Think About It!

Next time you reach for that snowcone, think about it!

This 'n That

We've all put away our BBQ grills for the winter and will be so anxious to pull them back out our first warm day. I have found several stores (not just in the south) where you can get a FREE *Bar-B-Q Grill!
You can get a free BBQ grill from any of the following stores: A&P, Albertsons, Costco, Dan's, Food Lion, Fry's, Kroger Macey's, Big Lots, Brookshire's, Lowes, Publix, Safeway, Sam's Club, Target, Vons, ACE Hardware, Wal-Mart, and Winn-Dixie.
I especially like the higher rack - which can be used for keeping things warm!
*Please do not attempt to take a cart as you will be charged if caught*

BLESSINGS
(CLICK ON THE WORD MESSAGE)

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week so far and will have a relaxing weekend.

Maybe you would enjoy this recipe. I have made it several times for my family and they love it.

Amish Apple Pancake

1 Cup flour

1 Cup Milk

6 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

2 Tbsp. butter

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced

Confectioners' sugar

In mixer or blender, beat flour, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, salt and nutmeg; set aside. Heat oven to 475 degrees F. Heat cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add butter. When butter melts, add sliced apples and fry 2-3 minutes. Pour batter over apples. Bake at 475 degrees F., for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 425 degrees F. for 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Cut into wedges. Serve with syrup or jam and bacon.
Enjoy!

Time Flies

WOW! Has it really been over a month since I had anything to put on here. I can't believe how time flies. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Chad was able to come in and helped with much of the cooking. Sarah was off work so she spent the day with us. We had a few new family members with us this year and that was so nice. Hope they can join us again next year. I am so thankful for all the many blessings that have been mine in past days and look forward to the same in days to come.

Words of Encouragement

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."

- Charles Caleb Colton

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being."

"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

~ Aldous Huxley

Smile Today

An elderly Floridian called 911 on her cell phone to report that her car had been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: "They've stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!" she cried. The dispatcher said, "Stay calm. An officer is on the way." A few minutes later, the officer radioed in: "Disregard -- she got in the back seat by mistake."

Our 24th Wedding Anniversary

Mark and I have been married 24 years today.
(Picture taken at Kirk and Amandas Party)

Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench
when there is plenty of room at both end.

Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.

Trent Family Reunion

James and his brother Larry Wayne. Hannah playing in the creek.

We had the Trent family reunion Saturday on Bays Mountain. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a good time. We had lots of good food and plenty of laughter. Mark had put together a video of past family Christmas parties and there were hoots and hollers from everyone over how they dressed and hair styles "back then". Chad came in from North Carolina and as always was wonderful to see him again. Sarah wasn't able to be there as she had planned a trip to Myrtle Beach.

Laughing at the Christmas video

Mark and Rhonda's Birthday Dinner

Rhonda, Sarah, Uncle Norman, Lisa

Graci and Hannah in front

Mark and sister Rhonda

Marks mom Eunice and her sister Ruby

Mark and his dad James

Mark and Rhonda have birthdays 2 weeks apart in the month of October so we combined it into one party on Saturday. Marks Aunt Ruby and Uncle Norman were in from Florida so they were able to join us. It was a beautiful cool fall day and we were able to enjoy the deck where we got a few pictures.

LAUGH TODAY

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?

HAROLD: A teacher.

AWW, You shouldn't have....

The Pot At The End Of The Rainbow

Finally someone was able to photograph the pot at the end of the rainbow. Does it make you feel a little disappointed? I guess it depends if you are a pessimist or an optimist.

LAUGH TODAY

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?

LOUIS: Because George still had the ax in his hand.

YUMMY RECIPE FOR TODAY

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

2 lbs frozen broccoli

32 oz. fat free chicken broth or vegetable broth

1 can Rotel tomato and chilies

10 oz. lite Velvetta

Combine broccoli, broth and tomatoes and simmer for 1 hour. Take off the heat and add Velvetta cheese. It is easier if the cheese has been cut in chunks as it will melt faster. Stir until melted. If you like a smooth consistency puree half of the soup in blender and add back to the other half.

Andes Manta

Last evening we went to see Andes Manta at the Renaissance Center in Kingsport. Andes Manta performs the vibrant music of the Andes on more than 35 traditional instruments. From the lyrical sound of the quena, or Andean Flute, to the haunting tones of the six-foot long pan-pipes, the music of Andes Manta is an experience that never fails to bring audiences to their feet. The Renaissance Center offers many shows to be enjoyed by all age groups.


http://www.kingsportarts.org/



http://www.andesmanta.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRk_iME8mU4

LAUGH TODAY

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?

DONALD: H I J K L M N O.

TEACHER: What are you talking about?

DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.

Grand Opening

Guess the news for Kingsport this week is the Grand Opening of Kohls. I ventured out to the big event after my dentist appointment on Wednesday. Yes I went, sore mouth and all. I don't know how I did it. I had received a $10 gift card in the mail good towards any purchase at the new store. That was burning a hole in my pocket worse than money from the tooth fairy. My goodness what a crowd!!! You would have thought that there wasn't another Kohls for miles and miles. Since when did it become such a burden for us to drive 20 minutes to shop? Isn't it wonderful though that now we have Kohls right here in our neck of the woods. No more HAVING to go to JC to get what they have. We are so lucky it's hard to put it into words. Twiddle dee dum, now I guess I'll wait until the other stores at the Pavilion have their Grand Openings. I just don't know if I can contain my excitement.




LAUGH TODAY

Love in a Mental Hospital

Jim and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act, she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged; since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of another patient, I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness. The bad news is Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead." Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"

SMILE

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.

Erica Jong

A Daughter

A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend.

Of all the haunting moments of motherhood, few rank with hearing your own words come out of your daughter's mouth.

Laugh Today

We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve telling them to sit down and shut up.

Phyllis Diller

Painted Floor

THIS IS WILD!

How would you like to open the bathroom door and see this....

The floor is just a painted floor but it kinda takes your breath away doesn't it? This would really mess with your mind! You might even forget why you came to the bathroom!

Gentle Giants

Friday Mornings at the Pentagon

My friend "Tennesseegrandaddy" has added a new section to his blog called Support our Troops. I have had the following article for some time now and just wanted to pass it along. We need to be reminded every single day of our boys and girls in this war fighting for and dying for our freedom. We need to remember those that are back home and hurting physically and or mentally and now are trying to live their lives with some measure of normalcy. Thank you "Tennesseegrandaddy" for adding this section to your blog.





Friday Mornings at the Pentagon


By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY





It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway."A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class."Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... yet."Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel."Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer."11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly."There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years."


Did you know that?


The media hasn't yet told the story."

Laugh Today

***If life gives you limes, just rearrange the letters and return a smile.***

Chad At Work

These are the zebra fish that Chad breeds for the experiments he is doing at the University of North Carolina. He has one on the computer screen that he has injected with a dye to see the gut.

Laugh Today

As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two ...

50th Wedding Anniversary

Dad, Mom, sisters Sara and Pam, Me, and my brother John. Dad and Moms cake

In July Mark and I went home to Wisconsin to celebrate my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. We had the party at this quaint little place in my hometown of Downsville called The Creamery. http://www.creameryrestaurant-inn.com/ What I remember as a rundown building overrun with weeds is now one of Wisconsin's best dining experiences. This in a town of about 200. Wow! You definitely won't see any of the fast food establishments or any wild attractions but if you want to get back to nature and get "back to Mayberry" this is the perfect place. Here are a few links to other wonderful sights in and around Downsville. Empire in Pine Museum http://discover-net.net/~dchs/siteep.html , Downsvilles own website http://www.discoverdownsvillewi.com/ , Caddie Woodlawn Park http://discover-net.net/~dchs/sitecw.html.

Downsville-a wonderful place to visit and a great place to have grown up.

The Day Before Tomorrow

The Day Before Tomorrow

The day before tomorrow

Is a very special day

And I feel that I should live it

In a happy kind of way...

Tomorrow's so mysterious

That I really can't foresee

The things that might be happening

And the way that life might be

But the Day Before Tomorrow

That's quite a different thing...

Those hours are so much closer

I can guess what they might bring...

I'd rather be a sparrow

Or a lily of the field

And just wait til God's will for me

Is finally revealed...

I'll put aside the griefs and cares --

The trouble I won't borrow

And just be glad I'm living in

The Day Before Tomorrow!

AuthorJean Kyler McManus

Thinking about my children today

Today I've been thinking so much about my children. Of course I think about them every day but sometimes you just have days that you think back when they were little children. I remember Chad used to love to build forts out in the back yard. He would be out there just building away and talking to himself. He'd say "Mommy, come look at my fort", then go on about how everything in it worked. If the weather was bad he'd have forts in the basement made out of all kinds of things from the big radio flyer wagon to daddy's shop vac. It was amazing to watch as the work in progress took place. Different objects added here and there and then walla the finished product.

Sarah was always the one that would be performing. She loved to dance, sing, act and all for the benefit of whoever would watch. She loved to be outside and at the neighbors. I remember a time that she wanted to roller blade downstairs like she was in the Olympics. She put on her little pink tutu and her big clunky roller blades, had me do her hair and she was all set. Well this was quite a feat as our basement was not very big and there was all kinds of stuff everywhere. She made do though and had me record her as she "ice-skated" her way to the Gold.

Oh, those were the days. I love to think back on them. Sometimes I see that little boy or girl looking up at mommy or daddy and my heart melts. But, life goes on and we're grateful for that and the fact that they are now grown and working yet at their dreams.

Thoughts on Negativity

Avoid destructive thinking. Improper negative thoughts sink people. A ship can sail around the world many, many times, but just let enough water get into the ship and it will sink. Just so with the human mind. Let enough negative thoughts or improper thoughts get into the human mind and the person sinks just like a ship.

People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?

Quote

***One look ahead is better than two looks behind***

Graduation Pictures of my Dad and Mom

Just wanted to add these pictures to my blog as they are two of my favorites. Dad and Mom went to High School in Durand, Wisconsin back in the 50's. Aren't they handsome!!http://www.durand.k12.wi.us/dhs/

Mark and Lisa at Emerald Isle

This was taken the evening we arrived at the beach. We were so anxious to see the beach we went and found a public access and walked to enjoy the ocean and surrounding scenery. I think the ocean is the most beautiful sight.

I am reminded as I look out over the ocean that it is God that is keeping it in bounds. We are so fortunate to be serving a living God and that we can see so much of His love and creation daily.

Hammocks Beach State Park

September 5th we took a mini vacation to North Carolina. For almost 25 years we have been going to Hammocks Beach State Park. It is a lovely place to go for a private day at the beach. Being right on the intracoastal waterway makes it beautiful and secluded. You must take a barge over to Bear Island and on the way you may see dolphins, egrets, turtles and much more. http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/habe/home.html

Quote

***** Mistakes are the portals of discovery *****

This is our nine o'clock flower that our neighbor gave us. At nine every evening the flowers open. The plant will shake all over with blooms beginning the nightly ritual. It is quite a sight to see. You can also hear the singing of cicadas in the background. Reminds us that summer is almost over and we're moving on to another season. ****This is not time-elapsed photography, the flowers actually do open before your eyes!***

Trip to Jacksonville, NC and pictures of our Marine days

While in North Carolina we wanted to go to Jacksonville, home of Camp Lejeune, to see if we could get a copy of our marriage license. We had misplaced our original and wanted to get another one. We went to the Onslow County courthouse and they were very accommodating. We had our new license in hand in no time.

Both Mark and I were in the United States Marine Corps. We met at Advanced Diesel Mechanic School at Camp Johnson in 1982. He stole my heart with his kindness and honesty.

Sarah

This is our daughter Sarah. She is getting some loving from mans best friend. Sarah works for a company in Gray, TN and is working on getting her pilots license.

Chad at UNC

This is Chad at the University of North Carolina. He graduated from there in spring 2006. He works in a lab there now but will be going to graduate school soon. Here is a link to the lab he works at http://mirror.zfin.org/cgi-bin/webdriver?MIval=aa-labview.apg&OID=ZDB-LAB-060628-2
He plans to come home this weekend to attend the wedding of his high school friend Stephanie Papas. He will be bringing some of his friends that will be attending the wedding also and they will spend the night with us. We look forward to seeing them again.