Loving My Life as Wife, Mother and Grandmother

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Premio Meme Award...and duckzinni :)

Yesterday, was a busy day! We finally got a new camera so now I'll be able to post a few more pictures. I got a new printer too!! (I had a fun day!!)
Diana at Welcome to My World was so kind as to bestow another award to me!! It' called the Premio Meme award. I haven't a clue as to what it means. Maybe it's in Latin? Who knows..But I appreciate so much being thought of to recieve this. It's a gift of the HEART!! If you ladies only know how tickled pink I get by this...you would have to smile at silly old me...I have to make a big family announcement! It is so GOOD for me though..it gives me a litte B-12 shot you might say! I think my family appreciates the happiness that it brings out in me as well!!


As for accepting the award..I must tell you yet 7 more boring things about myself...
So here goes..
1. My paternal Grandmother's name was Olive. I loved my Grandma Olive dearly!! So many things about who I am..came from her. My oldest son's middle name is Oliver and my oldest daughter's middle name is Olivia. I think If I could have gotten by with it...I would have somehow had it in the other 2 children's names as well.
2. I am NOT a morning person. AT ALL...I am an official night owl. I can't help it...I've tried to change my ways, but it doesn't seem to be working.
3. Several years ago..we (it was actually Sammy's Christmas present one year) had a Greek Tortoise. His name was Willy. He was an awesome pet to have. Sam would ride him around in Sarah's barbie car. He only ate fruit and vegetables. He loved Romaine lettuce and zucchinni. When he was hungry and you didn't come feed him quick enough, he would sit in his food bowl!! He has since (sadly) passed away..We miss him!!
4. I like watching vampire and dracula movies....It's the only kind of scary movie I'll watch....I've read the whole Twilight series..I did it within a couple week time frame. Wow, getting that off my chest kind of made me sweat...now you all know one of my best kept secrets!! :)
5. I don't like raw tomatoes..I hate the slimy, seedy stuff. I do however, LOVE salsa. I will eat tomatoes in spaghetti or soups...just not raw!!
6. I hate doing the dishes...it's not something I'm proud of...but it is the one thing I will intentionally put off! I'd rather do anything else. Some of it I just hate standing there!! LOL
7. My oldest son Zachary is my wild child. He's the one that gives me most of my worries. I don't post too much about him. He's had his share of troubles. He will be 21 in September. He plays in a rock band. The kind where the screamer (I mean singer) screams and you can't understand a word of the lyrics. Deep down he has a good heart...but he is extremely immature and has had some problems..I am in constant prayer that his guardian angels will work overtime for him!!
Well, that's my 7 boring things...but I don't mind sharing...sometimes that's good for us!! :)
I would like to pass this on to in no particular order....I LOVE all of you!!
1. Rebecca at Renaissance
2.Lori at Morning Glories and Moonflowers
3. Fiona at ~There's More To This Life~
4. Trina at I Work from Son Up to Son Down
5. Wendy at Pink Slippers
6.Carol at Charli & Me
7. Linda at Linda Lu's Been There, Done That


Some pictures to share!! This is our duckzinni...we'll be sending this picture to one of our local weathermen who like to share pics of crazy garden veggies..


A very excited to see us Mickey!!!


Our garden...head high corn and tomatoes...our corn is tassling!!! Deer Stay OUT!!







Monday, June 29, 2009

20 of my favorite things


Okay...I found this on the internet and I thought it would be fun to do! So, I'm tagging all my bloggy friends to follow up and post their 20 favorite things :)
1. Color **** purple..closely followed by pink and blue ;)
2. Dessert****strawberry cheesecake..yummy!
3. Smell****the way the house smells on Thanksgiving..turkey, stuffing, warm veggies, hot rolls, and PUMPKIN PIE!!
4. Flower****Pink Roses
5. Animal****It is hard to answer just one!! (How 'bout top 3?)
Dogs, Elephants and Cows
6. Month****October..(November too!) I love the fall leaves and the pumpkins and mums!
7. Beverage****Coffee with cream and Peach Iced Tea when its HOT outside :)
8. Pair of shoes**** An old pair of tan sandals with a nice little cushiony heel. They looked (at one time) like suede. They don't look so pretty now, but they are still so comfortable..I can't part with them:)
9. Snack****As of lately, it's been Late Night Taco Doritos...they are so yummy...they taste just like tacos...my kids brought them home and now Mom is addicted :)
10. Song****Bryan Adams...Everything I Do ( I'm an 80's girl)
11. Book****The Charm of Simple Things (J. Countryman)
It was a present from my Mother. It is just the most wonderful book full of recipes, lovely pictures and stories. It just makes you sit back and say AHHH! It's the kind of book you cuddle up with and enjoy with a cup of tea!
12. Fruit**** Strawberries...closely followed by blackberries (in a cobbler) My Mom used to make the best homemade cobbler with homemade crust...It was Yummy! Especially with ice-cream. I do LOVE strawberry pie in the summer though too!!
13. Hairstyle**** French twist (that sounds like a dessert :)
14. Piece of clothing****my big fuzzy pink robe that Mark and the kids got me for Christmas a couple yrs. ago...it is the softest thing ever!
15. Store to clothes shop****I really don't have a favorite..
16. Season****Fall!! I LOVE Fall...crisp air..beautiful leaves falling through the air...beautiful trees landscaping the horizon..pumpkins, mums. Its just so beautiful!!
17. Hobby****Blogging...knitting and (trying to quilt :)
18. Things to collect****Cows..I just love them...I did start collecting some Roosters too..but Cows are my favorite!
19. Movie****I love all the Disney movies..but my favorite MOVIE would be How to make an American Quilt and Corrina, Corrina....(sorry, I couldn't pick between the two!!)
20. Restaurant****Hacienda..I love Mexican Food!! That's where I always ask to go for any celebration..(closely followed by Olive Garden..my daughter Elizabeth works there..)
Well, that's my 20...I hope some of you will follow up and post your 20!!
Also...A big THANK YOU goes out to Eileen at Umma's World
for the wonderful giveaway honoring her 100th post. Her sweet grandson Jayden picked my name from the pool (literally!!)
Thank You so much Eileen..I am honored!!
It is just beautiful here in Southern Indiana. The humidity finally left us and the temps are down to being tolerable. There is a great breeze blowing as well. I spent yesterday (which was nice also) out weeding in the garden and flower beds. I will try to post a picture again very soon, of our garden..It is just gorgeous!! Our corn is head (mine) tall and is tassling..Now, if we can just keep those deer out!! They've been eating everything in our neighbors garden..it's just a matter of time before they come visiting min!! Pray that they stay away! Any suggestions on keeping them away? I'd love to hear :)
Have a Wonderful Monday!! Jerelene

Saturday, June 27, 2009

THE REAL MEANING OF WORDS

LOVE....SORROW....

INNOCENCE....

DEPARTURE.....

PAIN....

SOLITUDE....

MUSIC .....
RESPECT....
COMPASSION....

FRIENDSHIP.... PATIENCE.... RESCUED...




~The Little Things~
As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was His turn to bring donuts.. One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.. One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident. One of them missed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change. One's car wouldn't start. One couldn't get a taxi. The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drug store to buy a band-aid. That is why he is alive today.. Now when I am stuck in traffic , miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone ... All the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment... Next time your morning seems to be going wrong , the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, Don't get mad or frustrated; it may be just that God is at work watching over you. May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.


THE PARROT FLOWER


This is a flower from Thailand. It is also a protected species and not allowed to be exported. This will be the only way... to be able to view this beautiful flower


WHO BUT GOD...could do this?
Can you find Jesus in this picture? Look hard!!

Safe in the arms of Jesus,

Safe in His gentle breast,

Here by His love o'ershaded,

Sweetly my soul doth rest.

-Fanny J. Crosby


Friday, June 26, 2009

Friday Favorites


I'm keeping the post kind of short today. I've not been on the last couple of days because I've been busy freezing veggies..I did want to post a quick favorite. My oldest daughter Elizabeth's sweetie John, is in Afghanistan. I know I've posted before about him. But we've been sending lots of letters his way and he's been writing her a lot. She always reads his letters to all of us and they are very touching..He tells us the guys get jealous because he gets the most letters. He also writes that they are all missing their girls back home and that they all talk about their sweeties and how much they are missing them. I guess it helps to know everyone else is feeling just like you!! Right before he left he did ask Elizabeth to marry him. He said he knows it was kind of quick...but that he loves her so much. We've kind of been keeping it secret. Some of you may remember last fall she lost her sweetie Jared. He was in the army stationed in Texas getting ready to go to Iraq. He and John were very good friends and both have always had a sweet spot for Elizabeth. John told Elizabeth that he just knows in his heart that Jared would want him to take care of her..very sweet!! So my friday favorite is a picture of Elizabeth with my favorite Marine...John. Please keep him in your prayers!! :)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A little of everything...


I hope everyone had a Very Happy Father's Day weekend. I decided to take a few days and just turn the computer off and spend time with my family. I also felt like I needed to reflect on the week in general..maybe say some prayers. As you all know, one of our friends passed away last week. He was in a motorcycle accident. He left a little 5..just turned 6 yr. old little boy behind. The funeral was of course, very moving, emotional and heartwrenching..as are all funerals. Tim was 36 yrs. old. He had reached a point in his life (I believe) that he was looking to make a change in his ways and really trying to straighten his life out. He was a very, very good daddy. I think his son had really brought out the best in him. He was his everything. His wife had left him a couple of years ago. The weekends with his son were the high-lite of his life. The father told the pastor that when they came into Tim's house after the accident..they found the Bible laying open on his bed...he had evidentally been reading it before he went out for a ride. I believe in my heart that God must have been talking to him and telling him to make things right. It brought me to sobbing tears, literally...We never know when our last moments will be..I just wonder if sometimes God gives us little (winks) or heads up to let us know we need to prepare? Tim was a firemen. The firemen from all the local and surrounding firehouses were all there. In the road, right before the entrance to the cemetery...they raised the ladders up and had a flag hanging. They also stood all lined up at attention at the entry and all around the casket. It was truly one of those things you'll never forget in your lifetime. I guess with Father's Day being this weekend..I reflected some on Tim and his family. How sad it was to me that his little boy had lost his this week. Life is so hard sometimes isn't it? It kind of gave a new meaning to Father's Day for me...It was a reminder to me of how fragile and precious life is...The picture at the top is of the fire truckes with the ladders up. I apologize for the shadow at the top..but our van has a shadow to cut the glare all along the top front glass.

On another kind of sad note...I got a call yesterday from the lady who runs the horse therapy that Sam participates in. The people they were leasing ground from to run the horse therapy..told them that they needed to leave..they didn't want them there anymore. So, no more horse therapy for Sam. This sweet woman has a child with Downs Syndrome. She did this completely free to any child or adult with disability. All the costs came out of her families pocketbook. I know this made Sam very sad as it did me. It was the one place where everyone talked to him and no one judged or ridiculed. He loved riding the horses. He was very good. They had a horse show last fall and he won a 1st and 2nd place trophy. He loves the horses there too. They were his friends. He has little figures of them that he keeps near his bed. The one horse in particular..that he rode the most and rode in the horse show..was named TJ. TJ came from out West. He is a retired cowboy horse. Sam just loves him. All those horses all have to now go back to the lady that trained the woman here locally. They'll be going to another state 2 hrs. away. Even when he wasn't riding..he loved taking a drive and then stopping and talking to them in the pasture. He won't even be able to do that. I hope and pray that something might change in this situation...but I don't think that is going to happen. Most places charge $30 a lesson and so I don't think that is an option right now either. I think there may be another place that does the therapy..I think it's probably a good half-hour to fourty-five minute ride. I don't know if they are even taking anyone. Please pray for Sam..that he might not be too heartbroken and saddened by this..pray that he is able to keep his chin up :) (This is Sam riding on TJ) Here is something else I found to be kind of moving...my dear friend Kim sent this to me..when I read it this morning I knew I had to share it!!
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must Have stung quite a bit.

The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated.

The response: Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.. A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you.....Jesus Christ...



and the American Soldier...



One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

I hope this touched your heart as much as it did mine!! Jerelene

Friday, June 19, 2009

My Friday Favorite


Thank you Eileen for asking me to participate in the Friday Favorites...

My favorite for today is this hilarious picture of my beloved Bichon Teddy. He is 9 yrs. old now. We've had him since Sammy was small. He is such a good little boy. He has never been aggressive and just LOVES to sleep with the kids. We had another little mixed breed dog that I got from the local shelter..but I had to recently find another home for her. She didn't like Sam...his tics made her nervous and she liked to growl and show her teeth at him. Our neighbors daughter took her and now they are the best of friends. She sleeps with her and gets lots of one on one love. She had came from a puppy mill and didn't have much socialization. I felt bad, but I couldn't have her biting Sam. We also of course have Mickey the Chihuahua puppy. Sammy is showing him in 4-H. That is going pretty well. He is a puppy and is nosey about what's going on around him. So, the making him sit and stay...it's coming along :) Teddy loves sitting and looking out the window. He and Mickey now are good buds..so sometimes they both sit and look out the window from the top of the couch. The picture above him is also one of my favorite things. I bought it at a 2nd hand shop. It now hangs over my computer desk. (Eileen, notice the pink in it?) The quilt hanging on the back of the couch is the first one I put together. I am hoping to be able to finish it soon...

Some of my points weren't just perfect so my Aunt helped me work on it. It will fit on my bed when it's done. It was made up of all different kinds of fabrics that were purchased and some given to me by my Aunt and other family members. It's just a basic 4 square...but putting them all together was so much fun!!!

I thought this was funny and that you might think so too...

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED

1. Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-o to a tree.

2. Wrinkles don't hurt. (that's good to know:)

3. Families are like fudge--mostly sweet, with a few nuts.

4. Today's might oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

5. Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside. (Diana, this made me think of you :)

6. Old age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

7. Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician. (I can relate to this one!)

Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused :)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

OH MY!!



Well, I am officially stunned..I've been given an award. Eileen at Ummas World was so sweet to give ME this award..It looks kind of rough and has some holes...I think it signifies the rough times I've been through and the honest part..for being able to blog about it? I am so flattered though..I know the ladies that this originated from are just wonderfully gifted bloggers..full of wisdom, knowledge, kindness and godliness. Just Wonderful and Beautiful Women!!! Thank You so much Eileen for honoring me with this award!!

To accept this award I must first follow along with these rules.

1. Say thanks for the award and give a link to the presenter.

2. Share 10 honest things about myself.

3. Present this award to 7 other blogs that I find beautiful , motivating and inspirational to me.

4. Tell them of this award and the rules.

So with that said..

10 honest things about me...

1. I am a homebody..I just love being home..I don't mind going out once in a while..but my favorite place to be is definately HOME

2. I was molested as a child. This took a little bit of thought for me to decide wether to share this or not. I guess I feel that it really influenced me as the person that I am today. I definately have some trust issues. Especially when it comes to my children. It was a relative and I have forgave this person to their face..as they apologized to me in front of my parents and pastor several yrs. ago. Even though you forgive...you tend not to forget..and trust.

3. I'm pretty scared of lightning. My aunt got hit by lightning and so I sort of inherited a knowledgeable (fear) of it. She was bucketing up water out of breezeway. Lightning hit the big tree outside the door of the room she was in. It traveled in and knocked her across the room. She still has some marks on the back of her legs. When I was pregnant with my 3rd baby, we were looking at a new place to live. It was very hot and humid. I guess there must have been storms coming...but nothing anywhere near us. I never even heard thunder prior to it. I had got out of the car alone after my husband got back in to walk around and look. Our car was sitting under a HUGE tree. I got out and looked in the windows and around the porch. No sooner than I got back in the car and shut the door, lightning struck the tree!! It was very loud and it seemed the sky lit up red. My two oldest babies were in there car seats. I to this day can tell you I firmly believe my guardian angel escorted me into that car!! If it had hit me I wouldn't be here today.

4. I wanted to be a missionary when I was younger. This is really true. If you asked my parents, they could vouch. I had a heart full of compassion. I still do. There have been times when I feel that I have too much. I am just so sensitive. The smallest things just make me cry and cry. After complaining about it..I was told that God made me that way to make up for some people who don't have any...(Thanks Aunt Audrey) I started playing violin in 4th grade and my sophomore year I was accepted, by audition, to play with an orchestra in Carnegie Hall and to tour Europe. While in New York, I witnessed blocks and blocks of homeless people. I will never ever forget that. It was my first real dose of reality. I found myself to be extremely homesick in the month I was gone. I even played in Notre Dame, rode a gondola in Venice, toured the Vatican, played in lots of beautiful old cathedrals all through Europe. But I couldn't wait to get home. After that I think I lost the desire to be a missionary...hence my being a homebody :)

5. I don't like bullies. I got picked on a lot as a child. Kids can be so cruel. Some of the kids on my bus took to calling me Gonzo. One in particular...like the little character on the muppets. Years later after I was married this same bully ended up on a job site with my husband. Conversation led to the information that revealed to my husband that this was the same kid who had made fun of me. My husband told him how he had hurt me and how I had never forgot. The man actually apologized to my hubby. I'm sure he would have to me too, but I didn't want to face him. I was happy enough that he had acknowled his cruelty to my husband. This guy is really small and my hubby is huge (my daughters boyfriends are always scared of him!) I'm sure that attributed to the apology..but at least he apologized. I've never tolerated anyone picking on my kids either. I have always done my best to make sure they aren't being picked on.

6. I don't have a lot of friends that I go out with. I've always been a stay-at-home Mom. I worked a couple of times in the evenings when the kids were smaller. But hubby didn't like me being gone..so I came home. My Mom and hubby are really my best friends. I have a few that live (not so close) to me that I talk on the phone with. My friends have usually always been older than me. Not all of them...but most of them. We have more (couple ) friends than just girl friends. I am extremely outgoing and easy going. I am making an effort to get out more. The poor librarians at the library probably cringe when they see me coming. I like to talk... I am doing more as far as getting out...but it's usually with my kids. I definately appreciate the friends that I do have...they are precious!!!

7. I color my hair...(Sorry Marcy...I felt like I was copying off you :) I have for a long time though. Grey hair comes early in our family. I've been lots of different colors too! I used to keep it strawberry blonde. The last year or so I've been doing it darker. I'm almost questioning myself on that though.. I think there's so much grey at this point it would have been easier to keep it lighter colored. My husband likes it dark though, so I'm sticking with that.

8. My husband and I live a very modest, meek life. We are definately not wealthy. We have had a hard time this last year or so. He works in construction and there just hasn't been much work. I often feel that I don't fit in with other people because of this. I'm not jealous at all. I just feel embarassed sometimes....(that's terrible isn't it?) I really try hard to focus on what I do have to be grateful for. Our old house is ours...and so we don't drive a new pretty vehicle? I'd rather be the humble person that I am. I believe and pray that I'll wait and have a mansion in heaven that Jesus will have made just form me!! I've learned not to ever take anything for granted. Always be grateful for everything.

9. I am not a morning person...I never have been. It's gotten harder as I've gotten older. I just seem to be more alert and attentive in the afternoon and evenings. If I have to get up before 8 in the morning...then I won't be in the mood to talk for a while. It takes some coffee to loosen me up and bring me out of my morning shell :)

10. I'm pretty sure I have OCD. I used to wash my hands and brush my teeth a lot. (when I was younger.) Now I just vaccuum a lot and have to have things a certain way. I just can't seem to help myself. When my kids were smaller and sammy was a baby, we used to have a big blue rug in front of the tv. I always kept it just-so in front of the entertainment center. The kids would sneek in and move it sideways. Then they would hide and watch me come in and straighten it!! The little stinkers!! They confessed this to me when they got older. I can laugh now. They do get aggrivated with my little routines. It's just who I am though. I guess everyone has their own little quirks.

Well, now to pick 7 of my bloggy friends... 7 that haven't already recieved this!!

1. Lori at Morning Glories and Moonflowers

2. Fiona at ~There's More To This Life~

3. Rebecca at Renaissance

4. Beth at The Brew Crew Adventure

5. Ally Jo at AllyJo's Erudition

6. Wendy at Pink Slippers

7. Kelli at There is No Place Like Home

Please visit their lovely pages and I know you'll be just as blessed as I am every time I visit! Links to their pages are in my sidebar...Blogs I LOVE to visit!!

Thanks so very much Eileen...you REALLY are an angel!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

God will take care of you...

Thank you so much for all the kind words and prayers after yesterday's post...I am feeling much better today!! I sure have some awfully sweet friends :)
It is SO hot here today...high of 90 with very high humidity.
We had our first yummy meal with veggies from our garden yesterday. I stir fried zuchinni, green beans, sugar pea-pods, tomatoes, onion and some corn in a skillet. We had that with cheesy noodles and turkey sausage. It was SOOO good!! Just cutting up those veggies last night was therapeutic for me. :) I just wish we had planted more of those sugar pea-pods. They were really good!
If weather permits..(they may not ride due to the heat) Sam may have horse therapy this afternoon. There's a chance of storms too so we'll have to wait and see if this happens for today.
I may let my daughters take Sam to the local pool. It is a couple of blocks away. Today would definately be a good day for it!
Anyway, thanks for being such great friends...it means the world to me!!

THE SONG SPARROW

He does not wear a Joseph's coat of many colors, smart and gay
His suit is Quaker brown and gray, with darker patches at his throat.
And yet of all the well dressed throng, not one can sing so brave a song.
It makes the pride of looks appear a vain and foolish thing to hear
In "Sweet, sweet, sweet, very merry cheer."
A lofty place he does not love, he sits by choice and well at ease
In hedges and in little trees, that stretch their slender arms above
The meadow brook; and then he sings till all the field with pleasure rings;
In "Sweet, sweet sweet, very merry cheer."
_Henry Van Dyke



Hymn story

The comforting hymn, "God Will Take Care of You," was inspired by a comment of a young son to hi father.
It happened in 1904 while Stillman and Civilla Martin attended the Practical Bible Training School in Lestershire, New York. stillman was helping prepare a songbook; he also was an evangelist. Mr. Martin was scheduled to preach quite a distance from home, and on that particular Sunday morning his wife became very ill. The preacher felt he should cancel his speaking engagement and remain at home with Civilla.
It's reported that the Stillmans's nine-year-old son said, "Father, don't you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother?"
These words of child-like faith from his son convinced the father to keep his pulpit commitment. The mother, although ill, heard her son's words and later wrote down the lyrics to this hymn. After Stillman saw the hymn text, he sat down at his small organ and composed the melody to go with Civilla's words.
Mrs. Martin studied music prior to her marriage and wrote other songs, including "HIs Eye is On the Sparrow."

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU

Be not dismayed what e'er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean weary one upon His breast, God will take care of you.




My Plea
Help me, Lord, to make the most
Of every passing day!
For thou alone, dost know the time
I have on earth to stay!
So help me think just pleasant thoughts
And do just kindly deeds
and say the kindest words I know
and plant the goodly seeds.
and when I lay me down to rest
at close of weary day
Grant me peace of mind to know
I sent a shining ray
Of love, or hope, or joy to one
Who otherwise might be
Bowed down with burdens, filled with fear
But now, they look to Thee!
~ Mabel Baker ~

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

God's Garden


It was time for me to do my "Dollar Store" run which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here!"

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey, Buddy, what's your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.

"You"re fifteen-years-old, Denny. Now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section. Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son.

She told me that most people won't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something. I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses in God's garden, however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness.

You see, Denny is a "Blue Rose" and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"

Without thinking I said, "oh, I'm probably just a "daffodil or maybe even a dandelion," but I sure love living in God's garden!


This story reminded me of my son. I know I've mentioned before; but maybe everyone doesn't know. My 11 yr. old son Sam has Tourettes Syndrome. He is a very smart and very sweet boy. His Tourettes at times is quite severe and very noticeable. He makes noises, repeats things and makes faces and jerks his whole back forwards and backwards..also his neck to the point that by evening he is in quite a bit of pain. As you know children can be quite cruel and if they're not being cruel then they ignore him and don't want much to do with him. Adults can sometimes, sadly be just as bad. On top of the ticcing being so bad, the last medicine he was on put more than 20 pounds on him. He also now gets made fun of for being chubby.

When I was out yesterday, driving in the van; I happened to have looked over and noticed the lady in a car next to ours staring and laughing at him. Sam didn't even notice because he was ticcing too bad to even be looking out the window. I however, did notice...I couldn't help it...I started to cry. I know people do this a lot when we're out, but it never ceases to cause me pain.

We found out yesterday that a 36 yr. old friend of ours was found dead off the side of a country road. He had wrecked his motorcycle and was wearing a helmet. They think he may have been there for a few days. I guess you could say..I was a little overwhelmed. He leaves behind a little 5 yr. old son. He had some problems in his life and I think he was trying to overcome them so that he could be a better Dad. His wife had left him a couple of yrs. ago, and his weekend visits with his son were the highlights of his life..He was really a nice guy and wasn't one to talk bad about people. Always very kind to me and my family. Please keep his family in your prayers.

I chalked my crying up to his passing away when Sam noticed. It's really hard for me as a Mom...his having this and that I can't fix it. I SO wish it was me and not him!! He has just a few close friends that we can trust with him. He does horse therapy during the warm months twice a week, weather permitting. The children there all have some sort of disability. That seems to be the only place that he is accepted for being himself and not made fun of...(Other than church of course.)

I guess you could say Sam is MY blue rose. He is just so kind and tenderhearted..not a mean bone in him. I just wish the other kids could see that. He will start 6th grade next yr. We started homeschooling him in 2nd grade. I had started to notice something wasn't right the yr. before. He did do one year of church school, but the kids there were quite mean to him and he was very sick from all the medicines they were trying him on. So we brought him back home again. There's not a day that goes by that I feel badly about this. With his feeling badly all the time and kids being so cruel; I feel that this is best for him. (My 17 yr. old daughter homeschools with him.) About 4 months ago, we made the decision to take him off the medicines. This wasn't an easy decision, but the medicines make him SO sick. (He tics so bad that he falls off his bike and can't even hold a fishing rod still in the water at times.) I guess I came to the conclusion that God is in control and I'm just praying for God to help him with this. At least to help the tics not be as painful at least. If you could remember Sam in your prayers it would mean so much to me. He really is special. Most adults that meet him always tell me how lucky I am to have such a well-behaved and intelligent little boy. I'm just glad that God blessed me with a Blue Rose!! ;) Love, Jerelene

Monday, June 15, 2009

Violinist in the Metro


A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip; a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a three-year-old boy, His mother hurried him along, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only six people stopped and stayed for a while. About twenty gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricated pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. the outlines were, in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written on an almost priceless instrument, how many other things are we missing?

Take time to stop and enjoy the wonders of the everyday happenings in your life.

I don't know how many of you know this, but I play violin...and piano. If I had been there and he was playing I would definately have noticed. I guess because I'm interested on a personal level on that kind of thing. I've always been very observant of everything around me and going on around me. Maybe I would be considered ADD. I wouldn't change that about myself though. I try to bring that out in my children. When I see something beautiful (such as flowers or trees or clouds in the sky) I try to make sure that my kids notice it too..If I catch someone doing something kind, like an elderly couple walking through the store holding hands or a Mother kissing her child...I try to point those out. I guess with all the bad in the world I try even harder to notice the good stuff :) Life is so short and I just want to be able to say I didn't miss a thing!!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Did you know?

Subject: Did you know?

Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76 , which isn't odd, because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27 ) His death reminded me of the following story. Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3- and 4-star generals at Arlington National Cemetery His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences.
In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima There is only one higher Naval award.... the Medal Of Honor!
If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. Dialog from 'The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson': His guest was Lee Marvin Johnny said, 'Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima ...and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded.' 'Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up S uribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life.
That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, 'Where'd they get you Lee?' 'Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!'
Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo.'
On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth.
But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat
After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life.. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy.. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr.Rogers
I grew up watching Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers...I loved both of these shows. I wish that tv for kids was more like that nowadays!! I think it definately had a positive influence on me as a child. I still love watching Mr. Rogers...he took you to so many places to see how things were made and how things worked..it was really interesting. I hope you found this to be interesting too!!!

WATER or COKE..........OH MY!!!!


Okay, I know...another post about what we drink...well, I've been out in the heat...and it is very hot here today! I've been out pruning my roses and weeding the flower bed. I came in to get a drink, cool off and read my e-mails. I got this in an e-mail from a friend. Those of you who know me..(really know me) I'm a coke a-holic. I've known for a long time that they are not good for you, but this made me grimace :( I seriously think I'll be sticking to iced tea or I'll be buying some bottled water!!


WATER OR COKE?This is really an eye opener...Water or Coke?
We all know that water is important but,
I've never seen it written down like this before.

WATER1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is soweak that it is often mistaken for hunger.3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. 6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glassesof water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. 8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. And now for the properties of COKE: 1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident. 2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke andit will be gone in two days. 3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous China. 4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola. 5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals:Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubbleaway the corrosion. 6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. 8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. 9. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. For Your Info:1 The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis. 2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials. 3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!Now the question is , would you like a coke or a glass of water?

Have A Great Day and Share It With Others

Do you still want a coke?

Saturday, June 13, 2009

A Giveaway!


One of my favorite blogs that I visit often is Morning Glories and Moonflowers. Lori is very sweet and is Very talented. Visit her etsy shop and look at the beautiful jewelry that she makes! She is having a giveaway!! Visit Lori at http://perfectisboring.blogspot.com/ You won't be disappointed!!!!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Hello! It has been a busy week here at my house. We've had lots of things going on..Dog classes, working in the garden, taking Sam to crafting classes at the library. We've also had lots of storms. Tornado watches and lots of rain. Even though I don't like the storms, I am thankful for the rain. It has been helping our garden a lot! We are now starting to get some veggies from our garden. We are so thankful for the bountiful blessings!! I thought I would share a picture of our garden with you. We've planted tomatoes, sweet potatoes, zuchinni, yellow squash, butternut squash, eggplant, bell peppers, green beans, sugar pea pods, corn, cabbage, spinach, green onions, watermelon and a couple of prize-winner pumpkins (for Sam.) I'm hoping to do some canning before long. We all love zuchinni here, but from what I've read they don't recommend canning it unless you pickle it, as in relish or such. I think I may have to freeze it. We put out 16 zuchinni plants so I'm definately going to have enough to do something with. Having a garden is really therapeutic. There is nothing like going out and seeing new things coming on and then picking it!! Here's a pic of one side of the garden!!

I also have a picture of the hydrangeas starting to bloom all down the north side of my house. The picture isn't very clear..but they are so pretty. Some are pale blue, some are pink and some are purple. Some are even dark blue. When they are bloomed out a little better I'll try to post another picture.
I'll end this with a silly picture of Sam. He was wearing a silly pair of glasses that belonged to some friends of ours. We all took turns putting them on, but we thought Sam looked pretty hilarious!!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Roses


I just LOVE roses..I think most women do. I hope to someday have lots of roses here at our new home. My favorite is pink. I would like to have a pretty, cheery yellow one too. I have a pink, old-time rose bush and a deep red one. I also have an old-time pinkish red climber. While looking on-line I came across this nice page. It has wonderful pictures and lots of information on caring for them too! It's a wonderful page. You should check it out!!

http://www.rose-gardening-made-easy.com/index.html It's a rainy and nasty day here. I'm working on a knitted dishcloth. I'm thinking I am just going to take it easy today. Sam has started vacation Bible school. Last night was his first time going. He'll be going every night this week. He is going with one of his little friends. His Mother is nice enough to even pick him up. It makes for a nice break for me too! :) He really likes this little boy. He is a very nice little boy and he and Sam get along very well.

I'll probably make some sloppy jo's for supper. I hope everyone is having a really great Wednesday!! Love, Jerelene

Monday, June 1, 2009


Wow, it got pretty warm here in southern Indiana today! It hit 90!! I was outside quite a bit yesterday, but we stayed in today. I'm trying to get the last of our Math done. I've decided to keep going with the Math all summer, but at a slower pace. That, and we're going to be reviewing a lot of the basics. At least with Sam.

Sarah made a new friend yesterday. She finally got to meet the neighbors who live 3 doors downs' daughter. She is 16 and Sarah is 17. The family has a lot of pets..including a pet skunk named Flower. She is adorable. She is descented and you can't smell her at all. Sarah went crazy over it. I however, think she is adorable..but she can go visit Flower. They also have a gecko, a dog, and a cat. They asked Sarah if she could come down and take care of the pets while they are gone on vacation in a couple of weeks. She is pretty excited about that!! The local Tastee-Freeze is just around the corner so they walked over there to get ice cream. I'm glad that she's made a new friend...It's a wonderful thing to make new friends:)

I'm sitting here enjoying a glass of peach tea and running back and forth from the kitchen trying to get supper finished. We're having chicken, potato salad and butternut squash. Sam is attending his first dog training class with Mickey tonight. He is showing him in 4-h. He is pretty excited. Sarah took him to my friend that is a groomer and got his nails trimmed...(Mickey, not Sam :) and so we are ready to go!! I hope it goes well, and that Mickey doesn't bark and or get scared..I better go for now...I'm leaving you with an e-mail that I recieved from a friend. I've never drank diet sodas because they've always given me very bad headaches. I'll be curious to see everyone's reactions...Have a good day!!!! Love, Jerelene



If U suffer chronic pain, lupus, MS and/or a variety of other ailments or disease, this is a Must read.SWEET POISON!

A MUST READ!
In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain. By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick she just knew she was dying. She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of. She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd. On March 19 I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS. I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.. I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but, she sure felt a lot better.She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home. Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda....and literally dying a slow and miserable death. When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life. If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME,' marketed as 'Nutra Sweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.' In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject. I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is! Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas. In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly. This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs, Cramps, Vertigo, Dizziness, Headaches, Tinnitus, Joint pain, Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!' People were jumping up during the lecture saying, 'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?' Yes! Yes! Yes! STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence! Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight! These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.' Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body! Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period. Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance. Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage. Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well.Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet. So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place! Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.' It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.. Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners. There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.' Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets. Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.' I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is. And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians? This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products. Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants. The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms. The bill was killed. It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're informed now! YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW! NOT JUST DIET POP HAS ASPARTAME IN IT, LOOK AT ALL OF YOUR SUGAR FREE GUMS, THEY CONTAIN THE SAME POISON.Please print this out and/or e-mail To your family And friends.