U is for...Us

Us
You and me
Together
Make us

Our thoughts
Tumbled together
Collectively thus

Making sense

Our love entwined
Fashioning our children
Their eyes reflecting
Us

Your heart
And mine
Together
Make us

This is my attemp at poetry, hope you enjoyed it, now go on over to Arlee @tossing it out and have a great day ya'll. 

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and With the help of God, I will do." ~Everette Hale

T is for...Toby Mac

TobyMac

TobyMac, born Kevin Michael McKeehan October 22, 1964 is one of my Favorite music Artists.  His style of music is eclectic to say the least.  He first came out singing with the group DC Talk 1989-2000 and has since enjoyed a successful solo career with the release of four studio albums "Momentum" 2001, "Welcome to Diverse City" 2004, "Portable Sounds" 2007, and "Tonight" 2010, with some remixes in the mix as well.

Between DC Talk and his solo career he has sold more than 10 million albums, six #1 hit Christian singles, and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel album at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009.  I will leave ya'll with this...my favorite TobyMac song of all...Boomin!



Go on over to Arlee @tossing it out and comment on some others blogs, but first leave me a comment or two as I love to hear what you have to say.
“I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  What I can do, I should do and,
With the help of God, I will do.”
~Everett Hale

Friday Follow

Guess what? It's time for Friday Follow with One to try, Midday Escapades, and Hearts make families

I love to do this Meme, because it connects me with other bloggers who usually have something I can learn from, or maybe some wisdom I don't presently have. Go on over and check one or all of these blogs (above) out and link up. You won't be sorry, I promise.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and With the help of God, I will do." ~Everette Hale

Is your Blog Carbon Neutral?

My blog is carbon neutral, thanks to this website. 1 blog = 1 tree planted, how cool and green is that!  This is a great way to save our planets resources, let's make a difference it's easy.

Here are some rules to follow:

Write a blog post about the initiative + insert your favourite button.
E-mail the link to your post to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de
They plant a tree for your blog in Plumas’!


“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and With the help of God, I will do."
~Everette Hale

Relay for Life

As most of you know I have been fighting cancer for the last year or so, and have just recently found out I am in total remission. Yay me! Yet there are many others out there who are still in the fight of their lives, some just starting out, and some who have been bravely fighting for years, my cousin Melinda is one of them.  I have joined with the American Cancer Society in their Relay for Life event this year in my hometown June 19-20.  I am asking anyone out there to consider either joining in on the relay in your own hometown or donate to help save lives..even just $10.00 goes a long way in fighting this terrible disease.  Thank you in advance and God bless!  You may have noticed on the left hand top sidebar my badge for the American Cancer Society, if you click on it, you will be whisked away to my support page.  Cancer doesn't play favorites and I figure neither will I, that is why I have sent a mass email explaining Relay for Life and my part in it to all or most of you.  God bless you all! 

 By the way the picture of the thermometer looking thingy off to the left of this post is how much my team has raised of our $5,000.00 goal.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and With the help of God, I will do."
~Everette Hale

S is for...Shannon

My name is Shannon.  I have found a few different meanings on the "world wide web".  The first being of the Gaelic origin meaning old or wise river. The Shannon River is the longest river in Ireland. I also found my name to mean little wise owl.  As a given name it first became common in America after the 1940's.  The other meaning is of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.   

When I was a little girl, the people who bought our house had the last name of Shannon, and in my many years I have met a few boys with the name also, so it is not necessarily a gender specific name.   Some additional tid-bits on people with the name Shannon:

Shannon Lucid-Astronaut

Shannon Elizabeth-Actor*

Shannon Tweed-Actor*

Shannon Bramer-Canadian Poet

Shannon Doherty-Actor*

Shannon Lee-Actor* (Daughter of Bruce Lee)

*Actor is defined as someone who acts-it is not a gender specific word*

Male Musicians:

Shannon Hoon-of Blind Melon

Shannon Leto-Drummer of 30 Seconds to Mars (Brother is Jared Leto)

Shannon Larkin-Drummer of godsmack

Shannon Noll-Austrailian rock singer

Athletes:

Shannon Sharpe-American football player

Shannon Stewart-Major League baseball outfielder

Shannon Rempel-Canadian speed skater

Shannon Moore-professional wrestler

Shannon Miller-American Olympic gymnast

...and last but certainly not least...

My very good friend growing up was also named...Shannon and I will be reuniting with her on the 24th of this month for some much needed catching up. I saw her last when I was just about 14 or 15 when her family came through our area and stopped in for a short visit.  We are each bringing photo albums with memories to share and reflect on, and she may bring her bike so we can take a nice ride together while she is here.

Anyhoodles, go on over to Arlee's @tossing it out and check out some other wonderful bloggers but don't forget to leave me a comment or two first.

“I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  What I can do, I should do and, With the help of God, I will do.”
~Everett Hale

S is for...satan

satan...is described as an angelic being or personality.  He was one of the most beautiful of creatures God created.  No he does not have red skin, or a pitchfork, and he does not breathe fire and brimstone.  satan was the most beautiful of the angels that God created, and is one of the most intelligent of God's creation.  In Ezekiel 28:11-19 the Bible says this about satan...

The word of the LORD came to me: 12 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

" 'You were the model of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden,
the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz and emerald,
chrysolite, onyx and jasper,
sapphire,  turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings  were made of gold;
on the day you were created they were prepared.

14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.

15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.

16 Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence,
and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.

17 Your heart became proud
on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings.

18 By your many sins and dishonest trade
you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a fire come out from you,
and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.

19 All the nations who knew you
are appalled at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.' "

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The five "I wills" of satan from Isaiah 14:12-17

12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!


13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven; ~1
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God; ~2
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. ~3


14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; ~4
I will make myself like the Most High." ~5


15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.


16 Those who see you stare at you,
they ponder your fate:
"Is this the man who shook the earth
and made kingdoms tremble,


17 the man who made the world a desert,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?"

I think scripture speaks for itself on satan and who he was and is.  In my experience, satan enjoys messing with you at any opportunity, so don't even give him a micro millimeter...not sure if that is a proper phrase, but I'm going to go with it...for he needs no invitation, he has no morals, no boundaries that he respects, no guilty feelings for anything he does so if I can coin a phrase from a Bible School song we used to sing...shut de door, keep out de devil...shut de door, keep de devil in the night, shut de door, keep out de devil, light the candle everythings all right! Blessings to you all on this fine day, now go on over to Arlee's @tossing it out and read up on a new blog today!

Writers Workshop Piece

Hey all it's time again for Writers Workshop with Mama Kat.  I chose prompt #5...Mother’s Day is coming…what is the secret behind the close bond you have with your mom? OR What do you do to create that close bond with your kids?

My Mom and I never really got along when I was a teen, but after her divorce to my father all that changed.  When my dad destroyed my Mom, he left her in a very bad state of mind, her life was ultimately obliterated.  There is only my brother and I, and being a girl I was the more sensitive one, so I stepped in and helped my Mother pick the shattered pieces of her life up and begin to put it back together again.  One day I received a phone call from my Aunt Janice saying my Mom was in real bad shape and was suicidal and could I come over and help...Well that day everything changed...for the better...for my Mom and I.  

We have been like best friends ever since, and I show her my appreciation every day.  Every time we talk on the phone, and every weekend my daughter Molly and I spend over at her place, we spend time bonding and building new memories. My Mom is probably one of the most important people in my life...3rd on my list in fact.  God always comes 1st, then my Husband, and Mom is next, she is extremely important to me and I don't just show her on Mother's day, I show her every day how much I love her and appreciate her. 

The way I create a special bond with my children is by being the best Mom I can be to them.  I show and tell them every day that I love them unconditionally. I listen to them when they have a bad day, and help them figure out the answers to both their big and small life questions.  I spend time with them, we ride bikes in our beautiful city, have coffee together in the early morning hours, watch movies as well as go to Church together. We are a family every day, not just on Mother's day and they show me their appreciation in a thousand small ways throughout the entire year.

 Like when my daughter Molly (At age 10) will come to me and show me another beautiful drawing she has made me.  Or take my son Jesse (Who is 13), he will just come up to me randomly and give me a big hug and kiss on the cheek, to show me how much he loves and appreciates me.  My other son Jacob (Who is 14.5) will tell me "Your the best Mom".  Finally, George my oldest at 16 will come sit by me on the couch and lean his head against my shoulder just to be near me.  I have wonderful children, and because I am a great Mom to them, they show me they love and appreciate me every day, not just on Mother's Day.
 

R is for…Reptiles, Ragweed, and Radical Dude

 Reptiles

King Croc

Reptiles according to Dictionary.com are...any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia, comprising the turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, amphisbaenians, tuatara, and various extinct members including the dinosaurs.

This is a baby American Alligator

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Ragweed

Common Ragweed

Giant Ragweed

According to a Wikipedia artical on ragweed these are the scientific classifications of ragweed...

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: Asteridae

(unranked) Euasterids II

Order: Asterales

Family: Asteraceae

Subfamily: Asteroideae

Tribe: Heliantheae

Subtribe: Ambrosiinae

Genus: Ambrosia

L., 1753

Ragweeds (Ambrosia) are also called bitterweeds and bloodweeds and they are a genus of flowering plants from the Sunflower family (Asteraceae).

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Radical Dude

In the urban dictionary Radical is defined as...adj.- a description of an action or thing which is especially impressive.

It is also defined as...A word used by people over the age of 30 in an attempt to sound cool, usually resulting in the opposite.

Okay I have to admit to having said this very phrase many times in my youth.  I will also admit that I will occasionally use it now at 39 just to embarrass my children, or make them smile at an especially unhappy time.

**************

And there you have my R words...Reptiles, Ragweed and Radical dude!

I hope your day is a radical one.  May God radically bless you today and may He give you joy so abundantly you are forced to give some away.

Now go over to radical Arlee's @tossing it out and have a look see at some other radical blogs. (Sorry, but I just love to say that word, Radical Dude)

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“I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  What I can do, I should do and,

With the help of God, I will do.”

Everett Hale

Q is for...Quirks

People have a lot of Quirks. This word is defined on Dictionary.com as…a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism.

Like take, for instance, my Granny Ann, she is very QUIRKY.  She is a southern gal who has a wonderful accent, and her style is eclectic to say the least.  Bright colors are everywhere in her home, car and clothes.  Granny Ann's home is brightly decorated in plastic flowers, baskets, Smiley face magnets and horses of all colors, as well as a frog that croaks when someone comes near her front door.  Granny loves to quilt and spend her time with her friends at her local Senior Citizens club. She is very active in her community and enjoys a rousing game of cards or dice, and even pool if she so pleases. I even have a few newspaper articles of her in a pool tournament for her community.

Granny Ann is QUIRKY in every way I can think of. She loves smiley faces, and has made several aprons with Smiley faces all over them. Smiley faces adorn her pictures, quilts, and her refrigerator. If she sends me anything I can be sure there will be a Smiley face packet of stickers to go with it.

She is quick to give a smile and a hug wherever she goes and to whomever will take one. At around 66 she is spryer than I am, and has so much energy, it astounds me. I hope some day to have her QUIRKINESS and her spunk. Now go on over to tossing it out and check out some other QUIRKY blogs ya’ll, and May God bless you on this fine day. My new Motto: Quirky makes the world go around at a more tolerable pace!

P is for...Praise

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost ~Thomas Ken 1674~ According to Dictionary.com Praise is the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship: a hymn of praise to God. (they put God in lower case). 

My heavenly Father is the Creator of this earth and all that is in, on and above it, and He most certainly deserves our Praise.  In Jeremiah 1:5 The LORD told Jeremiah..."Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." If God knew Jeremiah before he was even formed in his mothers womb, then He knew you and I as well.  That just astounds me to no end, to think that my Father knew the color of my hair, how my nose would turn out, and what color my eyes would be, before my parents even got their first look at me. 

To take this word Praise even farther, I have to go into just a few things my Father has done for me in my 39 years.  He has seen me through my toddler years, and my very tumultuous teen years, as well as my fiesty young adult years.  In all those years He has brought me through a few near death experiences, 4 births, and even more, I am surviving my childrens teen years. (So far at least) 

This does not take everything into account, but even with this shortened version of my trials and triumphs He is more than worthy to be Praised.   I truly hope that each one of you will go back through your lives and give God the Praise He is do for all He has done for you in your lives. May He bless you today as you go on your way and even beyond.  Head on over to tossing it out and see what you can find to Praise God about!

Monday Minute

It's time for Monday Minute with Ian @the daily dose of reality, so here we go...


1 - Ever take a crap in the woods? Never, ever, ever!

2 - If you won $1,000, what's the first thing you would do with it besides give me a cut? Buy a new Bike! A Pink beach cruiser.

3 - What's your favorite phrase? If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

4 - Fill in the blank - the world would be a better place if (evil) left the planet.

5 - How do you take your coffee or tea? Coffee, with creamer no sugar, tea just sugar please and thankyou.

There is Always a Place at The Table