I think the world is coming to an end.......

We were gone all weekend and I had been out of touch with my world in Alabama.  So I'm talking on the phone  with a friend and she mentions brooms standing up by themselves.  What??? I say..... Brooms standing up on end. People on Facebook are talking about brooms standing up on end. Something to do with the gravity of the world and all the stars lining up.  So I go and get my broom and unbelievable as it may sound....there it is ......standing up by itself.  I had to take a picture.  Unbelievable...Where else is this happening!!!!  After some research on the internet I found out it happened back in 2009 in the Fall...very strange.

Mormons are Christians

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Recently in the media and other news worthy happenings, there has been a lot of talk about Mormons, Christianity and the Book of Mormon. Being a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints myself, I have an inside view of both sides of the story.

Picture: Historic title pages and covers of the Book of Mormon in Portuguese, upper left, Mandarin Chinese, upper right, German, lower left, and Japanese, lower right.

I was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York back in 1959.  My mother had always been particularly interested in Christianity as she felt something missing in her life.  We were raised as the “Conservative” sect of Judaism as my father came from the Orthodox sect and my mother from the Reform sect.  We moved to New Jersey where we attended synagogue and I learned the customs of the religion but I wasn’t comfortable there. At 

seven years old, I had a distinct thirst for religious instruction but our Rabbi said I was too old and dismissed my mother’s request. I was very disappointed.  At the age of nine, my parents announced that we were to be visited by two Mormon Missionaries.  I was curious and very delighted with the thought of changing religions.  We were baptized 6 months later and I was thrilled that I didn't have to bother with Judaism again.  But that was not to be.  My parents didn't tell our family of our new journey and we went on to family gatherings as if nothing ever happened, all the while attending church each week and other church related activities.

 There is an outcry from many churches around the country that “Mormons” are not Christians. I hear this repeatedly and as a member of this church, it is frustrating.  From the beginning of its birth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is most certainly a Christian based religion.  We follow our Savior in every way we can and our leaders encourage this behavior always.  Our church is almost always the first on the scene of a disaster helping others with food, water and clothing and we most certainly want peace in every country we are established.  So why aren’t we considered Christians.

 The Book of Mormon might be one reason.  This sacred scripture is a record of the ancient people of the Americas:  the ancestors of the North and South American Indian people.  It is a fascinating story of how those people traveled from ancient Israel, established their roots and then was visited by the Savior after he was crucified in Jerusalem.  That is why the subtitle to the Book of Mormon is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”, which it is.  Why can’t  others in the world be visited by the Savior.  Especially when He Himself has said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."  (John 10:16-King James Version)

So there you have it: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  We are Christians in the truest sense of the word.  We are not perfect as we are human beings but we strive to make good choice and do the right thing by mankind. Check out this article on the Book of Mormon. It's very informative and it will shed a better light on the subject.

Interesting article on the Translation of the Book of Mormon

How To Reform Congress

With the start of the new year, we are reminded very quickly of what lies ahead. We must make our choice for the presidential race. There are other elections as well and we must carefully consider who would do the best job in leading our country forward.  I was impressed by what Mitt Romney said last week: “We are not just electing a president of the United States we are saving the soul of our country.”  I firmly believe we need to find a way, as citizens, to get back to our constitutional roots and trash those unconstitutional laws which take our freedoms away.

In a message from a group of concerned citizens, we read what could be a great way to get our Congress back on track in working towards saving the soul of our country. It’s called The Congressional Reform Act of 2011 and although it was not taken seriously by our Congress last year, we should seriously consider these six points for 2012.

1. No Tenure / No Pension.  A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and would receive no pay when they're out of office. A term of service should not be paid after the job is done.  This would help cut our national budget for the future.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. There should be no special treatment for those who work as legislators as this is a great honor and should not be compensated after they have gone home.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3% just as the rest of us are given. It is ridiculous to think that anyone who works for the people of the United States should reward themselves with their own pay raise.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. Again, this would be a great help to our sagging budget.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. As American citizens, we are required to abide by the law.  No one is above the law no matter what his or her position. This is how we discipline ourselves to be a society.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, who serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.  As Thomas Jefferson said: “The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.”  These political reforms are the will of the people.

My Last Editorial for the Gulf Coast Newspaper

Moral Issues of Country Under Fire

Through out our country’s history, we were known to be a people of prayer, religious conviction and those who promote life.  We prayed before meals, before school started, before Congress, and before sport games. George Washington prayed during Valley Forge as well as many other military leaders and men in combat. So why has the media jumped all over Tim Tebow when he drops to a knee to thank his Heavenly Father for his blessings?

Religious convictions, especially Christianity, have come under fire in many areas including entertainment, sports, education and government. Respect for the divine in our country is on a downward slope. The standard of what used to be acceptable in religion is slowly being undermined. In 2006 a public school teacher was forced by a federal judge to remove Christian-themed posters from his bulletin board.  One of them was the picture of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge. We remember the Ten Commandment fiasco when a monument showing the Ten Commandments had to be removed from our own state courthouse. There is a lack of regard for what we used to call respect for God’s authority. It is slowly taking over all those who are opposed to those who choose to keep this reverence.

           

As I researched this phenomenon, there was another issue which arose. In the wake of the 39^th March for Life in Washington D.C., where hundreds of thousands will walk to support the birth of unborn babies this week, the issue of pro-life is under attack.

 Apparently Tim Tebow’s mother Pam had courageously chose to carry Tim to full term despite doctors’ recommendations that she abort him. An abortion never was even considered as Pam knew she was carrying a person within her.  The attacks of their family from certain women’s groups who were opposed to a Focus on the Family TV ad that ran during the 2010 Super Bowl game explaining their pro-life life style was under attack. Pam made her choice but apparently was not the choice others thought she should do.

We all have choices to make in our own life without others judging us and these choices are based on our experience and knowledge.  If the media reports that it’s okay for young mothers to abort their babies, those without the conviction that it is killing an innocent person, will follow the crowd.  But if the true message of what an abortion is all about is revealed, then this knowledge will help women embrace moral understanding; which is why there will be an anti-abortion commercial during the Super Bowl next weekend.

It makes sense to me: praying, religious convictions and choosing pro-life are moral issues which made our country great. In the words of one great American, Ronald Reagan, he said this: "I've noticed that everyone who is pro-abortion has already been born." These standards need to be kept at the forefront of our society and taught to our children at home. 

Do You Think You Know What Mormons Are?

mormonshare.com

Do you think you know what Mormons are?  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have been called Mormons for over 180 years but do you know what they represent or how they feel about their religion?  Since I’m a Mormon myself, I find this next bit of information very interesting.

The Pew Research Center, a forum on religion and public life, recently released a new survey called “Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain in Their Place in Society .” This non-Mormon research center questioned over 1,000 Mormons around the United States on different aspects of their religion and life and their findings were very intriguing.

The first series of questions focused on what is essential for being a good Mormon as was reported by the Deseret News on Thursday, January 12th. Some answers were surprising. Thirty-two percent said not watching “R” rated movies, forty-nine percent said not drinking coffee or tea, (referring to the Word of Wisdom—a health code written by inspiration from Joseph Smith) fifty-one percent said having regular family home evening, (a weekly family gathering for parents to teach their children) and eighty percent said believing Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, (referring to "The First Vision" which happened when Joseph Smith was fourteen in a grove of trees in up state New York.)  


As a member myself, I feel that all four of those aspects are part of what makes me a member in good standing. It's part of our core belief system and it is important to live the standards we believe God has provided for us.

Read more about the survey here

LDStemplephotos.blogspot

The second series of questions focuses on the family and how the members of the church feel about the family. According to the survey eighty-one percent of Mormons say being a good parent is “one of the most important things in life” and fifty-eight percent thinks that the husband should be the provider while the wife stays home with the children. A far cry from what the rest of the world believes. According to the survey the emphasis on family seems to be what is most important in the lifestyle of the Mormons. Seventy-three percent surveyed felt that having a successful marriage was another important thing in life. 


As a member myself, I have been advocating the family for a long time and have always believed that besides my faith in Jesus Christ, my family is the most important possession I have and the need to spend time and get along with my family is the best thing I can do. It's a process and we cannot accomplish it all in one day but as we spend time together and live through the challenges we face, we are laying the foundation for an important work on earth.

For more information on the second part of the survey click here

The third series of questions have to do with the most important part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: whether they are actually Christian.  The numbers are high on this account. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents said that they believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and 97 percent said their church is a Christian religion.

"Certainly in Latter-day Saint theology is this idea that if you understand who you are, you understand that there's a purpose in life, you understand your connection to God, that certainly has an impact on how you live your life and what you do, but also how you feel about your life and what you are doing," said Michael Purdy of the LDS Church Public Affairs office taken from the deseretnews.com.

So there you have it.  Mormons are Christians.  We believe we are and we show it by our lifestyle. We want to do good to all men.  We help our neighbors, get involved with our community and serve our fellow man.  Now not all Mormons live up to this high standard, unfortunately but many do and they know that Jesus Christ is their Savior.

Also know that 83 percent of those Mormons polled pray every day and 77 percent attend church at least once a week.

See more of this poll here:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700215244/LDS-religious-commitment-high-Pew-survey-finds.html

The fourth series of questions deals with immigration issues and politics. U.S. Mormons are more conservative (66 percent) reported in deseretnews.com and 41 percent said that immigrants are a burden to the country. That means 59 percent are more open for foreigners in the LDS religion than other religious groups. One reason cited was that many young adult men travel abroad to other countries to preach the gospel and come to love those people they serve.

Read more about it here:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700215460/Mormons-immigration-attitudes-set-them-apart.html

freedigitalphotos.com

The fifth and final series of questions are on social issues.  For example Mormons polled about whether it’s morally wrong to divorce, drink alcohol, have an abortion or sex between unmarried adults or polygamy answered differently in view point than most Americans. Eighty-six percent said they felt polygamy was morally wrong, 79 percent thought that sex between unmarried adults was morally wrong, 74 percent said having an abortion is morally wrong, 54 percent said drinking alcohol was morally wrong and 25 percent said divorce is wrong.

See this link to read more:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700215181/Mormons-say-polygamy-morally-wrong-Pew-poll-shows.html?s_cid=Email-4

So are most Americans knowledgeable of what Mormonism is all about?  I think some of those answers were surprising for many who read bits and pieces about the church but never studied its doctrines.  The Mormons are an amazing people and are not to be ignored in their ideals of family and church. So the next time you hear something negative about the Mormons, think again.  They are good people to have around.

"In God Is Our Trust"-- Volume 5 of the Free Men and Dreamers series--

A wonderful new book has hit the scene by an author friend of mine--L.C. Lewis (aka. Laurie Lewis). Lewis, who has been working on this American historical series Free Men and Dreamers since 2003 now finished her last book called  "In God Is Our Trust".  


     L.C. Lewis writes:  After five years of research and rewrites, the result is the historical fiction series called 
Free Men and Dreamers-- DARK SKY AT DAWN, (2007); 
                                         TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING, (2008); 
                                         DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, (2009); 
                                         OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE? (2010); 
                                          IN GOD IS OUR TRUST, (2011). 

The Founding Fathers' vision of "One Nation Under God" was not left to chance. 

But what if yours was the generation tasked with forging that nation?    

And forced to defend her once again. .  

    Just before the heavens were about to open. . .

   And a new dispensation was about to begin?    

These were the challenges facing a choice generation.

They were. . . FREE MEN AND DREAMERS

I have already read Oh, Say Can You See and Dark Sky At Dawn, which is a little backwards but the stories are all great and I have learned so much about American history that I never knew--it is amazing.


Click here to order and read more about FREE MEN & DREAMERS


Here is an interview with Laurie:
What made you decide to write a historical novel set in a war period? 
Two of our sons were at EFY (Especially For Youth church youth conference) in Willamsburg, Virginia in 1997 and I became so intrigued and awed by the richness of our colonial heritage that I began reading about the life and lifestyles of early America. Originally, I set the manuscript forward from where it now is because the scope of events in the early nineteenth century was overwhelming to me, and when I was asked to expand the manuscript, I didn't know if I was up to the task. After 9/11, I began to better understand the inter-relationship between God and liberty, and I revisted the project. A US Park Service employee led me to a book about the War of 1812's impact on Maryland. I couldn't resist the temptation to illustrate the history in my own backyard and to further research these amazing Americans who had captivated my interest for over a decade and who set the stage for the Restoration.

Which historical figure stands out to you? 
Oh, without question it would be George Washington. He always looked so stern to me in those classroom prints growing up, but after reading about his personal life and his struggle to serve his country despite his intense desire for a private life, I have come to really respect and love him, and more importantly, I am so grateful to him. He was so revered that he could easily have set himself up as a king figure, but he was such a spiritual man that he understood that there was a divine plan for this nation.

How has your research changed you? 
In so many ways. First, I relate everything to history now and my family gets pretty tired of that, I can tell you! But I hope I've learned one important lesson that crosses all time periods and situations, and it is that we must judge or evaluate a person's life based on the times in which they lived. If we try to measure them using hindsight and the values of another period, we may fail to see that they were a giant in their own time.

Which character in Dark Sky at Dawn most reflects you? 
I don't know how it is for all authors, but when I write, each character reflects a little piece of me, or a sliver of my life experience at one time or another, albeit even as an observer. In this way I feel personally engaged in the conversations and thoughts, and hopefully, I can create a more vivid character and story for the reader.

Are you saying that Hannah's spiritual struggles are a reflection of your personal experiences?
Yes, in some ways. Our family went through a very trying period when we were living on prayer and faith. There were lots of days when life seemed so hard and heavy. We carried on with our lives, but often, as soon as the house emptied, I fell beside my bed and pled out loud with the Lord. Many tender, spiritual experiences came from those moments, but had I listened more carefully, I would have felt His arms of love around me even before I began my pleading. I wanted Hannah to reflect that struggle to learn to listen, to trust and to surrender ourselves to His will.
I also invited Laurie to be a guest blogger:

Hi! Thanks for inviting me to guest blog about my FREE MEN and DREAMERS books.

I’m from Maryland, but about 14 years ago, I fell in love with historic Williamsburg. There is a sacred spirit there, one felt also in other places that welcomed the great patriots—Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin, Key, and others—cities like Philadelphia, Washington, and Georgetown; and places like Fort McHenry, Hampton, Craney Island, Fort Monroe, and dozens more.

I believe it’s because God’s hand was over the events that happened in these places, moving people where they needed to be in order to accomplish His purposes for this land.

The past eight years of my research and writing have focused on an incredibly fascinating, and rather forgotten, generation of Americans. Most of us know a bit about the Revolution, and we have some basic understanding of the issues that drove us into the Civil War, but far fewer know anything concrete about the War of 1812, and yet historians will tell you that it was this period and these events that finally forged us into The United States of America.

The idea for a historic novel began back in 1998 after my first visit to Williamsburg, but I set it aside and moved on to another project. After 9/11, my heart, like most Americans', turned more tenderly to America and her history. By 2004 I submitted the first draft.

The original manuscript was set in the late 1840’s, but after much soul searching, many hours buried in American history, and a small mention in Lucy Mack Smith’s “Biography of Joseph Smith,” I knew I needed to back the books up a generation.

It was Lucy’s reference to her brother Stephen Mack’s service during the War of 1812 that was the deal-breaker. I had never before made the connection between the Smiths and the War of 1812, but there it was! Joseph Smith grew up during that war. He and his generation were affected and shaped by the critical historic events of the tragic burning of Washington, the critical Battle of Baltimore, Key’s rallying of a broken nation with his writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The generation that would take on Britain’s war machine in the War of 1812 was already unique in that they were the children of the Founding Fathers’ generation. They were the heirs of the great patriots’ vision, those charged to build a nation founded on the lofty principles of liberty and freedom, and now they would experience the great religious reformation and the Restoration led by Joseph Smith.

After eight years of research and rewrites, it is this generation’s story that I tell in my FREE MEN and DREAMERS books where we wind six fictional families—three American, two British, one slave—through carefully researched American history to illustrate the courage, sacrifice, and vision of this extraordinary group. 

I’d like to share an excerpt from my recently released volume 5, IN GOD IS OUR TRUST. Our protagonist in the series is Jed Pearson, a moral but logical man who has aligned his course upon the strength and stability of government. But new, illogical, religious concepts threaten his tidy world, and despite his efforts to dismiss them, he cannot, setting the stage for a spiritual awakening that will test his faith in both God and the Constitution. 

Excerpt from In God Is Our Trust:

From chapter 29:

The Pearsons arrived in Washington City in July, well before Jed

was scheduled to be seated in the Senate, but not too early to receive

his first assignment from his friend, Senator Timothy Shepard, who

had been asked to assist Washington’s Mayor Weightman’s Jubilee

of Independence Committee, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the

signing of the Declaration of Independence. Timothy quickly secured

Jed’s help.

“First things first,” Timothy began. “Congress commissioned four

paintings by John Trumball which will be hung in the Rotunda for the

celebration. The capstone of the celebration is his grand mural titled

The Declaration of Independence, depicting the five writers of the

declaration presenting the draft to their colleagues. Here’s a sketch.”

Jed studied the five images in the center of the sketch. The first

three were easily recognizable—Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John

Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania—but

the last two required greater thought. “I’m embarrassed to say I can’t

remember these two members of the drafting committee, nor some

of the other signers.”

“Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert Livingston of New

York, but I can’t name some of the signers anymore. I wonder if

future generations will learn their names and know the risk they

took when they mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their

sacred honor.”

Jed grew wistful at the thought. “So few of them are yet alive.”

“Charles Carroll is well, but Presidents Jefferson and Adams are

in failing health.”

“It’s remarkable to consider what that generation achieved in

fifty years, and yet the cost has been high. Two hundred and fifty

years ago the Indians roamed free in virgin forests and welcomed the

settlers. Now we are at war with them in many corners.”

“We fear them and they don’t trust us, often with good cause,”

Timothy said.

“If only we could share the land and live in peace, but we each

have very different visions for America. It’s rumored Andrew Jackson

will relocate the Indians west if elected president. As much as I love

what we’re building here, I can’t feel good about that.”

“It was a primitive new world when the first settlers arrived, as

if God hid it in His hand for millennia for a special purpose. I think

His hand has ever been and still is over this land.”

“And what do you think His purpose is? Even the Founders

couldn’t agree on religion.”

“They differed on the details, but they all believed in Christ.

Religion was and is still evolving here since the break with Europe.

Perhaps they purposely kept the language vague in order to

accommodate what might yet be.”

“Like a visit from God?”

Timothy scowled at Jed. “What?”

Flushing red, Jed wished he could retract the comment. “Don’t

mind me.”

“No, tell me. Who claims to have been visited by God?”

“A young man named Joseph Smith. Hannah is quite taken with

him.”

“But you doubt him?”

Jed leaned back slightly. “Do you believe God would condescend

to come to earth and visit a young man today in response to a

prayer?”

Timothy pondered the question a moment. Jed watched his face

soften as he thought. “I don’t know, but if God wanted to do such

a thing, I think this is where He would choose to do it. Religion

needs freedom to flourish, Jed, and I believe God helped us establish

and preserve ours. Now He’s blessed us with a decade of relative

prosperity and peace. If He wanted to open the heavens and speak, I

think He would do it here, and this might be the time.”

So check out that link above and read some of the most amazing stories......


Now on Kindle too!!!!!
The Founding Fathers' dream of 
"One Nation Under God" was not left to chance.       
 FREE MEN and DREAMERS is now on Kindle!      http://tinyurl.com/7wlpwfk

Happy New Year

jscreationzs'

The start of a new year and the chance to good in the world!!! I woke up with thoughts for a better year. We'll start this year with a bang as we plan the benefit for The Old Loxley Hotel.  Jim and I are doing great things to remodel that building and it will be a great asset to the community.
The rest of my family is doing great things as well--
Sarah and Drew are moving into a house with 2 acres which includes a horse stable. Sarah is very excited to have chickens, goats and horses.
Naomi and Jon are looking for a new house to move into permanently as they prepare for the birth of their second child.
Isaac and Rebekah will be starting new jobs in a new undisclosed location. More on that later.....
Tasha and Matt are working away at their jobs with Arthur and Sadie in tow.  Tasha should be graduating this coming up year with a bachelor's degree.
Caleb will be finishing his associate degree here in Baldwin County and going off to the military.
Eliot will continue doing great things in Albania and possibly other places as well.
Lydia will be graduating in May and then going off to school in Art Education.
Moses will be on the down side of working towards his Eagle Scout award and decide on a project.
Last but not least---Henry.....he will be working on school and doing what he does best--play board games.
You all have great things to contribute to the world!!!! Have a great year!!!

Early Memories: A Run In with a Snow Sled and a Dog named Snoopy

         I grew up in New Jersey during the 60's and 70's.  I loved New Jersey's farms and rural areas--but it hasn't stayed that way for long.  New York City has been thrust upon New Jersey as it is just across the river and many people moved to get away from the city (including my parents) to make a better life for themselves.  Now in present times, New Jersey is so corrupt, I could never go back to live there. From Brooklyn we moved to what was a small town at the time by the name of Clark. 

        I came from a family of large noses.  So it wasn't much of a surprise to know that one of my earliest memories in Clark was a run in with a snow sled.  It wasn't my fault.  My older sister and I were exploring in the garage when we discovered a rope hanging down from a shelf.  She pulled on it and I was standing right underneath it so I was the one who got smacked on the bridge of my nose with the front blade of the snow sled.  I was only 3.

  My mother had to take me to the doctor right away and they made her stand outside the door while they sewed me up.  It was not pretty. You can still see a slight scar.  I suppose that first experience might be an indicator of what was to come in life. Although I am not accident prone, funny things just happen to me. 
      
       I don't really feel so bad now about the whole sled thing. My father would take us sledding at a park down the street that had a fantastic hill next to a river.  Every year we would take our sled there and take off down that hill with him steering.  One year, it was one of the earlier sledding experiences; my sister decided she wanted to go down by herself.  She sat head first with gloved hands on the steering mechanism. As she descended the hill, she realized it was a bit too much for her and closed her eyes.  I don't know what she was thinking, because those sleds don't steer by themselves.  She then ran smack into a tree towards the bottom and fell off the sled.  She was lucky not to break her nose in the process but all was well after we realized she was okay.

      Another winter when I was about 8 or 9 years old, we owned a rather hyper dog.  My sister and brother and I thought we could keep control of this rather obnoxious animal but that wasn't always the case.  We named him Snoopy but he was not anything like his cartoon counter part. It was my turn to take Snoopy for a walk on a cold winter's afternoon and I wore a large furry hat with furry pom-poms on the end of the ties.  These furry balls must have seem very attractive to Snoopy because as we walked along on the sidewalk, he kept jumping up to grab them.  I would push him down and attempt to keep walking.  He was persistent and finally caught them in his mouth.  

             If you have ever tried to take something away from a dog with an steel trap jaw--you know it is impossible to open. I was dragged by Snoopy all the way home by these pom-pom balls. He was uncontrollable and I was trying to stop him.  I wasn't very strong so there was no contest.  I finally made it into the house when Snoopy pulled harder and I was dragged on the wooden floor.  My mother, hearing the commotion came running and tried to break open the jaws of an iron clad mouth of this wild animal or at least get the hat off my head but to no avail.  I was dragged around by the neck gagging and my mother started to laugh.  I know she didn't mean to, but I'm sure the picture of this dog pulling the pom-pom ties to my hat with my head stuck in the middle was a funny sight and she couldn't help it. I don't remember what happened after that but somehow I managed to break free and I never wore that hat again.  (At least not with Snoopy around).  I guess I should feel lucky that I didn't lose my nose in all of that struggle.


       

Eclectic Book Catalog For Christmas

Looking for a gift for the person who has everything??? Look no farther.  A catalog of 43 wonderful books including clean romances, inspirational non-fiction and more.
Check it out:

Find books for Christmas

Holiday Eating Tips

Credit: cartinafinland.fi

A friend of mine sent me this to me a long time ago and it has always just tickled my funny bone..
A humorous look at our crazy Christmas traditions......


1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table
knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave
 immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't
 find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an
 eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me.
 Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy.
 Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
 whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car
 with an automatic transmission.

 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your
 eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other
 people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's.
 You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the
 time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while
 carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted
 Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near
 them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of
 attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them
 behind, you're never going to see them again.

 8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if
 you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have
 three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory
 celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

 10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or
 get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips;
 start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.