Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Father's Day 2011
Today is Father's Day and for those of you lucky enough to have your fathers with you still, you are truly blessed. A father is a special person, or should be! Some of us have truly been blessed with very unique and loving fathers, and at the same time I realize that some kids are not that fortunate due to many different situations that occur in life.
My father was taken at the age of 55, very suddenly, and without warning. The day we lost my dad was one of the most traumatic days of my life. For a few minutes that seemed like an eternity to me I could not grasp the fact my dad was gone. I refused to believe it, and then the grim reality of it all set in and turned my world upside down. I was always going somewhere with my dad. When we lived in Houston I would make the weekend trips with him to my grandmother' house about 2-1/2 hours away. It just didn't seem right that my dad was gone for I had so many plans. Both my mom and dad have gone on to be with Jesus and I believe with all my heart that they are in Heaven.
Father's day to me is a time to remember the good times we had when growing up because dad died shortly after I had graduated. Dad was a good dad and I know that he and mom struggled financially, although my mom and dad could make a few dollars go farther than anyone I've ever known. You might think money is the answer to everybody's problems but when the day is done, you still have your problems. I know wealthy folks and the fact is they not only worship their money but they are greedy and wouldn't help anyone in need no matter what the circumstances. There was so much love in our home that I never thought of us as being poor because to me we were as rich as any man who ever walked the face of the earth.
We were taught the Bible and were in Church every time the doors were open. Back then that was a little irritating but I am so grateful and proud that my parents cared enough about us kids to bring us up properly by taking us to Church and to see that we knew God.
Daddy was a tall man and thin in stature and he had a heart of gold. I can honestly say that I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He was a quiet man, loved hunting and fishing and loved his family. I know that dad would let my grandfather borrow money from him, even when he only had a few dollars left in his pocket. Grandpa would never pay him back but I understand that he never complained about it and never asked Grandpa to repay him. That is love and sacrifice! I don't ever recall seeing my dad angry at anyone or anything. He was friends with everyone he met. Skin color made no difference and back in those days that was a beautiful trait for anyone to possess. We were taught that no matter what your skin color you were still a special child of God. My dad would have given you the shirt off his back if you were in need of clothes. He was that generous.
Dad, you are gone from this earth but you will always be remembered because you were my best friend. You taught me so much and I feel your presence in the soft winds that blow, the flowers that bloom, the loving kindnesses of those around me, and I see your face in your children and grandchildren. I hope that I can make a difference in this world just as you, my dad, did.
Dad, you are loved so much and you left me with such beautiful and wonderful childhood memories but you left way too soon. Your love was unconditional and I am so proud to have had you for a dad; noone else could have filled your shoes. You were special, and thank you for always being there for me. Peace and love until we meet again! You are my hero!!!!
Your loving daugher!
My father was taken at the age of 55, very suddenly, and without warning. The day we lost my dad was one of the most traumatic days of my life. For a few minutes that seemed like an eternity to me I could not grasp the fact my dad was gone. I refused to believe it, and then the grim reality of it all set in and turned my world upside down. I was always going somewhere with my dad. When we lived in Houston I would make the weekend trips with him to my grandmother' house about 2-1/2 hours away. It just didn't seem right that my dad was gone for I had so many plans. Both my mom and dad have gone on to be with Jesus and I believe with all my heart that they are in Heaven.
Father's day to me is a time to remember the good times we had when growing up because dad died shortly after I had graduated. Dad was a good dad and I know that he and mom struggled financially, although my mom and dad could make a few dollars go farther than anyone I've ever known. You might think money is the answer to everybody's problems but when the day is done, you still have your problems. I know wealthy folks and the fact is they not only worship their money but they are greedy and wouldn't help anyone in need no matter what the circumstances. There was so much love in our home that I never thought of us as being poor because to me we were as rich as any man who ever walked the face of the earth.
We were taught the Bible and were in Church every time the doors were open. Back then that was a little irritating but I am so grateful and proud that my parents cared enough about us kids to bring us up properly by taking us to Church and to see that we knew God.
Daddy was a tall man and thin in stature and he had a heart of gold. I can honestly say that I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He was a quiet man, loved hunting and fishing and loved his family. I know that dad would let my grandfather borrow money from him, even when he only had a few dollars left in his pocket. Grandpa would never pay him back but I understand that he never complained about it and never asked Grandpa to repay him. That is love and sacrifice! I don't ever recall seeing my dad angry at anyone or anything. He was friends with everyone he met. Skin color made no difference and back in those days that was a beautiful trait for anyone to possess. We were taught that no matter what your skin color you were still a special child of God. My dad would have given you the shirt off his back if you were in need of clothes. He was that generous.
Dad, you are gone from this earth but you will always be remembered because you were my best friend. You taught me so much and I feel your presence in the soft winds that blow, the flowers that bloom, the loving kindnesses of those around me, and I see your face in your children and grandchildren. I hope that I can make a difference in this world just as you, my dad, did.
Dad, you are loved so much and you left me with such beautiful and wonderful childhood memories but you left way too soon. Your love was unconditional and I am so proud to have had you for a dad; noone else could have filled your shoes. You were special, and thank you for always being there for me. Peace and love until we meet again! You are my hero!!!!
Your loving daugher!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Verbal Abuse
Christmas is behind us and a new year has begun. I sincerely hope everyone had a very special Christmas. Holidays are a great time to spend with family and friends. The topic I want to spend some time on today is "Verbal Abuse".
The picture I'm going to paint is not a pretty one. Verbal abuse is one of the most difficult things one will ever have to deal with. It cuts through your heart, right down to the core and kills your very soul. Anyone who has ever been in a verbally abusive situation can relate to the feelings of helplessness that lies within the heart of one who is being verbally abused. Everything is always "your fault", never the "abuser's fault", that is, according to the abuser's way of looking at it. They will turn everything around that you say, so much so that the entire meaning of what you said has been lost and now the abuser has a new meaning for your spoken words.
One can sit on the sidelines and never know what is taking place behind closed doors in an abusive marriage. Usually, the verbally abused will keep hoping that the situation will change, somehow the abuser will stop the abuse, but it doesn't happen, not in a million years. If you are married to an abuser, chances are you are trapped, unless you make up your mind to get out of the situation. Run, don't walk.
There were probably subtle hints of verbal abuse before the marriage vows, but you're so in love that you tend to overlook the warning signals. With those subtle hints that you refuse to call abuse, you tend to accept the occasional apologies, the outbursts of anger, the name-calling, the words than can never be forgotten or taken back. You tend to overlook those little warning signs and perhaps chalk it up to stress, undue duress, something going wrong at work, etc. Strange thing is with my experience, and I'm speaking solely from what I know to be true in a specific situation, is that I can promise you that the abuser will only get worse in their abusive nature with time. Once an abuser, always an abuser. Beware of anyone who displays even a slight hint of verbally abusive traits in a relationship. The verbal abuser will send you into a pit that encompasses your very soul, where it is difficult to find your way to true peace and contentment.
I actually believe that most verbal abusers grew up with verbal abuse in the home, therefore it was instilled in them all thru their childhood, and they grew up believing it is o.k. to talk down to a spouse, call them names, make them feel like nothing.
So that's my take on verbal abuse. May all your days be happy ones!
The picture I'm going to paint is not a pretty one. Verbal abuse is one of the most difficult things one will ever have to deal with. It cuts through your heart, right down to the core and kills your very soul. Anyone who has ever been in a verbally abusive situation can relate to the feelings of helplessness that lies within the heart of one who is being verbally abused. Everything is always "your fault", never the "abuser's fault", that is, according to the abuser's way of looking at it. They will turn everything around that you say, so much so that the entire meaning of what you said has been lost and now the abuser has a new meaning for your spoken words.
One can sit on the sidelines and never know what is taking place behind closed doors in an abusive marriage. Usually, the verbally abused will keep hoping that the situation will change, somehow the abuser will stop the abuse, but it doesn't happen, not in a million years. If you are married to an abuser, chances are you are trapped, unless you make up your mind to get out of the situation. Run, don't walk.
There were probably subtle hints of verbal abuse before the marriage vows, but you're so in love that you tend to overlook the warning signals. With those subtle hints that you refuse to call abuse, you tend to accept the occasional apologies, the outbursts of anger, the name-calling, the words than can never be forgotten or taken back. You tend to overlook those little warning signs and perhaps chalk it up to stress, undue duress, something going wrong at work, etc. Strange thing is with my experience, and I'm speaking solely from what I know to be true in a specific situation, is that I can promise you that the abuser will only get worse in their abusive nature with time. Once an abuser, always an abuser. Beware of anyone who displays even a slight hint of verbally abusive traits in a relationship. The verbal abuser will send you into a pit that encompasses your very soul, where it is difficult to find your way to true peace and contentment.
I actually believe that most verbal abusers grew up with verbal abuse in the home, therefore it was instilled in them all thru their childhood, and they grew up believing it is o.k. to talk down to a spouse, call them names, make them feel like nothing.
So that's my take on verbal abuse. May all your days be happy ones!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thanksgiving Behind Us
It's been awhile since I blogged, basically due to a lack of time and helping out with members of our family. Things have definitely been busy during the past year, Thanksgiving is behind once again and Christmas is just around the corner. I had a heart procedure done the first of November so for Thanksgiving we didn't go to extremes with our decorating. We had a nice traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the family home for the holidays. I am grateful that I could prepare dinner with the help of my daughter.
This year I've decided to decorate with the Manger scene, Wise Men and all. Oh how I love Christmas! We have done a little more extensive decorating this year than usual. I'm not sure why, but with all the troubles in the U.S. I feel we need to get back to the basics of living and celebrating the birth of Jesus. After all, that is what Christmas is all about, at least in our family.
Too many times we get caught up in buying presents that we forget the true meaning of Christmas. I was informed this week by an 11-year-old that there is no Santa Claus. I immediately stated this "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, just as long as you believe it in your heart!" I recall Christmases past of decorating a simple cedar tree that we would all go out in the woods and find, chop it down and put it up just in time for Christmas Eve. We begged Mom to put a tree up earlier than Christmas Eve every year, but no amount of pleading would persuade her to put up a tree until the moment she thought was the proper time to put one up.
Back then, it was simple to decorate a tree. We didn't have much money so we made little rings of construction paper and pasted them together to form a chain of many colors for our tree. We always had icicles and garland to adorn our tree, and sometimes we would have candy canes. I always thought those were the prettiest decorated trees I had ever seen, and still hold those memories dear to my heart. Mom had a single strand of lights that were shaped like candles. The lights gave the appearance of lit candles, forever flickering with hope of Christmas blessings. We kids each received one small gift which was something we really wanted and a bag with fruit, nuts and candy. The candy was "ribbon candy". One year I received a rubber doll for Christmas and still had that doll when I grew up.
I now look at all the many presents that parents present their children with and wonder how a parent ever expects a child to understand the true meaning of Christmas with all those many toys to choose from. I look beyond the mere opening of presents and think how difficult it might be for children when they grow up and try to be able to afford so many gifts for their own children. I always saw to it that my children had what they needed but never took it to extremes.
I leave you with this thought (not sure who this quote is from):
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain".
This year I've decided to decorate with the Manger scene, Wise Men and all. Oh how I love Christmas! We have done a little more extensive decorating this year than usual. I'm not sure why, but with all the troubles in the U.S. I feel we need to get back to the basics of living and celebrating the birth of Jesus. After all, that is what Christmas is all about, at least in our family.
Too many times we get caught up in buying presents that we forget the true meaning of Christmas. I was informed this week by an 11-year-old that there is no Santa Claus. I immediately stated this "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, just as long as you believe it in your heart!" I recall Christmases past of decorating a simple cedar tree that we would all go out in the woods and find, chop it down and put it up just in time for Christmas Eve. We begged Mom to put a tree up earlier than Christmas Eve every year, but no amount of pleading would persuade her to put up a tree until the moment she thought was the proper time to put one up.
Back then, it was simple to decorate a tree. We didn't have much money so we made little rings of construction paper and pasted them together to form a chain of many colors for our tree. We always had icicles and garland to adorn our tree, and sometimes we would have candy canes. I always thought those were the prettiest decorated trees I had ever seen, and still hold those memories dear to my heart. Mom had a single strand of lights that were shaped like candles. The lights gave the appearance of lit candles, forever flickering with hope of Christmas blessings. We kids each received one small gift which was something we really wanted and a bag with fruit, nuts and candy. The candy was "ribbon candy". One year I received a rubber doll for Christmas and still had that doll when I grew up.
I now look at all the many presents that parents present their children with and wonder how a parent ever expects a child to understand the true meaning of Christmas with all those many toys to choose from. I look beyond the mere opening of presents and think how difficult it might be for children when they grow up and try to be able to afford so many gifts for their own children. I always saw to it that my children had what they needed but never took it to extremes.
I leave you with this thought (not sure who this quote is from):
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain".
Thursday, August 26, 2010
FDA Recalls
I am amazed and perplexed at what is going on with our government today. We, beyond a shadow of a doubt, have an administration that sits in Washington, jets all over the country, vacations continuously, all on taxpayer dollars and yet the FDA cannot see that our food is free of poisons. What is going on? I get the FDA reports daily, and I can tell you that it is a disgrace to America that we have such insufficiencies in this country, especially in the foods that we consume. Who is overseeing the way our foods are processed and distributed???? Anyone, I need an answer. There are continuous recalls on anything from foods to medicines, medical supplies, toys, etc. You name it, you'll probably find it included. Someone needs to be put in charge of overseeing the FDA who will make it a priority to enforce safety rules and regulations!
We have had more than a half-billion eggs recalled because of Salmonella outbreaks in the last few weeks. Did you know that there are low-cost vaccines available that could help prevent the kind of salmonella outbreaks that recently led to this recall. These vaccines have not been given to nearly half of the nation's hens that lay eggs. Believe it or not, these vaccines are not required in the U.S. Unbelievable!!!! We're not a third-world country, but it appears we are headed there like a snowball headed for hell.
I understand, according to British officials, that these vaccines are responsible for the country having the safest egg supply in Europe. According to a survey conducted by Europe's food safety agency, only one percent of British flocks had salmonella compared to 60 to 70% of flocks elsewhere in Europe.
To my knowledge there are no plans to push for mandatory vaccination requirements in the U.S. (probably because it might hurt someone's feelings, you know we are such a politically correct country today that we forego necessary precautions in the food industry and elsewhere). The salmonella vaccine prevents chickens from becoming infected with this particular strain of salmonella and, therefore, prevents the eggs from being infected.
I understand that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said last month that it doesn't believe mandatory vaccination is necessary, but it doesn't have a problem with farmers voluntarily vaccinating their "hens". So, for now, the decision to vaccinate is solely left up to the individual farmers....I don't believe most will go to the added expense.
Leave it to the good old government to mess up whatever it takes over. Saw it.....right off.
I leave you with a quote from John F. Kennedy:
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
We have had more than a half-billion eggs recalled because of Salmonella outbreaks in the last few weeks. Did you know that there are low-cost vaccines available that could help prevent the kind of salmonella outbreaks that recently led to this recall. These vaccines have not been given to nearly half of the nation's hens that lay eggs. Believe it or not, these vaccines are not required in the U.S. Unbelievable!!!! We're not a third-world country, but it appears we are headed there like a snowball headed for hell.
I understand, according to British officials, that these vaccines are responsible for the country having the safest egg supply in Europe. According to a survey conducted by Europe's food safety agency, only one percent of British flocks had salmonella compared to 60 to 70% of flocks elsewhere in Europe.
To my knowledge there are no plans to push for mandatory vaccination requirements in the U.S. (probably because it might hurt someone's feelings, you know we are such a politically correct country today that we forego necessary precautions in the food industry and elsewhere). The salmonella vaccine prevents chickens from becoming infected with this particular strain of salmonella and, therefore, prevents the eggs from being infected.
I understand that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said last month that it doesn't believe mandatory vaccination is necessary, but it doesn't have a problem with farmers voluntarily vaccinating their "hens". So, for now, the decision to vaccinate is solely left up to the individual farmers....I don't believe most will go to the added expense.
Leave it to the good old government to mess up whatever it takes over. Saw it.....right off.
I leave you with a quote from John F. Kennedy:
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
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