You
must live with people to know their problems, and live with God in order to
solve them.
- P. T. Forsyth
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tax Time . . .
It is amazing how easily we can be spoiled. Up until three years ago, I did the taxes for our family the old-fashioned way . . . paper and pencil and lots of hair pulling and frustration. I did, however, get them done in a timely manner. Three years ago, I tried one of the computer connected methods and was hooked. I do find it funny and have to laugh at myself when some information isn't readily available and I stomp off to look for it. Uh, I don't have to lift up a pencil, most of the work happens at the computer, and the program almost doesn't stretch my brain power to any painful degree.
Anyway, no quilting today but the taxes are in hand and we even get back a bit of a refund . . . which with three major bills coming up, will flow in and out of our checking account without leaving a mark. The Lord does giveth and He does allow it to be taken away! Still, we count our blessings.
Our proposed rain storm fizzed out and we are back to wind and sunshine. I get a close hand look at the weather changes now that I spend two mornings a week waiting for my son to get out of class. I usually sit in the car and crochet.
Chick, the runaway dog of yesterday, is still in the proverbial dog house and hasn't been allowed her time inside today. At least she has her twenty minutes of memories to think upon from her race down the street.
Hard to believe that with the weather going into Spring so forcefully, we are turning our minds to this year's garden, already. Now that we filled in the old swimming pool hole, we have a lot of extra ground to cultivate. I have two bags of frozen tomatoes from last year and am looking forward to fresh tomatoes, again.
Anyway, no quilting today but the taxes are in hand and we even get back a bit of a refund . . . which with three major bills coming up, will flow in and out of our checking account without leaving a mark. The Lord does giveth and He does allow it to be taken away! Still, we count our blessings.
Our proposed rain storm fizzed out and we are back to wind and sunshine. I get a close hand look at the weather changes now that I spend two mornings a week waiting for my son to get out of class. I usually sit in the car and crochet.
Chick, the runaway dog of yesterday, is still in the proverbial dog house and hasn't been allowed her time inside today. At least she has her twenty minutes of memories to think upon from her race down the street.
Hard to believe that with the weather going into Spring so forcefully, we are turning our minds to this year's garden, already. Now that we filled in the old swimming pool hole, we have a lot of extra ground to cultivate. I have two bags of frozen tomatoes from last year and am looking forward to fresh tomatoes, again.
Wisdom through the ages . . .
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I
said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
-- Robert McCloskey
-- Robert McCloskey
"A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy,
but won't cross the street to vote in a national election."
-- Bill Vaughan
-- Bill Vaughan
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other
plans."
-- John Lennon
-- John Lennon
"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish."
-- Euripides
-- Euripides
My Favorite Budget Snack . . .
I may have posted something on this before but when payday is too far away yet the family craves a treat, this has been a problem solver for me - fried bread. The basic bread recipe is 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon dry yeast, 2 tablespoons melted & cooled shortening, 1 teaspoon salt, and enough water to form a kneadable dough. Once the dough is kneaded and smooth, let it rise in a greased bowl until doubled in size. Cover with vegetable-oil sprayed plastic wrap.
Prepare your oil or deep fryer. Roll out the dough about 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips. Fry them, a few at a time to avoid crowding, until golden brown. Let them drain off on some paper towel. Now, all you have to do is figure out savory or sweet!
Toss the warm breads in:
Cinnamon and sugar
Powdered sugar
Powdered sugar mixed with some dry cocoa
Your herb or spice of choice
Chili powder
Garlic powder and salt
Or, you can dip them in something like Nutella or peanut butter.
Me, I like them plain and crispy.
If you don't have the time to mix up some bread dough, most stores sell unbaked bread dough and that will work just as well. You can also use those tubes of biscuits and make strips out of slightly flattened, unbaked biscuits and go from there.
These are fun and filling and take little to nothing in the way of expense. They also make the house smell nice and put smiles on your family's faces.
Prepare your oil or deep fryer. Roll out the dough about 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips. Fry them, a few at a time to avoid crowding, until golden brown. Let them drain off on some paper towel. Now, all you have to do is figure out savory or sweet!
Toss the warm breads in:
Cinnamon and sugar
Powdered sugar
Powdered sugar mixed with some dry cocoa
Your herb or spice of choice
Chili powder
Garlic powder and salt
Or, you can dip them in something like Nutella or peanut butter.
Me, I like them plain and crispy.
If you don't have the time to mix up some bread dough, most stores sell unbaked bread dough and that will work just as well. You can also use those tubes of biscuits and make strips out of slightly flattened, unbaked biscuits and go from there.
These are fun and filling and take little to nothing in the way of expense. They also make the house smell nice and put smiles on your family's faces.
Special Letter shared from LifeNews.com . . .
Shared from LifeNews.com
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/08/letter-from-12-week-old-unborn-baby-please-dont-abort-me/
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/08/letter-from-12-week-old-unborn-baby-please-dont-abort-me/
Letter from a 12-week old unborn baby
In late January, a friend and supporter of HLI America was asked by pro-life leaders in New York State to write a letter that would accompany a replica of a 10-12 week old baby in the womb. With the goal of encouraging state legislators to recognize the humanity of such tiny human beings, this replica and letter was to be sent to all the members of the New York State Assembly and Senate.
In New York, abortion of an unborn child after the 24th week of pregnancy is defined as homicide, but prior to that the killing of such a child is legal. This beautiful letter is another creative and truthful attempt to encourage our nation’s leaders to recognize that abortion is not a human right, but rather, ends an innocent human life.
That letter, written from the perspective of the 12-week old baby in the womb, is shared with you below:
Dear Member of the NY State Senate or Assembly:
I am not a blob of tissue to be disposed of. When I became a zygote at fertilization, I was already composed of 39,000 genes made up of 3.2 billion base pair sequences. Hard to believe, I know, but it’s scientifically true! These detailed directions for my development have been compared to the amount of information found in two hundred New York City phone books. After this beginning, I worked actively to prevent any other sperm from fertilizing the same egg, and on my own impetus took a journey down the fallopian tube to implant upon my mother’s uterus.
At 5 weeks, my cerebral cortex was developing, and well before I reached 12 weeks my brain was functioning. I was already responding to stimuli. So how can you allow me to be tortured? Shouldn’t you be working to protect me from suffering? Why allow me to be torn limb from limb?
At 12 weeks, I am not merely a design for a house yet to be built, I am already “a tiny house that constructs itself larger and more complex through its active self-development towards maturity” (Patrick Lee). If I live and grow to maturity, this growth will not involve a change in my identity or substance, only the development of what’s already there. I am not a “potential” child, but a real child. Take a good look at the image of me that you received. My mother cannot “choose” to have a child – she already has one! Her only “choice” is whether or not to let me live.
Size has nothing to do with human rights. The sun may be vast in size, but it can’t think or love. It is only matter. It will never be part of an American family and community, nor will it ever serve my country. It will never ponder the mystery of life and the beauty of the night-skies, nor will it ever be able to conceive of the universe or meditate on Scripture.
Small as I am at 12 weeks, I can say that I am more precious than that huge and majestic sun, because I am made in the image of God, the One who created the sun, the night skies and the universe. All those things will pass away, but I am made for eternity.
You have to wonder what went through the minds of these politicians when they received this letter and the replica of the unborn baby? Were the women moved the least little bit? Did any of them think about reversing their votes that helped perpetuate the abortion industry? Are any of them brave enough to change their mind and stand up for what is right?
It is interesting thinking about them passing laws against the unborn. Would they appreciate anyone congratulating them on a pregnancy in their family with, "So, when is your fetus due?"
In New York, abortion of an unborn child after the 24th week of pregnancy is defined as homicide, but prior to that the killing of such a child is legal. This beautiful letter is another creative and truthful attempt to encourage our nation’s leaders to recognize that abortion is not a human right, but rather, ends an innocent human life.
That letter, written from the perspective of the 12-week old baby in the womb, is shared with you below:
Dear Member of the NY State Senate or Assembly:
I am not a blob of tissue to be disposed of. When I became a zygote at fertilization, I was already composed of 39,000 genes made up of 3.2 billion base pair sequences. Hard to believe, I know, but it’s scientifically true! These detailed directions for my development have been compared to the amount of information found in two hundred New York City phone books. After this beginning, I worked actively to prevent any other sperm from fertilizing the same egg, and on my own impetus took a journey down the fallopian tube to implant upon my mother’s uterus.
At 12 weeks, I am not merely a design for a house yet to be built, I am already “a tiny house that constructs itself larger and more complex through its active self-development towards maturity” (Patrick Lee). If I live and grow to maturity, this growth will not involve a change in my identity or substance, only the development of what’s already there. I am not a “potential” child, but a real child. Take a good look at the image of me that you received. My mother cannot “choose” to have a child – she already has one! Her only “choice” is whether or not to let me live.
Size has nothing to do with human rights. The sun may be vast in size, but it can’t think or love. It is only matter. It will never be part of an American family and community, nor will it ever serve my country. It will never ponder the mystery of life and the beauty of the night-skies, nor will it ever be able to conceive of the universe or meditate on Scripture.
Small as I am at 12 weeks, I can say that I am more precious than that huge and majestic sun, because I am made in the image of God, the One who created the sun, the night skies and the universe. All those things will pass away, but I am made for eternity.
You have to wonder what went through the minds of these politicians when they received this letter and the replica of the unborn baby? Were the women moved the least little bit? Did any of them think about reversing their votes that helped perpetuate the abortion industry? Are any of them brave enough to change their mind and stand up for what is right?
It is interesting thinking about them passing laws against the unborn. Would they appreciate anyone congratulating them on a pregnancy in their family with, "So, when is your fetus due?"
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