HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

I am Christian but have many friends of different faiths

Wishing you all PEACE in 2012

2011-03-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

Please pray for my son to be healed 100%.
Lucas is having severe health issues.

More on Exercise

2010-10-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley

Exercise alone provides psychological and physical benefits. However, if you also adopt a strategy that engages your mind while you exercise, you can get a whole host of psychological benefits fairly quickly.
--James Rippe, M.D.

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease"--
Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931).
"Living a healthy lifestyle will only deprive you of poor health, lethargy, and fat"
--Jill Johnson.
"No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change"--
Bill Phillips.
"By increasing oxygen, you can bring your body's metabolic process into balance"--
R. Dunham.
"Breathing correctly is the key to better fitness, muscle strength, stamina and athletic endurance."~Dr. Michael Yessis~

what is happiness?

2010-10-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

‎"Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."
author unknown

about exercise

2010-07-29T08:49:00.001-07:00

--Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~Plato

--I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. ~Marsha Doble

--Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. ~Carol Welch

--It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor. ~Marcus Tullius Cicero

--If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise. ~Author Unknown

--Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley

JULY thoughts

2010-07-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Summer haikus:

humidity comes
as a wet, soggy blanket-
uncomfortable
--Karla Dorman.

The sun melts the day
and the moon lights the cool night.
The oean beckons.
--Samantha Costa.

Sizzle in the sun.
Blue poolglistens wet and cool...
Take breath and dive!
--Adele Caulfield Schiller.

"Clouds drifting slowly
through the sunny blue sea
late summer breeze
warms my heart and bone
in a peaceful moment.

posted by Ashi 2008

"a rough sea
breaks on the beach,
a thousand
knots unravelling
in my weary head"

by David

June thought

2010-06-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

"Kind hearts are the gardens;
kind thoughts are the roots;
kind words are the flowers;
kind deeds are the fruits."
- English Proverb

quotes

2010-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."~ Aldous Huxley
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.-- Albert Einstein
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.-- Walter Elliott.
Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.
--Peter Ustinov

HEALTH CARE INFORM BILL... proud to be Democrat

2010-03-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/03/obama-signs-health-care-bill/1

“The greatest wealth is health”—Virgil
“Health is not valued till sickness comes.” --Dr. Thomas Fuller
“So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.”--A.J. Reb Materi
“Health is not simply the absence of sickness.”--Hannah Green
“Health of body and mind is a great blessing, if we can bear it.”--John Henry Cardinal Newman
“A healthy body and soul come from an unencumbered mind and body.”--Ymber Delecto
“One of the most sublime experiences we can ever have is to wake up feeling healthy after we have been sick.”--Rabbi Harold Kushner
“If I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself.”--Leon Eldred

GOOD REASON TO TAKE THE STAIRS

2010-01-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010799347_apeuspainwomantrapped.html?prmid=obnetwork

Police rescue woman caught in elevator for 8 days
Police say they rescued a woman who was trapped for eight days in an elevator in her house in northeastern Spain.

The Associated Press

MADRID —
Police say they rescued a woman who was trapped for eight days in an elevator in her house in northeastern Spain.

Police said Friday they were alerted by relatives of the 45-year-old woman who said they had not been able to contact her for five days.

Officers on Tuesday heard the woman's cries for help as soon as they opened the door of her three-floor house, located in an isolated area on the outskirts of the coastal town of Sitges, near Barcelona.

Police said the woman, who lived alone, was distraught and suffering from dehydration. She was taken to a hospital.

Police believe the lift broke down because of an electrical problem.

NYC

2010-01-14T08:07:00.000-08:00

OUR NEW YORK VACATION WAS FABULOUS!
(DEC 26 - JAN 2)

merry christmas

2009-12-25T08:25:00.000-08:00

After singing and bell ringing at church last eve enjoyed a lovely sane gift exchange wtih my 3 favorite men and my 2 fav pets... off to work NOW (hospitals don't close...)..then dinner at 7 pm... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cooking without salt

2009-12-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Low Salt Cooking: When I was a dietitian student nearly 20 years ago I was taught that it will take your taste buds 8 weeks to get used to the way NO SALT tastes and after that when you salt food it will taste terrible (too salty).That’s what I teach my patients. Watch out for LEMON-PEPPER which may contain salt. Never use salt subs that contain potassium (instead of sodium) unless you get doctor approval.
NON-SALT SEASONING IDEAS:
Fish: anise, cilantro, coriander dill, fennel, parsley, sage, thyme Pork: anise, cilantro, coriander, oregano, rosemaryChicken and poultry: anise, parsley, sage, rosemary, thymeVegetables: basil, chives, dill, fennel, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemaryWhen using cilantro and coriander on fish or pork, mix it with a something citrusy, like lemon.
Flavouring Foods Without Salt
1. Choose herbs, spices and seasonings that do not contain salt. Always check that salt or sodium is not on the ingredient list. For example, use:• Fresh garlic or garlic powder (not garlic salt)• Fresh, dried or powdered onions (not onion salt)Note: Sea salt is just as high in sodiumas regular salt.
2. Try using fresh herbs. Herbs add flavor and a fresh taste to foods.
3. Make your own blend of salt-free seasoning. Mix and store in a salt or pepper shaker.Universal Seasoning15 mL (1 Tbsp) dried mustard15 mL (1 Tbsp) paprika15 mL (1 Tbsp) garlic powder15 mL (1 Tbsp) onion powder7 mL (1 1/2 tsp) black pepper5 mL (1 tsp) basil5 mL (1 tsp) thyme
4. Sprinkle fresh lemon or lime juice on cooked rice, potatoes, vegetables, fish or chicken.
5. Look for new flavouring ideas in cookbooks and magazines.• Use fruit sauce for fish, meat, or chicken (pineapple, nectarine, orange, kiwi or mango mixtures).• Add curry powder to meat, poultry or fish.• Make your own salad dressings from oil, assorted vinegars, garlic, herbs, and spices.• Flavour stir-fried foods with fresh ginger and garlic. Add unsalted peanut butter for a Thai flavour.• Experiment with homemade pizzas made with any combination of fresh vegetables, allowed cheeses, herbs, and meats. Try it with and without tomato sauce (called flat bread).
6. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar on vegetables, and use it to give extra zip to marinades and salad dressings.
7. Use juice or wine as a flavouring in marinades, stewed meats and sauces.
8. Collect cookbooks and recipes that use low-salt flavourings. Exchange low-salt recipes with friends and family

Here's to Health

2009-12-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

"The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind." ~G.K. Chesterton

Top 10 health innovations of 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/14/top.health.innovations.2009/
(CLICK ON Here's to Health TITLE ABOVE)

THANKSGIVING 2009

2009-11-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

God Bless those who have lost loved ones recently or have to work on Thanksgiving.

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. “ ~W.J. Cameron
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.” ~Erma Bombeck
“For each new morning with its light,For rest and shelter of the night,For health and food, for love and friends,For everything Thy goodness sends.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.” ~E.P. Powell
“He who thanks but with the lips Thanks but in part; The full, the true Thanksgiving Comes from the heart.” ~J.A. Shedd
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Living

2009-11-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. "
--Martin Luther King Jr.

H1N1 VIRUS

2009-10-29T09:02:00.001-07:00

CDC recommendations on H1N1 vaccine
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm

BOY SAVES TEACHER

2009-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

CUB SCOUT SAVES TEACHER!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!http://www.digtriad.com/news/thebuzz/story.aspx?storyid=131799&catid=259

A 10-year-old autistic boy in Texas is being hailed as a hero after he performed the Heimlich maneuver on his teacher while she was choking.

RAIN

2009-10-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

"God sends showers on earth and waters the fields"...... Job 5:10

Check out this Church

2009-10-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

Great Church to check out if you live in southeast Los Angeles County, California:

http://fpcdowney.com/

We can work it out.....

2009-10-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

Great relationship song from THE BEATLES
(McCartney/Lennon)Recorded: October 20, 1965, Abbey Road Studios, London.
"Try to see it my way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59NNupminV8

S M I L E

2009-10-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."
... Mother Teresa

THE AMAZING DANCE

2009-08-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJTS1dxgd_M

Recently, in a televised modern dance competition in China - a very uniquecouple won one of the top prizes and received the longest standing ovation.She was a dancer, who had trained since she was a child. Tragically, shelost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of depression; soshe decided to coach a children's dancing group. From that point on, sherealized she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance and wantedto dance again. She tried to do some of her former routines but without herarm she had difficulty maintaining balance. She practiced strenuously anddeveloped a dance routine - always dancing alone in her studio.He was not a dancer. He lost a leg in an accident and he had fallen into adeep state of depression. They met - and her goal immediately became tohelp him become positive about life again. She taught him to dance and inher studio they danced together and developed a routine as their lives andfriendship became closer.Their life together, behind the closed doors of the dance studio - was one ofcreativity, challenge, determination, practice and sometimes failure.Theirfocus was on doing what others said would be impossible.. Several timesit became so difficult and frustrating for them that they gave up, broke up.But life alone, without each other, brought them back together again andthey became even more determined to perfect a dance routine to a pointwhere they might try to dance outside the studio to see what friends andfamily thought about what they were doing all that time inside the studio.Their friends and family were so supportive they encouraged the coupleto enter a dance competition, which they finally agreed to do. Only laterdid they realize the competition was to be televised locally. We will nowsee the first - and to date only televised performance of their dance......:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Olivia Claire Perry and Nicolas Falco Elias

2009-06-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Thank You to Brad and Luke for being such good helpers!

Pre-Prom May 30, 2009.... see FACEBOOK for many more photos.... luv the color... luv the luv

KUDOS TO NICK and Luke

2009-06-13T09:33:00.001-07:00

CONGRATS TO MY SON NICK WHO GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL JUNE 18, 2009!
PLUS, HES ONE OF THE VALEDICTORIANS!
IMAGINE THAT!
Nick Also Received the Bank of America MATH award... hey, where's the money?

PHOTO FROM MOM DAY 2009

NICK, CHRIS, LUKE

Good Job to Lucas also for his Freshman year at Reseda. Great Grades. Plus, 47 volunteer hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And on Volleyball team.

when did i get so short????????????????????

SLEEP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih3/sleep/guide/info-sleep.htm

Table 2. Representative Total Sleep Requirements for Various Species
Species Average Total Sleep Time (hours/day)
brown bat 19.9
python 18.0
owl monkey 17.0
human infant 16.0
tiger 15.8
squirrel 14.9
golden hamster 14.3
lion 13.5
gerbil 13.1
rat 12.6
cat 12.1
mouse 12.1
rabbit 11.4
jaguar 10.8
duck 10.8
dog 10.6
bottle-nosed dolphin 10.4
baboon 10.3
chimpanzee 9.7
guinea pig 9.4
human adolescent 9.0
human adult 8.0
pig 7.8
gray seal 6.2
goat 5.3
cow 3.9
sheep 3.8
elephant 3.5
donkey 3.1
horse 2.9
giraffe 1.9
Sources: References 1, 5, 16, and 36.

PENGUIN POO!

2009-06-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

Penguin poo stains expose emperors' icy homes

BONN, Germany (Reuters) - Ten new colonies of emperor penguins have been found in Antarctica after satellite photos showing brownish stains on the ice turned out to be the excrement of thousands of birds.
The findings, revealed by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) on Tuesday, will help understand penguin populations and the vulnerability to global warming of the breeding colonies which are on sea ice.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5507T320090601

beatles rock band..... sept 9

2009-06-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Remaining Beatles come together to promote game
16 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are coming together to promote the upcoming "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game.
The two surviving Beatles, along with Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, appeared at Microsoft Corp.'s presentation Monday at the E3 video game conference in Los Angeles.
In the game, fans will be able to follow the band's career beginning with their early days in 1963 Liverpool through their final rooftop performance.
Forty-five Beatles songs will be available on the game disc. Another, "All You Need Is Love," meanwhile, will be released on the Xbox 360 for download, with proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.
"The Beatles: Rock Band" hits store shelves on Sept. 9. Its publisher is MTV Games, the developer is Harmonix and Electronic Arts is the distribution partner.

Wedding Anniversary

2009-05-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HAPPY BRAD

Wonderful day despite being sick

HUMAN SWINE FLU ... NOT YET PANDEMIC

2009-04-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

==> THIS RESPIRATORY VIRUS IS SPREAD THROUGH COUGHING AND SNEEZING
==> THIS SPREADS FASTER THAN 1918 FLU DUE TO AIR TRAVEL
==> GOVT ADVISES AGAINST UNNECESSARY TRAVEL TO MEXICO
==> SYMPTOMS TAKE 3 - 4 DAYS TO SHOW UP

This is a virus we’ve never seen before -- part of pandemic criteria

This virus is also affecting 20, 30, and 40 year olds

Unusually, the viruses all appear to carry genes from swine flu, avian flu and human flu viruses from North America, Europe and Asia. "We haven't seen this strain before, but we hadn't been looking as intensively as we have," Dr Schuchat said. "It's very possible that this is something new that hasn't been happening before." Human-to-human spread:
"We believe at this point that human-to-human spread is occurring," Dr Schuchat said. "That's unusual. We don't know yet how widely it is spreading.

"NO SINGLE ACTION WILL IRRADICATE AN OUTBREAK"

TAKE PRECAUTIONS
To protect yourself and your family, officials say you should cover a cough, stay home when you're sick or have a fever and wash your hands frequently. Besser says for now he'd prefer to focus on regular hand-washing, and people "not giving that little kiss of greeting that they're used to right now."

== TAMILU MAY BE USED FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ... ASK YOUR DOCTOR FIRST == COAST GUARD AND BORDER OFFICERS HAVE ANTIVIRALS

COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES :
==> WASH HANDS OFTEN
==> STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL SICK
==> COVER MOUTH WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE
The Centers for Disease Control says people who have flu-like symptoms — fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing — should see their doctors. The CDC says some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.There is no vaccine for this disease. The best way to prevent its spread is to exercise good sense — stay home if you feel sick, call your doctor, cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and throw the tissues away and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol cleanser.Oh, and you can’t catch swine flu by eating pork — at least if it is fully cooked.For the latest information about swine flu, go to the CDC’s Web site, www.cdc.gov.And don’t panic.

PRAY FOR OUR WORLD

50 YEARS of research on heart diet

2009-04-17T08:14:00.001-07:00

Not All Diets Pass the Heart-Healthy Test
Study Shows Mediterranean Diet Lowers Heart Disease Risk; Western Diet Gets Poor Marks

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20090413/not-all-diets-pass-the-heart-healthy-test
Researchers evaluated more than 50 years of research on diet and heart disease and found diets rich in vegetables, nuts, and those that follow a Mediterranean pattern with lots of fruits, vegetables, and fish have "strong evidence" of lowering the risk of heart disease.

The final results showed only three specific dietary factors had strong evidence behind them as proven heart disease fighters:
· Vegetable-rich diet
· Eating nuts rich in monounsaturated fatty acids like walnuts and other nuts
· Following a Mediterranean-style diet high in vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, whole grains, cheese or yogurt, and fish
Of these, only a Mediterranean-style diet has been shown in randomized controlled studies to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Mediterranean Diet Is Healthy For Your Heart: McMaster Study
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146349.php

The study concludes there are certain food groups or dietary patterns, that are beneficial, including vegetables, nuts, monounsaturated fatty acids, and an overall 'healthy' dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet which incorporates generous amounts of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, such as olive and canola oil, small portions of nuts, red wine in moderation, very little red meat and fish on a regular basis. In addition, the researchers conclude there is strong evidence which supports that certain dietary factors such as glycemic index/load of foods and trans fatty acids are harmful.

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS

2009-02-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

Fan Club link
http://flightfans.ning.com/

My Web Page link
http://flightfans.ning.com/profile/ChrisE

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 AROUND THE WORLD !!!

2008-12-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

HOPING YOUR CHRISTMAS WAS SPECIAL ...
PRAYING FOR YOUR NEW YEAR TO BE BRIGHT...
89 LANGUAGES REPRESENTED BELOW:

Afgani -- Saale Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans - Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albania--- Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Amharic (Ethiopia celebrates 9/11)-- Melkam Addis Amet
عيد رأس السنة Antum salimoun .... Arabic
Armenian -- shnorhavor nor tari
Basque --urte berri on
Bassa (Cameroon) -- Nwi Lam
Bengali - Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Bobo--bonne année
Brazilian Portuguese --Srećan Nova godina
Burmese- hnit thit ku mingalar pa
Cherokee -- alihelisdi itse udetiyvsadisvi
Cheyenne--Aa'e Emona'e
Gung hay fat choy (a New Year greeting meaning, "May you become prosperous.") and Sun nien fai lok (meaning, "Happy new year") ... Chinese (Cantonese)
Xin nian yu kuai .... Chinese (Mandarin)
Corsican -- Pace e Salute
Croatian--sretna nova godina
Czech--Šťastný Nový rok
Danish-- Godt Nytår
Dutch --Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar
Eskimo - Kiortame pivdluaritlo
French -- Bonne année
Gaelic-- Aith-bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit
German-- Gutes Neues Jahr
Greek -- Καλή χρονιά
Gwich'in (W Canada)--Drin Choo Zhit Zhoh Ohlii
Haitian Creole -- bònn ané
Hän (W Canada)--Drin Cho Zhìt Shò Ahlay
Hawaiian --Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew --Shanah tovah
Hindi -- नया साल मुबारक हो
Hong Kong --Sun Leen Fai Lok
Hungarian -- Boldog {j Évet
Farsi -- Aide shoma mobarak
Icelandic -- Hamingjusamur Nýár
Indonesian --elamat Tahun Baru
Italian -- Nuovo anno felice
Iraqi - Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Iroquois (Usa)-- Ojenyunyat Osrasay
新年あけましておめでとうございます …Japanese
Kikamba (KENYAN)-- a Mwaka Mweu Museo
새해 복 많이 받으세요 seh heh bok mani bat uh seyo ….. Korean
Kurde--sala we ya nű pîroz be
Ladino (Spain) --Año Bueno
Latin -- Gauisus Novus Annus
Latvian-- laimīgu Jauno gadu
Laotian - Sabai dee pee mai
Macedonian--Среќна Нова Година (srekna nova godina)
Malay-- Selamat Tahun Baru
Maltese-- is-sena t-tajba
Maori-kia hari te tau hou
Naskapi (Canada)-- Kiyaa Maamiyupiyaakw Minuwaach Pipuun
Navajo--Hozhi Naghai
Nepal -- Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana
Norwegian --Godt Nyttår
Papiamento (Aruba) --Feliz Ana Nobo
Papua New Guinea - Nupela yia i go long y
Persian -- سال نو مبار (sâle no mobârak)
Polish -- Szczesliwego Nowego roku
Pilipino (Tagalog) --Maligayang Bagong Taon
Portuguese-- Ano novo feliz
Punjabi - Nave sal di mubarak
Q'anjob'al (Mexico) --Chi Woche Swatx'ilal Yet Jun Sk'exb'i Ab'ilti'
Romanian --La Multi Ani
Russian -- С новым годом
Samoan-- ia manuia le tausaga fou
Scottish Gaelic -- bliadhna mhath ur
Serbian --Srećan Nova godina
Sindhi --Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje
Sinhala (Sri Lanka) -- suba aluth avuruddak vewa
Slovenian -- sreиno novo leto
Somali--sanad wanagsan
Spanish ---Feliz año nuevo
Swahili - Heri Za Mwaka Mpya
Swedish --Lyckligt nytt år
Swiss-German --es guets Nöis
Thai - Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish --Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu-- naya saal mubarik
Uzbek -- Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh --Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
West Indian Creole -- bon lanné
Yiddish -- a gut yohr

GET OUT AND VOTE NOW!

2008-11-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

I usually have NO wait at my typical polling place in Canoga Park, CA.
This morning I waited about 40 minutes.
Very hopeful to see people out to vote.
So awesome to see a young friend of the family voting for the first time.

OBAMA CAPTURED DIXVILLE NOTCH VOTERS
In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, he won 15 votes to his Republican rival John McCain's six, becoming the first Democrat to win there since 1968.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7707667.stm

Prayers for SAFETY for our candidates

Prayers for my FATHER having open heart surgery now

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR QUOTES

2008-10-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. A lie cannot live. A man can't ride your back unless it's bent. A man who won't die for something is not fit to live. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom. A right delayed is a right denied. A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem. Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law. At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see. Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. I submit that an individual who breaks the law that conscience tells him is unjust and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law. I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. Martin If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive. If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control. In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important. Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice, and... when they fail to do this purpose they become dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal. Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals. Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam. One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary. Pity may represent little more than the impersonal concern which prompts the mailing of a check, but true sympathy is the personal concern which demands the giving of one's soul. Property is intended to serve life, and no matter how much we surround it with rights and respect, it has no personal being. It is part of the earth man walks on. It is not man. Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think. Science investigates religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power religion gives man wisdom which is control. Seeing is not always believing.Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do thE RIGHT THING. The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one. The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood. The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict. The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility. The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice. The Negro needs the white man to free him from his fears. The white man needs the Negro to free him from his guilt. The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows. The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important. The question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be. The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists. The time is always right to do what is right. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth. To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. War is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow. Martin Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows. We are not makers of history. We are made by history. We have guided missiles and misguided men. We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the postive affirmation of peace. We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. We must use time creatively. We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We who in engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people. We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality. Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better. When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.

JOHN F. KENNEDY QUOTES

2008-10-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

--A child miseducated is a child lost.
***A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.
--A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.
***A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
--A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today - and in fact we have forgotten.
***Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
==>>Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
--If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.
***Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.
--Liberty without learning is always in peril; learning without liberty is always in vain.
***Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.
--So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved.
***The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
--There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
***We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch.
--We set sail on this new sea because there is knowledge to be gained.
***We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others.

VOTE OBAMA AND BIDEN

2008-10-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

JOIN ME BY VOTING FOR OBAMA AND BIDEN

I like Obama's stance on war, education, health care. He is a deep and pensive thinker. I like how world leaders believe he can improve the relationship of USA with the world. Biden adds wisdom and experience. I believe that Obama and Biden truly care for people. I admire and respect both Obama and Biden.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/community-news/obama-lcv-endorsement-88083002

Look to the future==Senator Obama offers the most comprehensive energy plan of any Presidential nominee in history, it will end our dependence on foreign oil and create as many as 5,000,000 jobs. Senator McCain’s plan continues the Bush Administration’s policy of appeasement to Big Oil, does nothing to reduce our dependence on oil, and isn’t as good as Paris Hilton’s.
You pollute, you pay==Obama and Biden support plan to make polluters pay for pollution credits and to clean up toxic waste. McCain wants us to foot the bill for clean-up and to give polluters billions in tax breaks and subsidies.
Keeping us healthy==Obama and Biden have fought to keep our air and water clean. McCain has voted against clean water ten times and voted six times to make it harder for states and the EPA to keep our air clean.
Listening to the scientists==The Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that America must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming. Obama’s plan will reach that goal. McCain’s plan falls far short.
The record speaks for itself==Senator Barack Obama earned a lifetime environmental voting score of 86%. Senator Biden earned an 83%. Senator John McCain earned a 24% score.
Decisions are made by those who show up==In the last two years, John McCain missed EVERY SINGLE major vote on energy. One vital 2007 bill, to move billions of dollars in tax credits from the oil industry to wind, solar and other clean energy sources, failed by one vote: John McCain’s. Obama and Biden, also running for President, voted for it.
Saving money at the pump==Obama proposes to double the fuel efficiency of our cars in 18 years, reducing our oil consumption by at least 35% or 10 millions barrels per day. McCain voted against increasing fuel efficiency in 2003 and 2005. He missed the 2007 vote. Presumably, he ran out of gas.
We’re not alone==For more than 20 years, Joe Biden has been at the forefront of the fight against global warming. In 1986, he offered the first Senate bill to fight global warming pollution. Since then, he has been the Senate’s strongest voice for making America the international leader in reducing global warming pollution and exporting clean technology.
Higher standards==To create millions of new jobs, we must boost production of renewable electricity. Obama plans create 25% of our electricity from clean energy by 2025. McCain opposes any national renewable energy standard.
Judge him by his friends--Senator McCain accepted more than $2 million from the oil and gas industry, more than half of that since he changed his position on offshore drilling last month. His forthcoming plan to open America’s playgrounds and sandboxes to drilling is expected to net another $1.2 million.

MY FATHER'S SONG by Simon J. Ortiz

2008-06-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

In honor of all men who help children....on Father's Day Weekend.

MY FATHER’S SONG
by Simon J. Ortiz – (1976)

“Wanting to say things,
I miss my father tonight.
His voice, the slight catch,
the depth from his thin chest,
the tremble of emotion
in something he has just said
to his son, his song:

We planted corn one spring at Acu-
we planted several times
but this one particular time
I remember the soft damp sand
in my hand.

My father had stopped at one point
to show me an overturned furrow;
the plowshare had unearthed
the burrow nest of a mouse
in the soft moist sand.

Very gently, he scooped tiny pink animals
into the palm of his hand
and told me to touch them.
We took them to the edge
of the field and put them in the shade
of a sand moist clod.

I remember the very softness
of cool and warm sand and tiny alive mice
and my father saying things.”

G O T. . . . . . . . . . . .T E A ---?

2007-12-01T08:34:00.001-08:00

WHY doesn't Panda Express
serve HOT TEA?????
My lunch during yesterday's rain would have been better with hot tea......

HAIKUS for THANKSGIVING

2007-11-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

ORIGINAL HAIKUS FOR THANKSGIVING 2007

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
To my Friends and Family
You are Missed Dearly

Aromas fill the
House we live or visit in
Waiting for the Feast

Loved ones Remembered
Who have passed on to Glory
Good memories shared

Sadness and Anger
Can overcome us also
Practice self-control

Divorce or Broken
Relationships can get us
Down this holiday

Call a Friend or Just
Show up and see how you will
Be Welcomed in Now

Thanks to the Faithful
Volunteers who cook and serve
For the Homeless Ones

I give thanks to God
For all who read these poems
Have a Blessed Day

Christina Marie Falco Elias

SONS /// MOVIE

2007-11-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Scene from movie "Michael Clayton." GOOD MOVIE to see about love, greed, consequence, redemption, justice, and hope. Thanks Nick.

MY BOYS (Luke and Nick) at the AMC theater. Nick let me take his photo on his last day of work, 11/3/07, because I offered to help clean up the theater mess.

Nick's friend said: "You have the coolest mom" as I swept the AMC.

Good Movie

2007-11-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

DAN IN REAL LIFE

The Movie

I thought was

real, charming, heart-breaking, deep, joyful,

honest, poignant, pensive, and worth the view..........

What A Guy!

2007-10-31T06:34:00.000-07:00

My Husband is SO Sweet.

October 3rd He surprised

me with a lucious

soft heavenly robe to celebrate

the Anniversary

of our first date

29 years ago!

(My robe is actually more lovely than the robe shown here)

Great Movie

2007-09-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

THE BRAVE ONE

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent new deep Movie.Thanks to my son Nick working at AMC we got to view this free opening night. Wow!

Happy 50th Birthday Bradley Dean Elias.

The OPTIMISTS Creed

2007-09-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Optimists Creed
by Christian D. Larson - 1912

I Promise Myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything, and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

Too Creepy // Swimmers Read This

2007-09-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

I went swimming in our pool early this morning, about 815.

I noticed what I thought was a dead spider in our pool.

It was on it's back, with legs curled under, floating on the water. I thought it might be a black widow and was very happy it was dead. I almost used my hands, since it was dead, but instead I got a pool toy and removed it from the water. It proceeded to walk away! I smashed it with the pool toy. Damn Resilient Poisonous Spiders!

HAIKUS I wrote on Love

2007-08-25T23:56:00.002-07:00

Love opens our world
To new possibilities
Never imagined

Love enters into
Our lives when we don’t expect
And leaves abruptly

Love returns to us
Perhaps in a new package
We embrace it more

Love is volatile
Passionate tender honest
Mean and Confusing

Love is shared moments
With Impeccable timing
Friendship and Conflict

Love is Forgiveness
Sunny Days and Stormy Nights
Mercy Care and Joy

Friends who love forgive
True Love cannot hate lie steal
Friends who love repent

Love surprises us
Even after many years
With pleasure and health

Love is to observe
Workmanship of God displayed
In your own children

Love is gift from God
Shared and passed on so we Bless
Others with God’s gift

B O D Y Q U O T E S

2007-07-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have exercised Eleven days in a row. I feel great! cmfe
**************************************************
BODY QUOTES

Each body has its art...
Gwendolyn Brooks

Safeguard the health both of body and soul.
Cleobulus

I live in company with a body, a silent companion, exacting and eternal.
Eugene Delacroix
French Romantic painter (1798 - 1863)

Of one thing I am certain, the body is not the measure of healing - peace is the measure.
George Melton

The body is an instrument, the mind its function, the witness and reward of its operation.
George Santayana

The mind's first step to self-awareness must be through the body.
George Sheehan

A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.
John Locke

You should pray for a sound mind in a sound body.
Juvenal, Satires
Roman poet & satirist (55 AD - 127 AD)

Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.
Marilyn Ferguson

I am convinced that life in a physical body is meant to be an ecstatic experience.
Shakti Gawain

Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them.
Shakti Gawain

The body is] a marvelous machine...a chemical laboratory, a power-house. Every movement, voluntary or involuntary, full of secrets and marvels!
Theodor Herzl (1860 - 1904)

If any thing is sacred the human body is sacred.
Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)

Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners.
William Shakespeare (1564 – 161

S U M M E R

2007-07-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

S . . . . . . . . . . . . I love to Swim. The water feels better than silk against my skin.

U . . . . . . . . . . . . Unbelievable Ocean Sunset // Especially in Hawaii

M. . . . . . . . . . . . Maker.....God Made Summer!

M. . . . . . . . . . . . The Moon is awe-inspiring

E. . . . . . . . . . . . Every Breeze is so nice. Evening Darkness Calms a hot day.

R. . . . . . . . . . . . Gentle Summer Rain Cleans the Sky

Haikus for Mother's Day May 13th

2007-05-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

Mom

Without her I Do
Not exist except in Her
Imagination

Mother

Ever Faithfully
Lovingly working in the
Home to make it good

Grandma

Spoiling the kids
That look quite a bit like hers
Wants to start over

Daughter

Dreams she had more time
To spend with her mother who
Lives so far away

Aunt

Necklace you crocheted
I still proudly wear at work -
Photo of the beach

Auntie

I miss your smile
Sweet laugh and the delicious
Hand-made tortillas

Friend

You were there for me
Bikes rides games and movies too
My fair wedding maid

Sister

Wondering what kind
Of sister I would have had -
My friends have been great

Child

Wondering what kind
Of person you would have been -
Are you in heaven

Cousins

I loved you dearly
I hate that you died so young
We had such good times

Wife to husband

Sorry for the times
I failed with my emotions -
Please forgive me now

Sons

How could anyone
Expect any more from you
Who are Gifts from God

Church Kids

I will miss you all
Our bonds will survive for years
Believe God Loves You

God

I know you are near

Even though you seem so far

Help me to be true

Peace

Today I pray for
Peace in this pazzo world -
What caused this chaos

Christina Marie Falco Elias

(: * Q U O T E S * :)

2007-04-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

"Everybody can be great - because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace; a soul generated by love."
- -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from."
-- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."
--Robert Louis Stevenson

“A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.”
--Confucius

"Good works are links that form a chain of love."
--Mother Teresa

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
--Jesus Christ

Time for Reflection

2007-04-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

"Lord God, you walked among us as a man of sorrows and one acquainted with grief. Hear us on this Day of Sorrows as we pray for all who bear the burdens of grief. Help us, O God, with the knowledge that we do not carry our burdens alone. May all who sorrow know again that nothing in all creation can separate us from your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen."
"O Lord, we can betray You in many ways. We have turned from those whose physical needs we could afford to meet. We have been insensitive to the plight of the prisoner, the lonely, the powerless and the handicapped. We have placed blame on others which was properly our own. Forgive us for these and other betrayals against You and against others. We thank you, Lord, that you take from us the weight of such guilt, if we but ask. Amen. "
"Lord Jesus, we confess that it is easy for us to look at Pilate and wonder what he was thinking. He is so easy to condemn. Did he really believe he was innocent? Do we believe we are innocent? Would we have made another decision? We would like to think so, but under pressure, filled with fear, blinded by our own prejudices, probably not. Forgive us for not always standing for Your truth and Your ways. Forgive us for too often choosing the easy way, rather than Your way. Thank You for loving us so much that You willingly endured this kind of injustice and humiliation for our salvation. We bow in silent gratitude before You. Amen."

Unison Prayers from church I attended April 6th 2007, Good Friday

THE RELATIONSHIP IS OVER...don't cry for me

2007-04-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

I want to break up WITH FOOD! I really need to stop overeating-- eating due to emotions not addressed, or boredom, etc. I need to seriously address this 47 year old bad habit of mine, Coping Mechanism, whatever you want to name it.
I turn the big 5.0. in a few months.
I need to tackle this and be cured of it for my next *50* years---sure!
My Reality Check was being weighed at the doctor's office April 2nd.
I've already increased my activity, walking, parking farther away, stairs, ex-bike.
I am eating less. I'm trying to decipher my emotions before choosing to eat. I found a great web-page on being cured of binge eating. My therapist is helping me address the real deeper issues related to my being overweight.
My doctor would not give me a diet pill--damn her! (just kidding)
Please pray for me to accomplish this. Thanks.

H E A L I N G

2007-03-24T23:32:00.000-07:00

Healing for me May include:

Accepting God's Forgiveness
Action leads to attitude
Admitting fault
Advice, support, listening ear, and unconditional love from people walking the Christian life
Allowing myself a reasonable amount of time to grieve
Asking God to bless everyone who mistreats me (Romans 12:14)
Believing God Will Heal me
Bible Study
Corporate worship weekly
Counseling from professional Christian
Entrusting my life to Jesus
Facing my giants head on
Faith that God will work it all out for good since He allowed it to happen
(Fasting and Prayer--Hard for me to do)
Fellowship with Christians
Forgiving those who have hurt me
Fun humor laughter playtime recreation can help at times
Getting my focus off self and onto others
Hugs, encouragement, support and listening ear from my husband
Listening for the whisper of God’s direction in my heart and mind
Personal private study of scripture
Prayer prayer prayer and more prayer
Seeking God’s face for the best way to proceed
Serving those less fortunate
Thanking God for my many blessings
Trusting God's promise he will not forsake me
Waiting for God’s direction in God’s time

=================================================
The stages of grief Kubler-Ross identified are:

Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
Anger (why is this happening to me?)
Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
Depression (I don't care anymore)
Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)

2007-03-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

"I am the way, the truth, and the life!"

Jesus answered.

"Without me, no one can go to the Father."

--John 14:6

I was Impressed

2007-02-28T15:36:00.001-08:00

I work in a hospital. Monday I read a doctor's chart note.
It included:
"Prayed with patient and family."
I've done this too, but never put that in a hosptial chart note!
Good Job Doctor!

Haiku for Inner Peace

2007-02-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

Peaceful bliss begins,
a delicate downy wisp,
a fluttering hope.

The stillness of joy
starts deep within the Spirit,
eager to expand.

Allowing sorrows
to soften into balance,
deepening the soul.

~Flame RavenHawk
March 8, 2003

We missed you GATO

2007-01-19T19:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks Marnie for watching James-Jadey

San Jose

2007-01-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

Precious Jedi

Nice to see Pastor Steve

Sweet Sunny Dog

2007-01-19T18:38:00.000-08:00

More Snow

2007-01-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

Ouch Luke. You hit hard.

Go Nick!

2007-01-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

Wowie, Brad!

What NOT to do

2007-01-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

Good Job old man. Bouncing off the ridge.

Beautiful cold Tahoe

2007-01-19T18:03:00.000-08:00

What a nice wife! Didn't dump the coffee.
Needed it to warm my hands.

So, we're human?

2007-01-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

"NO ONE IN THIS WORLD ALWAYS DOES RIGHT."
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (contemporary english version)
"Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins."
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (new international version)

"YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON ANYONE, NOT EVEN A GREAT LEADER."
Psalm 146:3 (contemporary english version)
"Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there."
146:3 (new living translation)

WHY DID JESUS COME?

2006-12-27T08:08:00.000-08:00

PASTOR GREG LAURIE'S Devotion:
Monday, December 25, 2006 Why Did Jesus Come?

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
— John 10:10
This has been a busy time of year for almost everyone. For us as Christians, it's been a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus. We marvel at the fact that God humbled Himself and was born in a cave. But why did He come? First, Jesus Christ came to proclaim good news to the spiritually hurting, to preach the good news to us. He came to heal the broken-hearted. Medical science has found ways to reduce and even remove pain. But there is no cure for a broken heart. Jesus came to set people free who are bound by sin. Jesus came to open our spiritual eyes to our spiritual need.He came to lift up those who are crushed by life. He came to give us abundant life. Jesus came to lift us from the physical realm of the senses to the spiritual realm to show us that there is more to life.He came to give His life for us. Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He came to die. Jesus Christ came to this earth to seek and save those of us who are lost, just as a shepherd seeks a lost sheep. So in all of this hustle and bustle, wrapping paper, mistletoe, and brightly colored lights, let's get down to the bottom line. Christmas is about God sending His Son to die on a cross. He was born to die, to give us abundant life, to give us a life that is worth living. http://www.harvest.org/

simeon who?

2006-12-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:15-33 (Contemporary English Version)

After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about." 16They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay. 17When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. 18Everyone listened and was surprised. 19But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant. 20As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said. 21Eight days later Jesus' parents did for him what the Law of Moses commands. And they named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary when he promised she would have a baby. 22The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born. They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, 23 just as the Law of the Lord says, "Each first-born baby boy belongs to the Lord." 24The Law of the Lord also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did. 25 At this time A MAN NAMED SIMEON was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him 26and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. 27When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. 28Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, 29"Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. 30 With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people, 31and foreign nations will also see this. 32Your mighty power is a light or all nations, and it will bring honor to your people Israel." 33Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said.

what is CHRISTMAS NOT to you?

2006-12-22T20:20:00.000-08:00

What is the true meaning of Christmas?
Why is the standard phrase: "Is all your shopping done?"
I'm tired of being asked that!
I'm tired of all the commercialism and materialism and manipulation by companies and advertisers.
I'm tired of being told one has to say "Happy Holidays" to not offend some. Why did this man at church say that to me?????
I was bold today and wore to work, under my open lab coat, a tee with baby jesus and mary and peace above it. (My friend Cyndy made that years ago. THANK YOU CYNDY. I miss you. Did you find a job? )
And an angel pin on my lab coat, and my jesus ring and my cross ring.
No one said a thing.
Tuesday was Awesome. 24 (children and adults) from my church Christmas caroled around the church neighborhood. We blessed the neighbors and were blessed right back. Thanks to Pastor Elie who prayed for us on our way.
REMEMBER TO HELP THE NEEDY. Don't just give to those who already have too much.

HEY BRAD, WANNA DANCE ???????? !

2006-12-14T07:05:00.000-08:00

I awoke to a great radio show on ballroom dancing and the HEART!
It improves posture, decreases stress, improves breathing and is aerobic!
Can burn 1000 calories in an evening!
Sounds much more fun(tolerable) than treadmill or jogging.

"Heart Failure Patients Can Waltz Their Way to Stronger Hearts
Dancing sometimes offers better results than exercise, researchers report"
"Waltz dancing improves functional capacity and quality of life for chronic heart failure patients without important side effects. It may be considered in combination or as an alternative to exercise training in these patients," added Belardinelli, the director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, ITALY

http://www.emaxhealth.com/80/8245.html
Dancing Can Improve Heart Failure Patients and Lead To Healthier Hearts

Heart Failure Treatment Through Dancing Waltz

Dancing improves ability to function and quality of life among chronic heart failure patients and may be a good alternative to other aerobic exercises, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2006.
"Our research suggests that dancing is a new choice of exercise training for patients with heart failure," said Romualdo Belardinelli, M.D., lead author of the study. "This is good news, because if we want patients to take part in lifelong aerobic exercise at least three times a week, it should be something that's fun and makes them want to continue."

Belardinelli is a professor of cardiology at Università Politecnica delle Marche School of Medicine and director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, Italy.
In a previous study, he and colleagues found that dance - specifically, slow and fast waltz - was safe and improved functional capacity and quality of life for people who suffered from heart disease and previous heart attacks.
"We repeated the study in patients with chronic heart failure, and the results were identical," he said. "The amount of work during a session of dance is very similar to that of a session of traditional aerobic exercise."
Researchers studied 110 patients (89 men, average age 59) with stable chronic heart failure, meaning their left ventricular ejection fraction, which is the heart's pumping ability, was less than 40 percent. A group of 44 patients were randomized to participate in supervised exercise training (cycling, treadmill) three times a week for eight weeks. Another group of 44 patients danced, alternating between slow (5 minutes) and fast (3 minutes) waltzes, lasting 21 minutes, three times a week for eight weeks. A third group (22 patients) had no exercise.
Researchers monitored patients' heart rates during exercise and dancing sessions. At the start of the study and at eight weeks into it, all patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing – an exercise stress test that analyzed ventilation and gas exchange to determine the effect of training and gauge functional ability. Participants also underwent imaging tests on their arteries.
Patients then completed the Minnesota Heart Failure Living Questionnaire to rate their quality of life. Participants rated how heart failure affected their sleeping ability, participation in hobbies, housework, sexual activity, level of worry, depression and other aspects of daily life.
"The results indicate that dancing improves functional capacity and quality of life – particularly when it came to questions about emotions – among patients who underwent the dance protocol, while there was no improvement in these areas at eight weeks in the patients who did not exercise," Belardinelli said.
Cardiopulmonary fitness increased at similar rates in those who did routine exercise training and in those who danced, with dancers experiencing slightly greater benefits. Oxygen consumption (peak V02) increased 16 percent among the exercisers and 18 percent among the dancers. Anaerobic threshold, the point above which muscles fatigue, increased 20 percent among exercisers and 21 percent among dancers.
Ventilatory response (VE/VCO2) increased 14 percent among exercisers and 15 percent among dancers, while an index of cardiocirculatory fitness (VO2/W) increased 18 percent in exercisers and 19 percent among dancers.
The dancing group's arteries also had greater capacity than those of non-exercisizers to dilate (become more elastic) due to the effect of dancing on the inner part of the arterial wall (the endothelium). The endothelium is stimulated by exercise to produce favorable substances, including nitric oxide, a gas that dilates and protects the arteries from atherosclerosis. Another improvement was that the cardiac fibers became more elastic.
Quality of life was "surprisingly more significantly" improved in the dancing group versus the exercise group. Lower scores meant fewer problems interfering with a good quality of life and, among the dancers, scores dropped from an average of 56 to 41. For the exercisers, scores dropped from an average of 58 to 48. Ejection fraction didn't significantly change in either the exercising or dancing group.
No one had to withdraw from the study because of adverse events, indicating that dancing is safe, researchers said.
"All these improvements have been demonstrated by standard exercise training based on stationary cycling or treadmill exercise," Belardinelli said. "Thus, dancing is able to induce the same physiological benefits as standard aerobic exercise in patients with chronic heart failure."
Belardinelli said studies should look at the heart-health effects of dancing on larger populations of people.

ENGLAND VACATION

2006-11-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry this post is so late!
My Family had the opportunity to go to ENGLAND this past summer. One week in London and one week in the country where Brad drove!!!!!!!
I want to share what I viewed as Positive and Negative:
POSITIVE: Family Bonding. Learned about world and local history. Beautiful flowers everywhere. Natives respect their country. Moist air. Beautiful landscape. Good news programs, not fake or hollywoodish. Friendly and helpful people. Courteous drivers. No loose dogs. Awesome transportation subway "tube" system. "Mind the gap." Cool rocks and shells from Winchelsea (pebble) Beach. Walked through a beautiuful meadow full of lambs--refreshed my soul. Enjoyed The Tempest starring Patrick Stewart as Prospero. Left prayer requests in one of the cathedrals.
NEGATIVE: So expensive to eat and lodge, just about double the American dollar. Tobacco smoke everywhere. Pubs in every block. Petral fumes. Small streets. No ice. $ admission charged to even nature places. Eleven hour plane trip was difficult for me.
Neutral observations: A lot of red hair. A lot of pink tops. No floral tops. Ladies tops tight and low cut. No Hispanic people. Many White Indian Black. Surprised we did not see pedestrian killed by taxi or bus. My period returned after 2 years.....who would have figured? tmi.....

W O R S H I P

2006-10-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to Lead the Singing and play keyboard at a Ladies Retreat. I tried to think of this as Worship as opposed to Performance. I was less nervous this time. I prepared this document for the ladies. (Thanks to Andrew for his example of Worship in Youth Group.)
===============
WORSHIP
What does worship mean to you?
Singing? Praying? Loving? Listening? Giving? Offering? Reading? Surrendering? Repenting? Forgiving? Listening? Resting? Sharing? Caring? Adoring? Praising?

Matthew 2:1-3 (CEV)
When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2and said, "Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Psalm 100:1-3 (CEV)
Shout praises to the LORD, everyone on this earth. 2Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD! 3You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture.

Psalm 96:8-10 (NLT)
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. 10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly.

Hebrews 12:28-29 (CEV)
We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect. 29Our God is like a destructive fire!

John 4:23-24 (The Message)
"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

Psalm 95:5-7 (Contemporary English Version)
The ocean is the Lord's because he made it, and with his own hands he formed the dry land. 6Bow down and worship the LORD our Creator! 7The LORD is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture. Listen to God's voice today!

P S A L M => 3 4

2006-10-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

1I will always praise the LORD. 2With all my heart, I will praise the LORD. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad. 3Honor the LORD with me! Celebrate his great name. 4I asked the LORD for help, and he saved me from all my fears. 5 Keep your ey es on the LORD! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame. 6 I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the LORD saved me from all my troubles. 7 If you honor the LORD, his angel will protect you. 8 Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad. 9 Honor the LORD! You are his special people. No one who honors the LORD will ever be in need. 10Young lions may go hungry or even starve, but if you trust the LORD, you will never miss out on anything good. 11Come, my children, listen as I teach you to respect the LORD. 12Do you want to live and enjoy a long life? 13Then don't say cruel things and don't tell lies. 14Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace. 15If you obey the LORD, he will watch over you and answer your prayers. 16But God despises evil people, and he will wipe them all from the earth, till they are forgotten. 17When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. 18The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope. 19The LORD's people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through. 20Not one of their bones will ever be broken. 21Wicked people are killed by their own evil deeds, and if you hate God's people you will be punished. 22The LORD saves the lives of his servants. Run to him for protection, and you won't be punished.

SUDOKU = DIET

2006-09-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Since England I've been hooked on Crosswords (great family fun time) and then Sudoku Number Puzzles.
Bought a beginning book at Target for Sudoku.
The first one I completed took me 75 minutes! Ouch!
Yesterday I did one in 15 minutes!
I'm trying to Sudoku instead of overeat!!!!!!
I've had so much stress at work and church I am escaping with number puzzles....
How's that for a chubby dietitian's plan?
I also feel like my memory is worse and hope this will help my brain function, seriously!

Here's an online site
http://www.soduko.org/

READ THIS BOOK by Dr. Francis Collins

2006-08-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

"The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief "
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-collins17aug17,1,7302416.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage
Dr. Francis Collins has mapped the human genome and embraced Christ. He sees no conflict, but there are skeptics on both sides.
By Stephanie Simon, Times Staff WriterAugust 17, 2006
ROCKVILLE, Md. — The dying woman looked up at her physician. "What do you believe?" The question unsettled Dr. Francis Collins. For days, he had watched the elderly woman serenely endure the pain of a failing heart, certain she was leaving this world for a better one. She talked to him often of her faith. He listened with bemusement. He was a man of science; he had earned a PhD in physical chemistry at Yale and was completing his medical degree with bedside training at a North Carolina hospital. When his patients talked of God, he pitied them.Yet confronted with the woman's earnest question, Collins felt not superior, but oddly ashamed. After 30 years, he still remembers how he flushed as he stammered: "I'm not really sure."The patient died soon after. And Collins embarked on a journey of exploration that took him to the White House to discuss his landmark map of human DNA with President Clinton — and to a lonely mountain meadow, where he dropped to his knees one bright morning and surrendered himself to Jesus Christ.A scientist and a believer. A born-again Christian and director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, a federal project with 550 employees, a $480 million annual budget and a mandate to explore every twist of the DNA that makes us who we are. The synthesis has brought Collins much joy and intellectual satisfaction. But he's frustrated, too, that he's perceived as such an oddity.In his new book, "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief," Collins expresses his dismay at what he calls "the chasm between science and faith."Evolution versus intelligent design. Darwin versus God. Embryonic stem-cell research versus the sanctity of human life."We act as though there's a battle going on," Collins said. "An irreconcilable conflict."He feels no such conflict. He believes in evolution and in the resurrection. He wears a silver ring with a raised cross and works at a dining-room table painted with the double-helix of DNA.Tall and trim, with gray hair; blue eyes; a relaxed, self-effacing manner; and just the barest hint of a Southern twang, Collins, 56, has set himself up as an emissary between two clashing worldviews.He urges his fellow scientists to give up the arrogant assumption that the only questions worth asking are those science can answer. He entreats his fellow believers to recognize it's not blasphemous to learn about the world.One day last summer, in the basement office of his suburban home here, Collins dictated this manifesto into a tape recorder: "Science is not threatened by God; it is enhanced. God is most certainly not threatened by science; He made it all possible." It became the central thesis of his book — with this addendum: "Abandon the battlements."This plea for a truce encourages some veterans of the culture wars.Polls routinely show that about half of all Americans believe God created man, fully formed, within the last 10,000 years, as the Bible recounts. The vast majority of scientists find that ludicrous, but their account of man evolving from primordial muck does not resonate broadly, especially with Christians who believe in a personal God, deeply concerned about each human life.Collins, some hope, might bridge this gap by reassuring Christians that they can buy evolution without selling out their faith. Eugenie C. Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education, called Collins' book "extremely important … particularly because it was written from a conservative Christian view. This is not some Unitarian speaking."Some Christians accuse Collins of denying the foundation of faith when he calls the Biblical creation account an allegory."Not accepting the history in Genesis undermines the entire gospel," said Ken Ham, president of a ministry called Answers in Genesis, which promotes creationism. "The Bible says from dust we come and to dust we return. We don't return to an ape-man when we die."From the other camp, some scientists ridicule Collins' effort to find a place for God in the scientific framework."I could just as well say that there are 70 pink elephants revolving around the Earth," said Herbert A. Hauptman, a Nobel laureate in chemistry. Science and faith "are simply incompatible," he added. "There's no getting around it."

Some of Art's Grandkids

2006-07-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Luke, Nick, Ben and Matt in 1997 /// Ashley and Luke in 2004

IN DEEPEST SYMPATHY

2006-07-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

DOROTHY FALCO AND ARTHUR ELIAS
YOU WILL BE MISSED

read poems brad just wrote about his dad here
http://mistere0915.blogspot.com/

Two of the Most Wonderful People in this world

Went to heaven (July 9, July 13)

My 12 Year old "baby"

2006-07-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Luke.
Hope you had a great 12th birthday yesterday on the Houseboat!
Love, Mom

TO COMFORT YOU

2006-06-29T07:14:00.001-07:00

Psalms of Strength and Comfort
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.-Psalm 73:26
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.-Psalm 46:1-2
"The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.-Psalm 28:8
"Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.-Psalm 31:9
"But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.-Psalm 22:19
"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.-Psalm 29:11
"O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress.-Psalm 59:9
"Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.-Psalm 68:28
"My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.-Psalm 89:21
"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.-Psalm 118:14
"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.-Psalm 119:28

http://www.christianitytoday.com/todayschristian/special/psalms.html

YOUNG DEATH

2006-06-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

I attended a catholic vigil and mass for a co-worker’s sister last week. I hated the relentless praise of Mary. I tried to pray during that time.
Good that came out of it (Romans 8:28) I encouraged another sister, a stranger to me, a young girl, who had guilt and asked for forgiveness from her dead sister in front of all of us.
As I gently rubbed her arm I told her you did nothing wrong. You are a good person. What you are feeling is normal. God Bless you. You did nothing wrong. Your sister knows that.
She thanked me (weeping, head down).
I believe God placed me there to comfort this distraugt young lady, a stranger to me.
God is so Amazing. All Powerful. All Knowing. Sovereign. Loving. Kind. Merciful. Wonderful. Just. Forgiving. Helpful. Forever.

Very Touching Song

2006-06-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

The Song "Daises and Roses" really touched me.
Read about it:

"Roaring Lambs" was meant as a challenge to Christians. Where does your song on the CD, “Daisies and Roses” fit in?
It is about how we felt when we went to Saudia Arabia to play for the soldiers. The whole trip was a challenge because we were in a country where you couldn't speak about your faith. We had to sign death-penalty notices before entering the country stating we would not bring in any kind of Christianity. Guess you could say that we had to tell a white lie because all we sang about was God.
"Daisies and Roses" came out of that experience. The challenge was trusting in God and going forth into a country where we knew we weren't welcome but we were granted the victory for facing up to the challenge.”
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/29/story_2913_1.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TLYJ/102-6538003-1836922?v=glance&n=5174

DAISIES AND ROSES
It starts from the motions that blade 'round my mind
Causes premonition, and it takes me out of time
It's a story told over of how I came to be
Screaming from the mountains I was blind but now
I seeI am a soldier trying to be one living in salvation, shining like the sun
Daisies and Roses are all I can see, all I'll ever live for
That sun, those stars, holy sea (louloulouloulouloulou... 17)
Oh! Lonely soldier, why are we alone?I thought we were all connected
My, I thought we've grown, we all need attention to heal from our cries
I dream of your smiles to drench my dying eyes
Colors and visions, mountains and streams
Needing each other, oh baby, it's better than it seems
Daisies and roses are all i can see
All I ever lived for, that sun, those stars (loulouloulou... 17)

GREAT MUSIC!

2006-06-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

KELLY MINTER'S "GOOD DAY"
Artist websites

I bought this a while back and just had the opportunity to listen.
I LOVE THIS C/D!!!!!!!!!

Any More Sure [2001]
Good Day [2001]
Believer [2001]
On My Way Back Home [2001]
Any Way [2001]
Speak to Me [2001]
After All [2001]
Return to Me [2001]
Calling Out [2001]
Whatever I Do [2001]

FORGET the BEEF

2006-06-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

Back in the 80's Wendys' had this clever commercial with this short old lady with a gruffy voice yelling "Where's the beef!?" It made for a good BBQ invite.....

Well, I tell you, stop the beef:
====================
"Mad cow disease is the common term for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), an invariably fatal disease that slowly destroys the nervous system in cattle. Scientists believe the disease is caused by a protein called a prion that occurs naturally in the brains of animals and people. Normally, prions are harmless, but when they're misshapen — something that can happen when a process called protein folding goes awry — they can cause devastating illness......

The first indications of the disease are psychiatric — personality changes, memory loss and impaired judgment. People with vCJD eventually develop dementia, which robs them of the ability to speak, think, remember or care for themselves. Problems with balance and coordination also are common, leading to falls and difficulty walking.
Although it seems to take years or even decades for signs and symptoms of vCJD to appear, once they do develop, people with the disease rarely live more than 12 to 14 months. The cause of death usually isn't the disease itself but a complication such as infection or heart or respiratory problems.
Are certain types of beef or cuts of beef safer than others?
The chances of eating infected beef are very low — even in countries with a relatively high rate of mad cow disease, such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Spain and Germany. Still, the meats most likely to contain prions include hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages and luncheon meats because they generally contain meat from different parts of the animal. The parts of cows that have the highest risk of carrying prions include the bone marrow, brain, spinal cord, eyes and small intestine. Cuts of beef muscle or whole muscle meats appear to be FREE OF THE PRIONS that can lead to vCJD......

What if my dog or cat eats pet food made with mad-cow-infected beef?
Several species can get diseases related to BSE and vCJD, including goats, sheep, mink, deer, elk and cats. Dogs don't appear to get this type of disease. Still, because cats and dogs often eat food that contains ground-up scraps of animals, including cows, your anxiety over your pet's health is reasonable."..........
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mad-cow-disease/ID00012

AWESOME PATIENT

2006-06-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today I had the privilege and opportunity to educate a deaf patient on her diet.
We read and wrote back and forth.
What a sweet person. Glad to have met her.
(When I was 11 I had the signing alphabet memorized)

UNDERSTAND and FORGIVE

2006-06-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.”
--Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955

Stop the Anger. Stop the Sex.

2006-06-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

This am the ktla channel 5 morning news team reported:
41% of 279 TEEN GIRLS interviewed
reported that they have UNWANTED SEX with their boyfriend
because they are afraid he will get ANGRY if they don’t.

WOULD IT HELP to teach teens:

1) DON'T DATE ANYONE YOU WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO MARRY--?
2) It's OKAY TO SAVE SEX FOR MARRIAGE--?
3) It's okay to say NO!--?
4) It's respectable to have the self-control to wait.--?

Get the VOTERS to vote

2006-06-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I wish people who DID NOT VOTE
would be fined $ or be forced to do community service,
unless you have a legitimate excuse like illness.....

Only 27% of the California voters voted yesterday in the Primary Election.....

TRAGIC // PRAY FOR VIOLENCE TO STOP

2006-06-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-venice7jun07,1,5455922.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage

Slain Teen Was Trying to Protect His Brother
Agustin Contreras was shot at Venice High by a gang member who tried to take the cross his younger brother wore.
The fight began over a large silver cross and turned deadly after an act of brotherly devotion.Agustin Contreras, 17, described by teachers and police as a good student who was not involved in gangs, was shot to death at Venice High School as he tried to protect his younger brother Alejo from gang members bent on stealing the cross from around the 16-year-old's neck. It was the first fatal shooting on a Los Angeles Unified School District campus in more than a decade, and fueled worries about gangs and racial tensions in Venice. Police and community leaders called for calm and organized tolerance meetings in hopes of heading off retaliatory attacks...........

I Like This Quote

2006-06-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

--Frank Outlaw

PRAY FOR FAMILIES OF VICTIMS

2006-05-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Definition: Memorial Day: "May 30, observed in the United States in commemoration of those members of the armed forces killed in war. It is officially observed on the last Monday in May. Also called Decoration Day"
How about PRAYER for all the families in the world who have had loved ones Killed In WAR??? Not just for families of soldiers.
"A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for W A R and a time for P E A C E ." ---Ecclesiastes 3:7-8
1997 PHOTO of my son Luke age 2 years 10 months at Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade. My son Nick, then 6 years old, is in the parade...

MARRIAGE

2006-05-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 24th ANNIVERSARY BRAD!

Thanks for a loving weekend.

Double "24" season finale starts in 35 minutes!

Health Check-Ups NEED HELP

2006-05-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=MEDICAL-05-17-06
......A new government-sponsored study out this week looked at all the preventive services offered by doctors and rated them according to both their potential health impact as well as their cost-effectiveness.
According to the study, five of the top-rated services are being provided to fewer than half the patients who should be getting them.
"Many Americans are not receiving the most valuable preventive services,'' said Ashley Coffield, a senior analyst with the Partnership for Prevention, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to health promotion, who helped write the report......
Of the 25 top-valued services, the researchers found that seven are utilized by less than 50 percent of the patients who should get the care.
They include:
_ Discussing daily aspirin use with men 40 and older, women 50 and older and anyone else at increased risk for heart disease. If everyone took the blood thinner that should (and some have medical reasons not to), as many as 80,000 lives a year might be saved, the report said.
_ Screening adults for tobacco use, offering them brief counseling and offering medicines and other aids to help them quit. Although this is one of the most valuable services, 65 percent of patients haven't received this service as recommended. If everyone got it and just two or three percent of smokers managed to quit, it would save the country more than $3 billion a year in medical costs
_ Regular screening for colorectal cancer. Although it's the second-deadliest cancer, it had a high cure rate when caught early. But 65 percent don't get properly screened. If all adults over age 50 were regularly checked, it would prevent 19,000 deaths a year.
_ Pneumococcal vaccine for adults over 65. One dose of this shot prevents pneumonia from numerous types of bacterial infection and protects for 10 years. Yet only 45 percent of seniors have gotten the shot. If they all did, it would cut health costs by $50 million a year and save thousands of live.
_ Asking adults about alcohol use. It's estimated that if all adults were periodically counseled about drinking, 6,000 deaths and 400,000 injuries a year could be avoided.
_ Chlamydia screening among all sexually active women under age 25. There are 3 million new cases of this disease each year. If all women were appropriately tested, the experts say 60,000 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease and 7,500 cases of infertility could be prevented.
_ Vision screening for older adults. About one of every four seniors wear inappropriate corrective lenses for their eyes. Getting them the right glasses could not only improve their quality of life and self-sufficiency, but also reduce hip fractures from falls.
A separate report from the National Eye Institute released last week, based on a national sample of vision tests, found that six percent of Americans over age 12 are visually impaired, and most of them, about 11 million, do not have corrective lenses. It also found that the age group most likely to have vision problems that can be corrected, but are not, are those aged 60 and older

Female Victims Need More Help

2006-05-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/270374_abuse16.html
"Domestic violence is so common among women that doctors should be doing more to detect cases and get their patients the help they need, according to the authors of two new studies.......
For example, women in the study who'd been abused within the past five years were four times more likely than other women to have symptoms of severe depression in addition to at least one other physical symptom, including nausea, back pain, chest pain and headaches.They were also three times as likely to describe their health as fair or poor. Although physical abuse was associated with the worst health for women, psychological abuse, such as put-downs, controlling behavior and threats, also affected the women's health.........
Because battered women are often socially isolated (sometimes at the insistence of their partner), a doctor's office might be the only place they're alone with someone else, said Kelly Starr, who reviews fatalities related to domestic violence for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence".......

THANK YOU MOTHER

2006-05-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

God Bless All Mothers and All Women who care for children
Song written from the point of view of a child:
M—O—M written by Brad Elias April 2002
Who carried me until my birth? M—O—M
Who told me just how much I’m worth? M—O—M
Who kissed my knees when they were skinned?
Who forgave me each time I sinned?
M—O—M
Mother Of Mine, Maker of Miracles
M—O—M
God showed his love by giving us them
M—O—M
My own Mama, My Only Model
M—O—M
So I spell love
M—O—M
Who tidied up when she was tired? M—O—M
Who told me I’m her heart’s desire? M—O—M
Who prayed for me both night and day
To keep me in the narrow way?
M—O—M
Mother Of Mine, Maker of Miracles
M—O—M
God showed his love by giving us them
M—O—M
My own Mama, My Only Model
M—O—M
So I spell love
M—O—M

MAY 22nd will = 24 years married !

2006-05-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Wedding Invitation Photo from 1982

Santa Cruz California

Nice shot Jane

Chris and Brad met at SJSU in 1978

Smart Dolphins

2006-05-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Dolphins name themselves with whistles

Bottlenose dolphins swim together near the village of Fagasa in American Samoa. New research using the recorded sounds of wild dolphins off the Florida coast shows that the marine mammals give themselves signature whistles that act as names.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060508_dolphins.html

For Your Health

2006-05-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

Experts Issue New Stroke-Prevention Guidelines
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/05/05/hscout532536.html

For Patients:
Have regular screenings for high blood pressure -- at least every two years in adults and more frequently in minorities and the elderly -- and keep blood pressure under control.
Don't smoke, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
If you have diabetes, maintain tight control of blood pressure. If you have diabetes and other stroke risk factors, talk to your doctor about taking a cholesterol-lowering statin drug.
Reduce your intake of salt (no more than 2.3 grams of sodium a day), and increase your intake of potassium (at least 4.7 grams a day) in order to lower high blood pressure. Eat a diet high in fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and low in saturated and total fat.
Lower total cholesterol to acceptable levels.
Lose weight, which can lower blood pressure.
Get moderately intensive physical activity for a least 30 minutes a day.
For Doctors:
Treat cardiovascular diseases that increase stroke risk such as coronary heart disease, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.
Consider clot-preventing anticoagulants or antithrombotics for high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation.
Consider statins for patients with diabetes and other stroke risk factors.
For patients with severe blockage of the carotid artery in the neck without symptoms, consider recommending preventive carotid endarectomy surgery by a surgeon with a low complication rate.
Beginning at age 2, use transcranial Doppler ultrasound to screen children with sickle cell disease and consider transfusion therapy for those with an elevated risk of stroke.
Evaluate adult sickle cell patients for stroke risk factors and manage those risk factors according to the general guidelines in this new stroke prevention statement.
Do not prescribe hormone therapy (with estrogen, with or without progestin) for primary stroke prevention.

The guidelines also include suggestions on other measures that may reduce stroke risk.
For Patients:
Alcohol intake should be limited to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for nonpregnant women.
Don't use illicit drugs.
Women who smoke or have a history of blood clots should not take oral contraceptives.
If you notice signs of sleep-disordered breathing (loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, repeatedly gasping for air during sleep), go to a specialist to be evaluated.
For Doctors:
Treat the components of metabolic syndrome -- abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance.
Consider low-dose aspirin therapy for women at high risk of stroke.

SERVICE by 3 YEAR OLDS

2006-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Lucas Jacob Elias, 3 years old, and his friend, preparing

water bottles to hand out to people at the Memorial Day Parade 1998.

(Nick was sick.) Thanks Pastor Steve, for Kindness Evangelism.

Photo from 2001

2006-05-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

My Sons at

10 and 7 years old

TINY ANIMALS NEW TO SCIENCE

2006-05-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Deep ocean trawl nets new 'bugs'
By Richard Black
Environment Correspondent, BBC News website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4973240.stm
Catches from the deep include a possible new species of dragonfish
A three-week voyage of discovery in the Atlantic has returned with tiny animals which appear new to science. They include waif-like plankton with delicate translucent bodies related to jellyfish, hundreds of microscopic shrimps, and several kinds of fish...........

YOUNG CHRISTIAN ARTIST

2006-05-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

I just listened to "Out of the Shade" by Melia Mann.
I am so impressed. What a music range. What depth, soul, heart, love goes into her singing. What an original, too.
I am honored to think that this young lady once babysat my boys.
"It sounds like you have monkeys in your bed" she commented on the squeaky frame.

Buy the disc and support this artist.
http://www.meliamann.com/