More Cruise Photos…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

via pinterest

Happy New Year

Mosaic Monday @ Mary’s Little Red House is the place to be!!!

A Very Relevant Message About Christmas

 

http://www.lc.org/misc/reagan_christmas.htm

 

Ronald Reagan's Radio Program on Christmas under Communism

"Someone sent me a Christmas item - yes, a Christmas item. It is 'The Nativity According to Marx & Lenin.' I’ll be right back.

In these few months since the holidays, I’ve told a couple of Christmas stories on these broadcasts and, as a result, received one in return. Or possibly it was because of a broadcast about the Ukraine. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for it.

When the Ukraine was free and not under Soviet bondage, Christmas was, of course, the religious event that it is in the Western world. A favorite Ukrainian carol was 'Nova Radist Stala' -- 'The Joyous News Has Come To Us.' A Ukrainian now teaching at the University of Utah has written an article about the evolution of Christmas under Communism, at least as it applies to this carol. In the good days of freedom, the people of the Ukraine sang these verses:

The joyous news has come which never was before. Over a cave above a manger a bright star has lit the world, where Jesus was born from a virgin maiden, clad in raiment poor like a peasant baby, the shepherds with the lambs surrounded the child, and on flected knees they Him glorified. We beg you our King, we pray to you today, grant happiness and joy to this family.

Now, of course, this was neither fitting nor permitted under Communism. Still the commissars were a little leery about an outright ban. They chose to allow the song after some rewriting. In fact, they provided the Ukrainians with two versions, neither of which could be expected to have made the Ukrainian Hit Parade. Here’s the first version:

'The joyous news has come which never was before, a red star with five tails has brightly lit the world." See they only changed one line in that verse, but wait --

The altars have crumbled and all the kings have fallen, glory to the working people, to shepherds and the plowmen, glory to our host and to his fair hostess. May their friendly household know only happiness. May all their family, especially the children, grow up to be strong and happy so as to fight the rich men.

You know, our own kids could probably get away with singing that one in the classroom. The second version is a little meatier, even though they got the Christmas story down to two verses instead of four.

'The Joyous News has come which never was before. Long-awaited star of freedom lit the skies in October.'(If you’re wondering about what happened on the date, the revolution took place in October.) 'Where formerly lived the kings and had the roots their nobles, there today with simple folks, Lenin’s glory hovers.'

The people of the Ukraine, both in and outside the Iron Curtain, were so carried away by these verses, they added one of their own. They sing it, but carefully refrain from putting it in the songbooks. It goes: 'We beg you our Lord, we pray to you today. Grant us freedom, return glory to our Mother Ukraine.' I guess we all hope their prayer is answered.

This is Ronald Reagan – thanks for listening."

Sand Through The Hourglass….hhhhmmm Beach

 

 

Wishing Each of You a Very Merry Christmas!!!

 

Visit Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Would You Like Some Dip With Those Chips???

 

The entertainment at a beach bar in Cozumel, Mexico…

I had more fun taking photos of the “critters” than anyone else who was doing what

you’re supposed to do at bars…

I passed on the chips…for obvious reasons!!!

 

Sharing with Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch

Visit Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

An Early Christmas Gift

My daughter gave me an early Christmas gift this past week…a Caribbean cruise…wow…what a beautiful week.

 

 

It was certainly the trip of a lifetime and ten days with my wonderful daughter!!!

 

Linking with Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Texture Tuesday

 

 

I love Kim Klassen’s Textures and I wanted a header that was “fallie” looking…

Michael and I had some neat shots made recently at Shiloh National Military Park and I thought

I could make these “fit the bill”…

 

I edited my photos in Picasa and PhotoShop Elements and made the mosaic in Picasa.

 

I added this texture of Kim’s

I’m thankful that Kim Klassen makes these lovelies available for us to use!!!

Thank you Kim!!!

Thanksgiving…

 

Giving thanks for such a simple thing…

 

Christmas Cactus…

 

Yes, my cactus is a non-traditional…sorta like me…

It wore it’s Christmas finery for Thanksgiving…

We had Thanksgiving on Sunday before Thanksgiving…

Just one of the non-traditional things we do!!!

 

Have a beautiful week Peeps!!!

 

Joining Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Mountain Snaps

 

We got to see the grands and their Mom this weekend

…so I took a few photos…

 

 

 

As we were snapping these photos a gaggle of Canada Geese flew over…

made a great background for this mosaic…

 

 

Joining Mary for Mosaic Monday

“Fallen Hero”– Some Of The Family He Left Behind

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing with Savvy Southern Styles on Wow Us Wednesdays

Shiloh National Military Park

 

A quaint little log cabin nestled alongside the Tennessee River

Shiloh National Military Park is known for it’s beautiful split rail fencing used on many of the sites

 

Since Michael is a California native, this was his first visit here, but certainly not his last…

 

Joining Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

An Awesome Ten Days…

 

I’ve been busy for the past couple of weeks…doing lots of things…

Here are some highlights…

A weekend hotel stay and convention…this was taken from our balcony…

 

Got to meet and hear Bobbie Patray of the Tennessee Eagle Foundation.

 

New President elect of TN. Republican women and some great delegates…

 

Beautiful and creative ladies…

We met book authors, Congressman Marsha Blackburn, Senator Delores Gresham and

the most “passionate” speaker I have ever heard talked about Sharia law and it’s effects right here in TN.

Numerous health care professionals were talking about the horrific medical conditions

of women victims of Sharia law in Tennessee

 

Cindy Ramsey and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey of Tennessee

 

The REAL America

 

Some photos from our real world  . . .

Breathtaking . . .

Awe Inspiring . . .

Real Hope . . . for a country being falsely portrayed . . .

Happy Birthday Hannah!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Future . . .

 

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Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesdays

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday