Butterfly Award

I received The Butterfly Award this week from Joann and Jack! This very nice couple live in Virginia. I am greatly honored that they think so much of me, especially considering that their blog is so much better than mine! This does inspire me to take better care at snapping photos and also the quality of what I post at my blog. I will try harder to be more inspirational and appealing.
So, to use a common vernacular, and with tongue firmly ensconced in cheek, here be da rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog. [Check]
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you. [Did that]
3. Nominate 10 other blogs for this award. [Oie, vey ... 10!? .. sigh]
4. Add links to those blogs. [I can do that]
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs. [I can do that too]
6. Give a reason why you consider their blogs cool. [Cripes! I have to write something about each entry! Holy Toledo! Brain ... don't fail me now!?]

My Nominees:


1. A Little Birdie Told Me So.
2. Bygone Beauty.
3. Carey's Corner.
4. Chachaneen.
5. Chicken Soup ...
6. Cpaphil Vintage Postcards.
7. Muse-Swings.
8. Nana's Living The Dream.
9. Tea Time With Melody.
10. Wiregrass Musings.

I will lump my writing into one review. I've reinjured my neck and am having severe neck/shoulder pains again [looks like another doctor's visit is called for ... and I thought I was done with that for awhile ...]. Therefore, I am having a difficult time focusing in on my thoughts and sitting in my office chair. I apologize for taking poetic license.

With no further ado, I would like to say this about all my nominees:

First, Wiregrass Musings is my husband and is therefore not included in what is written below because, of course, I do know him personally. I know he's a good person. I hope it doesn't bend the rules to award him too. His blog is always so well written. He is a great guy and a terrific writer. Hubby is new to Bloggy Land.

Anyway, the remainder of my nominees are all blogs I read daily because they're informative, well written and they make me feel good about life in general. These are good people that I feel are not just good in this artificial cyber world. I think I know them all by their character [some are more character than others .... smile]. They're the type that if you knew them in 'real' life, there would be an instant rapport. They're the type that would stop and help you on the side of the road if it appeared that you were in distress. That to me, speaks volumes about a person's character. Actions do speak louder than words.

So, congrats everyone! Have fun with the new award. Keep Blogging!

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WebStar West Clipart

I have a real weakness for pretty, creative clipart to add to my blog or web site. As my husband would say, I have to 'trash it up' and make it glitter. [lol]

This evening I found a nice web site title WebStar West that offers Blossoms, Butterflies, Fairies, Fish, Florida, Frames, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Birds, Lancaster, Flower Arrangements, Backgrounds.

Thought you might want to check this out for yourselves. Do y'all have any web sites that you frequent for such inspiration or to enhance a blog / web site? Please share. I'm always on the hunt for the 'perfect' graphic (especially if it's FREE). Or do you create your own? I can create simple graphics but nothing elaborate or animated.

Have fun!

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A Tribute To A Friend - John W. Bond

John Willard "Johnny" Bond, Sr.

(15 Jul 1932 - 18 November 2008)

Jacksonville, Florida

My husband lost a friend and the world lost a very good person yesterday. He and Johnny were long time co-workers at BellSouth (formerly known as Southern Bell). Johnny was a kind-hearted and generous man. He will be missed greatly by all that were priviledged to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Even though Johnny did not die suddenly, his demise was very quick. He was diagnosed with a form of melanoma (skin cancer) about a month ago, I think. He was placed in Hospice and now he's gone. All these phone men work outside most all their lives. IF any of you are outside a great deal, please cover up as much as possible and also point out any changes one notices on one's skin to a medical professional. You just never know when this cancer will strike.

Johnny believed in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour, so that even though we say Good Bye in this life, we know we'll meet each other again in the next.

OBITUARY

The Florida Times-Union

Jacksonville, Florida

BOND > John W. Bond, Sr., went to be with The Lord on November 18, 2008.

John was born in Hagerstown, IN and came to Jacksonville, FL, serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the Fighter Squadron-171, NAS Jacksonville. He served form March 1951 through March 1955. John retired from Southern Bell in November 1987 with 32 years of service. He worked his way up through the ranks of repairman to Maintenance Supervisor to Quality Control supervisor on staff. He was a charter member of The Fellowship at Celebration Baptist Church. He loved God, his family, his church, and all people, young and old. They loved him in return. He will be deeply missed.

John leaves behind to cherish his memories, his wife of 28 beautiful years, Lila; daughter, Lynn Strickland (Hank) of Tampa, FL; sons, John Bond, Jr. (Pam) of Jacksonville, FL, Frank Bond (Liz) of Dallas, TX; and daughter Deeann Spears (Wayne) of Jacksonville, FL, their mother Dee Dee Royal; grandchildren, Mindee, Sara, and Harrison Strickland, Haley Bond, Kyle and Jeffrey Bond, Andee Spears; brothers, Phil Bond and Gayle Bond, both of Hagerstown, IN; sister, Debbie Taylor of Hendersonville, NC; nieces, Stefan Taylor, Cristella Bond, Jennifer Muschell, Debora Flemming, Kathy Flemming Carver; nephews, Jon Bond, Jeff Bond, Andy Bond, Kent Flemming, Eddie Gales; great niece, Karmon Bond; great nephews, Luke and Max Bond; and many supportive friends.

Family will receive friends TONIGHT, November 20, 2008 from 6-8:00 PM at Arlington Park Funeral Home, 6920 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, Florida. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 1:00 PM at The Fellowship @ Celebration Baptist Church, 13720 McCormick Road, Jacksonville, Florida. Interment will follow at Arlington Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that donations be made to The Fellowship @ Celebration Baptist Church, Children's Building Fund in his memory. Please Sign the Guestbook @ http://www.jacksonville.com/

Leave a virtual flower at the FindAGrave Memorial: John W. BOND, Sr.

The Final Flight

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took his hand when I heard his call,

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work, to play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way,

I've found that peace at the end of the day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah, yes, these things too I will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My Life's been full, I savoured much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Author: Unknown

God bless,

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Wordless Wednesday (11/19)

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Lemonade Award

SoulBrush graciously gave me another award. This one is made by Laughing Wolf. I'm not sure what it means, or if I should do anything, but the thought is very appreciated.

Thanks gal! See ya in the funny papers!

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The Grape Escape

Here we go!! After much preparation and planning, The Grape Escape is here! Yay!



Reservations were made, packing was done, and I had my passport all ready as I wait for my special flight. This is my first passport, by the way. Except for visiting Canada, Mexico and Hawai'i I never been on foreign soil.




Greg showed up to fly me from my humble surroundings in Georgia to glamourous Italy. (Hubba Hubba)


Greg kinda messed up (he said I distracted him by looking in his eyes so much … aw well) and we ended up in Egypt!! Opps! My Bad! [blush]




So, we finally made it to Italy. Greg got in some reading and I caught up on some much needed rest …




... David Niven stopped by. So he and Greg squeezed in a little swimming while ....



… I took a little ride with a few of the locals … WAHOO!!!



Then y’all showed up …
OK, all these distractions had to stop and we stomped the grapes.
This is my first attempt at wine making.
Don’t worry, I washed my feet first, and it wasn’t even Saturday.



Hey, now that we’re done with the stomping, how about we tour the ruins?
Huh, can we? Huh?!
I want this to be my ride (those are Moto Guzzi‘s, by the way).



The always lovely and gracious Audrey showed up and said we had to get ready for the party … PARTY??!! OK!! There went my motorcycle tour.
Does anyone have a tiara I can borrow?
Mine is in the shop this week. (Along with my Lear Jet and Lamborghini ... yeaaaah, RIGHT!!)


I made the reservations for Vespas to convey all my bloggy friends.
Keep saying “Momentum is your friend …” and you’ll be fine.
I'll be in the rear where it's safer.

Hope you don’t mind, some of y’all may have to share.

Thought I’d better pop off a postcard to Sweetie back in the States. I already miss him so but he had to stay behind and babysit our three dogs.
(Thanks Vintage Postcards for the Picnik.com free on-line photo editing.)

Looks like this shindig has started! Might wanna hurry up ….

I’ll help pour the bubbly .. ! Let the unabashed imbibing begin!

Better keep Vodka Mom away from the bar. :o)

I haven't had this much fun since the world was young. Let’s do it again next year.

Thanks for inviting me Muse Swings.

Now if I can just find Greg so he can fly me home. I hope he doesn't take the long way around the barn again ....

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SC Priest: No Communion For Obama Supporters

This was sent to me by a very good christian internet friend who wishes to remain anonymous. The subject started over the internet article titled SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters. The article brought up some very good points and I thought this friend would enjoy the read.

So without any further ado and with her permission, I am posting her well written e-mail response. I am in total agreement with this letter.

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... it is good to see some Bishops standing up for their beliefs. Unfortunately, many of their parishioners are not of like mind. Goes hand in hand with the recent poll of "evangelical" Christians which showed that 57% of them do not believe that Jesus is the only way to God. A friend told me shortly after the election that exit polls showed that 70% of people who identify themselves as Christians voted for Obama. I told her I would bet the farm that 57% of that 70% are the ones who believe there are other paths to God besides Jesus. The other 13% are just misguided, or maybe all they heard was his "promise" to cut their taxes. Sadly all too many Americans focus on the small stuff [what are going to do for me?] and don't grasp the big picture that will affect their own futures. I think this goes back to the "depraved mind" Paul spoke of.

I enclosed "evangelical" in quotes because the meaning of the word has been changing over the years. It used to mean someone who was born again and believed in the tenets of Christianity and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Slowly, but surely, it is being applied to people who do not subscribe to the basic tenets of Christianity and whose churches have left Jesus outside [knocking on the door to be let in]. In the early years of the Internet [back in the days of DOS], I met two Christians on a Christian Bulletin Board. Even back then, Christianity was under attack by the Left. Christians were being demonized and there were certain words that the Left-wing press used derogatorily against us. Anyway, the three of us decided to accept the "derogatory" names that the Left was trying to demonize Christians with and so we christened ourselves the FRERs. It stood for Fundamentalist, Right-wing, Evangelical Radicals. LOL

One of the first things the Democrats want to do is to pass the so-called Hate Crimes Bill. In case you have never read this bill, it is specifically aimed at eliminating Christianity from America. Christianity claims that Jesus is the only way to God and the Muslims say that is so hateful it must be considered a hate crime against Islam. Yes, Islam is mentioned by name in this bill!!! Of course, the gays got in on the act, too. After all, declaring homosexuality a sin is hateful and must be considered a crime. Like, whatever happened to free speech? But you can see where we are headed [think "Orwell's thought police"].

Obama claims to be a Christian and, as far as I am concerned, this will the litmus test. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Ditto with the anti-"Fairness Doctrine." This originally came about back when there were very few radio channels and it was felt that all viewpoints should have an equal chance to be heard. But that no longer applies today since the advent of fiber optics, etc. However, the Liberals want to use it to silence their conservative opponents. If passed, it would effectively eliminate "talk radio" and radio and TV religious programming. The latter, however, might present a problem since other religions [notably Islam] are getting on TV here now ~ although conceivably the Christian networks could be forced to give equal time to proponents of other religions. But, with the Hate Crimes Bill, even if Christian TV Networks are able to stay on the air, they will not be able to preach the gospel or mention Jesus [after all, He claims to be the only way to God and that is just too hateful] or the Bible which contains the quintessential hate crime against the gays [just too hateful], so the Christian TV Networks could essentially be rendered ineffective.

If this bill passes, any pastor who preaches that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Him or that homosexuality is a sin or anything else someone might find "hateful" can be thrown into jail, fined and worse [as you know, this is already happening in other "previously Christian" countries]. Churches which continue to adhere to the gospel will lose their tax-exempt status [the reason the founding fathers insisted churches be exempt is because the power to tax is the power to destroy] and may even be forced to close down. Should that begin happening, it is my prediction that all the so-called Christians will bail and go to other, non-persecuted religions or none at all. As in separating the wheat from the chaff.

But we must always keep in mind that these two bills, particularly the Hate Crimes Bill, have one overriding purpose: to eliminate Christianity from America.

PS: One thing, though. I'm not sure I made the difference between the Fairness Doctrine and the Hate Crimes Bill clear. The Fairness Doctrine, as it stands now [but with politicians, things are always subject to change] is geared to radio [and conservative talk shows, specifically]. The Hate Crimes Bill is geared toward eliminating Christianity. Christianity, btw, is not specifically mentioned in the Hate Crimes Bill, but Islam is and one of their complaints is that is that no religion should be allowed to claim exclusivity. In other words, it is hate speech for a religion to claim it is the only true religion and thereby consigning the adherents of other religions to hell. What is really irritating about this is that Islam also claims to be the only true religion. Either the Liberals don't know anything about Islam or they don't care because they are only interested in getting rid of Christianity ... or both.

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