Monday, December 31, 2007

I Wish You A ~*Happy New Day*~

Imagine folks walking around wishing one another a Happy New Day.

It's quite common place to be checking out through a store clerk and have
them say to you, "Thank you and have a good day", but has anyone ever
said to you..... "Thank you and have a happy new day"?    I can't recall it ever
having been said to me.   :)

Around this time of the year it's quite common for total strangers to
wish you....   Happy New Year. !!!     Hmmmmm all 366 days of 2008 Happy.
What a nice thought.    

Just maybe, the wish of Happy New Year from family, and friends, and total
strangers starts by waking up each morning and first off
wishing ourselves..........   ~*Happy New Day*~

And to all of you as you awake each morning of 2008.........



I wish you.... ~*Happy New Day*~





Saturday, December 29, 2007

Blogging Etiquette

I wanted to share some info about 'blogging etiquette' and
was hunting around the net. I came upon this great blog
post over at tenforty.blogspot. Just click in the link to check
it out.


"Blogging etiquette, do's and don'ts in the blogging world -
These are some very simple rules every blogger ought to know".....


http://tenforty.blogspot.com/2007/10/basic-blogging-etiquette-dos-and-donts.html

For folks new to the blogging world - DO take the time to post a comment
on something you've read on someone's blog.
AND.... just as important, bloggers, DO take the time to acknowledge
comments made on your site. Reply back to the comments made.

I have heard bloggers say over and over how the dialog within their
comment area has sometimes been as important as the post
itself.

Some of My Kids - Christmas Eve

Img_21751



Kevin - Nicole - Vinny

I say... 'Some of my kids', because my 'daughter from another
Mother' - Kerri was not with us, and Vince's wife Dana, my
Daughter in law stayed in Texas for the holiday to be with her family.   



Friday, December 28, 2007

Adding a Reader Subscribe button

The reason to add a subscribe button to your site is to
send your new posts right to a reader's email or home page
web site.

Folks come on your site/blog to read, but unless they know that
new content has been added, they might forget to drop by.

I am rather new to Blogger - Blogspot as I have my main
blog at Typepad. The reason being my brother was with Typepad
and he suggested I start blogging nearly 3 years ago.
Blogger and Blogspot are free. In retrospect, I maybe should
have gone the freebee route. I pay something like $49 a year.

Anyway.... my intent of this post is to help folks new to blogger
understand how to set this 'feed' up.

One of the best and easiest free site to use is Feedburner.

Go to http://www.feedburner.com/ to sign up for a new account.

WELL.... don't go there quite yet. First off you will need
to copy the main URL - web address of your blog. Copy
that so it's in your buffer and you can paste it once you are at
the feedburner page.

As an example - Here is the URL to my other blog

http://deb_inside.typepad.com/

You just go to the top of your main blog page and copy the URL.
It's the same URL that you share with others when you are directing
them to your blog.

Now go to the Feedburner site.

Once you are at the site you will see these words:

Start FeedBurning Now. Type your feed or blog URL below

Into the peach colored box, add your site's URL. Hit the NEXT button.

I -THINK- it's at this point that Feedburner will ask
you to create a user name and password. I was doing
this step by step on Feedburner,
to make sure I had it all correct, but it did not ask me
because I am already a member. Just make a user name
and password and be SURE to write
them down for future use. !!!!!!!

A window will come up that says: Identify Feed Source

Choose the second button - You will see your blogs name and then RSS after it.

The next screen will say : Welcome! Let us burn a feed for you.

Scroll down the page just a little and click the Activate Feed button.

It will now say: Congrats! Your FeedBurner feed is now live.

At the bottom of the page it says this...

You have completed Step 1 of 2. In Step 2, you may consider
adding additional free FeedBurner Stats options for a more richly
detailed view of your feed readership.

I did not go on to that step.... but if you want to I'm sure it's step by step.

To add a feed or subscribe button to your site go to -
http://www.feedburner.com/

In the upper left corner you will see a blue link that says:
My Feeds - Click on that.

A page will open up where you see - Feed Title - and the
name of your blog. Click on the name of your blog.

The next page that opens up will have 5 tabs. Go to publicize
(click on the gray publicize tab)

In the left column under SERVICES - you will see email sububscriptions
click on that. Scroll down the middle of the page and you will see the words...
Use as a widget in ------------- There will be a drop down box that allows
you to choose Blogger. Then hit the GO button beside the drop down.
You will then need to click on the SAVE button at the very bottom of the page.

CONGRATS you have now added a button to your blog for email subscriptions.

NOW...... to add the second way for folks to subscribe... STAY WITH ME...
You are doing GREAT !!!!

On this same page under SERVICES.... look for the words :

Chicklet Chooser --- Click there.

When the new window opens up you will see a list of buttons.
ALREADY there will be a check mark - (tiny green circle) in the
first space. It will have an orange square button with white markings
on it. It says --- Subscribe in a reader.

Scroll down the page and near the bottom of the page locate the
drop down menu where you can pick - Blogger.

It will say ---- Use as a widget in -------------- Hit the Go button

A page will pop up that say.... Add Page Element

On this page - JUST CLICK the blue Add Widget button.....

and then it will be added to your blogger page.

IF anyone is confused, or needs a little help in
setting this up on their blog, please drop me
an email and I would be more than happy to
help you out.

AFMomDeb@aol.com




Saturday, December 22, 2007

Spread The Love Now ! ~ Group Writing Project

Hey, That Rings A Bell









I believe that compassion is an inherent human quality tied to our



heart strings.   The pull of those heart strings rings a bell of sorts within



a human.   The pull of the heart string reverberates through our being and



triggers our consciousness into an emotional reaction.    







Bells are everywhere and they are certainly prominent at Christmas time.



The Salvation Army rings bells to inspire passers by to place donations of cash



inside red kettles.   In my ignorance, I assumed The Salvation Army was only



an American organization.   I’ve now learned it’s origin was in England in 1865 and



today The Salvation Army has offices in 131 countries.   





The movie, It’s a Wonderful Life is an exceptional movie showing the compassion



and caring of a community.    In the final scene, George Bailey is holding his young



daughter beside their Christmas tree……  A tiny bell on the tree magically rings by itself.



The daughter says….  Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an Angel gets his wings.”





It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern.





The film takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls shortly after World War II and stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man whose attempted suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) who is sent to help him in his hour of need. Most of the film is told through flashbacks spanning George's entire life and narrated by Franklin and Joseph, unseen Angels who are preparing Clarence for his mission to save George. Through these flashbacks we see all the people whose lives have been touched by George and the difference he has made to the community in which he lives. (Wikipedia)





In by gone days, church bells were rung for many occasions.   One reason for the ringing of church bells was to spread the news of the recent death.    One of my very favorite quotations is from John Donne a Jacobean metaphysical poet.   
In 1624 he wrote Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions.





Meditation 17 - (In modern word usage)





“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”





His words speak to me of how we are all intrinsically tied to one another through our humanity. 



We are asked to have compassion for this person and their passing, whether or not we knew them.





In ending, let me tell you exactly how I know that compassion is inherent human quality.   





Step back in time with me to my ‘other life’.    ‘My other life’ are the words I use to describe my



first marriage.   The year was 1983 and my husband Mark and I had been married for 5 years and we lived in a town less than 10 miles from his Nonna (Grandmother) and his Aunt Edna.   



Auntie Edna was a single lady who had never married.   Edna lived with Nonna and worked a full time job.



Nonna was a quiet, shy sort of woman of Northern Italian decent.   At this time in 1983 Nonna was 82 years old.



She had been in exceptional good health, not an ache or pain to speak about.   
Then in a matter
of only a few weeks, she was not herself.   The clinical diagnosis was dementia.    Her mind was slipping away.



Edna was only a few years away from retirement, but quitting her job early to
take care of her
Mother would have been a great hardship upon her life.   





In May of 1983 Mark and I had one child, Nicole, she was 15 months old.



I suggested to Mark that we move in with his Grandmother and Aunt.   
I was working a part time job
and my hours could be adjusted to be with Nonna as
not to leave her alone.    I realized the ramifications
of such a move, and was willing to do this to help out his family.   He at first was not.   I then convinced him that it was
in the best interest of his family.   





Sadly, within a matter of only a few weeks of our moving in with them, Nonna’s mind deteriorated so that not even a house full could not have cared for her, unless we
were trained nurses.   She would
sleep only in increments of a couple of hours.   
She attempted to leave the house and it was also
apparent she had no conception
of who we were.   Nonna was moved to a nursing home.   
Within
a matter of months, she passed on.





The point of relating this story to you is something that happened during the
short time we were there.





Auntie had come home from work, we had dinner and had settled Nonna into bed.



Nicole was happily playing with her toys on the floor of the living room.   I was in the kitchen



area cleaning up.   I had a view into the living room.   
Auntie Edna was sitting on the couch.  I glanced
towards her and could see her hands to her face in quiet tears.  Then the weight of the world  burst forth and it was full blown sobs.    Before I could advance towards Auntie, Nicole jumped up and RAN over to her Great Aunt.   
She laid her tiny head down in Auntie’s lap and was 
patting both of her legs.   
I was stunned.    Here was this child, barely in this world one year and



three months and she was compassionately comforting her 59 year old Great Auntie.





After Nonna’s passing and for many years to come, we fondly remembered that moment. 



At 15 months old, the only explanation is that Nicole arrived with this ability, as do we all.





Compassion is a necessary component within our humanity.    



I look forward to seeing how others ‘Spread the Love NOW!’ through their blog writings.   





Thank you, Wade, Kenton and Albert.   

Three cheers for thee Three Monks. !!!




Bell


S





 



Thursday, December 13, 2007

A Letter From Jesus About Christmas

A friend emailed me this message and I thought it was

worth passing along.   


````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

It's a fine line to presume what Jesus would

say but the statements are worth thinking about. 


Have a Blessed Christmas.


Letter from Jesus about Christmas

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.


How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were.
If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.


4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :      I LOVE YOU, JESUS




Friday, November 30, 2007

Holiday Memories of Yesteryear



Rudolph20cast







Two nights ago, I was out driving and flipped on the radio.



It was set to a station that is all holiday music.
 





I heard him, Burl Ives singing Holly Jolly Christmas….




INSTANTLY… it was December of 1989…...






My 2 children were clamoring…….






“When will it be on”?
 





“How soon is 20 minutes”?






7 year old Nicole and 5 year old Vincent were excitedly anticipating



the TV broadcast of ………  Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.






My eyes filled with tears and a part of me longed for those children



of yesteryear.    But alas…. that was then.   I do have Kevin who is



11 years old, and I know how in a heartbeat time moves on.
   





Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives passed away in April of 1995 at the age of 85.





His distictive voice was actually a ghost from my own childhood. 



The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer debuted on TV in December of 1964.



At that time I was 6 years old, but it’s always felt like the annimated



show has been a part of my life.
 





Thank you Mr Ives, Ummm I mean Sam the Snowman,



for the memories of generations of children…. even grown ones who



remember when.
 





IF you don’t have Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer on DVD,



you can catch it here is the USA   on………..………….





Monday Dec 3 – 9 pm Eastern time    The Family Channel



Tuesday Dec 4 – 8 pm Eastern time   CBS








A couple of You Tube videos of Mr Ives singing
on the animated Rudolph Show ……






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki1JRTUeawg






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aNUm1ePMDs









Mr Ives talks about his role as Sam……..



"When I lent my voice to Sam the snowman back in 1964, 1 had no idea
that the special would air on network television every year since then.
When I tour across the country, I am recognized as Sam by everyone from
the airline stewardesses down to the smallest of children.
The popularity of that special overshadows my Oscar performance in
The Big Country and my performance as ‘Big Daddy’ in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" put together."



"I loved that special, so much that we have had wood figures of the Rudolph
characters made and we decorate our front lawn with them every Christmas.
The role of Sam came natural to me because I like singing to children
because they like good songs and they are interested in some of the
same things I am, like frogs, flies and bees. I worked on several projects
with Rankin/Bass over the years ........
and enjoyed making them all,
but Rudolph is still the most popular. ‘Silver and Gold’ and ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’
are two of my favorite and most requested songs.
I am grateful to have been a part of that special."



http://www.burlives.com/Fun.htm





Rudolph that Amazing Reindeer



by Stanley Frankel



About half way down the page at this link you will find this fascinating story.
It’s about Robert May the author of the Rudolph story.
Reprinted from Good Housekeeping Magazine.



http://www.frankel-y.com/append.htm



Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Life Without Limbs - Nick Vujicic



Watching the videos of Nick was life altering for me.  WOW !!!

I've grabbed this part about Nick from his web site, just to
share it correctly....    There is more on his site under the
about Nick Vujicic button. 

That is Vujicic - pronounced ~  VOOEY - CHEECH    :)

Below this post I'll share the link to the blog I first learned
about Nick.    The reason I am posting it on my own site
is for a reminder to myself of the ~Amazing Spirit~ that this
young man has.

I've long balanced my self with this quote....

"I cried about having no shoes, until I saw a man with no feet"

AND NOW..... seeing Nick...   Hmmmmmm
to quote him.....

"No arms, no legs, no worries - mate"

   


About Nick Vujicic





A Remarkable Story of God's Grace

It says in James 1:2 - "Consider it pure joy, my Brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

....To count our hurt, pain and struggle as nothing but pure joy? As my parents were Christians, and my Dad even a Pastor of our church, they knew that verse very well. However, on the morning of the 4th of December 1982 in Melbourne (Australia), the last two words on the minds of my parents was "Praise God!". Their firstborn son had been born without limbs! There were no warnings or time to prepare themselves for it. The doctors were shocked and had no answers at all!


The whole church mourned over my birth and my parents were absolutely devastated. "If God is a God of Love, then why would He let something this happen? especially to dedicated Christians" My Dad thought I wouldn't survive for very long, but tests proved that I was a healthy baby boy just with a few limbs missing..............................



"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13





There are 3 different videos to view here... be sure to see them all.













 


 


 


 


A HUGE shout out to SJ Yee - of Richgrad.com 

It was at his site where I first learned about Nick.  

 



Tuesday, November 20, 2007

* Happy Thanksgiving *

~ Happy ~





On this special day set aside,


I give ~thanks~ for all who read at my site.


I ask that God bless you with both answered and


unanswered prayers.

As you gather with your family
would you please say a prayer for
military families who's loved ones will
never return to a holiday table.   Our heroes
who have given their all.

Would you also remember those serving
far from home in a land where it does not
even ~feel~ like a holiday at all and those serving
stateside, but too far away to be with their loved ones.

A special prayer for those who are having
a first holiday without a loved one at the table.
In the sadness of missing them, remember the joy
that you shared.
*  They are with you in spirit  *

We miss you our airmen, Vinny & Dana ...


we are so proud of your service.   

Love


Mom - Deb



















These 2 links are just about the same, but


the first one will change with the weekly enzine.


So...  I dropped in the thanksgiving one, in case


anyone wanted to check back there later on.




You can sign up for the weekly or daily messages.





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










Friday, November 16, 2007

"My Dear Son" - A Mother Speaks Her Heart









The following is a Gold Star Mother's message to her Marine son
Cpl Lance M. Thompson, taken from his Legacy memorial site.
You will see Lance pictured in a Veteran's post just a few down from this one.



November 15, 2007    -    KIA Iraq November 15, 2004



My dear son,
I will start this as I started each letter I wrote to you in Iraq. I am so very proud of you! I am proud of the man you became even though it is hard to not think of the boy you were at the same time. Today, we miss your smile and I miss you saying, "Hello, Mother" in that deep and serious voice. I know you are watching over us all; family and friends.

Today, I sent off balloons with your picture. I hope they reach you in heaven. I know you would be trying to suck the helium out to make that weird, high pitched voice and then you would laugh.

To Lance's buddies,
He has your back! Thank you for having his back! So many of you call and write and tell us stories. What wonderful gifts you give us! I wish you could understand how precious each memory you have given us is! There are just no words to express how much we appreciate those stories and memories. I hope you will ALWAYS feel like you can share ANY thought or memory with us. I know sometimes you fear you will hurt us or bring up a bad memory...
Please, don't feel that way. You will understand when you have children how important it is to know everything they do...it is who they are!

To all who read this message:
Thank you for your warm, caring words of support. Your words mean the world to us! I can't describe the feeling you get when someone you have never met sends you a message! There are no words to describe how this makes you feel and how this helps you go on.

A last thought:
Lance wanted to do his job, do it well, and make Iraq a place where people would be safe and be able to enjoy the freedom's we enjoy here in the United States. He also wanted to make sure that what he saw in Iraq never came here. The only thing he did that most of his brother Marines, soldiers, and sailors didn't do was die. Every person who is, or has, served in our nation's military are true heroes and all deserve medals and in the least our honor and respect. It is our veterans and military who have given us the freedoms we have today and who ensure that EVERYONE, no matter where they live, have the chance for the same freedoms we have here in America.

Lance, my dear son, you served well. Your family loves you and honors you today and always. Be safe, stay strong. Always Semper Fi and Gung Ho


With all my love,
Mom

 

Melanie Smith (Westfield, IN)



Photo of a memorial rock at Lance's grave



Lance_stone



Link to Lance's Legacy Guestbook and Melanie's post and contact info 



Link to Veteran's Day Post and Lance's picture.





Thursday, November 15, 2007

Jessi ~ An Amazing Young Woman



Dscn0392
Jessi's Mom -  Jessi  -   Kendra - Taken this past summer



This is a post asking for your HELP.   




Help to bring some cheer to a military family this holiday season.




The gal who wrote this message is Darlene.   An online friend,


I've known for several years.    These messages are from a


web site we are on together.   




Darlene and her friend Jessi live in Nouth Carolina. 




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jessi is a 18 year old girl who was born with brittle bones disease.


(Brittle Bone Disease - Osteogenesis Imperfecta)


She has spent her life in a wheelchair and has to live very cautiously.
With as much caution as possible she still manages to break bones in her body.
Her wheelchair hitting something or running over a bump breaks bones.
She is a tiny thing.... If she could walk she wouldn't be 3 feet tall.
She is beautiful young lady with a bit of a fiery disposition.
She loves to paint and make friends.

A lot of people her age are afraid of her and making friends
is hard to do and she has every intention of keeping her friends
or in other words, making an acquaintance isn't what she strives
for and making you her friend is.

Jessi is presently writing medical history.....
She wasn't supposed to live this long and she surpassed her prognosis
many years ago. She is deformed because her skeletal system stopped
growing when she was little but her organs didn't.
It brings about another medical problem for her....
Her organs are all pushed together trying to fit in her tiny body.
If she gets a cold it's dangerous for her because her heart and lungs
are smooshed and it makes them work harder.


=======================================

My daughter Kendra met Jessi at school....
Jessi, in her wheelchair was being bullied and she attempted
to run her bullies down with her chair.... My daughter does
not like a bully and her dislike is even stronger when the
bullies select the defenseless to pick on. My daughter got
involved and she ran the bullies off and brought Jessi into
our lives as well as the lives of her other friends.
My daughter and Jessi will graduate this year from a small school...
They both plan on going to college...
My Kendra wants to be a veterinarian and Jessi wants to be
a counselor on her disease.



UPDATE - Nov 4th




She just returned from John Hopkins in Maryland and her surgeries


have been scheduled...


She will have surgery on December 3rd and be placed in suspended traction


until her next surgery on December 17th. She hopes to be home


in North Carolina for Christmas.




The risks of her surgery are high and she is 18 now.....


She was asked to sign a DNR (Do not resuscitate) form. It was


explained to her that if they tried to resuscitate her excessively that


it would kill her and with a heavy heart she signed the form.


We are being optimistic especially for her benefit.


I sense she will do fine with the surgeries, though. Please keep Jessi


and her family in your thoughts and prayers.




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




UPDATE Nov 14th






Jessi's surgery is going to hinder Christmas for her family. I am asking for


your prayers and if you could send a care package for the family


that would be wonderful too.
I told Sheri, Jessi's mom, I would work on Christmas for everyone and


she should worry about the surgery.


If you are able to make or buy just one gift and send it for Christmas


it would help... Or even a gift card, Cheyanne and Jessi love books


and a gift card to waldenbooks or Barnes and Noble would be gold to them.


Cheyanne is Jessi's baby sister, she is 12.
Jessi wants to be home for Christmas but it likely won't happen...


Christmas will be waiting for her when she does get back home....


Emotions are beginning to show their head around here we are


crying one minute and laughing another minute. We are praying


and looking for hope... Other times we are just numb...




This family really needs the power of love and support that
only strangers can give....



Cody M.  age  19
Jessi  B. age 18
Cheyanne M.  age  12
Sheri M.  mom


Matt M.   step father




Matt is serving in the Navy and will be here for Jessi's surgeries.
She will have her surgeries at John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.



Sheri, Jessi's Mom sent these words.....





"Life is about to change as we know it. Jessica and our family will


be embarking on a new chapter of our lives in a few weeks. Jessica is


scheduled for her first of two spinal surgeries on Dec. 3rd, and then on


Dec 17th for the final fusion.


We are hoping this will change Jessica's life for the better,


either way we are winners!!




WOW.... what an amazing young woman Jessi is. !!!!

Please keep Jessi and her family in your prayers.
I'll be posting updates on my site here of her progress.





I KNOW this is a whole lot to ask, but if everyone of my



friends who reads this message sent the family a couple


of dollars or even $5 or whatever you can  ....


what a difference it would make in their lives. 




I would rather not post their mailing address


directly on the web, but if you would please email


me --  I'll gladly send it your way.

AFMomDeb@aol.com






Remember what Alvin from  the Chipmunks says...





"It's a GIVING - GIVING - GIVING time"




THANK YOU and GOD BLESS


Photo collage of Jessi and friends


















Friday, November 9, 2007

'The Gratitude Dance'

I saw this video posted on Joyful Jubilant Learning site and could not help
but make a post of it here.    :)))

After going to the YouTube site, I found this further info about the guys
in the video.....................



The Junior Attractors are two very motivated young men who wish to
spread the message of Law of Attraction, and more, to empower youth
around the world to "become the change" as Ghandhi calls it.

Their T-shirts are being worn by many to spread an attitude of gratitude
everywhere they can. The video of the Gratitude Dance is spreading far
and wide and being shown at seminars across the world.
The energy is infectious and it is bringing joy to young and old.

We wish to build a community of likeminded individuals who claim
responsibility for their thoughts and actions, and are determined to create
positive change in the world.
Learn the message and pass it on.

Visit our website at
www.JuniorAttractors.com, sign up for our E-zine,
be part of our online community and wear the shirts so all around you
will feel the gratitude
.




Matt and Brad    


Mb_2




Check out the Gratitude Dance Video




I'm still smiling.......... and thinking of what I am ~Grateful~ for...



YOU.......   yeah, YOU ...... the one right there reading this post. !!!   



I'm VERY grateful to you.



LOVE
Deb

PS.............   Matt and Brad say they want to empower the youth to
"become the change"...   I SAY........ WHY stop at the youth.   ;)





Thursday, November 8, 2007

Adding A Graphic



Locate the ADD IMAGE - in the tool bar in the new post window.
When you click on it, this window above will open up.

You have the choice to add a graphic from your own computer,
or add an graphic that is hosted on an outside site.

I use Imageshack as a image hosting site. It's free and pretty simple.
http://my.imageshack.us/registration/

Once you register then you can add and visit your hosted pictures at any time.
When you upload an image, you are given
URL links. You copy that link and paste it into the box that says
add an image from the web.

The advantage of using graphics hosted elsewhere is that the
size of the grahics file does not come off your alotted space on
Blogger for image files.

Under the area that says - Choose a layout if you choose none
then you can wrap text around a picture.

Choose the image size - small - medium - large

Then hit the upload image button.

If you upload a picture and the size is not right, or the picture is
not what you wanted, you can click on the image that is in
your draft post and hit the delete key.

If you want to start the post with the picture, then
upload it first and enter text.

If you want the graphic within the body of the the post,
then upload it as you are going along.

You can resize the graphic larger or smaller once you have it
in the post, but that is not always reliable and the picture might
distort.

Using Imageshack is also a good way to send photos or
pictures to another person via email. They can view
what you want to send, when you drop in the URL.
That way they don't have to download the picture if they
don't want to.






Angel Smiley

See this cute smile angel

Okay........ I figured out how to wrap the post around the graphic. yeah :)


My Main Blog - At Typepad - Deb_Inside

Deb _Inside







Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Veterans Day - November 11, 2007

Vetsday07lopb22



"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve -
is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check made
payable to The United States Of America for an amount of
'up to and including my life.'   
That is honor.   There are far too many people in this country who
don't understand it."
- Author Unknown-


Veterans very often wear baseball style caps with the insignia
of their branch of service.    Just this last week, I stopped an
elderly gent in the parking lot of my local grocery store.
I extended my hand and thanked him for his service.
This Korean war Vet stood as proud as if he were at
full attention before a general.    There was a certain look
of shock on his face.    I can only hope and pray it made his day.
PLEASE consider doing the same when you see someone
who might have served.
There was another time a few years back I did the same thing...
the fellow said to me...  'Ohhh I've never served but my son is
on his way to Iraq'.     I thanked him for raising a son willing
to serve.

Remembering all veterans and these special few among the
very many who have given thier lives in service.
   

Jonn J. Edmunds - Army Ranger - January 3, 1981 ~ October 19, 2001

Johnedmunds



Lance M. Thompson - Marine - March 26, 1983 ~ November 15, 2004

Lance1 



Michael A. Marzano - Marine - May 18, 1976 ~ May 7, 2005

Michael1



Daniel M. McVicker - Marine - December 27, 1984 ~ October 6, 2005

Danny1



Dustin R. Grable - Air Force - June 8, 1983 ~ May 31, 2006

Dustin



Lucas W.A. Emch - Navy- February 8, 1986 ~ March 2, 2007

Lukeemch



Paige Renee Villers - Air Force - November 3, 1987 ~ August 7, 2007

Paige


The families and friends of these pictured heroes
are my friends.    They are readers of my blog.
If you would care to leave them a message in the
comment area, I know your thoughts will be
well received.   



Tuesday, November 6, 2007

~ A Gift That Keeps On Giving ~



The big season of gift giving is upon us.   So many people
scramble around for just that perfect gift.   Only every now and
then will that gift be remembered. 

The words and music to the Christmas song
Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine K. Davis,
Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958.


“Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, “

“Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum? “




The Little Drummer Boy did not realize right away
that he did indeed have a gift.   



You have gifts all wrapped up inside of you.


Those gifts are ….  Your Words.

   



For your family members or close special friends


pick up a blank journal and in the first few pages


write out some shared memories, or some reasons


why these people are so important to you.


Drop in a special photo……..


Make certain you date the book.   All through the year


you can mail them items to add to the book.


If you think a blank journal is going to break the


bank, think again.   You can pick up wonderful


little journals at the dollar store.   Of course you can


go to the other end and do a leather bound one too.





This will truly be the gift that keeps on giving. 





55 











Saturday, November 3, 2007

Tree In My Yard

From the outside looking towards my neighbors house.....


Img_187411

From the inside...







Img_185311





Taken November 2, 2007



Friday, November 2, 2007

Michael Israel ~ AMAZING Artist

Michael_i1



Previous to seeing Michael Israel perform in these
videos, the only other painter I had seen in action
would have been
Bob Ross ~ The Joy of Painting.

Totally different styles indeed, but amazing to
actually watch an artist in action.

Israel takes the word performing artist to
an entirely different level.   I can only imagine
how awe inspiring it would be to see him in person.!

As I was preparing this post today, I showed the
video of Israel to my son Kevin.   He's 11.
He said to me, 'He seems so angry'.
I responded, 'No honey, he's just like a conductor
leading an orchestra.    That's PASSION'.

Perception ~ I don't think I convinced Kevin.  :)

As it states on his web site....
"For charities,  Michael's performances raise awareness,
goodwill,  and funds on a grand scale".



Hero perfomed by Michael Israel in New York









The story behind the painting
   ~ Don't Miss This  :))))


Link to Michael Israel's Web Site



WOW.... just plain WOW.....   See if you agree.