This picture is not the best, but it was taken from the CNN website yesterday as the wreaths were laid at the gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery. Say a prayer for these soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice and for those past an present, serving the country for their safety, and a safe return home to their families.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas to all!
This picture is not the best, but it was taken from the CNN website yesterday as the wreaths were laid at the gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery. Say a prayer for these soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice and for those past an present, serving the country for their safety, and a safe return home to their families.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve
This is a passage from Luke 2: 1-20, which I hope will help us to remember why we have Christmas and how important this day truly is. This passage is read every Christmas Eve when I am together with the family.
Luke - Chapter 2: The Christmas Story
1 AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
I am in Pennsylvania with family. These 2 days mean so much to me being close to the ones I love and care about. The drive was uneventful. I hope all those who will be driving over the next few days make it to their destinations safely.
As you can see by the picture, there is still some snow, but the river in the background is up at the top of the bank. It has started to recede though and should be back to normal with in about 24-48 hrs.
My love to all. I will write again tomorrow.
Hi to everyone in Florida and on Long Island. Safe driving.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
2 days before Christmas
Here it is 2 days before Christmas and it is going to rain. Out of the 14 inches of snow we had totally on the ground, only about 5 remain. Many Icy spots in the driveway will have to be salted before the heavy rain starts. Drains have been cleared, garage doors cleared of snow, now I think I will be ready for the rain tonight. Tomorrow it is suppose to turn colder and have some snow showers. This is going to be my traveling day to Pennsylvania, Christmas eve day.
Today I am cooking up the Swedish meatballs and getting them ready for travel in the crock pot. I will be having Christmas with Sue, Roger and Shelly this afternoon when she gets home from work, Shelly that is. All presents are already in the car and I just have to wash a few clothes and pack. I am so looking forward to seeing everyone. Christmas is so special to me as it was to Mom.
I spoke with Alice today and she and all the kids are going to Alan's for Christmas. Karen will be making it down on Christmas Day and will be spending the rest of the week down there. I wish them all a Very Merry Christmas. It has been a while since I have seen anyone from the Island, but I do converse with them through e-mail.
Amy is doing well, all of her blood tests on the baby came back negative for Downs, etc. I do not know all the tests that they preformed. Diane and Michael are having Christmas at their house with all the girls and the grandkids. I am so glad for this, Christmas should be spent with family and friends. Amy and Jason will be spending their first Christmas as Husband and Wife.
Well, I will say good bye for now. I will be posting a special blog tomorrow. Please, everyone who needs to travel, travel safely.
As always, you all remain in my heart, mind and prayers always.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Awaiting another round of snow.
Here we go again. Snow storm warning are up again for Saturday night to Monday am. It seems that the weather experts are saying that 2 lows will be coming together tomorrow and moving up the coast creating a Noreaster. On the Syracuse station, Dave Eichorn is saying we may have up to 2 feet of snow depending on whether we have sleet mixed during the Sunday part of the storm. It also depends on how close the low pressure comes to the coast. We may just get an icy mix. If it does mix, the snow amounts will be less. At least I do not have to work this weekend, it will be Monday that I worry about. I am going to try to get some Christmas shopping done tomorrow in the am, before it starts.
This week has been a painful week. With all the changes in the barametric pressure, it seems everyone has been aching really bad, including me. This happens everytime before a major storm comes in. We have all learned to live with it, it becomes part of life when living in a 4 season area.
At work we had our holiday luncheon. It was great, with good food and deserts. We all received a flash light and long sleeve Covidien shirt, light blue in color. Monday they will be drawing tickets for the center peices on the table during the 2 days of the parties (they broke us down in to 4 different luncheons due to the large number of employees).
Today I took Shelly down to the dentist in Vestal. They ended up pulling an extra tooth. I feel so sorry for her, she is so pale and had general anesthesia for it. It will be a while before she starts to feel better. Please say a prayer for quick healing for her.
In His Hands
The Hands of our Creator
Lord and King of Heaven above
Are the Saviors Hands,
Forever reaching out to us with love
In His Hands
The Hands that made the world and gave the sun and moon their light
And the tiny Hands of a baby born one cold December night….
The Hands that stilled the wind and tamed the furry of the sea
And the calloused Hands of a carpenter who lived in poverty…
The Hands that held the power to break the binding chains of sin
are the gentle Hands that washed the feet of the tired and dusty men…
The Hands that cleansed the leper, healed the blind and raised the dead
Are the praying Hands of the one who cried, “Not My will, but Thine instead…”
The Hands that shaped the universe and flung the stars in space
Are the nail-pierced hands of a dying man who suffered in our place…
The Hands of our creator, Lord and King of Heaven above
Are the Saviors Hands, forever reaching out to us with love.
I received this in an e-mail and thought you might get a good feeling from it, I know I did. The email was about love and friendship. Everyone would love to have someone go to this length to show they are cared about by someone, be it for a friendship or relationship.
I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You all are in my thoughts an prayers always. Please say an extra prayer for those in need, including the soldiers both past and present.
My love to all!
Friday, December 7, 2007
A Chilly Friday afternoon
I received this email from one of my friends, Ron. As he reminds us, today is when Pearl Harbor was bombed and many service men/women lost their lives. It was also the beginning of us being drawn in to WWII, of which my father and uncles served in the Navy for our country.
Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARDWASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --
Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --Overview and Special Image Selection
The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant.
Eighteen months earlier, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had transferred the United States Fleet to Pearl Harbor as a presumed deterrent to Japanese agression. The Japanese military, deeply engaged in the seemingly endless war it had started against China in mid-1937, badly needed oil and other raw materials. Commercial access to these was gradually curtailed as the conquests continued. In July 1941 the Western powers effectively halted trade with Japan. From then on, as the desperate Japanese schemed to seize the oil and mineral-rich East Indies and Southeast Asia, a Pacific war was virtually inevitable.
By late November 1941, with peace negotiations clearly approaching an end, informed U.S. officials (and they were well-informed, they believed, through an ability to read Japan's diplomatic codes) fully expected a Japanese attack into the Indies, Malaya and probably the Philippines. Completely unanticipated was the prospect that Japan would attack east, as well.
The U.S. Fleet's Pearl Harbor base was reachable by an aircraft carrier force, and the Japanese Navy secretly sent one across the Pacific with greater aerial striking power than had ever been seen on the World's oceans. Its planes hit just before 8AM on 7 December. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead. Soon after, Japanese planes eliminated much of the American air force in the Philippines, and a Japanese Army was ashore in Malaya.
These great Japanese successes, achieved without prior diplomatic formalities, shocked and enraged the previously divided American people into a level of purposeful unity hardly seen before or since. For the next five months, until the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May, Japan's far-reaching offensives proceeded untroubled by fruitful opposition. American and Allied morale suffered accordingly. Under normal political circumstances, an accomodation might have been considered.
However, the memory of the "sneak attack" on Pearl Harbor fueled a determination to fight on. Once the Battle of Midway in early June 1942 had eliminated much of Japan's striking power, that same memory stoked a relentless war to reverse her conquests and remove her, and her German and Italian allies, as future threats to World peace.
This page features a historical overview and special image selection on the Pearl Harbor raid, chosen from the more comprehensive coverage featured in the following pages, and those linked from them:
Pearl Harbor in 1940-1941;
Japanese Forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack;
Overall Views of the Pearl Harbor Attack;
"Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack;
Attacks off the West Side of Ford Island;
Attacks in the Navy Yard Area;
Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat;
Other Raid-related Events;
Damaged Ships after the Attack;
Raid Aftermath;
Post-Attack Ship Salvage.
Remembrance of the "Day that shall live in Infamy".
Today Amy is going to the Dr. to have the babies heart checked, regular checkup. She is hoping to have the ultrasound done today to see what the sex of the baby is. I don't think that she will be able to have it done today, too short of a notice. The Dr. will most likely order the test to be done another day, but we will see. Please keep Jason, Amy and my future great neice/nephew in your prayers.
I am going to be going to a Christmas Tea and craft party tomorrow afternoon from 2-4. It will be fun, it always is. Good food, crafts, and company, wish I could bring you all with me.
As Christmas gets closer, Please keep all your family and friends in your prayers and heart. Friends and Family are part of the reason for the warm feeling you have inside, especially at this time of year.
I am going to close now, but always remember I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers, especially this time of the year. I really miss my friends and family that are so far away.
Love to all.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Remembering those far away!
My Christmas List is more
Than just a way to keep track of
The special people God has brought
In to my life to love.
It’s like a treasured scrapbook
Filled with pleasant memories
Of all the times God’s answered prayer
Through friends and family.
Every name’s a touchstone
That leads to a place and time,
Where God has used another’s heart
To reach out and touch mine.
It may have happened years ago
Or even yesterday,
But every person on my list
Has changed my life some way.
Through simple conversation,
A warm hug or a shared meal,
Every person on my list
Has helped me grow or heal.
Or laugh or love or learn or smile…
The blessings never end
As God allows our paths to cross
As family and friends.
So please know that this greeting
Is more than a Christmas wish,
It’s a “thank you” card to God
For putting on my list
Each and every one whose name
I’ve come to hold so dear…
Those who’ve shown me Christmas joy
Each day of the year.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Baby it's cold outside!
Today has started off very cold. High today will only be 24, with snow showers from today until the end of next week. I also see there is a winter storm watch in effect for Sunday afternoon until Monday at noon. It is going to be a mixed mess, dangerous driving. I will have to get up early Monday to head for work and take my time. Right now we have a dusting of snow on the ground. It was dark when I went out for the paper and the lights on the trees were still on. With the snow covering the trees and the lights on, it looks so peaceful.
Today is Amy and Jasons big day. They will be getting married at the Davenport Fire House at 1 pm. I plan on attending and taking some photos, which I will post later today. Everyone please say a prayer for a long happy marriage. Also, please say a prayer for their baby due in May, that it will be healthy and happy. Photo's of the wedding are in my photo gallery.
I am really missing my Florida family. It has been nice and warm down there. I miss having someone to talk with and sharing things with. Today it will be a week since I left and I felt like I left my heart there. I hope to go back soon and see everyone.
Otherwise, not much else is happening up here. Right now it is snowing out making everything look white and pure.
As always, I will remember all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Have a Very Happy Christmas Season.