A word from Edward Cardinal Egan Archbishop of New York

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Cardinal Egan asks us to reflect on this picture of a 20 week old baby and ask ourselves what is it - if not an innocent human being. We need to listen to Cardinal Egan and share this photo with as many people as possible. We also need to be asking ourselves if we can be voting for a man who would deem this 20 week old baby - after birth as only a 'previable' life and a burden to its mother and as such should be left to die... alone... unworthy of medical attention.

Here is some of the wisdom that the Cardinal shares with us:

The picture on this page is an untouched photograph of a being that has been within its mother for 20 weeks. Please do me the favor of looking at it carefully.

Have you any doubt that it is a human being?

If you do not have any such doubt, have you any doubt that it is an innocent human being?

If you have no doubt about this either, have you any doubt that the authorities in a civilized society are duty-bound to protect this innocent human being if anyone were to wish to kill it?

If your answer to this last query is negative, that is, if you have no doubt that the authorities in a civilized society would be duty-bound to protect this innocent human being if someone were to wish to kill it, I would suggest—even insist—that there is not a lot more to be said about the issue of abortion in our society. It is wrong, and it cannot—must not—be tolerated.

But you might protest that all of this is too easy. Why, you might inquire, have I not delved into the opinion of philosophers and theologians about the matter? And even worse: Why have I not raised the usual questions about what a "human being" is, what a "person" is, what it means to be "living," and such? People who write books and articles about abortion always concern themselves with these kinds of things. Even the justices of the Supreme Court who gave us "Roe v. Wade" address them. Why do I neglect philosophers and theologians? Why do I not get into defining "human being," defining "person," defining "living," and the rest? Because, I respond, I am sound of mind and endowed with a fine set of eyes, into which I do not believe it is well to cast sand. I looked at the photograph, and I have no doubt about what I saw and what are the duties of a civilized society if what I saw is in danger of being killed by someone who wishes to kill it or, if you prefer, someone who "chooses" to kill it. In brief: I looked, and I know what I saw.

To read all of Cardinal Egan's thoughts and wisdom regarding abortion and its consequences click here. Please share this document with as many people as you can.


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Advent is right around the corner....

According to my ticker just to the right - it is a mere one month and one week until the first Sunday in Advent - November thirtieth. I debated whether to wait until we were a little closer before sharing this post but decided that the earlier the better as many of us need to budget for any crafts we want to do, both in the buying of the materials and the planning of our time. So here is a post filled with links to sites about Advent, including a number with crafts and some links lead us to wonderful ideas that will help us to prepare spiritually for the Christmas season, as well as just plain have some fun with our children.

So let us begin with a link that takes us to a site with a detailed description of Advent and the various symbols associated with it.

Then we have a site with the complete advent readings.

Another interesting site is A Religious Christmas , a website with daily advent readings, an advent wreath explanation and links to prayers, readings and more links to advent and Christmas activities & meditations. It also has a Jesse Tree link along with the verses to O Come Emanuel as well as some other links. Unfortunately there was st least one outdated link on this page. Make sure you visit the Christmas Craft link - it appears to be filled with neat ideas.

A Religious Christmas also links to this site http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/adwreath.html#begin and you might want to check it out as well.

Then I came across a Pre School and Kindergarten age activities page that was fun.

Want to make your own candy calendar - this mum explains how - at the bottom of her advent page.

A fun spot with some activities I am going to explore more closely is this page.

Whew! Here is a page just filled with links - possibly some of the very ones I have here. Click here to link to Catholicmom and here are some of the various ideas she has listed;
A recipe for Old Fashioned Gumdrops or how about Microwaveable Salt dough ornaments! Then there is a neat craft for making an advent wreath from your children's hand prints. Mind there are some dead links and then others that take you to a few sale sites. So far all of the sale sites I have ended up on were Catholic.

Here is one link that I landed on from her many links that lead to other neat ones Advent Bingo - this was suggested Sunday School activity but sounds like something fun one could do in the family - especially large one like ours! And one last example of one her ideas - felt ornaments - jump quickly to it by clicking on this link http://www.catholicmom.com/felt_ornaments.htm I made something similar over 26 years ago for our first Christmas tree as a couple - wish I knew where some of our albums were, I would post a picture of this tree. It was rather a beautiful tree considering our humble means - a one bedroom apartment with a couch, a chair, and a cardboard box for our coffee table where we ate our meals. We were university students the first few years of marriage with not a lot of money, but that tree is a wonderful memory for me!

Okay lets look at some other sites out there.

Here is one craft I might attempt - alone first to see if it works as well as they make it sound ""Stained Glass Windows" - Photocopy coloring pages or clip art that looks similar to a stained glass windows, preferably ones with preferably heavy black lines. Color them in heavily on one side with wax crayons. Trim off extra paper on side of design and turn over on a paper towel. Wipe baby oil (use a postal water tube - we found several at Office Max for 69 cents and up) on with sponge tip on postal water tube. Make sure the whole back of the design is coated with oil, then wipe dry. Tape on glass windows with clear tape." Here is the link where it, and other ideas as well as advent meanings of various symbols is here

Here is a somewhat secular advent calendar - in the shape of a paper chain - I call it secular as the templates they have were not much related to the religious theme of Christmas - but one could easily remedy that with their own templates here is the link. I think this would be a fun activity to do a few afternoons over the next month as the colder weather brings thoughts of Christmas cheer and advent to the forefront of our children's minds. I know mine are already dreaming about Christmas day and imagining what their little niece will look like on her first Christmas. I would perhaps use these Jesse tree templates in lieu of theirs. This would be a charming little decoration for each child to have in their room - or in the case of shared rooms - their favorite spot in their room.

Here is an About.com page dedicated to advent calendars and some are quite unique and lend themselves to be made in a permanent fashion or simply from paper and thus disposable. One of them - a felt tree with felt ornaments reminds me of one I used to make to give away and we our own that we put up every year - until my last one disappeared in one of our moves. And over the years my set of patterns for the ornaments were misplaced as well. They came all the way from our university days so it makes me sad to know they are gone. I have not had the heart to redo them - but one day - I will. Maybe even this year. Who knows! Keep checking - 'cause if I do - I just might do a giveaway! So here is the link - go check it out and see if any of these make your calendars appeal to your family!

Oh wow - here is one idea we have done in the past - also found from the above page - but here is the link directly to it, good deeds for Advent. I think we will do it again this year. It is a great way to get into the spirit of Advent.

Here is a Saint Nicolas Calendar - okay - they call it a Santa Claus calendar but we don't celebrate him in our home - it's Saint Nicolas who comes on the sixth and leave treats on the breakfast table and then it is he who returns to help me wrap presents in my "work shop" the location of which varies from year to year - but always has a locked door. He and I play Christmas music and munch on candies and treats that are slipped under the door while little ones sit with ears pressed against the door listening to he and I chat and chuckle as we work together. Then Christmas Eve he comes back with Baby Jesus and puts the gifts under the tree. Anyway - here is the link to it. If I use it - I will lengthen the beard and thin the face out a bit - to more closely resemble Saint Nick. If only I had a scanner here at home that worked - I would draw my own and put it up for you all to use.

Most of us have heard of the domestic church Fridge art site so we must include a link to them so - click here.
So far most of my links have dealt with Advent calendars and few have dealt with the Jesse tree. A convert to the Catholic faith I still no little of it and so had to do a little researching so as to bring both you and I more knowledge of them.

Here is a link with an actual picture of the Jesse Tree and this is the site that I am using as my guide for building our first Jesse Tree.

Here is an interesting pick. This is a really great site that not only explains about the Jesse tree, but also has a schedule up for the bible readings that are related to the ornaments that are put up on the tree through out Advent. (Please note that this is a Protestant site, as best as I can tell, for those who wish to keep to strictly Catholic interpretations of the Jesse Tree symbols.)

EWTN's explanation of the Jesse Tree symbols.

Stencils of the ornaments/symbols used on the tree.

There is not a lot of variation to the Jesse tree and so there is not much need to post a lot of links about it. If anyone is aware of some interesting links regarding the Jesse tree that I missed - please be sure to drop me a line through the comment section and I will be happy to add them to this post.

I am going to put a link to this post in my personal links at the top of my page and it will be called Advent Activity Links. In this way, one can simply come back now and then and easily find a few more ideas for their Advent!


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Getting snowed....

YES! I am getting a snow job and I don't mean the cold white fluffy stuff that falls from the sky. I mean a proper snow job. And the guilty parties are my own sweet children. A couple of days ago a little black and white kitten showed up on the side lawn with apparently two adult cats following it... with murder in their eyes ... if you believe the eye witness accounts.

So she was snatched up and brought inside. To warmth... food... and joyous squeals as only a tiny little wee kitten can inspire. She was immediately passed to me to cuddle and calm down. (Did I say something about a snow job?)

I took her and firmly declared 'NO more cats!' None - nada, nope - no way. Then the wee thing began to calm down and purr. Obviously an accomplice to the shenanigans of my own young ones.

Showing no sign of my own longing for the little fur ball I told the kids to dig out the cat cage and put her in it with a small towel. She was heading to the S.P.C.A. in the morning as this little mite had the cleverness to show up after they were closed for the day.

An hour later I heard much discussion about the need for a name and suddenly one of the culprits, err children, suggested that 'we let MUMMY name the kitten, after all it wasn't staying...'

Don't tell me that these children do not know the power of naming something... especially something small, cute and purring.

I named her.

Neena, a quick split decision because after all she wasn't staying, so it did not need a lot thought put into it and besides Neena just suited her somehow. ALL of the children immediately agreed that it was just simply a wonderful name. (And the snow was shoveled deeper around my ankles.)

Her sibling, who showed up last night on the doorstep cold and hungry, is now hidden in the boys room... and so far has remained unnamed - in this I stand FIRM and tomorrow he IS going to the S.P.C.A. I don't care how deep a purr he has, or how well he hunts fingers under the bedspread. Nope, not at all. Seriously! Besides he just used my leg as a launching post and left two puncture wounds in my thigh. I'm sure those wounds will help spur me on tomorrow morning.

But oh - it will be hard!

Dainty NEENA

The NAMELESS one... who leaves tomorrow!!!
(Hey that's my wall - he is suppose to be in the BOY'S ROOM)

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Baking....

I have been up since early this morning baking. Made some delicious tea buns for breakfast, have two batches of bread rising and I am about to start some of our favourite molasses cookies. I have posted the recipe before - to see it click here. However, this time I plan on drizzling then with dark chocolate after they are baked, rather than decorating them with m&ms before baking.

The reason for this is that I am baking them using a fall fashion cookie cutters - it is just way too early for Christmas shapes - which is the majority of my cookie cutters. I might be hiding in my room, now and then, listening to Christmas music but there is no way I am producing Christmas tree and bell shaped cookies in OCTOBER!

If my back holds out and I am actually able to decorate the cookies with drizzles of chocolate I will post a few pictures. And - if time allows, I hope to post some pictures of the October birthday as well as a really sweet story relating to this birthday.
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As promised...

... here are a few pictures of some the cookies!

Below is a close up of the various cookie cutter shapes that we used. A Crescent moon, an acorn, apple, cat, a maple leaf and a pumpkin. Not shown is the bat and ghost. I'm not into Halloween but the little ones who were assisting me - insisted on a few of those as well.

And they are delicious!! Try out the recipe and simply melt dark or milk chocolate chips over a double boiler, then drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies. I scooped it into one of my icing bags and picked the largest circle tip and used this to drizzle it and YES - it was very hot! But worth it!

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October chills and colors!

What a sight to behold. My three year old with fluffy red curls flowing over the shiny green hood of her flannel lined plastic raincoat under which peeks her bright red plaid shirt that flapped over the light pink pants she was wearing. These ended just at her ankle where one saw on her dainty toes a pair of over sized blue beach shoes. She was ready for play in the chilly autumn afternoon amidst the leaves the older children were raking on the front lawn.

There will no worry of losing her amongst the piles of leaves.

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More October fun....

Some of the pictures were taken with the cell phone and others with our digital camera and all of them were taken by Hugo - while I was upstairs penning my thoughts of Elsa's fashion statement. Neither knew what the other was doing - both were inspired by Elsa's colourful outfit!





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A post advertsing another post....

Imagine my surprise and delight when I opened an email from a Jonathan Stampf, author of Hear My Voice asking me if I would be interested in advertising his book on my mum2twelve blog. I was, to say the least, tickled. I have been looking into ways as how to make money from my time spent on my blog and some form of advertisement has been one of them. However, I want to make sure that anything I advertise to my readers will be something of the highest quality and of value. I, am after all, lending the good name of my blog to a product and I do not want my readers disappointed. So – as excited as I was about this opportunity falling into my lap, I had a few questions. I shot off my first, via email, and this was – does this children’s book of Gospel readings have an imprimatur? He responded almost immediately that no he did not but would be glad to send me a “readers copy” of his book so that I could review it closely and see if it was something that appealed to me. In the meantime I had a couple of urls from his first email that would allow me a quick preview of the book.

This book has apparently been written with first communion aged children in mind and I have one just that age, with another quickly falling on the heels of him. Learning I had a blog dedicated to reviews of books and movies, he then asked if I would care to review his book on it. I agreed. After all what better way to really know if this was merchandise with which to launch my first advertisement.

So without further delay – I encourage you to scurry over to my Catholic, Classic and Current Books and Movies blog and read my review of this book Hear My Voice by Jonathan Stampf.

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Ever hear of the Boston Tea Party?

It is hard to imagine that there exists a single soul within the fifty States that has not. But even if you do know that this tea party was not the normal round the table affair held in ones front parlor, you might care to refresh your memory of the details and how it actually played an impetus to the Revolution. If so click here to read a most entertaining account of it.

Now why have I brought up memories of the Boston Tea Party? Well, despite the well founded fears of possible tax hikes looming in our immediate future that is not the reason - though the American public would do well to remember the main underlying reasons for their rebellion that led to the founding of this great country my real reason is a selfish one. I was simply looking for a showcase for the following article that I wrote when I was "auditioning" for a blog position. (Which sadly - I did not get.) It seemed a shame that it along with the second article that I wrote, were simply lying around in my hard drive gathering dust so - here it is:

A History of Tea

Given the ready availability of bagged tea found on the shelf of any well stocked grocery store these days it is small wonder that I did not become acquainted with the tea ball until 1998. I was then pregnant and had begun to research different herbal teas in order to relax and prepare myself for labor, and my research led me to loose teas and hence the need for the tea ball or infuser. But when one delves into the history of tea drinking they quickly learn that it is, and was, a far more common piece of paraphernalia required by any serious tea connoisseur than the plebeian tea drinker would realize. While I confess that I like the convenience of the teabag, it is true that loose tea allows us a greater variety of tastes and blends and, as such, there is an endless choice out there.

But when did tea become so popular, bagged or otherwise? China, whose national drink is that of the green tea blends, is where the earliest actual records of tea drinking are found and it is from this part of the world that this ancient art and drink originated. But who popularized it on the Continent? Contrary to most people's belief tea drinking did not start in England, but rather Portugal. With many of its citizens living in the East as traders and missionaries, tea found its way back to the homeland. It's high cost kept it an exotic drink reserved for the aristocrats and this was still its state when the British King Charles II found himself needing a very rich wife in order to clear the debts he had inherited with his crown in 1660. After much negotiating Charles II wed the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Barganza. Her extensive dowry required several ships to transport it and included in it was a single trunk of loose tea, most likely a blend of black leaves. Still it was not until many years later when Princess Catherine had established herself as a trend setter that tea became popularized as a favorite drink among the upper classes. Again, the high cost, which was maintained by heavy taxation, kept this drink from the working classes.

Gradually this extravagant and fragrant tea traversed through the classes of England and began to make a name for itself in the middle classes. But as the result of heavy taxation the price remained dear, bringing this drink to the attention of smugglers. With this came a whole new set of headaches for both the government and the population of England. While the smuggled purchases allowed tea to become affordable to the general public, the lack of quality inspection at customs led to unscrupulous actions. So as to stretch their profits, sellers began to add leaves from other plants. However, the sometimes resulting color was not dark enough to be believable so items, such as sheep's dung, were added to make it look darker and thus more like a good blend of black tea.

Ultimately, realizing that the actual costs of trying to circumvent the actions of the highly organized network of tea smugglers, the British government decided that heavy taxation of tea was not worth it and in 1784 the tax was slashed from 119 % to 12.5 %. By 1851 the annual British consumption of tea was just less than two pounds a person but by 1901 it had reached the level of consumption of an even 6 pounds a person. Today the popularity of tea, whether drunk bagged or as a loose tea blend, is growing by leaps and bounds here in the States.

Sources used:

http://www.tea.co.uk/ (UK tea council)

http://www.teainfusers.info/history/index.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Premium-Tea-Blends---History-And-Production&id=799887

http://www.teausa.com/general/002ga.cfm

http://www.kevinard.com/infusers.htm

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Oh my Gosh....

How did I find this video? Well - first I visited Far Beyond Pearls who sent me to Tales from the Bonny Blue House. And there I saw this video, well - really more like a sound track.

It is from Howard Stern who is talking about how shocked he is by the responses from Harlem voters when asked questions like, which policy of Obama are you more in favour of - his prolife stance or the fact he plans to keep the troops in Iraq? To hear their answers just go here.

While Howard Stern is know for his vulgarity and foul language - this clip is completely clean. I can vouch for this as I listened to it in its entirety.



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A bill came through my email today.

And you will never guess who and what it was for!

One of my sons has a collection of teeth that have fallen out and I have found since we moved to the South almost 12 years ago - that the tooth fairy just has not been as prompt as she was up North. I have tried to blame it on the laid back atmosphere of the southern culture. None the less - my son was not buying it, especially as he now had a collection of three teeth waiting to be redeemed by the M.I.A. tooth fairy.

He brought this up again recently at the lunch table and I suggested that perhaps he should invoice the tooth fairy, you know, send her a bill.

"WHAT?" he exclaimed. "Where would I send it, I have no idea where she even lives."

I just smiled and said, "well, just send it to whomever you think might be able to get it to her."

Then tonight I got this in my email: subject line read Tooth Fairy Debt/Bill

Tooth Bill


1 Tooth More than 2 month(s) old |$2.00

1 Tooth More than 1 month(s) old |$2.00

1 Tooth 3 weeks old |$1.50

Long Time of waiting ,Charges |$0.50

Total |$6.00



BILL MUST BE PAYED IN ONE
WEEK OR WE CAN ADD $0.50




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Todays daily reading....

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the holy ones who are in Ephesus
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In Christ we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
Ephesians 1:1-10

I thought of sharing today's readings after reading Father Rory's thoughts on them. I subscribe to Joynotes from Sister Patricia and that is how I access Father's 'virtual retreat' but he also has his own blog.

Here are his thoughts from today's readings:

Polished Paul

Each of Paul's epistles sparkle with a unique brilliance - the Letter to the Ephesians is particularly rich in doctrinal contemplation, and you'll certainly find it more upbeat than the tough corrective Letter to the Galatians which we just finished!

You simply cannot read this letter quickly - like a well-distilled liqueur, the words must be savored, and imbibed slowly and thoughtfully. Consider just these opening verses, in which Paul recalls that
- God "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens"
- God chose us for holiness "before the foundation of the world"
- God adopted us as His beloved children through the incarnation of His Son
- the Blood of Christ wrought our redemption, the forgiveness of sins
- God has enlightened us with Divine Revelation
and each of these is but a poor simplified summary of Paul's more concentrated phrases!

So, as you read, be content for the moment to merely focus on any one of Paul's points that inspires you most intensely, and ask God to help you to realize the richness of the blessings we have in Christ Jesus!

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Check it out...

If you haven't seen the most recent picture of Palin yet - just click here and be whisked away to My Political Corner to catch a peek at what Sarah was doing yesterday. Read more!

This will be long...

... but please read it and share it. I have been meaning to post it for a few weeks now but today when I read the post at Beautiful Day, I have finally actually taken the time to track our copy from church down and type it out.

From the Bishops of Kansas from August 15th 2006.
(Entire letter to be found here)

Prudential Judgments on Social Policy:

In some moral matters the use of reason allows for a legitimate diversity in our prudential judgments. Catholic voters may differ, for example, on what constitutes the best immigration policy, how to provide universal health care, or affordable housing. Catholics may even have differing judgments on the state's use of the death penalty or the decision to wage a just war. The morality of such questions lies not in what is done (the moral object) but in the motive and circumstances. Therefore, because these prudential judgments do not involve a direct choice of something evil and take into consideration carious goods, it is possible for Catholic voters to arrive at different , even opposing judgments.
Not withstanding a possible diversity of prudential judgments, each of us should guide our decision making on such issues by a fundamental respect for the dignity of every human person from the moment of conception to natural death. This is a non-negotiable principle. It is the foundation for both Catholic social teaching and of a just society. (There is more written on this, again for all the details you can go to the complete article here.)

Good and Evil in the above mentioned issues can be determined by the use of right reason. While it is true that the Church's teaching on these matters is clarified and strengthened by the light of the Gospel, throughout history persons of good will have understood these truths from reason alone, independent of faith.

Their letter continues:

Judgments Concerning MORAL EVILS:

A correct conscience recognized that there are some choices that always involve doing evil and which can never be done even as a means to a good end. These choices include elective abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, the destruction of embryonic human beings in stem cell research, human cloning and same-sex "marriage." Such acts are judged to be intrinsically evil, that is, evil in and of themselves, regardless of our motives or the circumstances. They constitute an attack against the innocent human life, as as marriage and family.

More details are written regarding this and it is finally summed up as follows:

Concerning choices that are intrinsically evil, Catholics may not promote or even remain indifferent to them.

A Conscientious Voter's Dilemma:

In light of the above, it is a correct judgment of conscience that we would commit moral evil if we were to vote for a candidate who takes a permissive stand on those actions that intrinsically evil when there is a morally-acceptable alternative. What are we to do, though, when there is no such alternative?

Because we have a moral obligation to vote, deciding not to vote at all is not ordinarily an acceptable solution to this dilemma. So, when there is no choice of a candidate that avoids supporting intrinsically evil actions, especially elective abortion, we should vote in such a way as to allow the least harm to innocent life and dignity. We would not be acting immorally therefore if we were to vote for a candidate who is not totally acceptable in order to defeat one who poses an even greater threat to human life and dignity.

Again - if you wish to read the whole letter in detail please click here.

If anyone has any doubts as to Obama's position on abortion please click here and here.

Please feel free to link here or better yet to the actual letter on your blog. It just doesn't get any more clear than this letter - does it?


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Pet Peeves

Anybody have a pet peeve? I don't have many, but one of the few that I do have is forwards. You know those impersonal emails that you have received about 12 repeats of. The bleeding heart missing child who is really an urban myth, cute puppy pictures and on and on and on.

I have only one favour to ask someone who is going to send me a forward that they at least have the courtesy to remove ALL ADDRESSES listed, as well as all of the headings from the repeated forwards that have been included. So many of them, in fact, that one must scroll down several inches before even coming to that all important forward that you just had to receive.

On occasion I do receive a legitimate forward that I think is worth sharing but before I hit send I, one, remove all headings and addresses and, two, include a short personal note as to why I think you, my intended victim, might want to see it. And, most importantly, I do NOT forward it to everyone in my contact list.

We often wonder why we get so much spam. Ever wonder how many strangers across the land now have your email address that you have worked to protect and only share with those you really want to hear from because someone thoughtlessly hit 'send to all' and forwarded a cute email to everyone in their address book? And then a few of them forwarded it to everyone in their address book without removing the addresses enclosed in the new header... Today alone I now have 100 new victims who have no idea who I am or what I might do with their email address and they too have mine... All but a handful of these 100 people are complete strangers that I have never met, will most likely never meet but they have my email address. All because someone thought it was important that I read this email but could not take a few seconds to remove the addresses from their forward.

And then we wonder why we have so much spam when we have been so careful with our email address - never realizing it was one of our friends who advertised it to the electronic world.

Yup, definitely one of my pet peeves. How about you?
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Too lazy...

So many great video clips - all found on Mommy life a blog by another mom of twelve. And since I am too lazy to look them up and post them separately on my blog - I will just give you the link to her site. Yup - sending you else where to liven up your day - just promise you will come back. Cause after all - I have birthday pics to pos... from another birthday celebration. After all with 14 in the family we have almost every month covered.

We have zero, to date, in January, three in Febrary the shortest month of the year but while we have three in February we only have ONE day that two fall on and the third only comes around once every four years. March brings another birthday as does April and May. We missed June entirely but we have two in July and now a grandchild in August to share our wedding anniversary month with. We managed two in Spetember, one in October and another solo in November and given December is bereft of holidays and special feast days - we had to squeeze two more birthdays in there as well.

Now, DON'T FORGET, after you visit Mommy Life - remember to come back here this week! Don't get lost in all of her great video clips.



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Why is it?

Why is it that we only tend to focus on the negative? I know there are a few rare maniacs that actually manage to view their day in a positive light and to see all the great accomplishments and positive goals that they achieved - in the positive manner that they should.

Then there are the miserly souls like me - and I say miserly in that I am so short of praise for myself that I feel quite miserly.

At the end of the day I go to bed worrying about all I did not get done. The positive affirmations I missed passing out - forgetting the ones that I did gush on kids. The praise I heaped on school work struggled over and completed, the chores well done, as well the one done without being reminded to do it.

I fret over the hot spots that are rapidly growing out of control and beginning to smoke instead of thinking about how well our new chore schedule is actually working.

I worry that we had to move back a level or two in grammar and moan to myself that I will have to attack the spelling program this summer instead of now - when I should be happy that this is, in truth, the most organized and successful semester we have had in years.

I refuse to forgive myself the slow days when my back forces me to go at a speed well under than the fast one I want to zoom along at. I criticize my weakness at having two cookies instead of celebrating the positive effects I am seeing at drinking more water in a regular basis.

It is a very good thing that it will be God who judges me on the last day and not myself, as I would never have a chance of heaven - if that were the case. Thankfully God is much more merciful than I am. (And even as I write this - I think 'Oh boy - The faults He will point out to me that I have missed!')




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FOUR FOUR FOUR

This was sent to me from Peggy of www.goodremedy.blogspot.com

My answers are in blue. You can add yours below in a comment or repeat it on your blog. If you put it on your blog, be sure to let us know so we can visit and see what you answer.

Four, Four, Four, Four...

A) Four places that I go to over and over: Church, co-op, chiropractor's, grocery stores

B) Four people who e-mail me (regularly): Michaela and my eldest daughter - not really anyone else regularly.

C) Four favorite places to eat: Panera, Cracker Barrel, ?? on the road on business trips, at home eating Hugo's delicious steaks or roasts!

D) Four places I would rather be right now: Belmont or the beach, visiting Canada..... ummm not sure where else. But if it was summer I would say Boone or Banner Elk.

E) Four people I think will respond: No idea ! Maybe I will put it on my blog and let the readers answer.

F) Four TV shows I watch over and over: Oh dear - does listening to XM radio count? Radio talk shows or how about instant watch on Netflix? On XM I listen to Fox News. Talk shows on the radio are EWTN and Rush Limbaugh. On Netflix Hugo and I love the mystery shows like Miss Marple and Monk. I also love the old BBS renditions of the classics like Pride and Prejudice or Emma, Jane Eyre. Oh we also love The OFFICE.

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A fun analogy about taxes

If you care to read it just click here.

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Drill Here Drill Now

I heard a new song recently released on Fox News today. Here is the first set of the lyrics:

Hello…..Is anybody out there listenin’ in Washington D.C.
This is the suffering voice of America crying out for relief
Now I don’t know what a gallon of gas costs up on Capitol Hill
But we sure know what it costs down here in Realityville

To read the rest of the lyrics - click here. This is a very catchy song and I went ahead and downloaded it for 99 cents. It was dead easy - I simply paid through our Pay Pal account. I can down load it up to five times or up to 120 days, whichever comes first. On the lyrics page I have linked to - you can listen to a snippet of it as well as read all of the lyrics. Enjoy!






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what bread recipe...

... did I use over the weekend when I made all that bread that disappeared all too quickly, a reader wants to know.

Well - here it is! And here is what I am pining for so that I can more easily make bread on a regular basis.




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Still Hungry!

Ever tried to eat a leisurely snack whilst in competition with a ravenous 3 year old? Trust me the 3 year always wins and you are left sitting in the dust with the crumbs trying to ignore all of the back swilling that went on with your bottle of mineral water. And what the heck is a three year old doing with a taste for mineral water anyway?



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Feast Day of our Lady of the Rosary

To read more about this feast day click here.

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Emma's birthday tea party

This was a very exclusive tea party - it was for family members only and was a lot of fun.

Waiting for the guest of honour....

She has arrived!

And she puts her party hat on and the party begins.

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Should Abstinence-only Sex Ed be continued?

I have posted a link on My Political Corner Blog to a poll about Abstinence Only Sex Ed and whether people think it should be continued. Click here to get to my post and then to the poll. Read more!

Isaiah 5:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend,
my friend's song concerning his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside;
he spaded it, cleared it of stones,
and planted the choicest vines;
within it he built a watchtower,
and hewed out a wine press.
Then he looked for the crop of grapes,
but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard:
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard:
take away its hedge, give it to grazing,
break through its wall, let it be trampled!
Yes, I will make it a ruin:
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds
not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;
he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
for justice, but hark, the outcry!

--------------------------------------

When we as a people, or as individuals, do not give God his due place of honour in our lives, can we blame anyone, but ourselves, for the woe that befalls us?

When we place God last, and everything else first, should we surprised at the harvest we reap?

Should we be astonished when, eventually, God turns away and lets us go in our own direction, complete with all its consequences?
I think we are duly warned in this passage just what exactly to expect.

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Oh oh

It's only 6:30 am and I have been awake since- I don't know when, but up for an hour. After tossing and turning for quite some time and thinking about the laundry in the dryer, washer and basket beside the washer, the lovely seven loaves of home made bread on the dining room table and a dish washer full of clean dishes... I gave up on sleep and got up.

I padded quietly down the stairs, managed to ignore my computer in the dining room and immediately tackled the laundry after putting water on for tea. After all, what is a slice of homemade bread slathered, errr, I mean slightly covered with butter without a good hot cuppa tea to wash it down with.

I puttered around the kitchen bagging to loaves of bread to take to church for their intended recipients and did a few more chores. Finally my tea was ready and piping hot, my bread neatly sliced and sitting on a pretty china plate beside my monitor and just as I slid into my chair - the washer and drying began to chime that they needed me.

I LOVE my new washer and dryer, but I have threatened them almost on a daily basis with instant death for their insistence that I come immediately to unload and reload or at least turn them off. If I don't answer their call immediately - they continue to chime and whine and needle at me. I knew I would not be able to enjoy my tea and bread with this constant nagging so I answered their call immediately.

Thankfully they were easy loads to deal with - several soft and fluffy blankets that I left as a very colourful tower on my laundry table.

And now - tummy full, vitamins down, three machines purring contentedly away - I am ready... for a nap! See you later with pictures of the birthday tea party celebrated for the newest 6 year old.

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This just might help me...

...curb my appetite for chocolate.

To read about contaminated chocolate from China FOUND HERE in the US - CLICK HERE

CONTAMINATION NOW FOUND IN CADBURY BARS - PRODUCED IN CHINA.

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More on the economic crisis

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For the rest of this week all new posts are below

Gracie's final post.

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Final Update on Baby Gracie

THE LORD JESUS CALLED OUR AMAZING GRACIE HOME THIS MORNING AT 8:08 Am. After a 7 month fight to remain with mom and dad, brother and family, Our Lord said,"Gracie you come home to me now"

Gracie battled mightily throughout the night. At 3:30 A.M the family gathered and began a wonderful time of each one holding Gracie and sharing her sweet kisses and loving her with all that we have.

Grandpa Brown decided to go last as he got to spend three precious hours holding Gracie on Monday before the surgery. Everyone had a glorious time. GrandPa Bill Lockyer had her snuggled sweetly in his arms shortly after 8:00.

Gracie had been unresponsive for the two hours previous and the Doctors and nurses had told us that she may have already passed and was being kept alive by the medicines and machines.

However the wonderful Savior knew different and Gracie opened her eyes wide, turned her head, gave two deep breaths and left with the Lord to heaven. Heaven was in the room.

Thank you all so much! We love you. Arrangements will be posted soon.

Grandpa Brown for Todd and Amanda

From Todd and Amanda:

The last few hours have been a whirlwind!! But, please do not be shocked and saddened--we are rejoicing. Gracie has been given the victory! We were fighting to keep her here and she fought with us each minute of each day without looking back....but when the Lord Jesus called her name, she obeyed and everlasting peace and comfort began for her--to never end!!

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A story teller is born...

(ACTUAL POST DATE Oct 2nd)

This morning as Elsa and I started our day - it was decorated with a little story. Told by Elsa.

"Once upon a little girl who walked and walked in lots of ponds. There was mud and she forgot her shoes and her socks. Then came three bears and then they went in the house. And when they were there the little one said (add in falsetto voice) 'Some one ate it all up.' The end. "

What a wonderful way to start the day - with a happy little story, told by a happy little girl.




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WE HAVE....

(Drum roll please.....)

.....HOT WATER.....

Now, thank heavens, I don't need to invest in one of these or look around for an avid camper to borrow one of these. After all - it has only been 35 days since we have been able to enjoy the luxury of simply turning a tap and feel the warmth of hot water running over our finger tips.

Now if you excuse me - I think I will go enjoy one of these......





(photo credit for bath http://www.thecreativecastle.com/index.php?pageid=3)




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PRAY PRAY PRAY

Gracie's surgery was unexpectedly bumped up to this morning and she went into the OR at about 7:40 am.

Here is the most recent update:

Dear praying friends,

The asst to the Dr. just came out and told us that Gracie is off the heart lung bypass machine. Though this is what we were praying for she did say that we are by no means out of the woods yet. Currently they are trying to get her bleeding to stop before closing her chest. Also her oxygen saturations in her body and also in her brain are low and they are trying to get them up to an acceptable stable place. Please pray very heart about the next few hours and the next few day's. Dr. Jaggers will be out to talk to us in about 45 minutes. The nurse made it clear that Gracie is still fighting for her life and has put up a great fight already today. She described it as a plane trying to stay in the air while clipping the treetops. PRAY PRAY PRAY . Will update with new information as soon as possible. Grandpa Jim for Todd and Amanda.

Adding my prayers and begging for yours!

Mum2twelve/Christi

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More about Envoy

Do you remember my review of Envoy's recent first annual Conference? If you would like to refresh your memory - click here. In the meantime, Envoy has come up with a YouTube video that shows the highlights of this summer's conference while also explaining the purpose of it.

If you would like to view the video - click here or scroll down the right side of my blog where I have embedded the video.

Watching the video made me feel so proud that we were able to participate in their very first conference and I am really looking forward to this coming one - to be held again at Belmont Abbey.


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Ha - I've still got it!

Despite years of being a stay at home mum, with its mandatory uniform of Birkenstocks & maternity clothes, alternated occasionally with a pair jeans and a t-shirt, it seems that I still have some fashion sense left.

So I felt a little intimidated when Scribbit asked for my opinion on fashion wear. In particular she was looking for suggestions as to whether to wear stilettos or pumps and should she go with gold shoes or red?

I carefully studied the dress that is being provided for her to wear to the 2008 Glamour Reel Moments in California. I knew this was a dress I would never wear unless someone paid me a million bucks to sport it off (okay, maybe for a few thousand - I would wear it) because while Scribbit is hoping to stand out in the Hollywood crowd that will be there - all I could hope to accomplish in this dress would be to look like a tarnished metal version of the blimp. Now, maybe I could pull it off in black - but not in gold.

Still, this was not the question facing her loyal readers; whether or not we could carry off the dress, but what would make the best fashion statement - stilettos or pumps? And what colour to choose so as to best set off the dress. Scribbit shared that at 6 foot, she is already towering over the average woman her age. And as she is rather willowy - she will fit in very well with the Hollywood crowd to found at this function. Still, did she want to be towering at 6 foot 4?

Again I fell to reflecting on my own situation which is that I could easily handle the extra 4 inches given that I came in third in my high school graduation class as the third shortest student. In fact even with the extra four inches, it was still not likely that I would yet tower over many of the participants there; but I would surely still draw attention in my stilettos as I careened about the lobby, stumbling about as though I had over imbibed during martini hour. No, stilettos are not for me.

Yet, even assuming that Scribbit has the grace of a gazelle while attired in such footwear, I still did not think floating serenely over the crowd by a few inches was really the statement of fashion that she was looking for. But neither did pumps seem the right answer for this very sophisticated gold dress. Hmmm? What opinion was I to offer?

As I neared the end of the post, I began to assume that we were to be encouraged to leave a comment and instead was pleasantly surprised to find a poll to answer. Better yet, we could tick off as many boxes as we felt applied.

I quickly perused the choices and immediately followed my gut feelings. I choose burgundy medium heels with open toes to show off one's pedicure as the ideal solution to finish off the polished look this dress offered and which I knew Scribbit could easily carry off.

Then I discovered the option to view the poll results and clicked. I nervously reviewed the results and was tickled to discover that I, apparently, still have a fashion sense as ALL Of my choices were in the lead. Ha - I cooed to myself, despite my GoodWill fashion cupboard, I still have it. I can still pick out a winning out fit.

Now I just need to find a few sponsors willing to finance a new fashion look for mum2twelve so that I can prove this to my readers. Any takers?


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This should be on

... my political corner - but I am still working on getting that up to speed. So here is a link to a video clip that I think is very relevant and needs to be shared so that voters can have access to accurate and vital information about the Fannie May and Freddie Mac scandals.

Here is the link.

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No thank you???

Did I hear correctly? When I tried to bribe Elsa out of my bedroom with a cookie - she declines. Most politely, yet it was still a shock. Elsa say no... to a cookie, freely offered? Possibly that was the problem, a cookie blandly offered is missing the sweet taste of victory of that of a cookie won through wheedling, begging and whining until the parent is finally worn down and passes you a one.

Yet - I was tempted to set up a Dr's appointment as I simply could not fathom a healthy child unwilling to accept a cookie, lacking the sweet taste of victory or not, especially when we are talking about a favourite cookie, one rarely shared from mummy's secret stash.

Alas, I have been proved right by mid afternoon. Elsa was feeling slightly feverish, her voice had a definite rasp to it and her nose had clear mucus dripping from it. By then I too had an ear ache on the left side where my throat later started to ache. Time to reach for the Zicam and maybe engage in a little warm salt water gargling too.

If I dissapear off the radar for a day or two - you will know why, the cold won and the Zicam lost.

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Welcome to the Church Baby Lydia...

Father begins the Baptism, assisted by the deacon. Father took his time though the baptism, stopping to explain each step. Here he begins to explain the significance of naming your child.

Father blesses baby Lydia with special oils, that smell like heaven. I always enjoy this wonderful smell that lingers for so long on the newly baptized baby and her garments. For weeks after the baptism, when I open the closet that houses the baptismal blanket that was used, this smell greets me, reminding me of that very special day when my child offically joined the family of God

Father blesses the water in the baptismal font where, in just a few short minutes, Lydia Marie is about to be baptized.

Baby Lydia has the holy waters of baptism poured on her and she becomes a member of the holy family of God.

The parents are blessed.

Father, god parents, parents, baby Lydia and Deacon all smile for the camera. Ok, Lydia just dozed, but everyone else smiled.

God parents et all...

God mother & God daughter share a moment.

Lydia's cake

Laying out the goodies...

Opa showing the world that not only women can balance a baby and a dinner plate, while Lydia appears to be giving him directions!

The God Parents, our son Jonathan and a close family friend Theresa, visit with one of Lydia's guests.

Most of the guests are gone, the party is almost all cleaned up from and Emma enjoys one last piece of baptismal cake. Emmm yum!

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Oh me! Oh my!

We just paid a private contractor to light our pilot lights on the furnace and hot water tank only to learn that the hot water tank is in need of first aid from a plumber. While the furnace, which is not yet needed, cooperated and now has a bright little flame burning away, eating up the natural gas, so that it will be ready to perform its duty when the temps fall enough to warrant calling on it - the hot water tank that is needed NOW - would not hold a flame.

So I dutifully sat down and in between a lot of other paper work that needed my attention, I penned a letter to our elderly land lady - whom we have not heard from even though three weeks ago I wrote her about the current difficulties her home is experiencing. I was so pleased with myself when I got it finished in time for the post, only to discover that I had misplaced my stamps.

Then last night and most of today - it has been r a i n i n g. We are keeping an eye on the basement and that fragile lonely pilot light and praying the basement stays dry, despite the city inspector advising us that the basement was in dire need of a sub pump.

With this rain - I really need to mail this letter to the land lady. So my 21 yr old son has walked to the post office, as he is almost out of gas and our town is experiencing a gas shortage right now, where he purchased lots of stamps for me. Now if I can just store them in a place safe from Elsa, who likes to use them as stickers, but be able to remember where I stored them - I will be in good shape for stamps for a while.

Did I mention it is raining? I usually like the occasional rainy days. It's a great time for homemade soup with fresh hot biscuits, or fresh hot stew and buttered white bread. Or maybe a hot chocolate with toast... but right now I can not really find the heart to enjoy these things...

That pleasant sloshy sound of tires whoshing over wet pavement has more the effect of nails on a chalk board right now - than adding to the quiet thoughtful mood that rain often puts me in. Now I sit in dread of each rain drop as it plops down on the wet pavement in front of the house and runs in little rivulets to join up with the puddles formed on our front lawn.

Oh me, oh my - it's raining.... I think I will take a nap and hope that when I wake up... it won't be raining and that the basement will still be dry. Or, maybe I will go make myself a hot chocolate and try to pretend I am enjoying the rain.

After all - whether I relax and enjoy the rain - or sit and stress about the basement...

... it will flood

... or not flood

... regardless of whether I worry ... or not.

And that is true of all worry. It has no power over any problem - only over one's sense of peace. Read more!

Drum Roll Please!

As my readers know - I have struggling to build up a bit of a portfolio of published material and I have been slowly gaining in this goal. And as every serious writer knows - the competition is heavy. But what to do when you encounter competition in your own home?!

Why you celebrate, of course! And show off your 15 year old daughter's published article to everyone you can find. Move over those of you with wallets full of children and grand children - I have an article to show you! And what an article it is. (Can you tell yet - how proud I am?)

So where can you get a copy of this article? Well, you can get a printed copy from Women for Faith and Family or you can go online and read it there.

(The front cover is the Franciscan Friary of St Thomas a Beckett founded in 1252 by David Og Barry in Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland -- Ruins of a Country Church - Buttevant, Ireland, by Helen Hull Hitchcock)

I have been flipping through the pages of this magazine and they have many interesting articles to read. Articles such as Is Palliative Sedation Another Form of Euthanasia? and Political Responsibility Shapes the Culture. Both seem like such relevant readings in the current culture of death and wavering of the political wind towards Marxism and all the evil entailed with it!

On a different note - yet still relevant to today's challenges, (especially those facing women) is What Mulieris Dignitatem Revealed to Us.

To see more of the varied content of this interesting magazine - click here to view the table of contents. And, if you like what you see consider supporting this magazine/group as Women for Faith & Family operates solely on donations. For information on how to support this wonderful magazine - click here.

This organization is regularly looking for contestants between the ages of 12 - 18 to submit entries to their ongoing writing contest. To learn more - click here.

And make sure you do not miss the highlight (for me anyway) of the current issue of Voice! The Four Marks of the Church.


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Update on Gracie

Here is today's post regarding Gracie. I will let it speak for itself.

Hello everyone.

Thank you for your prayers today. We had a meeting today at Duke with our family and with doctors, social work, nursing and ethics. It was a wonderful opportunity to have everyone in a room and to come together for a plan of care for Gracie. Todd and I feel that the meeting was conducted with class and we felt that our faith, our beliefs and our concerns were able to be listened to and accepted.

The doctors presented us with the following conclusion:

Without any action, Gracie is going to die. The hopes of every doctor included in Gracie’s care was for her to make progress, feed, grow and get better before the next needed surgery was done.

But, this has not been the case with Gracie. She has “stayed the same” in her progression and is not seeming to improve in her overall health picture.

So, the doctors feel that since we want every attempt made to try and help Gracie to live--they feel it is time to move forward and take her into surgery for an attempted Glenn procedure on next THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2. THERE IS A 10% CHANCE THAT SHE WILL SURVIVE THIS SURGERY. This does not mean that she would die on the operating table only, but the change could cause her body to shut down. But, the doctors said that if there was no chance at all that Gracie would survive he would not send her to the operation. WHAT IS 10% TO GOD??????

So, the only way that this surgery will not take place is if Gracie makes a dramatic improvement in the next week in health so that we can buy more “feed/grow” time. Or, if Gracie looks very sick on surgery day--they will not go forward. God could also call her home or He could return before this day, also!

So, please begin right this moment for God to perform a miracle and let Gracie’s body to come through surgery and accept the new flow of blood in her body. We are praying that He get the glory for bringing her through. Doctors even admitted that if Gracie comes through this that it would be a miracle--hence, God’s doing.

Please pray for Todd and I and the family for this week--as we know that this may be our last week with Gracie.

But, we are going to continue to trust in the God who sustained our Gracie two weeks ago today for a purpose. We believe He can bring her through this next mountain that she has to cross.

So, we have 8 days to pray hard and believe that He is able.

IF YOU HAVE A CHURCH SERVICE TONIGHT, PLEASE LIFT THIS PRAYER REQUEST UP TO ALL YOU CAN!!

Thank you,

Todd and Amanda

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