Well, 2009 is now in the past. It's hard to believe we are beginning a new decade! It's been a hard year in many ways, but God was always there to uphold me and my family in ways we never dreamed. Through all the economy woes, H1N1 "pandemic", wars, attempted bombings, and political unrest, God has again brought us full circle to a new year where we can see how far we have grown and how far we still need to grow.
Several things come to mind as I look back over 2009, and I would like to share them in this year's last entry...
1) God loves us so much and never keeps or uses our sins against us. Once we confess our sins, it's over. God does exactly that and remembers them no more. The only one that keeps holding on to them is Satan and he then uses them to torture us and keep our eyes on ourselves instead of where God wants them.
2) No matter how much we worry, God is always there to make sure we are never in need. It's amazing to me how many times I didn't think a need would be met, but God never failed me. When life is always at its darkest, God shines His eternal "flashlight" into it and dispels the darkness for us to see our way out.
3) Great memories are always made when a family is as close as mine. No matter if we are speeding down the road in a rented vehicle going to some unknown or known destination or donning cheerleader outfits and aprons for a marathon cook fest, we always know how to have fun together and laugh till our sides hurt.
4) And last for this entry, I honestly believe that people are becoming more dumb the more educated they become. Here are a few examples that happened while at work just for today...
People didn't understand why their packages hadn't arrived. Yes, they did order it
last Thursday, but it was Christmas Eve, nothing was shipped that day. And there
has also been a lot of snow. Weather does play a large part in the ability to ship!
One guy called us to find out tracking instead of the place where he ordered it!!
Another guy actually had the audacity to ask if I had really asked the availability on a
part he wanted when I told him it wasn't available. No, I asked about a totally different
number...
It seems as if the days where people can actually have 1 and 1 and end up with 2 are long gone. And it drives me absolutely bonkers!
There are several more things that could be said here, but the blog would be waaaayyyy too long. So without further ado, I bid 2009 a fond farewell and wish 2010 all the best. I am sure there will be more lessons learned and more memories made. I, for one, am looking forward to all that this new year holds for me.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Traditions 2
Today was another day of Christmas traditions for me. It was my day of making cookies and other goodies. This weekend we are keeping the twins because my sister and brother-in-law are out of town. I thought it was very appropriate for this weekend because I could now have my sous chef to help me bake. Of course, she was all over that idea and was eager to help me.
For this year, I chose to make 3 kinds of cookies--Cranberry-Orange Cookies, Ginger Cookies, and Creamy Cashew Cookies. Since the dough for the Ginger Cookies had to be refrigerated for a while, I made it first and then went on to the Cranberry-Orange recipe after lunch. That recipe is chock full of fruits and nuts and is a definite winner in my book. After those were baked, recipe number 3 was started and finished before moving on to the last batch of thoroughly chilled dough's time in the oven. Each step of the way, I tried to help Mikayla understand the why and how for baking and reading a recipe. In fact, come of her tasks were to run back and forth to the computer to relay the ingredients or instructions back to her uncle. She also measured ingredients, added ingredients, putting sheet pans in the oven, rolled Ginger Cookie dough into balls, and any other task that the "head chef" asked of her. Occasionally, I had a "junior" sous chef who helped with the sheet pans, but he wasn't very interested in the whole process. Besides, sometimes he makes me nervous carrying sheet pans filled with cookie dough! haha I would be having visions of dancing balls of dough instead of sugar plums.
Mikayla was with me for most of the steps but there was the occasional game of Hall Hockey with her brother or a bit of piano practice or any other thing that could possibly distract a 9-year old. Over all she did well and I hope that she was able to learn something from this venture. (I do know that she learned well not to touch a sheet pan straight out of the oven!) After all, traditions can only be continued into the next generation if they are learned from this present generation.
Until next time, anyone want a cookie?
For this year, I chose to make 3 kinds of cookies--Cranberry-Orange Cookies, Ginger Cookies, and Creamy Cashew Cookies. Since the dough for the Ginger Cookies had to be refrigerated for a while, I made it first and then went on to the Cranberry-Orange recipe after lunch. That recipe is chock full of fruits and nuts and is a definite winner in my book. After those were baked, recipe number 3 was started and finished before moving on to the last batch of thoroughly chilled dough's time in the oven. Each step of the way, I tried to help Mikayla understand the why and how for baking and reading a recipe. In fact, come of her tasks were to run back and forth to the computer to relay the ingredients or instructions back to her uncle. She also measured ingredients, added ingredients, putting sheet pans in the oven, rolled Ginger Cookie dough into balls, and any other task that the "head chef" asked of her. Occasionally, I had a "junior" sous chef who helped with the sheet pans, but he wasn't very interested in the whole process. Besides, sometimes he makes me nervous carrying sheet pans filled with cookie dough! haha I would be having visions of dancing balls of dough instead of sugar plums.
Mikayla was with me for most of the steps but there was the occasional game of Hall Hockey with her brother or a bit of piano practice or any other thing that could possibly distract a 9-year old. Over all she did well and I hope that she was able to learn something from this venture. (I do know that she learned well not to touch a sheet pan straight out of the oven!) After all, traditions can only be continued into the next generation if they are learned from this present generation.
Until next time, anyone want a cookie?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Traditions
Most families have certain traditions that are kept each year for the Christmas holiday season. These activities and ideas are brought out every year because "it's what we do". The same decorations, the same gatherings, the same music, etc are enjoyed over and over again with the new season. Why? Because they keep a sense of continuity and security in our lives and let us have a little bit of control over our immediate future. Besides, they are just plain fun!
This past weekend was just such a weekend for my family. It started off with the annual cook/bake off at Fowler Hill. This year was a little less hectic here at the "last minute" because we had already made some of it this past summer. Since this year's theme was "Breakfast", she canned several types of jams/preserves/butters while the fruits were fresh and already had them waiting to be "wrapped". When this weekend rolled around, all that remained was baking the bread and making the pancake mix. We spent a lot of the day Saturday baking the breads and she also made some brittle. This afternoon was spent making the rest of the mix and packing all the goodies into bags for tomorrow.
In between, we went to the annual local production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We have been going for about 15 years and wouldn't miss it for the world. It is one that will take you from outright belly laughs to tears in a few short moments and is filled with a wonderful message that never gets old or tiresome. It's always one of the highlights of our Christmas traditions.
As this season gets closer to Christmas Day, there will be several more traditions carried out in my family and I am looking forward to them. In fact, I am already looking forward to the beginning of next year's Christmas traditions! There's nothing on earth like them! So enjoy your traditions and make sure to make the most of each one every time!
This past weekend was just such a weekend for my family. It started off with the annual cook/bake off at Fowler Hill. This year was a little less hectic here at the "last minute" because we had already made some of it this past summer. Since this year's theme was "Breakfast", she canned several types of jams/preserves/butters while the fruits were fresh and already had them waiting to be "wrapped". When this weekend rolled around, all that remained was baking the bread and making the pancake mix. We spent a lot of the day Saturday baking the breads and she also made some brittle. This afternoon was spent making the rest of the mix and packing all the goodies into bags for tomorrow.
In between, we went to the annual local production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We have been going for about 15 years and wouldn't miss it for the world. It is one that will take you from outright belly laughs to tears in a few short moments and is filled with a wonderful message that never gets old or tiresome. It's always one of the highlights of our Christmas traditions.
As this season gets closer to Christmas Day, there will be several more traditions carried out in my family and I am looking forward to them. In fact, I am already looking forward to the beginning of next year's Christmas traditions! There's nothing on earth like them! So enjoy your traditions and make sure to make the most of each one every time!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Christmas List
One of the most exciting things for a kid to do around Christmas is make his or her list. Some children write lists a mile long; others ponder a while and narrow it down to a few choices. As we get older, the list becomes less important and the joy of giving takes its place. But there will always remain a little bit of the "list making" in an adult because, after all, humans do love to receive!
One of the Christmas songs that gets a lot of airplay during the holiday season is "Grown-up Christmas List". In case you haven't heard it, here are the lyrics...
One of the Christmas songs that gets a lot of airplay during the holiday season is "Grown-up Christmas List". In case you haven't heard it, here are the lyrics...
Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.
Well, I'm all grown-up now,
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.
So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up Christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.
Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
Some people may think of this list as a piece of fluff that was written by a person living in a fantasy world and not totally in touch with reality. But I disagree. This list provides a very powerful look into the thoughts and feelings of a truly caring person who wants nothing more than for everyone in the world to be happy, loved, and well-adjusted.
But in reality, we know that this list will not be fulfilled on this earth until the Lord Jesus Himself returns for the second time to erase all sin and the sorrows that are associated with it. Only then will "love...never end" and "a hurting human soul" will finally find comfort. Jesus' first coming was to provide the way for all humans to walk the path to heaven. His second coming will be to rid Creation once and for all of sin, death, and decay. Truly then, we can and will sing "Joy to the world! The Lord is come!"
Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 21:20
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Aliens and UFOs
One day this past week, a local morning radio show had a short segment on UFOs and aliens. One of the hosts said that he thinks there is probably life on other planets because of all the anecdotal evidence of UFO sightings and such and because it's very pompous of humans to think that we are the only intelligent life in the universe. The other person said the jury was still out on a verdict for her because she just can't quite believe that it's true. I, of course, begin thinking of all the reasons why I believe there is only life here on earth...
1) Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God created life anywhere else. The main reason people today believe in aliens is because of evolutionary ideas running so rampant through our world. If life can evolve here, then why not anywhere else?? Well, life didn't evolve here and it certainly didn't evolve 10,000,000,000 light years away from here either.
2) If there was life on other planets, why haven't they really made contact with any of us? Surely if they are as intelligent as people think they are, they would have attempted communication way before now. Where are they? Why have they never landed?
3) After the billions spent over the years investigating all the reports of UFOs and aliens and sending signals out into space to intercept "communication" from intelligent life, not one shred of real evidence exists to support the claim.
But after I thought about all those reasons, I finally came to the conclusion that there really is intelligent life outside of this earth's physical boundaries.
Confused?
Yes, Virginia. There really are aliens out there. But not like you think.
Intelligent life outside of this earth exists in the forms of angels and demons. God created them too. They are probably not what we would think of as "living" but they are nevertheless creatures of God. (Yes, God created demons but not in their present state. Demons are nothing more than fallen angels.) They have been communicating with humans for eons. Of course, most of the time, we are very unaware of such communication, but it's nevertheless very real. And they have also made several earthly landings since the beginning of time.
So after all the musings those few words brought upon my mind this week, I ended up agreeing with the original host.
Life is funny that way, isn't it?
1) Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God created life anywhere else. The main reason people today believe in aliens is because of evolutionary ideas running so rampant through our world. If life can evolve here, then why not anywhere else?? Well, life didn't evolve here and it certainly didn't evolve 10,000,000,000 light years away from here either.
2) If there was life on other planets, why haven't they really made contact with any of us? Surely if they are as intelligent as people think they are, they would have attempted communication way before now. Where are they? Why have they never landed?
3) After the billions spent over the years investigating all the reports of UFOs and aliens and sending signals out into space to intercept "communication" from intelligent life, not one shred of real evidence exists to support the claim.
But after I thought about all those reasons, I finally came to the conclusion that there really is intelligent life outside of this earth's physical boundaries.
Confused?
Yes, Virginia. There really are aliens out there. But not like you think.
Intelligent life outside of this earth exists in the forms of angels and demons. God created them too. They are probably not what we would think of as "living" but they are nevertheless creatures of God. (Yes, God created demons but not in their present state. Demons are nothing more than fallen angels.) They have been communicating with humans for eons. Of course, most of the time, we are very unaware of such communication, but it's nevertheless very real. And they have also made several earthly landings since the beginning of time.
So after all the musings those few words brought upon my mind this week, I ended up agreeing with the original host.
Life is funny that way, isn't it?
Friday, December 4, 2009
PETA-ful
PETA is known for it's shocking tactics and it doesn't disappoint in its latest go at it. The newest ad isn't as bold as throwing red paint or blood on people walking by in fur coats or having celebrities posing au natural letting everyone know that they would rather be naked than walk around in clothing made from animals. Rather it screams all the louder because of it's subtlety.
The main action is in a restaurant where a lady is leaving with her alligator purse. Suddenly, she hears a voice behind her and, turning around, she is confronted by a live alligator that has been skinned from the neck back. The alligator is accusing the woman of taking something that didn't belong to her while the woman haughtily lets it be know that she paid a lot for her latest accoutrement. In the meantime, a man comes along to get his wife's coat when a skinned rabbit comes in shouting that the man has stolen his coat and tries to grab it from the stunned man. I don't know about you, but if some animal that had been skinned came after me, I would let it have whatever it wanted!
The point of the ad is simple to understand. Humans should never kill another living creature for clothing or accessories.
What does Kevin say about this latest scare tactic?
Hogwash!
Has anyone ever noticed that the only killing that God has forbidden is the taking of another innocent human life. Nowhere in the Bible does He say that we are never to kill any of the creatures that live with us on this earth. In fact, God killed the first animal (Most scholars believe it was a lamb. One can't get more innocent than a little lamb!) in order to cover Adam and Eve after they had sinned in the Garden of Eden.
What does God say about our fellow creatures and our responsibility towards them? In Genesis 1:28, "God blessed them (Adam and Eve), and...said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living that moves on the earth'." (NKJV) Subdue does not mean "conquer" here nor does dominion mean "domination". Both of these words imply a loving care for the creatures where mankind studys and learns from them and then uses that knowledge to improve their lives and ours.
This twisted mindset that no animal should ever be killed or used by humans is a by product of the evolutionary ideas that have permeated our culture in the past 160 years. Instead of truly learning about the Creation, mankind has studied it through the cloudly lens of Evolution. This distorted view in turn causes us to twist other thoughts around and has lead to something akin to an animistic religion where we now worship the animals instead of the Creator of them. The only difference that I can see is that, while so-called primitive cultures worshipped creatures, they still didn't hesistate to use them for their own needs. (In fact, when the killing was finished, there was usually some kind of thanks-giving ceremony to thank the animal for being willing to sacrifice it's life for the well-being of the people. Isn't that something that is lacking in today's world?)
While we laugh and roll our eyes at PETA and its foolish ideas, they are very clever in their tactics. The will use whatever means they can to pull at our heartstrings and make us question our way of dealing with our fellow creatures. I am in no way condoning animal cruelty or the mass slaughter of animals for the sheer fun of it, but one needs to be careful that one does not become twisted in their thoughts and starts worshipping the "innocent" of creation instead of their Maker.
The main action is in a restaurant where a lady is leaving with her alligator purse. Suddenly, she hears a voice behind her and, turning around, she is confronted by a live alligator that has been skinned from the neck back. The alligator is accusing the woman of taking something that didn't belong to her while the woman haughtily lets it be know that she paid a lot for her latest accoutrement. In the meantime, a man comes along to get his wife's coat when a skinned rabbit comes in shouting that the man has stolen his coat and tries to grab it from the stunned man. I don't know about you, but if some animal that had been skinned came after me, I would let it have whatever it wanted!
The point of the ad is simple to understand. Humans should never kill another living creature for clothing or accessories.
What does Kevin say about this latest scare tactic?
Hogwash!
Has anyone ever noticed that the only killing that God has forbidden is the taking of another innocent human life. Nowhere in the Bible does He say that we are never to kill any of the creatures that live with us on this earth. In fact, God killed the first animal (Most scholars believe it was a lamb. One can't get more innocent than a little lamb!) in order to cover Adam and Eve after they had sinned in the Garden of Eden.
What does God say about our fellow creatures and our responsibility towards them? In Genesis 1:28, "God blessed them (Adam and Eve), and...said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living that moves on the earth'." (NKJV) Subdue does not mean "conquer" here nor does dominion mean "domination". Both of these words imply a loving care for the creatures where mankind studys and learns from them and then uses that knowledge to improve their lives and ours.
This twisted mindset that no animal should ever be killed or used by humans is a by product of the evolutionary ideas that have permeated our culture in the past 160 years. Instead of truly learning about the Creation, mankind has studied it through the cloudly lens of Evolution. This distorted view in turn causes us to twist other thoughts around and has lead to something akin to an animistic religion where we now worship the animals instead of the Creator of them. The only difference that I can see is that, while so-called primitive cultures worshipped creatures, they still didn't hesistate to use them for their own needs. (In fact, when the killing was finished, there was usually some kind of thanks-giving ceremony to thank the animal for being willing to sacrifice it's life for the well-being of the people. Isn't that something that is lacking in today's world?)
While we laugh and roll our eyes at PETA and its foolish ideas, they are very clever in their tactics. The will use whatever means they can to pull at our heartstrings and make us question our way of dealing with our fellow creatures. I am in no way condoning animal cruelty or the mass slaughter of animals for the sheer fun of it, but one needs to be careful that one does not become twisted in their thoughts and starts worshipping the "innocent" of creation instead of their Maker.
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