Should we really be taking God out of our lives???

I know that this is an old e-mail but it came to me today again and I just really like it!



Subject: Remarks from CBS Sunday Morning
(everyone should read!)

I can only hope we find God again before it is too late!!



The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened .... I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.


Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events .... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem. We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it ... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

'IN GOD WE TRUST'

Another not so green moment!

So today as I'm mowing the lawn I'm just loving how green and plush our lawn is...why is it this way when it's been dry...I water the lawn. So as I'm mowing I'm thinking to myself "the grass is greener on the other side suckers" and then was thinking I'm totally being a hypocrite. Now I'm faced with the choice of watering for a pretty green plush lawn or being the green gal I should be...HELP!

The Foamerator!

I had my friends children today and wanted to do something that would hold their attention for a little while and this was a hit!



Create wacky foam snakes by blowing air through this simple, homemade bubble-making device. (Watch it in action!) CRAFT MATERIALS:
Scissors
Plastic water bottle
Used towel
Rubber band
Shallow bowl
Dish soap

Time needed: 30 Minutes or Less
1. Cut the bottom off a plastic water bottle.

2. Cover the open end with a circular piece of towel that's a few inches wider than the bottle. Secure the towel with a rubber band.

3. Dampen the towel with water, then dip it into a shallow bowl of dish soap. Blow gently through the mouth of the bottle to create snakes of tiny bubbles.
Parents: supervise younger children to make sure they do not suck in any soap bubbles.

e-mail quote of the week

"A life without love is like a year without summer."

—Swedish Proverb

I haven't kept up with my quotes of the week once again. Geez, the days just really fly by though!
We are having a fun filled summer. Last week we went camping from Monday through Friday at Lake Carlos State Park by Alexandria, MN. Grant's parents were there as well. My Nephew Logan joined us and I do believe he had a good time. Logan, Grant Amber and Grant's father did geocaching and that seemed to be something the crew enjoyed. I stayed back and relaxed. Tuesday we had our friends from Fargo come and spend the day at the beach.... Frannie, her daughter-in-law Brenda, and two of Frannies Grandchildren came. Also friend Sharon, came with her husband and son and friend Charleen and her little girl. I felt so blessed that they drove an approx 90minutes to come for a short time to see us! The rain had to come and make it's mark on each day but we had a great time despite only being able to spend one day at the beach. Going back before the camping trip... Sunday we drove all night to get to Fargo so we could rent a car and practice driving with Logan before his 230 driving test. He passed with a 100% I was so happy I cried a few tears of joy! This past weekend we spent Friday night at Grant's parents home and then we headed to my mom's lake place Saturday and spent the night there. Sunday we stopped in St.Paul to have dinner with Grant's brother. I feel that after a vacation one needs a few days to recover from vacation eh'
Today Amber and I spent the day at the pool. Tomorrw night we are going to the farmers market which I find to be such a fun time! Thursday we are headed to door county to bring Amber to the place with the goats on the roof, (Al Johnson's) and check out a couple of the beaches. Amber's departure time is getting near (August, 15th) and I'm not sad about her leaving as much as I feel blessed to have had the whole summer with her and making more memories together. The only other thing we plan to get in before she leaves is the NEW zoo here in Suamico. It's hard to believe that the summer is coming to an end and school supplies are out along with halloween decor!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!
Take Care
Trudy

Yesterday Amber and I went to the post office and a nice man opened the door for us and everyone around us were all doing this as well. Amber noticed and said "everyone is being so nice, I like that." I just thought it was sweet that she noticed this

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."
—Jane Austen


"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

—Judy Garland


Fun is about as good a habit as there is.
-Jimmy Buffet

"My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am."

—Author Unknown

My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.
-Unknown

I'm back and still trying to be green!

I'm back and yes I'm still trying to be green as ever! One thing I've done since posting forever ago is to start using products that are paraben free. I've only switched to a couple so far but as I run out of the old stuff I'll keep switching over. After reading this I'll definetly switch over to a new shampoo after mine is gone. Also tonight I'm going to the farmers market to buy local!


Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS): The agent that makes products like shampoo, soap, detergent, and toothpaste foamy. Though the oft-touted link between sodium laureth sulfate and cancer may or may not be solid, there’s more to the picture. SLS is a package deal with a chemical called 1,4-Dioxane, a probable human carcinogen and a skin and lung irritant that is suspected to cause birth defects and kidney and nervous-system damage.

Because 1,4-Dioxane is an impurity, not an intentional ingredient, it doesn’t appear on ingredient labels. So watch out for SLS, as well as other petrochemical ingredients like “PEG,” “polyethylene,” “polyethylene glycol,” “polyoxyethylene,” and anything that includes an “eth,” “oxynol,” “ceteareth,” or “oleth.” And learn to disassociate “foamy” from clean.

American Idlol RunDown...In my opinion only.

I'm still super bitter that Rose didn't make it for one thing and why is Kris still on there...oh yeah cause the little girls think he's "hot" I guess if you like that silly pretty boy look. Sorry Kris but I don't like John Mayer and we don't need a
3rd rate John. Why is Scott still on there and not Megan? Yes Megan did choose horrible song choices but she had such an original voice and added some non-traditional mainstream top 40. Adam just doesn't do it for me like he does the rest of America. Don't get me wrong, I do think he is phenomenal but I love love Alyson so much more and she is phenomenal also and keeps getting put in the bottom 3! Danny with his changing funky glasses...grrrr! I just love how he does put his all into it. I think Lil is good but forgetable, Anoop should get a job on a cruise ship. I do have to say I did like his song choice tonight though! (true colors). So that's enough of my ranting.

Am I Bad???

Perc: Also known as perchloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, tetrachloroethylene, or PCE. A chemical widely used in dry cleaning, for degreasing metal parts, and in manufacturing other chemicals; also found in consumer products, including some paint and spot removers, water repellents, brake and wood cleaners, glues, and suede protectors. Affects the central nervous system, kidney, liver, and possibly the reproductive system; associated with cancers of the esophagus and bladder, and with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
A certain amount of environmental exposure is almost unavoidable. Control the indoor-air effects by skipping dry cleaning in favor of perc-free processes and avoiding perc-laced products such as spot removers. Always read labels.


So I really try to be a good green gal and if I find out any new ways to be green I jump right on. Well I have read and know that dry cleaning is not good per say but I only dry clean once a year. I should be buying nothing that has to be dry cleaned right? Well tomorrow I'm bringing in a shit load of stuff that has to be dry cleaned once a year like a comforter and winter jackets. Oh how I feel so terribly guilty after reading this little tidbit. Now I'm going to make sure that I start making all my own spot cleaners as well and not use the stain stick I have...will that make up for my horrible dry cleaning???