Better Holler and Gardens

THE FINAL INSPECTION - inspirational poem for fallen veteran

2007-09-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

THE FINAL INSPECTION

author unknown

The young Marine stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Marine,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the Marine waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, young Marine,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

OLD BRUSH ARBORS LYRICS

2007-01-02T20:04:00.000-06:00

OLD BRUSH ARBORS
(c) D. Edwards / G.Ardis
Brush Arbor sung byGeorge Jones

Old Brush Arbors by the of the road
I remember them so clearly mom
and dad loved them so dearly
Old brush arbors by the side of the road

Where I learned about salvation
from the book of revelations
In an arbor by the side of the road

Old brush arbors by the side of the road
Where the mighty light of God's great mercy flowed
There was prayin' shoutin' singin'
till the country side was ringin'
Brush arbors by the side of the road

Old brush arbors by the side of the road
Where a sinner could lay down his heavy load
It was in those old brush arbors
troubled souls found peaceful harbors
Brush arbors by the side of the road

Many times I have departed
from the way of life I started
In them arbora by the side of the road
But each time the devils' caught me
I remember what they taught me
In brush arbors by the side of the road

Old brush arbors by the side of the road
Where the mighty light of God's great mercy flowed
There was prayin' shoutin' singin'
till the country side was ringin'
Brush arbors by the side of the road

Old brush arbors by the of the road

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I wish someone had told me sooner - inspirational poem

2006-12-02T21:47:00.000-06:00

I wish someone had told me sooner-
by: anonymous

As we grow up,
we learn that even the one person
that wasn't supposed to ever let you down -
probably will.

You will have your heart broken
probably more than once
and it's harder every time.
You'll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast,
and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures,
laugh too much,
and love like you've never been hurt
because every sixty seconds you spend upset
is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Don't be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin...

Better Holler and Gardens

God on the Mountain Lyrics

2006-07-27T11:45:00.000-05:00

'Do or do Not,
there is no Try'
~Yoda

God on the Mountain
~no author listed

Life is easy when your up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known
But then things change and you're down in the valley
Don't lose faith for you're never alone

For the God of the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He'll make them right
And the God of the good time is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain
But the talk comes easy when life's at it's best
But it is down in the valley of trials and temptation
That's when faith is really put to the test

For the God of the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He'll make them right
And the God of the good time is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night

The God of the day is still God in the night

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PERHAPS THE WORLD ENDS HERE POEM BY JOY HARJO

2006-02-03T08:56:00.000-06:00

"There are hundreds of languages in the world,
but a smile speaks them all"

Perhaps the World Ends Here
from The Woman Who Fell From The Sky
(c) Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table.
No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table.
So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it.
Babies teeth at the corners.
They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions
on what it means to be human.
We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip,
recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as
they put their arms around our children.
They laugh with us at our poor falling-down
selves and as we put ourselves back together
once again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain,
an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table.
It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror.
A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table,
and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow.
We pray of suffering and remorse.
We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end here at the kitchen table,
while we are laughing and crying,
eating of the last sweet bite.

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ANGER AND THE FENCE - LIFE LESSONS

2006-01-12T17:59:00.000-06:00

"I believe that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel."

ANGER AND THE FENCE LIFE LESSONS

There once was a little girl who had a bad temper.
Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper,
she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger,
the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
She discovered it was easier to hold her temper
than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the girl didn't lose her temper at all.
She told her mother about it and the mother
suggested that the girl now pull out one nail for each day
that she was able to hold her temper.

The day passed and the young girl was finally
able to tell her mother that all the nails were gone.
The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence.

She said, "You have done well, my daughter,
but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.
When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one."

You can put a knife in a person and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say "I'm sorry",
the wound is still there.
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

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KINDNESS TRIALS AND SORROWS...

2006-01-11T21:35:00.000-06:00

"God did not create hurry"

Kindness
keeps you sweet;

Trials
keep you strong;

Sorrows
keep you human;

Failures
keep you humble,

Success
keeps you glowing;

But
only Humor
keeps you going!

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THERE IS LOVE - THE WEDDING SONG LYRICS

2006-01-06T22:20:00.000-06:00

"Love will find a way"

THERE IS LOVE
Wedding Song -
by:Paul Stookey

He is now to be among you
at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain,
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name,
There is love.
There is love.

Oh, a man shall leave his mother,
and a woman leave her home.
They will travel on to where the two will be as one.
As it was in the beginning,
is now until the end,
woman draws her life from man
and gives it back again
and there is love.
Oh, there's love.

Well then what's to be the reason
for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here
or love that brings you life?
For is loving is the answer
then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something
that you've never seen before?
Oh, there's love.
There is love.

He is now to be among you
at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubador
is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here
has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you
are gathered in His name
there is love.
Oh, there is love.

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I KNOW WhO HOLDS TOMORROW - LYRICS

2006-01-05T10:30:00.000-06:00

"Poetry moves heaven and earth"

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
author: Ira Stanfield.

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
And I don't borrow from the sunshine,
'Cause the skies might turn to gray.

And I don't worry about the future,
'Cause I know what Jesus said;
And today I'm gonna walk right beside Him
'Cause He's the one who know what lies ahead.

There are things about tomorrow
That I don't seem to understand.
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

And each step is getting brighter
As these golden stairs I climb
And every burden is getting lighter
And all the clouds, they're silver lined.

And, Over There, the sun it's always shining.
There no tears, will ever dim the eye.
And at the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

There are things about tomorrow
That I don't seem to understand,
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.
Yes, I know Who holds my hand.

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CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD - LYRICS

2006-01-04T22:46:00.000-06:00

"If not today--when?"

CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD

There's a church in the valley by the wildwood,
No lovelier spot in the dale;
No place is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the dale,
No spot is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

How sweet on a clear, Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh, come to the church in the vale.

Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the dale,
No spot is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

There, close by the church in the valley,
Lies one that I loved so well;
She sleeps, sweetly sleeps, 'neath the willow,
Disturb not her rest in the vale.

Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the dale,
No spot is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

There, close by the side of that loved one,
To the trees where the wild flowers bloom,
When the farewell hymn shall be chanted
I shall rest by her side in the tomb.

Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the dale,
No spot is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

From the church in the valley by the wildwood,
When day fades away into night,
I would fain from this spot of my childhood
Wing my way to the mansions of light.

Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the dale,
No spot is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

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PRECIOUS MEMORIES - LYRICS

2006-01-03T10:39:00.000-06:00

"Take care of the minutes
and the hours will take care of themselves. "

Precious Memories
by J. B. F. Wright

Precious mem'ries, unseen angels
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.

Precious mem'ries, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul,
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

Precious father, loving mother,
Fly across the lonely years;
And old home scenes of my childhood,
In fond memory appears.

Precious mem'ries, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul,
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

As I travel on life's pathway,
Know not what the years may hold;
As I ponder, hope grows fonder,
Precious mem'ries flood my soul.

Precious mem'ries, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul,
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

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WISHES - SWEET FRIENDSHIP POEM

2006-01-02T23:46:00.000-06:00

"The best portion of a good man's life is his little,
nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love."
~William Wadsworth

WISHES

From the garden of my heart,
I send a rose bouquet.
I hope that as your life unravels,
there shall be flowers all along your way.

From the well of heartfelt emotion,
which lies bottomless inside,
I send a sea of Love,
very vast, and very wide.

From the canyons of my being
I wish for you a balmy breeze
to lift your spirits high,
and that you shall soar on eagles' wings,
as a multicolored balloon,
which drifts up into the sky.

From the spring of everlasting thoughts,
which flow constantly through my soul,
I wish you Faith, to conquer battles,
which rage out of your control.

From the happy chambers of my spirit,
I send forth to you, my smile.
And, I pray that you shall carry it with you
as you travel each and every mile.

I wish for you, beautiful and lingering sunsets,
to make your day complete
and I lift you up in all my prayers,
until the next time we shall meet.

~author unknown

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HAPPY NEW YEAR WISHES

2006-01-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Follow your dreams"

~~ May You have a Wonderful and Blessed New Year ~~

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MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE - FRIENDSHIP POEM

2005-12-30T23:06:00.000-06:00

"We are needed by each one; nothing is fair or good alone."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

May you always have...

May you always have an angel by your side
Watching out for you in all the things you do
Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days
Finding ways for your wishes and dreams
To take you to beautiful places

Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun
Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide
May you always have love and comfort and courage
And may you always have an angel by your side

May you always have an angel by your side
Someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
Inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all

In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel,
May the miles be a thousand times more lovely than lonely,
May they give you the kind of gifts that never, ever end:

Someone wonderful to love
And a dear friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you warm
And may you always have an angel
By your side...

~Emilia Larson~

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GOD'S ALPHABET - INSPIRING

2005-12-29T23:01:00.000-06:00

"Never move thru life -

faster than your guardian angels can fly"

GOD'S ALPHABET

A to Z

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high

Yes, there'll be good times and yes some
will be bad, but
Zion waits in glory...
where none are ever sad!

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TRAIN OF LIFE

2005-12-28T20:12:00.000-06:00

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters
compared to what lies within us."

Train of Life

Some folks ride the train of life
Looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by,
And marking every year.

They sit in sad remembrance,
Of wasted days gone by,
And curse their life for what it was,
And hang their head and cry.

But I don't concern myself with that,
I took a different vent,
I look forward to what life holds,
And not what has been spent.

So strap me to the engine,
As securely as I can be,
I want to be out on the front,
To see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change,
Blowing in my face,
I want to see what life unfolds,
As I move from place to place.

I want to see what's coming up,
Not looking at the past,
Life's too short for yesterdays,
It moves along too fast.

So if the ride gets bumpy,
While you are looking back,
Go up front, and you may find,
Your life has jumped the track.

It's all right to remember,
That's part of history,
But up front's where it's happening,
There's so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living,
Is not where we have been,
It's looking ever forward,
To another year and ten.

It's searching all the byways,
Never should you refrain,
For if you want to live your life,
You gotta drive the train!

~author unknown~

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24 THINGS TO REMEMBER & ONE THING TO NEVER FORGET

2005-12-23T18:35:00.000-06:00

"If all my friends jumped off a cliff,
I wouldn't jump with them...
I would be at the bottom -

to catch them."

Twenty-Four Things to Always Remember
& One Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world
You're unique and one of a kind
Your life can be what you want it to be
Take the days just one at a time

Count your blessings, not your troubles
You'll make it through with whatever comes along
Within you are so many answers
Understand, have courage, be strong

Don't put limits on yourself
So many dreams are waiting to be realized
Decisions are too important to leave to chance
Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying
The longer one carries a problem
The heavier it gets
Don't take things too seriously
Live a life of serenity
Not a life of regrets

Remember that a little love goes a long way
Remember that a lot goes for ever
Remember that friendship is a wise investment
Life's treasures are people together

Realize that it's never too late
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way
Have health, hope and happiness
Take the time to wish upon a star

And don't ever forget
For even a day
How very special you are

~author unknown

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YOU NEVER FAIL UNTIL YOU STOP TRYING

2005-12-22T17:47:00.000-06:00

"You never fail until you stop trying"

~Where we are ...
God is

We do not need cathedral's spire
Or stone-carved temple grand,
To worship our dear God above-
We can pray just where we stand.

We do not need the songs of choirs,
though beautiful they are,
We can sing our own sweet praises
as we travel near and far.

We can stand in fields of new grain,
on the desert, shore or glen,
Make our vow of sweet surrender
and begin our lives again.

With renewed life, love and spirit,
casting off our worldly care,
we can face each awesome challenge
Knowing God is always there.

~Gertrude Blau Byram~

God Bless our troops - their friends and families.

You are never far from our thoughts and prayers...

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SOMEONE IS PRAYING FOR YOU

2005-12-20T17:44:00.000-06:00

"A beautiful thing is never perfect"

Someone Is Praying For You

Somewhere someone's praying
Down upon their knees
Lifting you before the Throne
With love and gentle pleas

Asking God to give you strength
To face another day
And when the night is darkest
Shine light upon your way

Somewhere someone's kneeling
To whisper your name in prayer
Knowing that you need to feel
God's love and tender care

They intercede on your behalf
Because they love you so
Knowing that you have a need
To their Father they will go

They pray when you're not able
To speak a single word
What peace there is in knowing
Their prayers will be heard

They lay you on the altar
As they kneel there at His feet
Giving all your cares to Him
There at the mercy seat

Our God is always listening
To every earnest prayer
When we look to Him for help
The answer is always there

It's such a comfort to know
That someone prays for you
Placed within His loving hands
Those prayers will see you through

As you kneel before the Father
Thank Him for those who care
When you bow before the mercy seat
Whisper their name in prayer

author: Linda M. Oliver

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JINGLE BELLS LYRICS

2005-12-19T22:02:00.000-06:00

"Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves" -

Jingle Bells
James Lord Pierpont publ. 1857

Dashing through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago,
the story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there
I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

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TAKE MY HAND - FRIENDSHIP POEM

2005-12-18T23:57:00.000-06:00

"God made Friends so we'll carry a
Part of His Perfect Love In all Our Hearts."

TAKE MY HAND

I cannot ease your aching heart,
Nor take your pain away,
But let me stay and take your hand
And walk with you today.

I'll listen when you need to talk,
I'll wipe away your tears,
I'll share your worries when they come,
I'll help you face your fears.

I'm here and I will stand by you,
Each hill you have to climb.
So take my hand, let's face the world,
Live one day at a time.

You're not alone, for I'm still here...
I'll go that extra mile.
And when your grief is easier,
I'll help you learn to smile!

~~Author Unknown~~

God Bless and enormous hugs...

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THE SECRET TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE

2005-12-17T23:40:00.000-06:00

"If it were not for hope, the heart would break -"

The Secret to a Happy Marriage

There was once a man and woman who had been married for more than 60 years.
They had shared everything. They had talked about everything.
They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day, the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoebox and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.

When he opened it, he found two crocheted doilies and a stack of money totaling $25,000.
He asked her about the contents.
"When we were to be married," she said,
"my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue.
She told me that if I ever got angry with you I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily."

The little old man was so moved, he had to fight back tears.
Only two precious doilies were in the box.
She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving.
He almost burst with happiness.

"Honey," he said, "that explains the doilies, but what about all of this money?
Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said,
"that's the money I made from selling the doilies."

:)

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WINTER WONDERLAND & WHITE CHRISTMAS LYRICS

2005-12-16T17:11:00.000-06:00

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,

always bring your own sunshine"

White Christmas
Irving Berlin 1942

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

Winter Wonderland
Dick Smith, Felix Bernard 1934

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
when you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
the plans that we've made,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
walking in a Winter wonderland.

Walking in a Winter wonderland,
walking in a Winter wonderland.

Warm Winter wishes...

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GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN - LYRICS

2005-12-15T22:39:00.000-06:00

"I’ve prayed many prayers when no answer came
Though I waited patient and long,
But answers have come to enough of my prayers
To make me keep praying on."

Go Rest High On That Mountain
Artist - Vince Gill

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain

Go,Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
I wish I could see the angels' faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

So,Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son.

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WHERE WE ARE - GOD IS

2005-12-14T10:23:00.000-06:00

"You may forget with whom you laughed,
but you will never forget with whom you wept".

~Where we are ...
God is

We do not need cathedral's spire
Or stone-carved temple grand,
To worship our dear God above-
We can pray just where we stand.

We do not need the songs of choirs,
though beautiful they are,
We can sing our own sweet praises
as we travel near and far.

We can stand in fields of new grain,
on the desert, shore or glen,
Make our vow of sweet surrender
and begin our lives again.

With renewed life, love and spirit,
casting off our worldly care,
we can face each awesome challenge
Knowing God is always there.

~Gertrude Blau Byram~

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PROMISE YOURSELF - SELF HELP POEM

2005-12-13T17:10:00.000-06:00

"Home is where the heart is"

Promise Yourself...
~author unknown

Promise yourself to be so strong
That nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity
To every person you meet.

To make all your friends
feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything
And make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best,
To work only for the best, to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
As you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
And press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
And give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
That you have no time to criticize others.
Or be too large for worry,
Too noble for anger, too strong for fear
And too happy to permit the presence of trouble....

How far you go in life depends on
your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving and
tolerant of the weak and strong.
Because someday in your life you will have
been all of these.

gimme a holler if you need anything...

~hollergirl

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MEMBER OF THE FAMILY - CATS & DOG POEMS

2005-12-12T18:19:00.000-06:00

"Guardian angels have been sent
To protect us from any harm,
And to teach us about love and peace,
And keep our spirits calm"

Member of the Family

What would I do without you,
My precious, furry friend?
Part mischief, but all blessing,
And faithful to the end!

You look at me with eyes of love;
You never hold a grudge . . .
You think I'm far too wonderful
To criticize or judge.

It seems your greatest joy in life
Is being close to me . . .
I think God knew how comforting
Your warm, soft fur would be.

I know you think you're human,
But I'm glad it isn't true . . .
The world would be a nicer place
If folks were more like you!

A few short years are all we have;
One day we'll have to part . . .
But you, my pet, will always have
A place within my heart.

© 1993 by Hope Harrington Kolb

DOGS

When God had made the earth and sky,
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals
the fish, the birds, and bees
and when at last He'd finished
not one was quite the same.

He said I'll walk this world of mine
and give each one a name.
And so He traveled far and wide
and everywhere He went,
a little creature followed Him
until it's strength was spent.

When all were named upon the Earth
and in the Sky and Sea,
the little creature said,
"Dear Lord, there's no name left for me."

Kindly the Father said to him
"I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
and called you DOG, my friend".

~ Author Unknown ~

Merry Christmas & Warm Winter Wishes

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WHERE IS GOD

2005-12-11T18:41:00.000-06:00

"If we had no winter,
the spring would not be so pleasant."
~Anne Bradstreet

Where is God?
~unknown author

There was a little boy,
On the week's first day,
Coming home from Sunday School
And wandering on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass
And found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod
And blew out all the filler.

A bird's nest in a tree above,
So wisely placed on high,
Was just another wonder
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his crooked course
And hailed him from the lawn.
He asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

"I've been to Sunday School," he said
As he turned a piece of sod,
And picking up a worm, he smiled,
"I've learned a lot from God!"

"That's a fine way," the neighbor said,
"For a boy to spend his time.
"Now if you can tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime."

Quick as a flash the answer came,
The boy said without complaint,
"I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't!"

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DO YOU HAVE TIME - SPIRITUAL POEM

2005-12-10T15:51:00.000-06:00

"The birds are gone, The ground is white,
The winds are wild, They chill and bite;
The ground is thick with slush and sleet,
And I barely feel my feet."

~unknown author

Do You Have Time?

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"

~author unknown~

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CHRISTMAS SONG LYRICS

2005-12-09T19:05:00.000-06:00

"Seen it all, done it all...
Can't remember most of it"

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the the sea,
With a voice as big as the the sea."

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold--
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

^^

IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth,
goodwill to men,
from heav'n's all gracious king
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurl
And still their heavenly music floats,
O'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

O ye, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow
Look now for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing.

For lo the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old
When with the ever circling years
shall come the time foretold
When the new heaven and earth shall own
the prince of peace their King
And the whole world send back
the song which now the angels sing.

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MARY DID YOU KNOW - LYRICS

2005-12-08T11:37:00.000-06:00

"When I find myself fading, I close my eyes
and realize my friends are my energy."

Mary, Did You Know?
( c)1991 Word Music
Words: Mark Lowry
Music: Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am.

Oh Mary did you know?

May the joys of this Holiday Season,
be cherished by you and your loved ones.

Happy Birthday Jesus !
~Hollergirl

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FRIENDSHIP - SWEET POEM

2005-12-07T17:32:00.000-06:00

"The most I can do for my friend,
is simply to be his friend."

FRIENDSHIP
~unknown author

There are days when
melancholy comes to
visit for a while;
the mind feels tired,
the body weak;
we have no strength to smile.

There are days when
joy abundant
grabs a hold of you and me;
wraps us up in all it's splendor,
lifts us up and sets us free.

There are days when
sorrow wraps us
in its cloak of grief and fear,
'till our hearts ache to the breaking,
'till our eyes can't shed a tear.

There are days when
love bestows us
with its wonderment and light;
with its beauty and its mystery,
its power and its might.

And there are days when
life rewards us
and seems to make amends
by granting us a marvelous gift,
the precious gift of Friends.

~I believe...That I can always pray for someone when I
don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
~hollergirl

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GRANDMA'S CAKE - A LIFE LESSON

2005-12-06T09:35:00.000-06:00

"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not."
- S. Johnson

GRANDMAS CAKE - A LIFE LESSON

A little boy is telling his Grandma how everything is going wrong.
School, family problems, health problems, etc..
Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he
would like a snack, which, of course, he does.

"Here, have some cooking oil."
"Yuck" says the boy.
"How about a couple raw eggs? "
"Gross, Grandma!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Grandma, those are all yucky!"

To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by
themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they
make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way.
Many times we wonder why He would let us go
through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He
puts these things all in His order, they always work for good!
We just have to trust Him and, eventually,
they will all make something
wonderful!"

God is crazy about you!
He sends you flowers every spring and a
sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

We Hope your day is a "piece of cake!"

May God bless all of you!!

original author unknown

:)

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IF I KNEW - MAKES YOU THINK

2005-12-05T20:06:00.000-06:00

"In helping others, we help ourselves"

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute to stop
and say "I love you," instead of assuming
you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance to say
our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get
to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

~ unknown author

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A CHRISTMAS STORY - FROM 1881

2005-12-04T22:46:00.000-06:00

"My religion is simple, my religion is kindness."
-- Dalai Llama

A CHRISTMAS STORY
-by Ran B. Anderson - Shared by Bruce Carpenter

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted so bad that year for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. So after supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa toget down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible; instead he bundled up and went outside. I couldn't figure it out, because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold, clear night out and there was ice in his beard.

"Come on, Matt," he said. “Bundle up good. It’s cold out tonight." I was really upset then.
Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas; now Pa was dragging me out in the cold for no earthly reason that I could see.
We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told him to do something. So I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house.
Something was up, but I didn't know what.

Outside I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up the big sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat with reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped In front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.

"I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said.
"Here, help me."

The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on. When we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood---the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something.
"Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?"

"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked.
The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight.
Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
“Yeah," I said, "why?"
"I rode by just today,"
Pa said. "Little Jake was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips.
They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said. Then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading. Then we went to the smoke house. Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned, he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and carrying a smaller sack of something in his left hand.

"What's in the little sack?" I asked.
"Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jake just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy, too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile; though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that. But I knew we didn't have any money; so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us. It shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible; then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack. A timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" Pa answered.

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said as he set down the sack of flour.
I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack with the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children---sturdy shoes - The best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said, then he turned to me and said,
"Matt, go bring enough in to last for a while. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and, much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy filled my soul like I'd never known before. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing; and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy. Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us.
"God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord himself has sent you.
The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again.
I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it, I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazedwhen they all fit.
I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave.
Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him not wanting us to go. I could see that they missed their pa; and I was so glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said,
"The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two older brothers and two older sisters were all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said,
"Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you. I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn’t even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said,
"Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited thinking that now we could get you that rifle. And I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks, and I knew what I had to do. So, Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again.

I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Just then the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night.

Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night;

he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

~~

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DUST IF YOU MUST - GREAT MESSAGE

2005-12-03T17:17:00.000-06:00

"Blessed are the Elderly for they remember what we never knew"

DUST IF YOU MUST

Dust if you must but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed
Ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear and books to read,
Friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go and go you must,
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Remember, a house becomes a home
when you can write "I love you"
on the furniture....

~~

May God Bless you and keep you.
Happy Holidays,
~Holler Girl

gimme a holler, if you need anything...

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IT'S NOT THAT I'M LAZY - HUMOROUS POEM

2005-12-02T20:40:00.000-06:00

"Most of the stuff people worry about happening, don't."

It's Not That I'm Lazy

~author unknown

I don't do windows because...
I love birds and don't want one to run into
a clean window and get hurt.
(I am compassionate)

I don't wax floors because...
I am terrified a guest will slip, hurt themselves,
I'll feel terrible
and they may sue me.
(I am careful and poor)

I don't mind the dust bunnies because...
they are very good company,
I have named most of them,
and they agree with everything I say.
(I am imaginative)

I don't disturb cobwebs...
because I want every creature
to have a home of their own.
(I am kind)

I don't Spring Clean because...
I love all the seasons and
don't want the others to get jealous.
(I am fair minded)

I don't plant a garden because...
I don't want to get in God's way,
he is an excellent designer.
(I am courteous)

I don't put things away because...
my family will never be able to find them again.
(I am considerate)

I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because...
I don't want my guests to stress out over
what to make when they invite me over for dinner.
(I am thoughtful)

I don't iron because...
I choose to believe them when
they say "Permanent Press".
(I am trusting)

I don't stress much on anything because...
"A-Type" personalities die young and
I want to stick around and become a wrinkled
up crusty ol' woman!!
(I am winning this battle!)

LOL

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BUTTPRINTS - A SPIRITUAL POEM

2005-11-30T21:13:00.000-06:00

"Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads."

Buttprints

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared...
And I asked the Lord,
"What have we here?
Those prints are large and round and neat,
But Lord, they are too big for feet."

"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith you would not know...
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt."

"Because in life there comes a time
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."

- Author Unknown

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THE BEST SERMONS ARE LIVED NOT PREACHED

2005-11-03T20:18:00.000-06:00

"The best sermons are lived, not preached"

angel love
~author unknown

If we have faith and love
That we are in God's care,
Then we can believe
His angels
Are with us everywhere.

Guardian angels have been sent
To protect us from any harm,
And to teach us about love and peace,
And keep our spirits calm.

You're so very special to me
Each and every day,
That I asked the angels to bring
A little more love your way.

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THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL - AN IMPORTANT REMINDER

2005-11-02T19:59:00.000-06:00

"You can't unsay a cruel thing"

This weeks awwwwwwww, story

The Handwriting on the Wall

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her eight-year-old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T. J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow.
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear, he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.

~ Author Unknown ~

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OLD TIME BANANA PUDDING RECIPE

2005-11-01T17:33:00.000-06:00

"I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it"

RECIPES FROM THE HOLLER

Old Time Nana Pudding

3/4 c. granulated sugar

1/3 c. all-purpose flour
Dash of salt
4 eggs, separated, at room temperature
2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
35 to 45 Nilla Wafers (reserve 10 to 12 for garnish>
5 to 6 med. size fully ripe bananas, sliced (reserve 1 for garnish)

directions:

Combine 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler.

Stir in 4 egg yolks and milk; blend well.

Cook, uncovered, over boiling water, stirring constantly until thickened.
Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat; add vanilla.
Spread small amount on bottom of 1 1/2 quart casserole dish
cover with layer of Nilla Wafers.
Top with layer of sliced bananas
Pour about 1/3 of the custard over bananas.
Continue to layer wafers, bananas and custard to
make 3 layers each, ending with custard

Beat egg whites until stiff, gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
Spoon on top of pudding, spreading to cover entire surface and sealing well to edges.
Bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool slightly or chill.
Right before serving, garnish with banana slices,
then stand Nilla Wafers upright around edge of dish.
Makes 8 servings

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A CUP OF TEA & AUTHENTIC VICTORIAN TEA MENUS

2005-10-31T20:09:00.000-06:00

"Speak only well of people and you need never whisper"

A Cup Of Tea

When the world is all at odds

And the mind is all at sea

Then cease the useless tedium

And brew a cup of tea.
There is magic in its' fragrance,

There is solace in its' taste;

And the laden moments vanish

Somehow into space.
And the world becomes a lovely thing !

There's beauty as you'll see;

All because you briefly stopped

To brew a cup of tea.

unknown author

Authentic Victorian Teas

Afternoon Tea;

Includes small, crustless sandwiches with savory fillings,

scones, bread and butter,

sweets (jams, jellies, honey), desserts and tea.

Royal Tea;

Afternoon tea with the addition of a glass

of champagne or sherry.

Light Tea;

A lighter version of afternoon tea,

at which scones, sweets and tea are served.

Cream Tea;

An English favorite consisting of scones,

jam, clotted cream

(butter cream that's thick enough to spread) and tea.

High Tea;

Often confused with afternoon tea,

high tea is a hearty sit down meal with an extensive

menu that can include meat pies,

sausage, cold cuts, breads,

cheese, jam, butter, desserts,

fruit and tea.

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STEADFAST HEART - A MUST READ POEM

2005-10-30T16:41:00.000-06:00

"You may forget with whom you laughed,

but you will never forget with whom you wept".

STEADFAST HEART

~Author Unknown

I’ve dreamed many dreams that never came true
I’ve seen them vanish at dawn,
But I’ve realized enough of my dreams,
Thank God,
To make me want to dream on.

I’ve prayed many prayers when no answer came
Though I waited patient and long,
But answers have come to enough of my prayers
To make me keep praying on.

I’ve trusted many a friend that failed
And left me to weep alone,
But I’ve found enough of my friends true blue,
To make me keep trusting on.

I’ve sown many seeds that fell by the way
For the birds to feed upon,
But I’ve held enough golden sheaves in my hand
To make me keep sowing on.

I’ve drained the cup of disappointment and pain
And gone many days without song,
But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life
To make me want to live on.

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WHEN PRAYERS GO UP BLESSINGS GO DOWN

2005-10-30T16:33:00.000-06:00

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PRAY DON'T FIND FAULT POEM

2005-10-29T20:55:00.000-05:00

"Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled"

Pray Don't Find Fault

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road,

unless you have worn the shoes he wears or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,

though hidden away from view,

or the burden he bears,

placed on your back might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today

unless you have felt the blow

that caused his fall or felt the shame

that only the fallen know.

You may be strong,

but still the blows

that were his if dealt to you,

in the self same way, at the self same time,

might cause you to stagger too.

Don't be too harsh with the man who sins

or pelt him with word or stone,

unless you are sure,

yea, doubly sure,

that you have no sins of your own.

For you know perhaps if the tempter's voice

should whisper as softly to you

as it did to him when he went astray,

it might cause you to stumble too.

~ Author Unknown ~

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INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2005-10-28T22:14:00.000-05:00

"Reach for the moon the worst that could happen

would be, you fall among the stars..."

"If you planted hope today

In any hopeless heart.

If someone's burden was lighter

Because you did your part.

If you caused a laugh

That chased some tears away.

If tonight your name is named

When someone kneels to pray.

Then your day has been well spent."

~AuthorUnknown~

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FRECKLES AND WRINKLES A LIFE LESSON

2005-10-27T19:04:00.000-05:00

"Never lay an angry hand on a kid or an animal,
it just ain't helpful."

Today's awwwwwwww story,
One of my favorites:

Freckles and Wrinkles
author unknown

An elderly woman and her little grandson,
whose face was sprinkledwith bright freckles,
spent the day at the zoo.

Lots of children were waiting in line
to get their cheeks painted by a local artist
who was decorating them with tiger paws.

A girl in the line said to the little fella
"You've got so many freckles,
there's no place to paint!"

Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head.

His grandmother knelt down next to him.
"I love your freckles.
When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles",
she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek.
"Freckles are beautiful!"

The boy looked up, "Really?"

"Of course," said the grandmother.

"Why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

The little boy thought for a moment,
peered intensely into his grandma's face,

and softly whispered,

"Wrinkles."

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FRIENDSHIP

2005-10-26T10:46:00.000-05:00

"Walking with a friend in the dark is
better than walking alone in the light."

- Helen Keller

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart

and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

" Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God."

~unknown author

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OLD FASHIONED OATMEAL COOKIE RECIPE

2005-10-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

"Two can live as cheap as one if one don't eat"

"To know how country folks are doing...
look at their barns, not their houses"

Holler Recipes

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

Heat oven to 350°F
2 sticks margarine or butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 c choc chips (optional)
In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy.
Add eggs, one at a time then vanilla
Beat well

Add combined:flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Mix well with mixer.

Add oats then the optional raisins & choc chips.
Mix well by hand.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto slightly greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown.

Let cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.
Cool completely on racks.
Store tightly covered.

iffin ya need anythin' , just holler...

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OLD TIME WASHING CLOTHES INSTRUCTIONS

2005-10-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

"Stress is when you wake up screaming,
then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet..."

This Following is an exact copy as written and found in an old book,

spelling errors and all.

WASHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water

Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert

Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water

Sort thangs, make 3 piles

1 pile white

1 pile colored

1 pile work britches and rags

To make starch, stir flaur in cool water to smooth,

then thin down with boilin water.

Take white things,

rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and borl,

then rub colored don't borl just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kittle with broom stik handle,

then wrench, and starch.

Hang ole rags on fence.

Spread tee towels on grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed.

Scrub poorch with hot soapy water.

Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress,

smooth hair with hair combs

Brew cup of tee,

sit and rock a spell and count your blessings

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