Tributes...

It's like a tradition for me to watch this beautiful video every 4th.  I love it and I couldn't believe I had not posted it in past years on this blog.  I couldn't find it in my archives.  this is so wonderfully done and you won't be disappointed that you traveled the Grand ol' USA with this video.  

click here to get started.  
watch My Beautiful America video 

Army 



Navy 



Air Force 



Marines 



Speical forces: Green Berets
 

Battle Hymn of Republic

Something to think about

Thanksgiving

The Man and the Birds by Paul Harvey

The Man and the Birds by Paul Harvey


The man to whom I'm going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn't believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn't make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man.

"I'm truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I'm not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he'd feel like a hypocrite. That he'd much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound...Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud...At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn't let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them...He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms...Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me...That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

"If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm...to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand." At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells - Adeste Fidelis - listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

T'was the night before Christmas...

'T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town

not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy with Christmas time chores

like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.

No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".

Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank water from the tap.

As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap

when what from the T.V. did they suddenly hear?

'Cept an ad... which told of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...

Buying things on credit... and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home. From their trip to the mall,

did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... Not at all.

Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things

No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.

How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior... they had no time to stop.

Because they needed more time to "Shop till they dropped!"

On Wal-mart! On Kohls! On Target! On Penneys!

On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Dennys!

from the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall

they would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter

as grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.

Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... the Light of the World.

Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!

Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight

Lets put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy

some good nights! Merry Christmas, one and all!

Something to think about...

Twas the month before Christmas

 (well we are closer than a month, but I'm a little late posting)

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police

had taken away,

The reason for Christmas -

no one could say.

The children were told

by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men

and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings,

the teachers would say

December 25th

is just a "Holiday".

Yet the shoppers were ready

with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down

to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna,

an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing,

something quite odd!

Retailers promoted

Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by

Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging

their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas -

was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples

and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas;

it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive,

Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used

to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden,

Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather,

on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate,

there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus,

in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word,

as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak

of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas

was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season,

stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break"

under your "Dream Tree"

Sipping your Starbucks,

listen to me.

Choose your words carefully,

choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday!

to my Followers....

My faithful followers Don't forget to enter my Gratitude for followers giveaway here. 

In Remembrance

God Bless

Father's Day Wishes

Happy Merorial Day

Happy Mother's Day to you all...

The Rules of Chocolate

THE RULES OF CHOCOLATE

~ If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

~ Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices & strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

~ The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

~ Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less.

~ A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?

~ If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer.

~ But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

~ If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

~ If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

~ Money talks. Chocolate sings.

~ Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

~ Q. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? A. Because no one wants to quit.

~ Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

Christmas Blessings...

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus

author unknown

*Santa lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere.

*Santa rides in a sleigh... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

*Santa comes but once a year... JESUS is an ever present help.

*Santa fills your stockings with goodies... JESUS supplies all your needs.

*You have to wait in line to see Santa... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

*Santa lets you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

*Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"... JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.

*Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... JESUS has a heart full of love.

*All Santa can offer is HO HO HO... JESUS offers health, help and hope.

*Santa says "You better not cry"... JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

*Santa's little helpers make toys... JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

*Santa may make you chuckle but...JESUS gives you a joy that is your strength.

*While Santa puts gifts under your tree... JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

Its obvious there is really no comparison! Jesus is still the reason for the season. Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus.

Twas the Night before Baby Jesus comes...

'T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town
not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy with Christmas time chores
like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.

No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank water from the tap.
As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap

when what from the T.V. did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad... which told of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...
Buying things on credit... and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home. From their trip to the mall,
did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... Not at all.

Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior... they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time to "Shop till they dropped!"

On Wal-mart! On Kohls! On Target! On Penneys!
On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Dennys!

from the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall
they would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter
as grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... the Light of the World.

Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight
Lets put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy
some good nights! Merry Christmas, one and all!



Read other versions:
Twas the night before Christmas~Dieter's style
Twas the night before Christmas~ Mom's style
Twas the night before Jesus Came
AT P & P site they have
Filly version

Christmas Cookie Rules...

Christmas Cookie Rules...

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.


2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.



3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calorie free, (rule #1) yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street" have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

So, go out and enjoy those Christmas Cookies - we only get them this time of year!