Forgive the overisght



200 football games in a row!
Twelve years!
The toughest man in Football!
Green Bay's man of steel!
Our hero!
Brett Lorenzo Favre!

I knit a bit...

Not up to trying those tricky socks? Here are a few very easy knitting projects!




Cotton Sugar and Cream wash cloth, size seven needles, 1/2 ball of yarn, about four hours.
Pattern:
Using a pair of size 7 (US) needles, and cotton worsted yarn, cast on four stitches.
Knit one row.
Start pattern.
K2, yo, k to end
Repeat this pattern until 43 stitches are on needle.
Then: K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to end
Repeat this pattern until you've got 4 stitches. Cast off and tie the end, weave the ends into the washcloth.



Splash the scarf, size 13 needles, 14 stitches, one ball of Splash yarn, a day or so of knitting. The pattern at the store called for size 15 needles and 15 stitches...but I do not have size 15 needles and the woman at the yarn store said the 13's would be fine. And they were!

Katie the model...only a child can look this pretty at 7:00 am.


I am also knitting sweatpants for Emma. Alison over at The Blue Blog kept a wonderful sweatpants journal. Go on over and check it out! She is quite the knitter...and blogger!

Oh no!

I just worked for an hour and a half on this morning's entry and blogger ate it.
I can't put off my real life a minute longer.
Sorry!

Perhaps I will have the heart to rewrite later today.

It was just about knitting anyway...

Must not have been very important.

Waaaaaaa (crying like Lucy)

Donna

Holy Experiment

There is actually only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is your right to yourself (see Romans 12:1). If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you-and His experiments always succeed.

A saint realizes that it is god who engineers his circumstances;consequently there are no complaints, only unrestrained surrender to Jesus.

If you abandon everything to Jesus, and come when He says, "Come," then He will continue to say, "Come," through you. You will go our into the world reproducing the echo of Christ's "Come." That is the result in every soul who has abandoned all and come to Jesus."
-Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His highest/June 13

Just as I am, without one plea

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
-Words by Charlotte Elliott

Encourage one another,
Donna

The good the bad and the blurry

The Good-
Everyone's home.
Bowling on Thanksgiving.
Ice Skating with the relatives.
My darling new 'Anniversary' purse.
Matthew's comment about my turkey and gravy, "This is the best thing you make! I don't even like to eat anyone else's gravy."

The Bad-
Loud Anti-Union, Anti-Airlines, Pro-Universal Health Care discussion at the dinner table dominated by one very opinionated person.
Not buying my darling anything for our Anniversary.

The Blurry-








The Excuse-
I didn't have my glasses with me so I couldn't see if the photos were blurry or not...if the 'models' had their eyes open...or not...

The Resolve-
Remember glasses.
Buy husband gift for anniversary next year.
Make turkey and gravy for Christmas.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend with old big home :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Five:Part Three

Well this anniversary count down is rivaling 'who shot J.R' and the finale to 'Friends', isn't it!!! Just wait til next year when we hit the big 25 :o)

1. Where did you go for your honeymoon?
2. What was the best advice you were given?
3. What is your best advice to newlyweds?
4. What famous couple are you most like?
5. How do you celebrate your anniversary?

_______________

A verse that teaches and teaches and teaches...

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous;
love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek it's own,
is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails;

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Try that verse with "I am patient, I am kind, I am not jealous..."
_____________


Patrick and I are looking forward to a quiet dinner and a movie tonight... and many more years of love and laughter.

Donna

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

I don't imagine many of you will stop by today...but if you do...
kiss...kiss...big hug!

I am so thankful for the comments you leave day after day. They are really a blessing to me!

Thank you!



Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
-Henry Alford

With a thankful heart,
Donna

p.s. I do not know the artist of the beautiful pilgrim picture. I wish I did.

Email from abroad

Janet sent me a funny email the other day. She has friends who are humanitarian workers in China.
Here are some of John's favorite Chinese phrases.

"An old friend and I got together to eat noon rice (lunch) last week. I always look forward to seeing him because we wear one pair of pants (we agree on almost everything). I took a rent out car (taxi), but the driver went past the restaurant and we had to drop head (do a U turn). That really jammed up the traffic which was messy 7's and 8's (total chaos). Another driver got really upset with us, and told us to roll egg (Get lost).

When I entered the restaurant, my friend was waiting for me. We found a table and just sat around blowing cow (chatting). I told him that my old big (first born) recently had a birthday party that was hot noise (great fun). Old two (second born) is doing well in school. My old three (third born) is my heart liver treasure (the apple of my eye). Life is good now, but we know that life can be sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy (life has its ups and downs).

I enjoyed my meal. However, my friend was having a case of pulled intestines (crampy diarrhea). So he just sipped a glass of tasty mouth laughable (Coca Cola). I look forward to being with him again."

Pretty cute, huh?
My favorites are 'my old big' and 'tasty mouth laughable'.

John's wife Karen adds,

"We will host Thanksgiving at our house this week. Two other families will join us. We have ordered a turkey, which has to be imported from Utah, I think. It costs a lot more than what we would pay in the US, but it's worth it. We try to make holidays very special here, as that is often when we are most homesick."

A turkey all the way from Utah. Wow!

If you are so inclined, remember John and Karen (Janet's college friends) as they help out in China...a world away...especially at Thanksgiving.

***Update***
John and his small friends in China.




Encourage one another,
Donna

What a life!





I can't wait until Emma gets to the end of Jane Eyre!!!

One of the best things about homeschooling Emma is that I get to choose the Great Books I want her to read and she gladly reads them.

She started reading The Confessions by St. Augustine this week for history.

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that God blessed me with such a wonderful student!

Giving thanks,
Donna

Which would you make?

I am trying to decide which desserts to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. We will be dining with Patrick's whole family.

Of course, I will bring a few pumpkin pies and whip cream.

In the past I would make a graham cracker cake. This is my Grandmother's recipe and our family had it every Thanksgiving. My immediate family is not really crazy about it and they would all rather eat pumpkin pie.

In the past week I have seen Paula Deen cook two amazing Thanksgiving desserts. Both contained pumpkin. One was called a pumpkin gingerbread trifle and the other was called pumpkin gooey butter cake.

Now...what I want to know...

Is this too much of the same, if I make another pumpkin recipe?

Perhaps making the third pie a cherry or apple pie would offer a little variety.

I also thought I could make the trifle with my grandmothers graham cracker cake instead of the gingerbread.

What do you think? What dessert will you be having for Thanksgiving dinner?

Stuffing

I will also be bringing my stuffing. Stuffing or dressing? We have always called it stuffing.

Shall I make it the exact same way I always have or be daring and add a sleeve of Saltines to it? Have you ever done that?

Decisions, decisions!

Planning away,
Donna

The Love of God

Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Tho stretched from sky to sky.

- 'the lines of a poem which, after a patient’s death, had been found penciled on the wall of his room in an insane asylum.'

I love this beautiful word picture.

Happy Sunday,
Donna

Party Time...Friday night!

Patrick and I went on a little date last night. We went to Dennis and Mary's to play eucher. I tell you, it is really fun to get together with them and play cards! Mary and I laugh and laugh and talk too much to be serious card players...the guys stare at one another and roll their eyes...and try to be patient.

It is just so fun!

Dennis makes a very simple, yummy, treat this time of year.
This treat is made with ring pretzels, M&M's and Hershey Kisses.

Let's call them Pretzel Kisses

Set out the ring pretzels on a parchment covered cookie sheet. (As many as you can fit on a pan) Place a Kiss on each pretzel. Put these in the oven at 275 degrees for 2-3 minutes to melt a little.
When you take them out of the oven, place an M&M on top of each kiss. Pressing down a little.

They're great and different and easy as pie :o)

That's it!

So while we were out...

Emma went to a youth group pizza party at church. They had a bigger and better scavenger hunt. The girls came back with a wedding dress! Isn't that funny for the day we were talking about wedding dresses!

Matthew watched Katie for us and decided to take her to the Sponge Bob movie.
I haven't spoken to Matthew about it yet but Katie tells me that Spongebob was a little funny and the character Patrick was really funny. Katie and Matthew shared a Pepsi and she said she had lots of sips!




So the Boucher's were out on the town last night.
Painting it... our distinct shade of red :o)

Encourage one another!
Donna

Anniversary Friday Five: Part II

Where and how did your husband ask you to marry him?
When is your anniversary?
What was your wedding like?
Tell us about your dress!
Looking back at your wedding, would you do it the same or would you do things differently?





Remember when and share the joy,
Donna

P.S. Why the photo of Jack and Jackie? Just look at that veil. Beautiful.
Perhaps by next week I can get a personal wedding photo internet-ready.

Comedy?

From the host of the Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keilor;

“I am now the chairman of a national campaign to pass a constitutional amendment to take the right to vote away from born-again Christians. Just a little project of mine. My feeling is that born-again people are citizens of heaven, that is where their citizenship is, is in heaven, it’s not here among us in America. …If born-again Christians are allowed to vote in this country, then why not Canadians?”
-found at Semicolon

Well, isn't that funny and mean and right and wrong all at the same time?
It's funny to me because he is right that Christians are citizens of heaven and not the earth. I find it interesting that Keilor understands that. I also find it interesting that the only time I have ever heard this song...

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day;
In every way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play.

Refrain

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.

Jesus wants me to be loving,
And kind to all I see;
Showing how pleasant and happy
His little one can be.


...was when Garrison Keilor sang it on his show.

It's rather dumb that Keilor wants to get rid of us. What a disaster this country would be without the Love of Christ shining through her people.

Sounds like Keilor has decided against being a sunbeam.

Ah well...doesn't make me mad at him...just sad for him.
Do you think he would like us to pray for him? hehehe

Encourage one another :o)
Donna

Love 'em!




This pair of socks is almost too pretty to wear...and stretch out. I like them just the way they are :o)

____________

Christmas Shopping


We went shopping at Target late yesterday afternoon for our Christmas child gifts! What a whirlwind!
Thank you for the dollar amounts you all shared yesterday. It helped me greatly to have a pre-decided cost before we walked in the store.

Katie wanted to buy everything she saw...everything!
Matthew (who would be financing his own box) headed down the sporting goods aisle and came up with some great rubber balls.
Emma thoughtfully and quietly filled her box.

I think we have a new tradition. It's a great way to start off the Christmas season...thinking of others first.

Thanks toLinda for sharing her boxes on her blog last week(Monday Nov. 8th). She encouraged me to get off my bum and just do it! And God Bless Franklin Graham for his vision and hard work.

So, Christmas is really coming...

Does anyone else get the feeling of dread this time of year when they realize how much Christmas shopping needs to be done? The cost of the whole thing freaks me out and the choosing of the right gifts makes my head spin!

Better start making lists.
I'll think about how we will pay for everything...tomorrow.

It'll all work out...it always does...
Donna

Today is the day to get our Samaritan Purse Christmas Boxes together.
Emma's youth group is gathering up their boxes tomorrow night.

The only thing I am not sure about is...how much do you'll spend on the items in the box. I don't want to be cheap but I also don't want to go overboard.

If you have made a Christmas Child box please share with me how much you spend on each box. Thanks.

Katie just told me that we should include Christmas hooks.

Me: Christmas hooks? What are Christmas hooks? Do you mean candy canes?
Katie: No.
Me: Are they red and white?
Katie: No. They are silver.
Me: What do you use them for?
Katie: To hang up on the Christmas tree!
Me: Oh, the little hooks to hang up the ornaments.
Katie: Yes!
Me: Ohhhh...
Katie: Isn't that a thoughtful idea?

Shopping ought to be a funny experience this afternoon!

Katie has a funny way of naming things. Christmas hooks...Candy canes...really not that big of a stretch.

One day she was asking for a cheese log. A cheese log. What on earth?
What she really wanted was string cheese! But it does look like a cheese log :o)



Photo provided for those of you who do not live in the dairy state and are not blessed with things like cheese logs and cheese curds :o) or the Packers!

Have a fun day! Don't forget to let me know how much to spend. Please.
Donna

Most importantly, Amy's (From Good Soil) little boy needs your prayers.

_____________

Could coffee really be good for you?

Eating Well magazine has a great article about coffee this month! Now...I do not drink coffee, but I know most of you all just adore it :o)

"Still, if you're among the estimated 166 million Americans who already enjoy a cup or two of joe every day, the latest findings are one more reason to celebrate the sensory delights of coffee. "The message is getting out that drinking coffee poses no harm for most people," Leviton said. "If it turn out to be doing some good as well, all the better."

Click on 'Special Report' at this link to read the whole article.

I may just have to acquire a taste for this stuff...it sure smells good :o)

____________



This recipe looks delicious!
Many more recipes are available at Eating Well's website.


Chicken Breasts with Roasted Lemons
Eating Well-Fall 2004

Prep time: 10 minutes
Start to finish: 40 minutes

Tangy roasted lemons harmonize beautifully with chicken. They are also delicious chopped and sprinkled over fish.


Roasted lemons
3 medium lemons, preferably organic, scrubbed, thinly sliced and seeded
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons drained capers, rinsed
2 teaspoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided

1. To prepare roasted lemons: Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange lemon slices in a single layer on it. Brush the lemon slices with oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast the lemons until slightly dry and beginning to brown around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, prepare chicken: Cover chicken with plastic wrap and pound with a rolling pin or heavy skillet until flattened to about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish and dredge the chicken to coat both sides; shake off excess (discard remaining flour).

3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add broth and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in capers. Boil until the liquid is reduced to syrup consistency, 5 to 8 minutes, turning the chicken halfway. Add the roasted lemons, butter, 2 tablespoons parsley and more pepper, if desired; simmer until the butter melts and the chicken is cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and serve.

Makes 4 servings.
_________

Encourage one another,
Donna

Prayer

"Why did God command prayer?
Whatever God does, he does for good reasons

Three reasons God commands us to pray corresponds to our three deepest needs, the fundamental needs of the three powers of our soul:prayer gives truth to our mind, goodness to our will, and beauty to our heart. "The true, the good, and the beautiful" are the three things we need and love the most, because they are three attributes of God.

Prayer gives truth to our mind because it puts us in the presence of Truth itself, the divine Mind who designed our minds and our lives and our whole universe.

It gives goodness to our will because it puts us "on line" with God, in love with the God who is love and goodness. That is his essence. In prayer we become like the God we pray to and conform to; we catch the good infection of Godliness by contact.

It gives beauty to our heart because it plunges us into the heart of God, which is the eternal energy of infinite joy. That is why it gives us joy and peace and delight and happiness."

-Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft

I just love that.

Donna

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl.
-J.M. Barrie



artwork by Cicely Mary Barker

____________

Thank you for sharing your stories yesterday. I, for one, loved reading them! Stay tuned for next week's edition of
....the Anniversary Count Down Friday Five!

***Update***




"This is the best day of my whole life!"
-Katie

Katie was invited to a birthday party today. They are going to see The Incredibles. Katie has never been to a movie theater! She is beyond excited!

She has on new knee socks. If she had her way...they would be pulled up over her knees :o) Know anyone who likes to wear their knee socks like this? I do!

Encourage one another,
Donna

The Anniversary Friday Five: Part One

Where did you meet your husband?
What was your first impression of him?
Where was your first date?
Do you have a love song?
Do you have a favorite romantic comedy?



It is a much greater feat to be married for 24 years than to have 24 birthdays. (for me at least) But somehow we do not celebrate our anniversary's with the same enthusiasm that we do birthdays.

Well let's change that.

Let's lift high our marriage vows.
Let's look at our husbands with fresh, appreciative eyes.

Let's celebrate!




Remember when...

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Not married yet?
What are the qualities you are looking for in a husband?

Gee...What a surprise :o)


You are Miss Piggy.
You are talented and the center of attention. At
least you'd like to think you are. You're
really just a pig.

FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS:
"Moi", "Moi" and
"Moi!"
LAST BOOK READ:
"Women Who Run With Frogs And The Frogs Who
Better Wise Up Quick"

FAVORITE MOVIE:
"To Have and Have More"

DRESS SIZE:
If it's expensive, it fits.

BEST FEATURES:
Eyes, eyebrows, eyelashes, nose, cheeks, hair,
ears, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, hands,
fingers, legs, knees, ankles, feet, toes and so
on and so forth.

SPECIAL ABILITIES:
Singing, Dancing, Directing, Producing, Writing,
Starring, and Being Famous.


What Muppet are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

______________


Thinking of Miss Piggy has me remembering the very first Sesame Street album. Janice and Janet were just the right age for the very beginnings of Sesame Street. How we loved that album. I can't seem to find a nice image of the album, but I did find that it was released in 1970 and it won a Grammy!

This is just such a fun song to sing....Everybody!!!

I Love Trash
sung by Oscar the Grouch (Carroll Spinney)
Written by Jeff Moss
1970 Festival Attractions, Inc. (ASCAP)

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I have here a sneaker that's tattered and worn
It's all full of holes and the laces are torn
A gift from my mother the day I was born
I love it because it's trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I have here some newspaper thirteen months old
I wrapped fish inside it; it's smelly and cold
But I wouldn't trade it for a big pot o' gold!
I love it because it's trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I've a clock that won't work
And an old telephone
A broken umbrella, a rusty trombone
And I am delighted to call them my own!
I love them because they're trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love, I love, I love trash!
_______________________________

Other songs on this album that you would remember...

Rubber Duckie.
Being Green.
Somebody come and play.
People in your neighborhood.

The twins had Sesame Street...
Ya know what we older kids listened to?

Peter and the Wolf performed by Leonard Bernstein

Both are wonderful in my opinion!!!

Sing, sing a song,
Donna

Ain't it the truth!





Karen Andreola; on why narration is such a valuable tool;

Narration

"With living books a child gains knowledge through his own work, digging out facts and information. He then expresses what he has learned by clothing it in literary (conversational) language - in short, narrating it back to you.

Miss Mason believed that narration is the best way to acquire knowledge from books. Narration also provides opportunities for a child to form an opinion or make a judgment, no matter how crude. Because narration takes the place of questionnaires and multiple-choice tests, it enables the child to bring all the faculties of his mind into play. The child learns to call on the vocabulary and descriptive power of good writers as he tells his own version of the passage or chapter."

Perhaps you would like to read more about a Charlotte Mason education.

This type of learning will suit little Katie to a tee. She would rather tell me about an activity than do it :o) When she was learning to climb the stairs, she narrated her trip up the stairs!

She is going to be great company for me in my old age :o)
Sure hope she doesn't mind repeating herself.

Encourage one another,
Donna

A good report

I received an email yesterday morning from Lisa sharing great news.

I am a fellow WTM homeschool mom and often read your
blog for inspiration. Anyway, a few days ago I read
about the $10 unclaimed insurance money you got and
for fun checked on the unclaimed assets in my state,
California. Up popped two claims, one for my mil and
one for my sil for $3,000 each-dividends from on old
investment that they never received.

Our state, California, is holding $2.9 billion in
unclaimed assets, of which $200 million was recovered
last year. It is so strange how these companies lose
track or their customers/clients!

I also found 25 shares of stock for my sister and
there is something in Conn. for my grandfather.

Alas, nothing for Lisa...but I hope she gets invited out to lunch for being such a good little detective!

A bad report

My sister Janet writes this morning for urgent prayer. Janet's dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law brought home a baby boy from the hospital last week in hopes of adopting him. It seems the birth father may have changed his mind and has other plans for the baby.

Here is a portion of Janet's letter;

Please pray, Donna. Our hearts are aching, we've already grown to love this precious little boy, can't even begin to understand the pain B and S are going through. They meet tomorrow, both birth parents, B and S and the case worker. Please pray. Pray also that all of us can accept the will of God and be thankful. Love Janet.

I will be praying Janet...and I know our friends all over the world will be joining us.

Praying,
Donna

The Northern lights were flicking down upon us last night. I don't know why they showed up so far South? But they danced about the sky all night.

Do you remember when businesses used searchlights to announce their grand openings? Bright beams of light criss-crossing the sky. Made this little girl long to go and see what the excitement was all about.

Do you remember when used car dealerships strung their lots with thousands of plastic flags. The noise those flags made in the wind is
unforgettable.

Kind of like the sound of playing cards clipped to your bicycle wheel with a clothes pin :o)

And how about the crackly sound made by the speaker at a drive in theater?

Or a skipping record.

I love how certain sights, sounds and smells can take you back in time!
It's shocking how much we forget as we get older. Whole years!

Makes me want to spice things up a little bit around here!

What sense memory was triggered by reading this blog entry? Anything?

Off to spice it up :o)
Donna

Free from Self

"A surrendered mind is not one that is no longer in operation.
It is, rather, a mind freed from rebellion and opposition.
To be Christ's captive is to be perfectly free."

-Elisabeth Elliot

I surrender all

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.


Psalm 86:5-7

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.


Setting Sunday apart,
Donna

One, last, funny, election thingy

I don't know anything about this kid, except that he is pretty clever :o)

What if Dr. Seuss wrote about the election?

A Prayer

Help me to live this day quietly, easily;
To lean upon Thy great strength trustfully,
restfully;
To meet others peacefully, joyously;
To face tomorrow confidently, courageously.

-Author Unknown


Encourage one another,
Donna

Dessert Friday Five


1. What is the best dessert you've ever had?
2. Is there a dessert that just plain grosses you out?
3. Straight out of the container or with lots of toppings .... tell us how you like your ice cream.
4. Cookie dough, brownie mix, cake batter or the finished products?
5. You've just invented a great new dessert .... what's in it and what is it called?


****Update****




yuck, yuck, yuck :o)
Donna

We're rich!

Last month I saw a news story about "Unclaimed Insurance Money in Wisconsin."
The reporter gave a website address.

Oh goody. That's easy enough.

So I logged on and started searching around.
I typed in my name first. Nothing.
I typed in my husbands name. Nothing.
Hummmm....
I typed in my long deceased father-in-law's name. Two.

TWO!

Two unclaimed insurance policies!

WooHoo! We're rich.

So I call Patrick Sr. at work and tell him of our good fortune and ask if I can send away for the information. He asks me to wait until he gets a chance to read the site.

Alright. :o(

Later that evening, (o.k. maybe as soon as he walked in the door)
Patrick reads the website and sends away for our fortune.

A week later(shocking, I know) two letters come in the mail.
Patrick opens them and all he sees is a long list of information the government needs in order to process our request.

I start dreaming away. How much could it be? Of course, we will have to share it with Patrick's brothers and sisters. Maybe now we can get a new bed!!! *rubbing hands together* A vacation would be nice!

Then I pick up the letters to take a peek. In a little box, in the upper right hand corner, is the place where the amounts are revealed. (dear hubby couldn't see this little box without his glasses.)

The first letter revealed a total of $0.00
And the second letter....$10.58.

We all just burst out laughing! This was just too funny and too typical :o)

But ya know what?

We are rich, nonetheless.

Rich in faith and love and health and humor.

I love to laugh, ha, ha, ha, ha, loud and long and clear!
Donna

Denial

denial
refusal to admit the truth or reality.





A few points I'd like to make;

*This is not a close race.
*Ford and Nixon conceded with loses that numbered only in the thousands.
*It is shocking to me how divided our country is...in so many ways.
*The popular vote is very surprising.
*Having to wait in line for 10 hours to vote is torture and very Eastern Block.
*Katie Couric is wearing black on the Today show. She is in mourning. :o)
*Tom Brokaw and his gang win the Integrity in Election Coverage Award.
*Ohio has a very cool marching band!
*A marching band can bring me to tears.

Have you all seen the Ohio marching band? It marches out and makes the letter 'O' and out of the spinning letter 'O' flow the rest of the letters of the word Ohio.

It is really exciting to watch :o)

Would you like to make a prediction?

Do you think Kerry will concede today or do you think he will hang on for days and days?

***Update***John Kerry concedes. Well done, Mr. Kerry.

***12:28 Update***click here for my favorite commentary on the election!

And just for fun...

What is you favorite magazine?

(That one is for all of you who don't want to talk election results ;o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

On with the show, this is it!

Yeah...what he said.

We are very popular here in Wisconsin. I have had phone calls from Bart Starr, John Kerry, Ben Stein, President George W. Bush and Bill Clinton this week.

Funny, none of them left a return phone number.

Hang on, kids, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
-Bette Davis

Fingers crossed,
Donna

Is the waiting getting to you?

Go over to La Shawn Barber's Corner and check out the live election-coverage-blogging.

Providence

I mentioned at the Well Trained Mind board that I had graduated from Hillsdale College.

This morning, I saw that Leslie replied, "I'm impressed...I wish I'd had the vision in high school to shoot for more than the local state U."

Here was my response;

Oh Leslie...if you only knew,

It was a fluke...or providence.
I was at a woman's college and was miserable for my first two years of college. I asked around if anyone knew of a small college that was co-ed. One girl said, Hillsdale is a small school, that is co-ed.

So I visited. Thought it was pretty. And went.

Absolutely. no. vision.

I am more and more impressed with Hillsdale lately.
They have done nothing but improve (in my opinion) since I graduated in 1979.

And by the way. Hillsdale was not very hard to get in to back in the day. I was always an average student.

Ya know...I have one college grad and one son who went to college for a year and is now working...and really as much as I try to instruct and direct...children that age want to make up their own minds and go where they want to go...or not think about it at all.

Perhaps I should be 'programming' Katie (4) now.

Don't be hard on yourself.
You are where you are now, because of where you have been.

Forward :o)
Donna

Hit her over the head with the providence thing :o)

I don't know what Leslie's faith is so I didn't want to be obnoxious about the providence thing. But that is what I believe it was.

Me walking around...like a sleep walker...God turning my shoulders.

It is one of the times when I can see God's definite interference :o)

He uses just about anybody to influence us. Isn't that odd. Not parents and siblings and teachers and Pastors like you would expect. Just plain old acquaintances.

One other time I remember taking directions was in a court house in Wheaton when I was just 18. I was washing my hands speaking to my attorney and I told her I didn't think college was for me. She said, "Stay in college."

So I did.

Don't you find it reassuring that someone is watching over your children...gently guiding them.

I do.

Encourage one another,
Donna