Tuesday, September 28, 2010

rings

My wedding ring is too tight on hot days. So, I have a spare...a looser one I bought at Walmart to wear when the other one is too tight. I juggle them from finger to finger depending on the time of day and size of my fingers.

If I am not careful, my ring will slip off cold fingers and I won't have missed it, as what happened one day doing laundry. Thankfully, the ring got stuck in the washer rubber seal.

Today's adventure found me in the bathroom trying to be good by putting my rings on my fancy cut glass ring holder while I washed my hands. But, being the clumbsy bumpkin that I am, I accidentally bumped the holder next to the sink knocking it into the sink. The bathroom sink is like an inverted shell, so I watched with horror as the rings on their holder slid from side to side like a ride at Six Flags. Thankfully, the rings stayed on their pointy stem. And the holder did not break. And when I caught them, they did not fall into the drain. Yikes. That was a close one.

Soon I will write the book: Wearing Rings for Dummies

I have been known to go days without them. Or perch them precariously on the window sill where my husband has pointed out they might get stolen. And have you seen the price of gold these days? Hit a new high of over 1300 an ounce.

my efforts to embed are lacking

http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/09/eye_candy_but_f.html

This CBS 60 Minutes video of what it is like on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan is very enlightening. To hear the anguish in this captain's voice when he calls himself a failure for losing men speaks volumes about our brave American soldiers. One of his men have received eight purple hearts. In trying to help a villiage, you wonder if it was an ambush all along? And when American forces leave in a year, won't those terrorists continue to stream across the border and overrun Afghanistan?? Only by boming the shit out of the camps of "safe haven" in Pakistan will this war end. And our president does not have the will nor desire to do that.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Cool Weekend

My husband has some extra days of vacation to use, so he took off Friday to get a head start on his Sunday School lesson, and relax here at home.

This delicious cool front came thorough, and we actually slept with the windows open starting Saturday night. And we sat around like lazy slugs Sunday afternoon marveling at all the sounds through the open windows: Ice cream (music) truck, birdies singing, dogs barking, airplanes...

I cooked a roast in the oven on Saturday. We ate on it for lunch and an early supper. During the summer, I hate to run the oven and the AC because I feel like they fight each other. Bob got the yard mowed on Friday before it rained, and there was a cool patchy fog on Sunday morning. The possom trap stayed empty all weekend, so we have either finally caught them all, or Bob says, the possom have gotten smarter. One cat learned the hard way, but Bob released it quickly, and I am sure that cat will never be trapped again. Cats are smart that way.

It truly is autumn when the sunlight starts creeping onto the window sill and inside walls. And we may need to use the AC again during the day the rest of the week, but at night we should be able to open up.

I bet I have watched the granddaughter in her Saturday dance class on facebook a dozen times. The teacher reminds me of a mother duck with her little dancer ducklings. Our granddaughter knows which music is coming next, and is first to anticipate the next dance moves. So cute.

Our middle married son became a great uncle last week. Beautiful pictures of the great niece on facebook.

Our firstborn's wife is due any minute. And Bob's great nephew's wife is also due within days. Both dear ones are nesting---cleaning big time. So, when I could not stand the carpet a minute longer and pulled out the vacuum, Bob asked if I was nesting?? Ha. We did re-arrange the chairs and tables a bit as I was tired of looking around the kleenex box to listen to Bob. Putting end tables on the other side of the recliners allows us to hold hands! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Seems like we only hold hands at church anymore. We can both see the front door better now, too.

And we watched a little baseball---which is unusual for us. The first seven innings of one game, and the last three of the next where the Rangers won a slot in the playoffs. We are late to this party--I don't even know all the players. And we watched the Cowboys win their first game. And found a cute British comedy, "Doc Martin".

Woke up Sunday morning thinking about James. I wonder when the last time he danced? And this spacing of the camps and travel outside is worrysome. I am afraid to say more. Seems the more we learn, the more questions we have, and the more we can pray more surgically.

We trust God is getting James ready for something. And we are so thankful he is able to use these new modern technologies to communicate with his dear wife. Technologies that the couples just ten years ago did not have.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Post Office Rant. Again.

Our post office sure does not make things easy. The lady in front of me had done all the work of printing out a label. All she needed was a piece of tape. They refused.

I was next. Our post office does not even bother to open until 9am, so I had bought my stamps in the machine to save time. I pulled the box out, and the customs form all filled out. I said it was going to Afghanistan. This is my twelveth box...but the clerk had to correct me. "Is it an APO?" She asked. Yes. Well, she said, it is not going to Afghanistan. Postage would be much higher going straight to Afghanistan. Good grief. Oh, and my twenty was no good. She had NO change. So, I had to use my credit card. And we wonder why the post office is failing big time?? Nice doing business with you. Not.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Sharia for Dummies

1- Jihad, defined as “to war against non-Muslims to establish the religion,” is the duty of every Muslim and Muslim head of state (Caliph). Muslim Caliphs who refuse jihad are in violation of Sharia and unfit to rule.
2- A Caliph can hold office through seizure of power meaning through force.
3- A Caliph is exempt from being charged with serious crimes such as murder, adultery, robbery, theft, drinking and in some cases of rape.
4- A percentage of Zakat (charity money) must go towards jihad.
5- It is obligatory to obey the commands of the Caliph, even if he is unjust.
6- A caliph must be a Muslim, a non-slave and a male.
7- The Muslim public must remove the Caliph if he rejects Islam.
8- A Muslim who leaves Islam must be killed immediately.
9- A Muslim will be forgiven for murder of: 1) an apostate 2) an adulterer 3) a highway robber. Vigilante street justice and honor killing is acceptable.
10- A Muslim will not get the death penalty if he kills a non-Muslim, but will get it for killing a Muslim.
11- Sharia never abolished slavery, sexual slavery and highly regulates it. A master will not be punished for killing his slave.
12- Sharia dictates death by stoning, beheading, amputation of limbs, flogging even for crimes of sin such as adultery.
13- Non-Muslims are not equal to Muslims under the law. They must comply to Islamic law if they are to remain safe. They are forbidden to marry Muslim women, publicly display wine or pork, recite their scriptures or openly celebrate their religious holidays or funerals. They are forbidden from building new churches or building them higher than mosques. They may not enter a mosque without permission. A non-Muslim is no longer protected if he leads a Muslim away from Islam.
14- It is a crime for a non-Muslim to sell weapons to someone who will use them against Muslims. Non-Muslims cannot curse a Muslim, say anything derogatory about Allah, the Prophet, or Islam, or expose the weak points of Muslims. But Muslims can curse non-Muslims.
15- A non-Muslim cannot inherit from a Muslim.
16- Banks must be Sharia compliant and interest is not allowed.
17- No testimony in court is acceptable from people of low-level jobs, such as street sweepers or bathhouse attendants. Women in low level jobs such as professional funeral mourners cannot keep custody of their children in case of divorce.
18- A non-Muslim cannot rule — even over a non-Muslim minority.

19- Homosexuality is punishable by death.
20- There is no age limit for marriage of girls. The marriage contract can take place anytime after birth and can be consummated at age 8 or 9.
21- Rebelliousness on the part of the wife nullifies the husband’s obligation to support her, gives him permission to beat her and keep her from leaving the home.
22- Divorce is only in the hands of the husband and is as easy as saying: “I divorce you” and becomes effective even if the husband did not intend it.
23- There is no community property between husband and wife and the husband’s property does not automatically go to the wife after his death.
24- A woman inherits half what a man inherits.
25- A man has the right to have up to 4 wives and none of them have a right to divorce him — even if he is polygamous.
26- The dowry is given in exchange for the woman’s sexual organs.
27- A man is allowed to have sex with slave women and women captured in battle, and if the enslaved woman is married her marriage is annulled.
28- The testimony of a woman in court is half the value of a man.
29- A woman loses custody if she remarries.
30- To prove rape, a woman must have 4 male witnesses.
31- A rapist may only be required to pay the bride-money (dowry) without marrying the rape victim.
32- A Muslim woman must cover every inch of her body, which is considered “Awrah,” a sexual organ. Not all Sharia schools allow the face of a woman exposed.
33- A Muslim man is forgiven if he kills his wife at the time he caught her in the act of adultery. However, the opposite is not true for women, since the man “could be married to the woman he was caught with.”
34-It is obligatory for a Muslim to lie if the purpose is obligatory. That means that for the sake of abiding with Islam’s commandments, such as jihad, a Muslim is obliged to lie and should not have any feelings of guilt or shame associated with this kind of lying.
The above are clear-cut laws in Islam decided by great Imams after years of examination and interpretation of the Quran, Hadith and Mohammed’s life. Now let the learned Imam Rauf tell us: What part of the above is compliant with the U.S. Constitution?

remember number 34 when you hear the ground zero mosque imam tell you it will be a multicultural center

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Golden Hour

3:45 pm Central Time

One son in college class.

One son sleeping half way around the world.

One son home for lunch in his time zone getting a hug from his daughter.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

We need You, Lord: Your Call

Our soldiers are fighting and dying for your right to burn the flag or koran or Bible. But, is it smart?

It is hard for us to wrap our minds around destroying something sacred, because while we see the Bible as God's Word to us, it is still a book, and not to be worshipped. We are to worship God with all our heart, soul and mind. I agree with Sarah Palin, book burning is usually a negative message. And if/when the government starts telling pastors what they can and cannot say and do, we have a big problem.


Dear Heavenly Father,
Is it time to ignite a war with the muslims?
This pastor in Florida says he is praying for direction. Please make it clear to him whether he should burn the 200 korans people have sent him or not.
On the one hand, we cannot expect muslims to know peace, love, justice because they are in darkness. But, on the other hand, we need to find a way to shut down sharia law in our country, and make the muslims respect other nations, and treat their women and children with respect.
Does what this pastor in Florida is planning to do further the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What would Jesus do? Did Jesus ever order the burning of sorcery books? Did Jesus ever motivate some soldiers to go clean up the Holy Land and stop the murders there during the Crusades? Liberals want to re-write history and say the Crusades were bad. People were being murdered in the Holy Land. Why is it wrong to stop murder?
Your Will Be Done. You control the weather. You control history, and we long for the day You set all things right, and establish Your peaceful rule of the nations for one thousand years. You are also the God of Elijah. Elijah did not throw the false priests books on the alters, but the false priests were executed. How would You have us stand against sharia law and the muslims? Only You, Lord, can bring a spiritual solution to this clash of world views. Please protect our soldiers as they try to bring order to Iraq, and Afghanistan. And wherever our soldiers are stationed around the world, please protect them, and make them successful in bringing peace so that Your Gospel can be shared. If a dark place will not allow the Gospel, then please bring our soldiers home from that dark place, and give them a clear mission where they can do Your Good.
Your Way means nations respecting nations. Thank You for blessing our nation with the resources available to help the poor, the sick, the widow and the orphan. Please help us stand against those who abuse women, and enslave their people. We need You Lord, to open the eyes of the teachers in our country to teach our children patriotism, respect for the Constitution, respect and love of Biblical principles, and most of all, we need You Lord, to soften and open the hearts and minds all over the world to accept Your Son as Savior, Lord, King of kings, who died for the sins of the entire world.
In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

His Birthday Begins


I sent him cards. And he is hoping for a down day doing whatever he wants to do. Thankfully, his birthday falls on a Friday over there. deployed.

The Happy Birthdays are beginning to appear on his facebook page. He is all excited about homeschooling, and preparing for his son due in January.

He has a beautiful wife.

And we sure do miss him.

Twenty-four. Born on my Mother's (his Grandmother's) 50th.

Our miracle baby.

The picture is of Baby James holding his newborn baby brother, Baby Ben. And those are my Mother's hands---holding them for the quick picture, as they sit in my lap. Capturing a moment in time, long, long ago.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

what I did without internet for 20 hours

August 31, 20101
I'm stuck. No internet. Truck down the street probably unhooked it.
(the trucks left at 5pm, and we were still down. No dial tone, no dsl line. Bob called the phone company and they said we could have an appointment Saturday---and are we sure it was them? Seriously. I was talking on the phone to my neighbor on Dogwood when we got cut off.)

I'm tired. Tired of sweating. August is done now. Can't wait for the cold fronts. Can't wait until we can open the windows. I'll need to vacuum out the dusty space between screen and sill.


Since I had no internet, I drove over to the post office to mail Meredith's birthday card. The Wolf country radio station was playing The Thunder Rolls...and it made me cry. James' song when he was a little guy. He would sing it at the top of his lungs.

I had been listening to Glenn Beck's videos and decided to do some studying:

With firm reliance on DIVINE PROVIDENCE...

Why does God begin the Jewish day with sundown? Why does God start the day with darkness? Why does God start creation with darkness?
September 1, 2010 Wednesday
And the themes of wood: Isaac carrying the wood to the altar where God has asked Abraham to offer up his son. The wooden staff of Moses. The wooden ark. The wooden cross.
1st mention of wood/trees---Garden of Eden
Noah's wood? the ark
And approximately how many died in the flood? We are not told, but given the clues, and the fact that each generation was living almost a thousand years, the ten generations could have been as few as a hundred or a few thousand, or as many as four million?
Adam and Eve had three named, and "other sons and daughters". One murdered without a wife and kids. They seemed to wait until they were over one hundred to mate, and Cain's relatives boast of two wives. Not counting the nephilim nor their offspring "heroes" half men, half angel---guessing that a woman of childbearing age could give birth to ten or twenty in her lifetime...by that tenth generation, there could have been millions.
Yet, Noah waits until age 500 to sire three sons: Shem, Ham and Japeth. And they assist him building the ark, and eight humans are saved, but the Bible does not say if Noah had any more. Everyone alive today is descended from those six---Shem, Ham and Japeth and their wives. And those were only ten generations from Adam and Eve.
And they collected enough food for over a year for themselves and all the animals. Shem's son, the line of Christ, was probably conceived on the ark. Inside the wooden ark.
By the time of Abraham, there are cities of people, as Abraham was called out of Ur. Ten generations between Noah and Abraham. And by 100 years of age, Abraham is too old to have children. God performs a miracle to restore Abraham and Sarah.
Next tree/wood mention: Oaks of Mamre---Genesis 18, where the Lord appeared to Abraham. It does not say, but I am assuming the tent poles were made of wood?
Genesis 22 wood for the burnt offering. Abraham splits it, and has Isaac carry it. God provides a ram caught in a thicket (thorns) at the last minute, but Abraham was willing to kill plus burn his uniquely born son, because God promised that it would be through Isaac that he would become the father of many nations---and the whole world blessed, so Abraham was confident that God would resurrect Isaac.
Next wood mention: Jacob in Genesis 30:37 Jacob took fresh rods of poplar, almond and plane trees and peeled the bark, and bred spotted goats and sheep. Built his own herd.
Genesis 38 Tamar takes Judah's staff, cords, and signet ring in pledge.
Exodus 3 burning bush
Exodus 4 Moses' calls it the "staff of God" as God had demonstrated the miracles He would perform with it...turning the staff into a serpent.
1. Moses is told to throw your staff down, and it will become a serpent and it swallows up all the Pharoah's magicians and sorcerers' snakes.
2. strike the water of the Nile with staff, and God turns the water to blood and all the fish die.
3. God tells Moses to stretch the staff over the waters, and frogs appear
4. strike the dust: gnats
plagues 5 and 6 are staffless. cattle die, and soot thrown for boils
7. stretch out hand with staff to the sky and fiery hail pounds crops
8. with hand and staff: locusts
9. hand toward sky and three days of thick darkness
10. eat Passover Lamb with staff in your hand.
Exodus 15:25 God shows Moses a tree, and tells him to throw it into the water to make the water sweet. ...none of the diseases... Egyptians
Exodus 25 acadia wood is to be used to make the ark of the covenant, overlaid with gold. wood plus gold speaks of Jesus being the God-man.