Testimony revisited

Testimony revisited.
This is something I'll be doing on a regular basis!
The Holy Spirit speaks to us in different ways: thoughts, feelings, impressions, sometimes we become aware of a pattern that, in turn, increases our understanding, or points us in the direction He would have us to go.
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Week before last, as I was preparing my talk for the Sunday meeting, I poured over scriptures, and church materials from the general authorities. One point brought up, repeatedly, was that, a testimony is something that you have today but you may not have it always. Testimony can be elusive & fragile; you have to recapture it every morning of your life. You hold on by study, by faith, by prayer. A testimony can either increase or diminish, depending on you. When I looked up Testimony in my Bible Dictionary, it referred me back to 'Covenant', which makes sense, as this same word is sometimes rendered 'testament'. And you cannot have a testimony of truth, sacred, and holy, without communion with the spirit backing that up! Bearing one's testimony can help strengthen and lift another - as not all have testimony, still, it can be given to those without, to believe upon the testimony of others' words. I've come to believe 'testimony' to be an important aspect of Christ's teachings, after all, it is what HE went about doing, isn't it?! How often did Christ bare testimony? Wasn't this the very thing that supported him in the wilderness, when he was being tested?
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I decided that this would be an expendable part of my talk.
You know, the part where testimonies can be as elusive as moonbeams and as fragile as an orchid.
Shouldn't everyone understand by now that, if you don't use it, (or pursue it) you'll lose it?
Then, preparing to leave my room, I tripped.
I fell.
I fell down, being fat and sassy, it was an easy fall!
That doesn't happen every day and that got my attention!
Actually, slow-motion, flung me, to the floor of my room, & I, I, I felt stunned, and a 'tick' disoriented! OH, to be sure, I'm OK. Easiest fall I've ever taken! (A hanger! I got hung up by a hanger!) I landed on some folded clothes & some pillows, I'd recently laundered, and which needed to be put away. In short, I fell directly over, unfinished business! YES! I'm certain there's a metaphor in there somewhere. :)
I picked myself up, smoothed out the dress and hair and went on to church.
While the 1st counselor was wrapping up his opening remarks I noticed something unusual, he tripped, and stumbled slightly, leaving the lectern.
Then comes one of my Sunday school students; a lovely girl by the name of Ashley. Ashley was sporting a new pink (her favorite color) arm cast, new, since the previous meeting. Ashley had gone against the grain of her Grandfather's better judgment, and wishes, and had been "looping" her horse. "Grandpa said, 'I knew you were in trouble when I could see all that daylight between you and the horse.'" Ashley fell, and, in describing the X-ray experience, she had this to say, "Ouchie-Ow!"
Next, Helen, self-disciplined in historical studies, spoke of an early member of the church who, although privileged with a sure testimony, and considered to be a great witness of the gospel, had fallen, lost his testimony and endured many, many years bitterness and hardship. She took great pains to mention that this person had never, and did never, (to their dying day), recant their witness of truth, NO! But- still they had fallen, away from their personal adherence to the gospel, in stark disagreement with the brethren, a sad, lonely life, with great struggles, steeped in many regrets, had been their end condition.
By the time I rose to speak, I'd recognized the pattern; I no longer felt, that mentioning testimony as something which needs to be nurtured on a regular basis, was an expendable portion of my talk. No-nono-no-no. It was to be a primary theme!
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Yesterday's fast and testimony meeting at the church was extremely moving. I was running ahead of time for once, and have decided that's the best - I must resolve to do better in getting myself around a little faster on Sunday mornings. (Easier to spot treacherous hangers when I'm not in such a flurry of hurry!) The meeting started with one of my favorite hymns, Lord, I Would Follow Thee. The first verse goes as follows:
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Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path that thou hast shown,
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own.
Savior, may I learn to love thee --
Lord, I would follow thee.
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Then came announcements, and church business, presided over by the branch President, who ended his remarks with a report on what the church is doing to aide in the Hurricane relief efforts. He added his testimony: that within the church, and the Christian community abroad, there are 'watchmen on the tower', who sound the voice of warning.
How thankful we can all be for that!
Unfortunately, some heed that voice, and act accordingly, and some do not. How much better off are we individually, and with our families, having every needful thing, and goodwill flowing out into our communities, when we harken unto wise and reasonable council? Doing so helps to keep us from harms way, and when calamity does happen, having had our awareness raised ahead of time, doing all we can do, to prepare ourselves before the storms come, how much lessened is the impact? How much easier do we to suffer the hardship, and then mount recovery and growth efforts? When we've done all we can to prepare ourselves, our families, and in turn help our neighbors daily, when real need arises, were not left floundering, stunned and disoriented.
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Of course, many of the testimonies borne yesterday, were mindful of "Katrina", people expressing concerns for loved ones in harms way. No one feels good about the poor, the sick, the elderly somehow being caught up, unable to heed the warnings to evacuate the area due to lack of means, ability and aide. No one feels that is acceptable in the least! Least of all an individual with a sure testimony. Is that not the essence of the gospel, to look after the poor, and disadvantaged? [See James 1:27] It's heartbreaking to note that in the centuries we've had to advance 'civilization,' the poorest of the poor, still suffer, terribly - even in the richest, of the rich, and most powerful countries in the History of the world - 'free' or otherwise occupied!
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Second verse of the opening hymn:
Who am I to judge another
When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can't see.
Who am I to judge another?
Lord, I would follow thee.
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My heart and prayers have been drawn out for days for them, and I've prayed, literally, for YEARS now, for the healers - for those brave souls in the medical and emergency responder positions that work the hard hours, making the tough decisions, which hang them, literally, and daily, in the balance of life and death!
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Third verse of that opening hymn:
I would be my brother's keeper;
I would learn the healer's art.
To the wounded and the weary
I would show a gentle heart.
I would be my brother's keeper -
Lord, I would follow thee.
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I have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ. He LIVES! Trying his commands in my life has done nothing but strengthen me and build my testimony futher. I know I have His Spirit to attend me. I bare testimony that, truly receiving, the gift of the Holy Spirit into your life, to companion, comfort, lead, enlighten, and enable you to see beyond your human limitations, and current boundary lines, is the most precious and sacred gift we can have in our lives.
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How do you get that gift?
It is obtained only by adherence to the principles of the gospel, not by following the paths of the world. Purity of thought, and a sincere heart seeking the Savior's guidance daily will lead to a testimony of the truth of Christ's Gospel as sure and permanent as that which Peter possessed ... After seeing the transfiguration of Christ, and hearing the voice of God testify to His divinity (Matthew 17:1-5)
How do you get that gift?
One will never know it by indulging in sin; if we live only to gratify our passions and appetites we cannot expect the sacred, and the holy to manifest in our hearts, and minds - let alone flow outward into our homes, and families. The scriptures warn, "My spirit shall not always strive with man." (Gen. 6:3) His spirit will not dwell in unclean tabernacles. And you cannot have a testimony without the Spirit of God. . .
Still the question - How may I know?
Jesus has answered it, as he has shown the way in every aspect of life. And he gave a simple answer: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7:15, 17) There you go, an answer t0 the question - a clear-cut statement. . . "If ye will do the will, ye shall know." And, "to know God, and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, is eternal life." [see John 17:3]
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Fourth and last verse of that opening hymn:
Savior, may I love my brother
As I know thou lovest me,
Find in thee my strength, my beacon,
For thy servant I would be.
Savior, may I love my brother -
Lord, I would follow thee.
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God's work and his glory is to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man.
Eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
Who among us, will serve?
Can we not all be, even in small, daily measures, about our Father's business?
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(And if you've not gained a testimony of the Godhead, can you not at the least see truth in the wisdom of the ages?)
Cheerios2U all!
Dorko

Laughter = good medicine...

That's right!
Laughter is still good medicine, and I'd like to give a shout out, to my buddy Burfica, for posting this wonderful, classic, e-mailed story on her blog "Don't Eat the Tomatoes" which made me laugh and laugh and put a nice spin on my mindset which I know will last for the remainder of the day! Btw, Burfica, I'm gonna copy & paste that out to the Queen of Panic!, that story is right up her alley! You may have already seen the story if you've been on line for a while, but go there and check it out, people. Big, big smile!

Drawing I

This is truly Drawing I, and I think it'll be good for me. Yesterday's class had us doing 4 projects which drew (pun intended!) from one another. Scriptorians will remember that man learns "line upon line. Precept upon precept." [Isaiah] Anywhooo... Project one was to practice, and in the doing, warm up, by drawing straight lines using different body, paper, and pencil grip positions. I did these standing up and sitting down, with my "Standard grip", a newly tried "under the palm" and the "pinky grip" which was strange and something I'm still trying to get a grip on. Hahaha. Here are the lines. (no rulers allowed!) I was pretty happy I'd occasionally practiced this on my own through the years of doodledom.
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Next came a discussion on Horizon (eyelevel - eyelines), Perspective(s), and vanishing points. We did work from a one point perspective and drew cubes which were to be both above and below the eyeline.
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Still with me? LOL! Then we really opened up and got inside the space in the box with 2 point perspectives. Remember, Art Teachers want you to work big, and so the newsprint paper we had is double the size of the printer I have, so not everything will show, like my vanishing points which I honestly have labeled VP1 and VP2 on my paper here. :) like the good kid I am! lol
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The last thing and the still unfinished thing, which is therefore the homework thing, is a sample drawing of 6 or so cubes from around the house. Stuff like a Table, Chair, TV, Washing Machine, Tissue Box, if it's a cube, draw it but be sure to leave in our search or guidelines (perspective lines) per the teachers request. He wants a raw lined version and then a duplicate of the item with more details lightly sketched in. I got somebody's water jug drawn in class before I digressed to drawing a statue of a Goddess clutching bunches of grapes into a cubist form, along with the barest hint of the desktop stereo we were listening to. Artist goove on the creative vibe doncha know? I'll finish up the assignment here over the weekend and yeah, I'll scan it a second time so I can record my progress here. .
Hope everyone of YOU have a great weekend.
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Migratory Birds

Business communication class last week detailed how problematic mis-communication can be and I was reminded of this little blurp I spotted in a Reader's Digest a looooong while back:

The inscription on the metal bands used by the US Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey – abbreviated as “Wash. Biol. Surv.�

A letter from an “unhappy� camper:

Dear Sirs,
While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and want to tell you it tasted horrible.

The leg bands are now marked: Fish & Wildlife Service.

Off to class!
Have a great week!
D.

CD's Testimony

Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ taught to His Discilpes and to us, and what we should remember every day of our lives, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our mind, and with all our soul, and with all our strength; to love our neighbours as ourselves, to do unto other people as we would have them do unto us and to be charitable and gentle to all.
There is no other commandment, our Lord Jesus Christ said, greater than these.

-- Charles Dickens "The Life of Our Lord"

For 85 years the manuscript was guarded as a precious family secret, and it was handed down from one relative to the next, with the admonition that it should not be published while any child of Dickens lived.

"It was not for profit, not for publicity, but as a domestic and paternal privilege that Charles Dickens took up the most lucrative pen in the literature of his day and dedicated it freely to the brief and earnest manuscript printed for the first time in this unusal little book," wrote P.W. Wilson in The New York Times when The Life of Our Lord was first published in 1934.

I think I know how Dickens must have felt.

Testimony is a very personal thing.

:) so glad I have one!

Note: The opening quote is from the very last page of the little book, as one of 2 prayers Dickens wrote for his young children. I copied the comment from P.W. Wilson, from the Pulisher's Note, in the forward section at the beginning... I have not read the book completely through! To tell you the truth, I've been saving it for "Christmas"!

5 misses from childhood

I almost forgot!
Burfica "tagged" me awhile ago about the 5 things I miss most from my childhood.
Here they are and I'm stealing the first one from the list 'Mom that's nuts' did.

no. 1. - NOT having to pay all of the bills, much less be the only one responsible to be sure that they DO, all get paid!

no. 2. - Grandparents.

no. 3. - The drive in movie theater is gone now. It was torn down a few years after I moved to AZ. I enjoyed it from the tiny tot years ( Mom & Dad making sure we kids were all dressed in our PJs before we went there!) all the way up through young adulthood. (I saw "Porkies" there as a newly released!) ...and Saturday matinees (with either my siblings or my friends) at the walk-in Fox theater on main street. That building is still there, but no more movies - Movies just aren't the social event they used to be. I remember when "Tora! Tora! Tora!" 1st came out - seemed like the entire town went to see it and the lobby was jam-packed with people discussing it during the intermission and after the show was through even. .. . 'course that's small town stuff, too. You actually might know 50% or more of the people in attendance to the show that night!

no. 4. - My childhood friends and the games we used to play together. Sometimes it was a simple card or board game, sometimes it was make-believe with blankets, bed sheets, clothes pins & chairs out underneth our mother's clotheslines, sometimes it was hide-and-seek involving an entire square block and all the kids in the neighborhood... etc...etc...etc...

no. 5. - The time, inclination, and agility (as a child, I could, and did, trim my toenails with my teeth, people! - lol!) to examine my world from the micro to the macro and all points inbetween - as, 'all in a days work' and not the 'exception to the norm'. [I.E.: Rolling down grassy embankments and spinning till dizzy - feeling those effects, just to fall down laughing with friends, staying down and looking for shapes like big ships in the clouds, or flipping over and looking at the amazing world of activity going on in grass and roots of the lawn you were in. Finding stuff like walking stick bugs, fuzzy catepillars and salamanders without even having to try! Catching fireflies and butterflies. Thinking that a boquet of dandilions was really cool...etc...etc...etc...]

Hum. Think I'll work on trying to get some of my childhood 'back'!
Don't worry! I won't be spitting toe-nails anytime soon.

Suffer the Little Children

The Doodle (above right) is a photo-shop-color-play-in-progress, born from the original Doodle(above left). Original Doodle was done for my "Sunbeams". Sunbeams are small children.
(Teaching "Sunbeams" was the first church calling I was given upon moving back to my 'Hometown' - Sunday school teacher for the 4-5-6 year olds. I let the kids kick their shoes off in my class. I wasn't with my sunbeams long, before I was called to teach Gospel Doctrine to their parents, the adults. I NEVER let grown ups kick their shoes off in class! LOL!)
The little bit of artwork was done in 2002 & took less than 2 minutes to do! This held the children's attention, captive, for approximately 2.5 minutes (maybe 3! lol!) including 'draw time'.

I re-found this, in a small, 3x5" notebook which I sometimes carry in my purse. I like it. (Both the pix and the notebook!)
The notebook usually has "to do lists" in it, price quotes or comparisons, Ideas to make me a millionaire that look like they'd take about a million dollars to do:- (Windfarm, RV Park, Xeroscaping company, a Virgin bar - I mentioned this 'Virgin Bar Idea' to someone one time and they stared blankly at me, for a moment, and said, "But who would you get to go to it?" I carefully explained that it would be a bar that served non-alcoholic drinks and anybody could go to it, families even, that one wouldn't necessarily have to be a virgin to be served there. :-), Ahem, I see measurements for home improvement projects, Inspirational quotes I fall in love with, 'how to get there' directions to important places I've never been before and need to travel to, address & phone updates to people I've lost track of and run into again. Phone numbers with nothing else written so I've NO IDEA what they're for, There's a love poem in there that came to my mind one day out of the blue - about a wonderful love that I did not have at the time! (Yes. Artist are weird about such things) ... Got a list of tools to get, to make-up a kickin' Pumpkin Carving Kit- I keep thinking I'll sew a canvas roll-up, to keep it all neat, organized and tied together. (Damn you, Martha Stewart! <-Sorry. She DID plant the big idea in my head.) I see notes on Sunday meetings past, a lovely design I imagined and drew up for a TV/entertainment center, a design sketch for a delicious decorated cake I really DID make, and there's thoughts on prayer lists and people to put on them - dating back 2-3 years. I got a new thought for a child to put on my prayer list this week. The name is 'Rebekah' <-Click this little name to see a part of her story - and maybe send her out some of your sunbeam love if you're willing.
Hope I didn't bore you too bad with the contents from my FAT LIL' NOTEBOOK - because there'll be more to come! (insert innocent, childish laughter, here -X!)
Love to all who pass along this way!
Dorko ~

Lists!

Updated 8/26-2005... Looking happily at missions accomplished, & with great dismay over those left undone I can see my 'Huckleberry' is right. Got to tighten up the ship here!!! Everything left undone rolls over to TODAY! Aaaarrrggg! <-(Dorko's battle cry, rolling up her sleeves!)
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I can't believe it's been Monday since I've posted!
[insert funny face of dismay here!]
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I'm a big fan of "to do" lists. This what I've got going so far:
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My List of Things to do Today!
â–  I will take some ibuprofen
â–  I will clean the cat box
â–  I will return all the phone calls I've gotten logged on my answering machine this week
â–¡ I will look into my online class.
â–¡ I will finish my reading assignments for graphic design.
â–  I will look over the list of materials I still need for the drawing one class.
■ I will write some things on my talk for Sunday’s sacrament meeting.
â–¡ I will look at my financial aid file & start one on scholarships I want to pursue.
â–¡ I will clear off the table and keep it cleared each day hence forth.
I'll repeat the words: "Filing not piling," as often as I need to - to get the job done!
â–  I will water all of my house plants today.
â–¡ I will wash the windows in my car and I will vacuum out the floor boards.
â–¡ I will mop the kitchen floor
â–¡ I will fold all the clothes
â–¡ I will get my wardrobe for the next week organized
â–¡ I will begin on the reorganization of my bedroom
â–¡ I will stick to tasks!
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I will try my best to get as much done today as I possibly can
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Additional tasks:
â–¡ I will begin in the basement
□ I will look over the sunflowers and harvest seeds if it’s time
â–  I will shovel out the weeds by my mailbox on the highway and toss down some flower seed
â–¡ I will broad cast grass seeds by the fence line and under the pines
â–¡ I will broad cast the flower seeds the Queen of Panic! gave me along my side of the ditches
â–  I will plan where to plant some bulbs hoping for flowers in the spring
â–¡ I will study my Sunday school lesson for the youth and bake them up some cookies
â–  I will update my prayer list
â–  I will pray
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Gee.
I better remember to find or just "do" a doodle or a drawing to post here tomorrow... hum adding another line to the list.....
LOL!
Cheerios!
Dorko

AUGUST-!!!

AUGUST IS: "Admit You're Happy Month!"
... also.... National "Win With Civility Month"
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AUGUST 6th is: "National Fresh Breath Day"

AUGUST 7th is: "Treasure Your Customers Day"

AUGUST 8th is: "Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night"

AUGUST 17-23 is: "National Truck Driver Appreciation Days"

AUGUST 24th is: The 106th Anniversary of "Everybody Complains About the Weather, but Nobody does Anything About it Day!"

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More about AUGUST later..... :)

Revelation & Testimony

Personal revelation and Testimony go hand in hand, don't they?
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I smiled.
I had just been asked to give a talk in next week's sacrament meeting.
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(So, there it is, I thought, the 'rest bit' is officially over. I'd felt like I was 'flying under the radar,' so to speak, for the past 3 years; since moving to this branch of the church, I'd not been asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting! I knew that someday I would be - I just didn't know when and then, as seasons came and went, I became curious over not being asked and felt a little comfort within that curiosity, as if somehow, my Heavenly Father was giving me a rest in this thing, while I struggled to catch my household up from the move, settle in and deal with other trials He had for me to learn and grow from. Love the way His Holy Spirit gently leads me along! As I live and breath, though, I knew this was coming, and coming soon! I'm sitting here, now, looking at the calendar page for August. In the very first week (Saturday the 6th) I'd written, 'Fast and Testimony. Write my testimony. Write a talk...' followed by my personal musings on possible subject matter, 'Senior moments, personal blindspots - getting beyond those to real improvement', and 'be ye not easily offended...' amazing to look at that square on the calendar, now, and think back to my exchange in church yesterday.)
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So I asked back, "Do you have a topic?"
"Testimony"
I looked into the eyes of this kind, priesthood leader and thought to clarify, if I could. "Testimony," I repeated, "How to give one? How to ... get one? .... strengthen one? ...bear one? ...receive one? What it does for you? What someone else's testimony can do for you? ... "
I trailed off, because looking into those eyes and peppering the meat between us with questions, I'd perceived the response.... it was just....
"Testimony"
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I know how this goes. I pray like everything depends on God. Then I work like everything depends on me - listening intently and feeling after His Holy Spirit to guide me along within this task and within my doings as I apply myself to it.
Having faith that the Holy Spirit will guide me along, if I just let it, is an easy thing for me to do, after all, it happens all the time. I have a testimony!
Now, I just need to draw ever closer unto Him (Praying, reading the scriptures relevant to the topic and principle, and most importantly hearkening to the tender thoughts, feelings, impressions and visions which will form and translate into the sustenance of this 'talk'. I've learned it is best to be the messenger only - and if I feel like I, myself, have learned something sweet and wonderfully nurturing - by the close of the time allotted to me, I know then that the Lord was with me, all along the way!)
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I'll be nervous, because sometimes I feel the spirit so strongly that it squirts out my eyes. I just hate it (embarrassed) when I feel I have something important to say and tears flow along with the words! I guess I should check myself on that though because I wasn't given over to many tears before I gained the depth of testimony that I have now. It's a physical manifestation of a spiritual change within my heart of hearts. So on second thought, I realize I should learn to love those tears, when they come... or at least learn how to deal with them. (Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out - LOL! tissue!)
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The topic in yesterday's sacrament meeting was REVELATION, next to the Holy Ghost, that would be my favorite spiritual gift. I cannot think of a better lead into a discussion on TESTIMONY than that!
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What about you all? Anyone have a personal revelation or a testimony they'd like to share? Keep in mind what they say, 'a multitude of sins are forgiven, every time you bear humble testimony'
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Doh! maybe that's why I was asked ... well, off to class for me!
Happy Monday - D.

The Red Marble

Got the following story in an e-mail from a cousin. You may have already seen it? I had not.
It's one of those 'call to action' e-mails that entreats us to send it on. I usually break the chain. You can decide for yourself if this would serve a positive purpose or not in your world. I found it a good reminder of how far tender mercies can travel...

The Red Marble
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Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy,delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
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I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.
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"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
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"H'lo, Mr.. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas . sure look good."
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"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
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"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
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"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
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"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
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"Would you like to take some home?"
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"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
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"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
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"All I got's my prize marble here."
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"Is that right? Let me see it."
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"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
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"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
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"Not zackley, but almost."
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"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
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"Sure will. Thanks Mr.. Miller."
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Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
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I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.
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Several years went by, each more rapid that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr.. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
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Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... all very professional looking.
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They approached Mrs.. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
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Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
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Our turn came to meet Mrs.. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
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"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.! They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size ... they came to pay their debt."
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"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
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With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
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Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that takes our breath.
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Today ... I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ... .. A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself .. An unexpected phone call from an old friend .. Green stoplights on your way to work . The fastest line at the grocery store .. A good sing-along song on the radio . Your keys right where you left them.
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They say it takes a minute to find a special person, An hour to appreciate them, A day to love them, But an entire life to forget them.
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Send this to the people you'll never forget. If you don't send it to anyone, it may just mean you are in too much of a hurry.
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Hugs!
Dorko

Fantasy Flame

Something from December of 1978.
I'm a little fuzzy on the details. I think I was high. I'd been "partying" with friends. There's a face you may be able to pick out there. That's a cracked mirror the candle is floating just above and, um, ever see a candle flame quite like that? Sooo, yeah, I 'may have' been weaving a little fantasy in with the flame here. More 'if's: If I had this in 'do over' mode - I'd replicate the image in the mirror. I'd make more 'faces to be found' in the candle, mirror and flame. I'd stick some 'bobbles' into the background and give more elevation to the candle so it is immediately recognized as 'floating'... But now I'm off to the college book store to get supplied for the semester! Soon, VERY soon, you'll be seeing 'fresh' works here! Cheerios2U all and have a fantastic week's end!

Goodbye, sweet one...

"Lady" is most likely NOT the name I would have chosen for this friend of mine. She was already fully grown (5-6 years old?) and impeccably trained when we started walking together back in 1995. It was only at the urging of a 'friend' and against my 'better judgment' that she came to live with me. She quickly won over my heart, and deep affection from almost every human-being who ever spent a moments notice in the same room with her. Sometimes the world labels with names that draw ill repute, before a being even has a chance to prove their temperament, and contribution to life. This baby girl was ALWAYS more a 'Lady' - than a bitch. She was never a bitch. That dog was the best dogger I've ever had the privilege of hanging with. Today I had to make the tough choice. You see, her body has been progressively failing in small degrees for quite sometime now. There is a fullness of time, that comes - when we sometimes have to be the judge. It aint easy. This is the hard choice... tempered only with thoughts of what is merciful? I've been in utter agony watching over her, lifting her, helping her negotiate and manage the infirmities of advancing age. One can only adapt so far before you see the quality of life for the beloved irrevocably marred. Today I said my last good-bye to this faithful, sweet, granddogger.
I'll not be posting again for a few days.
I need to keep REALLY busy, here, and um, I'm having a rough time just typing these few lines.
I thought to spare my coward self and not post at all, however this is my online journal and she has been an important part of my life for many, many years. She deserves a tearful, heartfelt tribute and every ounce of love I'm sending with her fuzzy little butt, into the spirit world - rest easy there, Lady, girl - Someday I hope to see your legs, strong once more, and doing your happy dance - before walking with you again. You good, old girl, you!

Quoteable Quotes

This I learned from the shadow of a tree, that to and fro did sway against a wall: our shadow-selves, our influence, may fall where we ourselves can never be.
-- Anna E. Hamilton
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(Get a daily wallpaper and quote from www.paperquote.com)
(I want to give credit to the artist J. Morris for his Autumn Morning photograph I found it on Artcyclopedia)
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Opie turned me on to this quote service.
You can get daily inspiration; quotes and pictures, however, I like the daily scripture quote the best.
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Love a good quote.
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Whenever I find one that strikes m'fancy, I do collect them, trying to commit them to memory.
I stash 'em on the hard drive here. I may write 'em down on a note card - tape it to a bathroom mirror, fridge.... or one time, I went so far as to prop it up on the dashboard of my car. (possibly more on this later.)
I even purchased a 'Quotationary program' that has 10s of thousands loaded up in it along with a handy search forum and a means of adding more to it.
This habit has come in handy a few times when something needed to be said, and I knew I couldn't do it any more effectively or succinctly or eloquently than whatever 'Quoteable Quote' was floating up to my mind from the "Ah! Archives". [insert beaming smile, here]
Whyever would I need to reinvent the wheel?
Learn to discern and think for yourself, certainly...
But learn from the best you can find!
Off to do just that -
Cheerios2U!
Dorko runs off, singing:
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"Welcome! Welcome! Sabbath morning...now we rest from every care! Welcome! Welcome! Is the dawning, Holy Sabbath day of prayer..."

Gerrr, baby

I did this on a whim. Looked at a blank piece of paper and picked this little feller out with a few strokes of a pen. Sooo... if I was following friend, DLAK's guidelines, this would be a "doodle" as it originally took me less than 5 minutes to sketch out.

I always have liked this critter and labeled him 'poo-chee', even though I'm not certain what he is. Hound? Fox? Coyote? Maybe I should've named him "Wiley"! Hehehee ~

Post script: {Partay @ Dorko's house! I just looked down at the stat counter and noticed I'm my own 5,000th visitor..... she shoots, she scores... latw!}

No way am I doing HNT, but ...

While there is no way am I participating in Half Nakid Thursdays, I'm amazed, amused and unabashedly entertained by those of you that are! I found this old sketch of Rachel McLish's legs. My brother, Rock, had a 'celebrity' crush on her back in the late 70's. She was all over the weightlifting magazines. (And I'm pretty sure, he would have like to have been all over her!) lol! Have fun with your half nakid thingie! Doh. That didn't sound quite right...

Running on...

Note to self: Hit the ground RUNNING in da morning!
I have appointments. School. Funding. Books. Orientations. (do I really need that?) Financial Aid! I'll be busy all day long.
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I have a class schedule, which includes as current, 2 classes I was previously waitlisted for. I will take that as a good sign and I'll be taking 15 credit hours - so no doubt, I'll be busy:
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Drawing 1
Intro to Graphic Design
Digital Imaging
Intro to Business
Business Communications
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I'm excited/scared. Been a while since I've been in classes. I have always wanted to pursue a career with an artistic base. Books and tuition will be taken care of so... great opportunity... just how to keep a roof over my head, utilities paid and food in the fridge that freaks me out a bit...?
Happy Wednesday to you all!
Dorko

I found my MOOD ring!

No kidding! I really did. It's in the bathroom right now. It's turning colors as we speak, 'cause I'm saving energy and NOT air conditioning 'The little freak's room' ! I apologize - that's what I used to call it in my youth, you know, about the same time in space, when I was sporting that ring! I found this on the net today:

Your Mood Ring is Purple

Sensual Clear mind Purpose is known

Mood Ring Generator

Go ahead, people give 'er a whirl and let me know what mood we caught YOU in...!?

Of Mice & Men...

Yesterday, it was during the last meeting of the day - for Sunday worship services, that I felt the most focused. My attentions were all over the subject being discussed! The talk was on Happiness. The teacher used many good stories and examples to illustrate the connecting gospel principles. (I was just reading some blogs and was reminded...) This is one story that was told... . ... about a little mouse being chased by a big cat and just as the situation looked the MOST dire, the mouse turned to squeak, and instead, a big "BARK-BARK-BARK" came out! The cat, confused (& maybe a little freaked out - ran away!) Hehehee. This is why it's good to learn another language! :) Ah, the gift of tongues! Don't you know?: Good, to the point, timely communication - can work miracles!?
Love & Cheerios2U all!
Dorko

Rolling Thunder...

Another kind of rolling thunder is passing by my way this week! I've counted at least 15 motorcycles in 30 minutes on a mini excursion into town yesterday. Come to think of it - I've been hearing riders rollin' by the house for, I'd say, 4 or 5 days now. Humm... Could it be STURGIS?

One google got my answer! Ride free, have some fun & be safe!!!

(Maybe next year... I'll have a "Kool-aide Stand" with loads of ice all ready to go!)

The Boys of Summer Compassion

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A remarkable day at the ball park in deed!
Heard the story on NPR this morning.
Click on the link and you can hear it too...
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5 minutes ago...

This way?












Or this way?
Which way do you like most?
And... Yes.
This is so 5 minutes ago!
Alekx wanted something "recent".
Mom wanted color.
I just finished this rendition of an idea I stole off a greeting card back in 1997.
I've been using the image/idea in training classes, (simple drawing - not this elabroate) I'd toss it up on a dry erase board before a class was to begin and then ask the participants what it was "saying" once all were settled in and class had begun.
Consider yourself settled in.
Class has begun.
What is it "saying" to you?
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Hehehee. . .
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Here's a Hint: axn28D+
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Love going out to ALL of YOU this weekend!
Cheerios!
Dorko

Thunder and Lightning!

- Cool as the water... meltin' from the winter snows... you are the island I been looking for.
I don't know where you come from, but I can feel you coming on...You're the storm inside my soul that's raging out of control.
- Call the wind out. Call out the thunder. O 0 Lightning - only you can will the weather... I said come on - Won't you come on? - Lightning your mine. Tonight, tonight... You caught me while I was sleepin' restin' from a heavy run. I saw you in your evening gown, you were lighting up the sky. No matter waht tomorrow brings - Lightning You're mine tonight. Woah, lightning your mine tonight...
- Crack the Horizon... only you can split the night, Then comes you mother cloud to take you away. Another wind will dry me, and the sun will make me warm, but to me my life will always be the calm before the storm...
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*sighs*
good old song, good old memories...
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I found this old haunt and thought I'd make 'light' of my nephews' fright (from the recent storm experiences) with it ... & who knows? This could be the culprit to alot of my frustrations this past 6 or 7 days!
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I decided to post art work on 'Fridays' and I am a picture or 2 behind on that decision! So why not post this now, even though the most recent storm the nephew endured was the 24th of July??? ...And even though it's not Friday, I missed last Friday...and so... well, there's another reason behind the tardiness of art postings & my wanting to throw this up at this time; I have not been able to POST! Not properly....! Or, ...telephone out, or, ...receive incoming calls, much less use the Fax machine - with any reliability, in over a week now!!! Grrr.
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My Aunt called earlier, and when I asked why the call, she jokingly said, "Well, I've decided to disown you..." I knew exactly what she was talking about. She'd (no doubt) been trying to telephone me for days now and she kept getting a busy signal... only I, likely, was not on the phone at all!!! My sister, the Queen of Panic!, alerted me to the possibility of a problem last Wednesday. She tried phoning ahead to me, via cel, and got a busy - then got here and found out that I - wasn't!? I had not touched the phone; it had not rung. Hrumph!
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So! I'm having to drive into town to give my complaint to the phone-service people. The guy comes out yesterday... I was fixin' on posting and all of a sudden 'No Server'... I discovered the phone van parked in the drive when I went for water. Yes. 'No Server' leaves me thirsty. So I go out into the 109 degrees to fish for wassssup? He gleefully tells me that he's found the problem! A surge protector dealie on the line "obviously did it's job, because it is fried!" <-(His exact words) & he said he'd have me going as soon as he checked the line. Yay! I happily returned to office here and started off-line work on photos from the 4th of July. Then, after all good business people have called it a day... I find out I still have no server. I can not e-mail those photos to anyone and I can not call to complain to anyone because... dun-dun-done!... I have no activity for phone line at all now!!! No squawk! No snap, crackle, pop! Heaven forbid I have an actual dial tone = oh, no! Nothing. I'm telling you zip, diddly-squat! (I was "disappointed" to say the least.)
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Drive into town this morning. As soon as I hit the door to the phone place, the guy who has been helping me? His desk phone rang. He took one look at me, looking at him and ... he reached for it! Hehehee. (sure. it's funny NOW!) and He made darn sure he stayed on that 'business call' the entire time I was in their shop. . . pretty convenient for him wouldn't you say??? lol! (Divine intervention?) :) .... on to the end, here; some other very nice people at the phone place, reassured me that someone would be out, to double check the 'problem' again. Anti-climactic end of story... "Travis" the field phone tech, who introduced himself this time - did, in fact get things going this afternoon... ah. The sweet relief of a problem solved!
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And now I hear Thunder and see some Lightning galloping in... along with the feel of those sweet, cool breezes! Reminds me of that old REOSpeedwagon song... Lightning, which was, after all the inspiration for the art... also reminds me of the good senses the great God of Heaven hath given to me, along with his commands... let those with ears to hear - hear... let those with eyes to see - see, and oh! The messages of love He's inscribed upon my heart... to feel! Humbles me to know that the master of all creation has carved me into the palm of his hand, and holds me there, through every adversity...large or small...
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Cheerios2U all!
(Here's to an 'amp-ing good' weekend ahead!)

A Sabbath Day thought...

[I'm making this a 3-part post, please bear that in mind as you read down the line]
I made it to church today. (Yay!)
So glad I did.
The talks were thought-provoking-good, my Sunday school class, with the youth, actually felt 'inspired', and there was a pot luck lunch afterward.
I was gonna skip it and c'mon home... (I forgot and didn't make anything!) but... those pot lucks are always SO, so worth while, for a couple different reasons!
Reason #1: Excellent food. (i.e. This one had: Homegrown, vine ripened cherry tomatoes... and that greenbean casserole everyone loves to see around the holidays - ?know what I mean? - That showed up today with homegrown, tender young green beans as the premier ingredient! Um-um! Loads of quality stuff.)
Reason #2: You don't have to dirty up the kitchen at home!
Reason #3: Sample other peoples recipes. There's good home cooking all over this country and the "Heartland" is no exception to da rule!
So I munched my lunch there. (I'll make 2 contributions next time...)
My real incentive to stay was giving an elderly member a ride to the grocery and then home.
Her son pulled up in the parking-lot as I was trying to sneak off early and begged the favor of a ride for his Mother from me.
Hey, I'm in a church parking lot and we were talking about one of my favorite fellow church goers! What could I say, but "Okay." "You talked me into it." "I'll do that for you."
It was going to be something simple for me, especially now that I have working breaks, people, but something difficult for this older woman to just get out and do any ol' time. 100+ degree heat. We were both thankful for A/C! ... and the son? He had an 'ox-in-the-mire' situation he needed to attend to... hummm.... service is a good thing.

One penetrating thought...

"Delicious" to the soul... is how the Holy Spirit and the words of truth are portrayed within the scriptures. The last speaker at today's service said something that stayed with me. He said, "You can count the seeds in a single apple... but you can not count the apples contained within a single seed."

The "sower"...

... That Icon stands tall above the fruited plains and sown feilds of this Nebraska-land. I often reflect on the biblical parable. It's not only good to sow seeds, it is good to stand tall and take in an accounting of all you've done so far, where you are now and where you hope to finish up when the day is done. 'Religious individual' or not, following correct principles just naturally seems to add up to extra yeilds and enough extra yeilds = a bumber crop.
May you all have abundance in your week ahead!
Cheerios2U!
Dorko

I'm Alright....

...don't nobody worry 'bout me!
I was speeding out of the Cadillac Blues by the time the sunset on Tuesday.
I got the car back.
It's fixed.
It's only money, after all, I'll get more later.
Lord knows, I'm here to work ... and to serve - Him, and He takes a special good care of me!
and....
OH!
Them Boyz!
The Boyz were back in town and I was digging every Auntie moment I could get with them.
So happy they've grown up loving and cuddly as well as handsome and strong.
Always breaking into song ... *sighs!* (I love that!)
Course the Queen of Panic! says they're hitting their teen years so it's not always sing-songy time around their house.
and...
Them Girlz!
The Girlz have been here most of the summer.
They love to break into song too! (Izzat a teen thing? Did I do that? - Big, knowing smile!)
They sure do love them Boyz, lots of giggles, with the occasional hug and kiss.
Today's a little bittersweet - the Girlz go back to Louisiana and the Boyz go back to Minnesota.
Everyone looking forward to the next event together - hoping for a good Thanksgiving!
I'm already in the Thanksgiving groove... found out yesterday that my Sister-in-law is preggers!
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Life is good, people.
Life is very good!

Rant: "Hello, beanie-weenies!"

A couple hundred dollars. More than I have in my budget, for such, right now - so I'll be nipping and tucking everywhere until I can find breathing room in my coin purse again. ("Hello, beanie-weenies!") *SUX*
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*sighs*
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This is looking like a bit of a rant so be fore warned! Here are some things that 'ticked' me just a bit yesterday:

The fixit guys didn't call me with status on my car and what it would take to get breaks until around 4pm. Their shop closes at 5. Why did I have to get it in there at 9 a.m.? Hummmm....

(As part of a consequence to that, I believe, I didn't pick up my car last night - I won't get it until sometime today...)

The trunk of this car (an older model Cadillac) has one of those automatic closers. I've always thought it was a big pain in the pa-toot! Just another unnecessary item to fool with. I mean c'mon folks! just shut the dang lid on the trunk! Why do I need to retrain myself to 'lightly close the lid', or remember to consistently throw my body inbetween that trunk lid and any number of unsuspecting good Samaritans like carry out boys & girls and my nephews & nieces to buy enough time to instruct the 'uneducated' on proper, gentle operation of Cadillac trunk lids - Why? - All so a flippin' gizmo can take over for me, and shut it down the rest of the way??? How LAME is that anyways??? Sometimes fancy-smancy IS lame! And why does Cadillac think that's such a great feature??? <-( I found out the answer to that question yesterday!) The stupid thing went tits up on me a few months ago (sorry, I am ranting - but I'm pissed - and I warned you!) and I've been making due. I've been backing it into the carport as pretection against the rains we've had - but this doesn't do squat for me, or anything I have in that trunk, if I happen to be at a store when a storm rolls in or end up driving through one on a trip somewhere. Rain water, like all water, (and most people I know, too, come to think of it.) follows the path of least resistance and therefore channels right down to that 1/2 to 3/4 inch gap .... the gap 'created' because the ding-a-ling trunk closer is not doing it's job! The default design? Stick up like a sore thumb and channel rainwater & road debris into said trunk until owner operator forks over the buck-a-roos to 'fix it'. Ah! And there we find the answer to the Cadillac question of why 'they' must think this is such a groovy feature! The replacement part is ... dang near $400.00. Ta-Dah!!!! Just to ensure the (blankety-blank) trunk closes proper!!!! Grrrrr....... give me a ballpeen hammer, please. Oh and mind you, that's just the cost of getting the part... Installation -that ever popular labor cost- is gonna be extra... then there's death, of course, but not before taxation has occurred! To be sure.
Well- they called around and found one at a salvage yard for $70.00. Still outrageous in my opinion - but what are you gonna do? I'm thinking trade-off. That's what I'm thinking.

Oh! And another thing that chapped my hiney yesterday. DAD. He never calls ahead when he's gonna visit. I let the dog out yesterday evening and find his old silver metal suitcase. The one he used decades ago when he was in the navy. There was a note, in his wife's hand, which said he was giving the suitcase to me because I had said, once upon a time ago, that I liked it and would like to have it, and said note: that they didn't find me at home. (I was home all dang day! The car was gone in the shop! Had he CALLED, he would have known that!!! Course it might have helped for them to have knocked or tried the doorbell a few times, too. Smirk... heavy on the irk, please!) and the note went on to say they were leaving in the morning for cooler weather. (Translation: back to the pacific northwest) So. With no wheels and no way to really pinpoint him & his rig - a 5th wheel RV, other than calling every known relative in the area with the burning question, "Have you seen my Dad?" and this is approaching the taboo hours of 9 p.m. or later... all too pathetic, sorry. I'll miss seeing them altogether this time. Hrumph.
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Fine.
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Just fine.
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.37 cents and I can drop the old man a note of my own, which'll probably beat him to his finish line...
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I wonder if they've tallied the final bill on my car yet.... cringing!

Woe! Nellie! I need BREAKS!

Happy Monday!
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The car is in the shop.
No word yet on what the deal is with the breaks....
I'm guessing that no matter what it turns out to be I won't be getting any 'break' in the cost of repair.
*sighs*
I feel I have the very best situation with my mechanic, though. He is an old, old friend. We go back 20+ years in that friendship to a time when he used to play his guitar in local pubs with local musicians - one of whom [a bass player by the name of Dindy, of the infamous Byrd Family] was dating my sister, the Queen of Panic!... The man is just as intune with his guitar as he is with cars. I remember they had several incarnations of bands: There was the "Surefire" band, (My sister and I made the backdrop for them. It was really cool looking white on black, simple, stylized art nouveau-ish lettering. I still have the T'shirt). Then there was the "Flatlands" band, and a band they named "DH Flight". Dindy always did say they had a marketing flaw with T-shirts for the "Flatlands" band. (small breasted women just would not buy into them - no matter what!!! LOL! I always thought it would have helped their cause out if they'd printed the name on the back rather than horizontally right across the chest. Hehehee.) Good, good times -for the most part. Now, he, the mechanic/guitar playing friend, tells me about the music he plays in church on Sundays. Cool Beans.
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Time flies... and, come to think of it, I haven't set foot in a 'bar' other than to get a cola, shoot pool or celebrate a family event like a graduation or a off-beat wedding reception in like... gee... gotta think!!! ... 9 or 10 years... humph! Kinda corresponds with my 'conversion' from walking on the what-is-wild-or-stupid-is-cool side to walking on the spiritual side. Can't say as I miss the scene much. I partied-a-plenty and must have got it outta my system, I suppose. Chagrined looking back and musing over my fairshare of misspent youth, though. Never did like all that cigarette smoke stinking up my hair! And who, in their right mind, tell me!?, ever thought up "Party til you puke!" as THE rebel yell of the early 80's *sheesh!* I'm thinking it was an O'Niel or one of the Spilneck boys... smirk... maybe it was Hunter & Coburn - they owned the best party bar in town! [It was highly rumored, by them, to have made a national lampoon's best of list. - now, to be fair, there really WAS enough raw material in antics therein to create a "Porky's meets Animal House" type of feature film] ... I ought to write that stuff down before full blown Alzheimer's hits.
Anyways... I trust the mechanic, which for the single sistah, is a HUGE blessing in itself!
He's always asking me how my sister is and asking me to send along his well wishes for her, too. Guess that's why I'm walking down memory lane a bit as the Queen of Panic! was actually in town and at Mom's place when I called there this morning to wheedle a ride home from the auto shop. Perfect. She could pick me up and maybe say "Hello" to the mechanic in person... unfortunately things don't always work out so-so perfectly on Monday mornings. The mechanic had been called away on a family emergency and has yet to return to his bustling little business. Hoping and praying now all is or soon will be well with him and his family members...
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AND! -> Turns out the Queen of Panic! was only in town for a 'supply' run. ...towels...eggs... who knows what else!? Despite last night's terrific thunderstorm, them boyz of her's, [nephews of mine!] are out at Medicine Creek Res. with our brother, their Uncle Rock, and his 'women', [That beautiful wife of his and their 3 daughters, my lovely nieces]. I understand the little Lord of Leaping, was a bit paranoid with last night's storm - as his last experience with Nebraska weather spawned a tornado which the family - Grandma in tow - narrowly dodged via artful driving outside of Grand Island, NE. Conditions got so dicey that the Queen of Panic! herself, admitted to me, she was litterally chewing on her T-shirt while watching the damn thing skip and dance... too close for anyone's comfort level, all the while she's telling her husband, the King of REM, to just drive, drive, DRIVE! She being the self appointed worrier and storm watcher in the family. (More good times!)
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I heard the rumors last week that the Queen of Panic! was headed this way, (last THURSDAY) and I just got my hug and about 20 minutes of 'run' time with her this morning. Bless her heart. Told her I'd been waiting forever for her to get here - lol! She gifted me with some nice 'Red Wing Stoneware' and sped back off to da lake! Hopefully they'll all stay through to next weekend and enjoy the simple pleasures of the county fair in the bargain. Maybe I'll have breaks by then! Cheerios2U all!
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Mother of the Milky Way

Starlight Angel ........ October 1982

Another drawing that wouldn't all fit in the scanner.
You get the general idea though, right?
This one was felt tip and I dripped and dragged H2O over it while still fresh for a wash effect.
I was "playing".
Happy week's end everybody!

She's back, back, back

... and she's busy, busy, busy!
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There's laundry to do
... and floors to vacuum
....and grass to mow
.... animals and a master cylinder to attend to - yikes!
.... and sweet, sweet daydreams of all those warm days and nights with my 'Huckleberry' to dally 'round about my heart and mind...
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*sighs*
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Did we explore more than 'the outer banks'?
Time will have to tell - because I aint gonna! (Ha-ha!)
I will say that Southern Hospitality, Chivalry at it's utmost - pinnacle of perfection, and all that deeply moves woman to love man - is alive and well and living in eastern North Cackalackie!
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Thank you Opie, for all your thoughtfulness, for taking such good care of me, sharing so much of what makes you - you, with this prairie girl. I had such a wonderful experience there with you! You are my Huckleberry and I love you...
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Dang.
Did the temperature just spike a few degrees in here?
Better go check that A/C thermostat...
[Dorko wonders off with a big, big, all over kind of smile!]

She's gone, gone, gone...

I'm leaving on a ... Beechcraft!
I'm on my way to a little vacation with my Huckleberry, a.k.a.: Opie Outlaw.
Now, if God be willing and if the creek don't rise, I'll be gone through the 20th.
If I don't come back - blame Opie!
You can drop by from time to time if you want... but remember, I left the bathrooms clean and I expect them to be that way when I get back!
You got acres & acres of Prairieland out there to skip and play on... no need, people, to all star wrestle in the house! The river is just a mile up the road. You can put your inner tubes in there and float your day away. (P.S. - I'm taking the bug spray & sun screen with me!)
Pay attention now!
What will the trailer-park people think if you disregard every lick of good sense you may have ever been given...!?
Mom will be here looking after the cat and dog.
Hint: It's been a long time since she's been to a good toga party so you might be able to convince her it's time to do that again. You know, grab a sheet & some safety pins, let the braziers fly proudly and free from our radio antenna, drag mainstreet U.S.A. to the tune of "Louie Louie" or... something even more Roman, if you can think of it... maybe even form a conga line through the local bowling alley... I'm telling you, she could get in to this, well... She'd be good as a designated driver anyways, I'm almost sure of that! (You just gotta help watch out for deer, and other scurry creatures, when you're crossing over those river bridges, now!)
BTW, there's couscous in the cupboard, corn and watermelon out in the field, if anyone gets hungry!

Mom's Mom

My maternal Grandmother, a youthful photo of her that I've always loved.
Mom That's Nuts, mentioned that she had photos of her Grandmother. I challenged her to post 'em with the always daring, "I'll show mine, if you show yours" taunt. Mom That's Nuts did just that and so here you go "MOM". I'm living up to my dare! :P

Mom's Family Photo

My maternal Grandparents, Mom and her brothers and sister.
These 2 grandparents got married "later in life" as well. You can see that Mom's Mom has matured and everyone seems delighted, save for grandpa who has the old, "how long is this gonna take?" look on his face. My Mother would be the one standing just over his left shoulder.

Dad's Family Photo

My paternal Grandparents, Dad and his brother.
This is not a complete family photo. There were other children. This was a 2nd marriage for both of my paternal grandparents. These are the youngest of all of their children; the 2 sons they procreated together, my father is the older one with the great big smile. It is interesting to note that both of my paternal and maternal families had portraits taken at a studio named BROOKS, here in McCook, Nebr. That studio burned to the ground years ago. I really like the images in these photos and the art deco mats BROOKS was apparently into before that fateful night, when the fire raged and they went out of the business of capturing and keeping small town history - for good.

Bolles Canyon

Not in a studio here, this place is called Bolles (pronounced "Bulls") Canyon. Nonetheless, a photograph captured by a studio professional - from mainstreet McCook, NE. This truly was a very, very, very long time ago. She looks like she's just a dew drop shy of innocent... and nothing like she does today! LOL! Cheerios2U all!

Loon E. Tick

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How 'bout a version of the that thespian symbol ~ the masks ~ Comedy and Tragedy.
I stirred the initial idea up with a bunch of "stuff": an image from an Elton John LP cover, a residual (mental) imprint from the song "Moon shadow", from back in the day, when Cat Stevens was Cat Stevens.
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What a week... Monday I'm watching the Fireworks and thinking, "This is the best use of gunpowder I know of!" by yesterday, Thursday, we're all watching London and I'm thinking, "This is the worst use of gunpowder I know of!"
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That ancient fact of life: That there must needs be an opposition in all things, is a bitter pill to swallow sometimes. Looking over scripture I see that the trial of faith is a theme running steadily throughout. Genesis has its images of the tree of life... and the tree of knowledge of good and evil; jump to the beatitudes where Jesus admonishes the faithful to... Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you...
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I wrote awhile back about the personal commandment for me to not only pray but to "study carefully that which you should pray for. " I said at the time that I'd write more on it later... seems like now is later!
It is so very difficult to do, this commandment.
Yet I've had my "fun" with it as well!
A former fiancee asked me, once, after a messy, bitter break-up, if I was praying for him. He got rather testy when the answer was "yes" and demanded that I "stop!"... I simply said that I could not... when he demanded to know why, [!?] ~ I quoted that bit of scripture to him, saying my bible tells me that I am to pray for 'them which despitefully use [me] and persecute [me]!'
THAT shut him up! ~ Hehehee.
(Dang. I may have to repent, someday, for that one!)
Hang it all up!
If only it could be that simple, that easy, to deal with the 'oppressors that dispise this world, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon'... <-[Isaiah]
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I think, an important point to remember, and one point, that fellow, I just mentioned, kept reminding me of ~ (matter of fact the last thing he reminded me of, just before his suicide) ~ is from Ephesians 6:12 ...
...For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places...
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Just Sux, big time, when it's the flesh and the blood paying the price! Most especially sucky, is the thought that INNOCENT, or at the least unsuspecting, flesh and blood are paying the price. Talk about infuriating. I know it gets me going that way.
Now, just seems like a good time to be praying ~ more than ever... for a lot of different people who continually strive to fight that good fight ~ standing in harms way... and for even more healing to come into the world. The medical community, those that care for all the injured flesh and blood, need our prayers, too. ...and ... well I loathe to say it, but the idiots with the explosives ~ could they need our ferverant prayer more than anyone else?... never know! Maybe next time they'll self destruct ... or at least the driving force of evil, darkness and hate will!!! Oh! God willing, if that could just be so! ...and along those lines it's an act of God that will bring me to my knees to do that prayerful work... there are times when I seem to need his guiding hand every minute of every hour, of every day... yesterday was like that and the most prevalent thought cruising through my mind all day, to the point it became almost mantra like??? ~ It was this: "Be not weary of doing good."
[Dorko bangs head against her file cabinet; I'm being prompted to say I'll have more on that later, too! *sheesh!*]
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... He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust....
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Will we always find the cost of freedom buried in the ground?
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Galatians 6:9
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Love, people and love some more! ~ Dorko

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Another Internet Quiz! Try it if you wish, but I got to warn you... the above assessment? SO not me! [well, the question about the finches and mockingbirds, they DO get along ~ don't they?]

Fifty Blogs from Around the U.S.

I've been blog-rolled and ... tagged, it seems, by Always_Adventuring. (7.5.05)
A blogger inspired? Maybe so ~ I dunno.
I do know I like the idea, and I feel, a little responsibility now, to represent NEBRASKA well.
Humm... just how "Corn-y" can one be?
Check out her "project" on the links above, she may need some help for some of the more illusive, sparsly "netted" states.
Happy blogging!

O! DANG! DANGEROUS TYPO ALERT!!! RE: the Lemon Poke cake... Do NOT bake that bad boy for 45 minutes. Nobody I know of likes their lemons char-broiled. (To any of you that may have tried the recipe out and actually ended up with char-broiled cake, um. Sorry!) That typo has been "fixed" now. It should have read 20-25 minutes on the baking time, all along. I made 4 of those cakes in the 24 hours from Sunday to Monday and I am still handing out the recipe via e-mails. Lord, I love drag, copy & paste! ............. {Side tracking thought: Didn't all those things once come with heavy warnings; social stigmata; taboos?} Cheerios2U!

Blood and Laughter

Just home from a near perfect 4th of July evening.
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Accepted the invitation to a relative's home, ~ cousins ~ a couple I'm quite fond of but haven't seen, for like, 30 years or so. [I know! Bad Dorko, bad!] There ended up being 10 of us all together; ages 6 to 70
We had the BEST time!!!
Lots of laughter and that good spirit that flows freely when all are relaxed and just enjoying each other and the evening together... Good family, good food, excellent Fire works.
Just enough of a breeze to keep the biting flies and mosquitoes completely away ~ yet not enough to screw with the heavy artillery. [or keep the fireflies from dancing round about!]
The fun had been "rained" out last year. My 'Blood' ~ bless their hearts ~ just stashed the charges in a garbage can in the garage and dugout all of that and a whole lot more out for tonight's events.
Ended up with the better part of a pick-up bed & tailgate section chalked full of fireworks!
+ Their place is a short way from the County Fairgrounds & the big show put on by the Optimist Club this year, we were perfect viewing distance for all that!
Mother nature lit up the sky (again this year), but it was only a few scant drops that fell on us. ...and...
That only served to further cool the evening and set a dramatic stage for shooting stars, and those celebratory bombs-a-bursting in air.
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I'm feeling SO very happy, warm and fuzzy, and TIRED right now.
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And blessed.
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Lord knows, how very, very blessed I'm feeling by all these marvelous gifts, I was able to note and receive this whole day long!
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I'm glad I remembered the throw-away camera in my car, and insisted they all line up at the end of the drive for the photo op! This prompted one of my younger cousins to get her digital and we were able to capture some fine moments with both. I was especially pleased and impressed that we took the time & the photos when she told of how they'd never had a photo taken of them all together like that.
She went on to say that she'd made plans, some time back, and all of that had fallen by the wayside when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. He had to have a section of his tongue removed, a portion of it that was deep within his throat. (I imagined what a trying time that must have been for them.)
Now here we all were!
Happy! Healthy! Having a good time, together! The 2 photos I snapped on the digital seemed to capture every inch of that ~ each one of them looking so relaxed. I could feel their love for each other, and for me, and it made me love them even more.
.... there's so much more ~ but I gotta go... [Winkin, Blinkin and Nod are calling my name...]
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What blessings couldja, didja count this day?
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Cheerios2U all!
~ Dorko

The Star-Spangled Banner

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Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there.
Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
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On the shore, dimly seen thru the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
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Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
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Amen.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

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Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible, swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
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Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
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He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat:
He is sifting out the hearts of men before the judgment seat.
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant my feet!
His truth is marching on.
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Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
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In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,
While God is marching on.
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Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
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My Country, 'Tis of Thee

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My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the
pilgrims' pride, From ev'ry mountain side Let freedom ring!
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My native country, thee, Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and
templed hill. My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.
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Let music swell the breeze And ring from all the tress
Sweet freedom's song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that
breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.
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Our fathers' God, to thee, Author of liberty,
To thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With freedom's
holy light. Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King!
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Please, people ~ if you're here reading this, take a moment and sing this one out loud. We don't hear this standard as often as we used to. Have any of you noticed that? I sang it through twice [yes. I do believe the dog rolled her eyes and covered her ears!] it was good to 'taste' the words in my mouth. It was good to give them breath and life and to hear them in my ears. Good to touch these, words of love, with my finger tips upon the keyboard and with my eyes, bringing them to the forefront of my mind, once again. I was transported to elementary grade school days when I stood along with my classmates and first learned the tune, and to unnumbered car rides with my parents and my mother doing her best to lead us in sing alongs. This was diabolicly good of her, as I don't remember anyone of us saying, "I don't want to!" and it seems to me that we were all in tune, whenever we sang together. Aint it funny, though, how the last couple of verses don't always make it as clear and loud as the first one or two? [mumble, hum-hum-hum, mumble-mumble~ giggle!] Today, flowing from me, in feeling, deep within this song, it's those last 2 verses, that moved my heart and soul. I am grateful, I am thoughtful, I am enjoying my freedom this weekend. Hope you are enjoying yours. Amen.

Making a joyful noise

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~ Oh, beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From Sea to shining sea.
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~ Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control, Thy liberty in law.
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~ Oh, beautiful for heros proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine.
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~ Oh, beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.
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I figured I'd get by with scanning and posting the song. Then I decided it was too small too really read. I cannot tell you, fully, of the thoughts and feelings I just experienced typing out, line upon line, this beautiful song. I was brought to tears. I copied this from my Hymnal. I'm honoring the holiday by posting something from that hymnal each day to the Fourth. There is so much history, and personal meaning, for me in these 'prayers', ...I don't feel I can bare any greater record or testimony into mine own heart [or the heart of another] than by simply reading, or better yet, singing these standards. ~ Amen