama!! Right here in my home state!

Now, I have my doubts this is true, in fact,

apparently everyone is laying claim to this nasty thing.

But! I thought they only grew things this big in Texas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

But we do have sweet, fluffy, and nicer things here ~

like this precious, fluffy goldendoodle! and we have little titmouses here!

or should that be titmices?

and it just wouldn't be right to include The Hood's favorite,

the largemouth bass, the state's fish!

Ah, you thought I was going to say Alabama football, didn't you.

Nah~

Alabama football is his blood!

And he's counting down the days!

~~~~~~~~~

If you live in Texas and you have a picture of a larger snake,

let me know. I'll visit your page and give thanks it was there.

With you!

Just WHO Needs Soup?!

Recently, Michelle Obama went to serve food

to the homeless at a government funded soup kitchen. Cost of a bowl of soup at homeless shelter ~ $0.00 dollars

Having Michelle Obama Serve you your soup ~ $0.00 dollars

Snapping a picture of a homeless person

who is receiving government funded meal

while taking a picture of the first lady

using his $500 Black Berry cell phone ~ $$$$ Priceless

Babies & BMW ~

Someone has a new haircut!

and someone else choked up when she saw it~

(I do NOT like it when babies grow up.)

Someone began going once a week to her new school,
so it won't be so new to her in the fall!

and someone else tearfully said, "John,

look how grown up she looks sitting there."

These two love watching TV r.i.g.h.t. in front of the screen.
and someone else told them the only way they could watch it
was seated right next to Nan ~ and only one believed me.
While the oldest giggled at me, and moved to the ottoman,
the littlest scrambled quickly into my arms and stayed there.
Yeah, I lie to get my way~
A friend of ours posted this on his Facebook,
it made me giggle, and I just had to share it.
Far left, Audi ~ "Your move, BMW".
BMW ~ "Checkmate".
I am so in love with my little white car, a 323i,
and loved the fact that BMW threw it back at 'em~
Can't wait to read of, and see, Audi's response!