Lynn's Karate Pictures

Daddy and his Tiny Tiger

I'm ready to test Daddy!

Karate class after test

I'm an orange belt now!

What style is your Blog?

What style is your blog? If you want to find out type in your blog address at http://www.typealyzer.com/ and supposedly it will analyze your writing style.

My blog style is: Artists.

Thank you Lady Bananna for the link. :)

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat

Please put a penny in an old man's hat

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That old song has been running through my head this morning on the Saturday before our American Thanksgiving. I have 2 sisters and a brother-in-law who have lost jobs this year and are unemployed. Times are getting hard here in the land of plenty. What have we to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

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I bet most of us still have much more then the majority of the world's population. If you are reading this, you have access to a computer. :) Hurray! I bet most of us will eat today. Hurray! I bet most of us will sleep with a roof over our heads and walls to protect us from the wind. Most of us have loved ones to visit and call and enjoy. Most of us are loved and cared about by someone. On top of all the blessings I have including my husband and 3 living children, I can look forward to meeting my Savior face to face when this word passes away. I can look forward to being reunited with my son who died at the age of 10 and my sister and my Mom. Perhaps I can even be thankful for the extra pounds I have to sustain me through any coming lean times. :) (Well that is a little harder to be thankful for. I am off to Curves to try to get rid of that)

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So tell me what you are thankful for this week and then go find an old man or a someone in need and give your time and money. Help someone in more need then you as we head towards Christmas.

I hate mirrors

To say our household has been under a lot of stress would be an understatement. Its been over a year since Joshua died. The world has been a blur full of lack of motivation to do much of anything.





Stress can be helpful as a motivator but as you will notice on this highly scientific looking chart....too much stress decreases our performance significantly. It also has a tendency to cause weight gain or loss. In my case...gain. :(

So I pass my days away and can't believe its been over a year since Joshua died. Here comes the horror. My church put up a full lenth mirror in the entrance. How horrible can that be? To see your whole body with all its fat attached. Perhaps this has been the shock that will jar me back into reality.

My pants are tight and my tummy is bulging. So I finally did the horrible deed. I got on a scale.

GASP!

I have gained over 30 pounds since Joshua died!

This has got to stop.

Curves....here I come.

A boy and his dog

A boy and his dog. :)

What can bring a smile

when his world has fallen apart

When the hurts of this world overwhelm him

When death has touched his very heart

***********

What comfort can a boy find

when schoolwork piles high

when sadness plagues his every thought

when all he wants to do is cry

***********

When Mom has chores for him to do

but his heart screams, "I don't care!"

I saw my brother die before me?

I dont want to even push in my chair

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So up he goes to his room with the door slammed closed

mixed feelings running through his head

he feels a gentle wet nose on his face

as he lays hurting on his bed
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Little stinky black pug?

with big bulging eyes

with silly snorting noises

and soft little sighs?
***********

How can he not smile

when you snuggle against him

when you lick his nose

and you bite at his toes

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

Good feelings fill his heart with hope

he has a true companion and friend

His face is smiling and he can go on

thanks to the attentinons of a little black dog

What is Important?

Anger, bitterness, sorrow....victory, spite, and haughtiness. It seems that the election has left emotional divisions and downright mean hearted speech and actions throughout the country. What is so important about rubbing it in? About putting others down? Whether you believe there is no God and we need to have tolerance for all or if you believe in God with unmerited love for all, even "sinners," there should be no reason for the maligning and hurtful words towards anyone who believes differently from you. We all agree we are supposed to love one another. And yet it seems that both sides are struggling to love anyone who doesn't think like they do. Loving doesn't mean agreeing with. It doesn't mean saying it is OK. We get to vote so we can try to influence the country into what we want it to be. We get to say our mind about the ideals we hold dear. Can we not speak our truth with love and respect for each other? With a caring heart. Without lies and twisted truths? While the country is plunged into hurtful actions and speech, life continues. Babies are born and people die. Pets die. People struggle with finances and sickness. What is truly important? I was visiting my son's cross last weekend and remembered his little hamster we buried in July. Remembered releasing balloons in memory of my son who died in the creek below. What is important? Not wasting my energy hating those who voted differently...that is for sure. Truth without love in nothing but a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. What is important to me? Each person created as a masterpiece by our Creator. My faith, my integrity, my family....my eternal reunion with my Lord and with my son.

Even silly little Hamsters. :)

I wrote about little hammy after we buried him in July. He died a few days shy of the one year anniversary of my son Joshua's death. My son Micah took special care of the little hamster in honor of his big brother. Here are some pictures of Hammy's burial. We buried the little guy on July 20th, 2008 and released balloons in honor of Joshua exactly one year from the day we lost him from our presence here on earth.





We gently laid little Hammy in an "I can't believe its not butter" coffin on some soft tissue and added some flowers and some fox tails. I am sorry to admit that I found humor in the I can't believe its not butter container. No it really isn't butter inside. Strange the thoughts that go through one's head.







We buried Hammy next to the Joshua's cross right above the little creek Joshua died in. It is funny how much comfort that small act of a burial near Joshua's cross can bring.





Remember people are hurting and living each day the best they can. Everyday trials are made bearable by the loving caring support of friends and family. Don't forget what is important in this life. Don't forget to love each other.

Children's Chorale

Micah Singing