Uncle Ivan sent this ditty... about the Lords Prayer, enjoy!

THE LORD'S PRAYER - Rather cleverly done. This is in two parts; the prayer ( in blue type ) and GOD ( in red type ), in response. ********** read outloud to get the whole effect!




Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
But -- you called ME!
Called you?
No, I didn't call you. I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There -- you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME.
You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am.
What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"?
It means, it means . . good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control -
of everything down here like you have up there.
We're kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money --
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying for MY will to be done.
If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example.
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.
You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( . . pause . . )
Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try me!
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Amy?
See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!
But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?
I didn't -- mean it.
Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn't it?
Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.
No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are -- right?
Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Amy.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin will be Amy's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you're right. You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right . all right . . I forgive her.
There now! Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed quite as uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah. I know.
Okay. Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory --
What would really make me happy?
No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now.
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . . How do I make you happy?
YOU just did!

Had a great Easter...

Wow! Did we ever have some great food and great times Sunday with family. Thanks to the kiddos who made it, and we missed the ones who could not! We had lots of great food, I mean the ladies out did themselves this time!! And grandkiddos hunted for the eggs the Easter bunny hid... And we all got to visit with each other more than we had in a while, so it was truly a good time. Now, our home seems so empty cuz... they are all gone, haha.. but we will do it again.

Thanks to all who showed up, and made Easter 2006 a wonderful family day that will go done in the record books!

Love to all, s

Something to think about....

1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq.

2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!

3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.

4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq

5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!

6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq!

7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.

8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.

9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.

10. Amos cried out in Iraq!

11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.

12. Daniel was! in the lion's den in Iraq!

13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the


Fiery furnace!)

14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.

15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.

16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.

17. The wise men were from Iraq

18. Peter preached in Iraq.


19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon, which was a city in Iraq!

An! d you ha ve probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia . The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq.

And also, This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages...

The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

Koran (9:11 ) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.

(Note the verse number!) Hmmmmmmm?!

Bo is brother of Stoney LaRue, another artist from Stillwater, OK.

Payne County Line�s Best New Artist chats with the O�Colly

Stacey Moore
Staff Writer


The Daily O�Collegian sits down with Bo Phillips, Payne County Line�s Best New Artist of 2006, to discuss his first CD, family and a fan-favorite original song, �Horses.�

The Daily O�Collegian: First of all, when and where were you born?

Bo Phillips: Houston, Texas, Sept. 11, 1974. We moved around a lot when we were kids; southeastern Oklahoma is pretty much home for me. For the last 10 years or so, it�s been Stillwater.

TDO: What is your earliest memory of music?

BP: I think as I was being delivered, someone had the radio on in the delivery room. (Laughs) My grandma used to always listen to country music in her house, when I was 4 or 5, that�s about as young as I can remember. She�d always be on there, taping them (songs) on cassettes. This was when cassettes were brand new. She was the pioneer of the technological age there.

TDO: How old were you when you learned to play guitar?

BP: Nine years old is when I got my first guitar and taught myself to play.

TDO: Did your family encourage you to pursue music or did they push you to go for a more stable career?

BP: I was raised by my grandparents, actually. My granddad didn�t care what I did as long as it wasn�t, you know, ditch-digging or something that didn�t require a whole lot of work. He would have liked for me to go to college, but he never did push it. I�m the only one on either side of my family to ever go to college, so that�s kind of a big deal to them, but he actually�I just now recently started the music deal about a year ago. It was kind of surprising to him because I�ve played since I was 9, but I�ve never really taken it seriously, more of like living room, back porch kind of playing, and so it�s kind of a surprise to most of the family when I wanted to do it as a career.

TDO: Where did you go to college?

BP: OSU. Finished up there. Went to junior college at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton.

TDO: What was your major?

BP: At Wilburton, it was ag economics. I graduated bachelor�s of ag education and I got a master�s in educational leadership.

TDO: What do you like to do when you aren�t singing or playing music?

BP: I like building stuff: carpentry, welding and all kinds of fabrication stuff.

TDO: Are you married?

BP: I have a wife. We�ve been together for about nine years now, been married for almost seven.

TDO: Do you have any kids?

BP: Three kids; I have a 6-year-old boy and a set of 16-month-old twins, a boy and a girl.

TDO: Do you live in Stillwater?

BP: I was an ag teacher for six years, so we moved throughout Oklahoma doing that and each move progressively got closer to Stillwater � that�s where my wife�s from. We just moved back to Stillwater about a year ago.

TDO: What do you like about playing at Roosters?

BP: I�ve worked out at Tumbleweed for about 10 years, so, since it�s the same ownership, it�s kind of like a family atmosphere.

TDO: Is there anything you don�t like about it?

BP: About playing here? Smelling like smoke when I go home. (Laughs) I�ve never smoked in my life, and that�s the only gritch I have about doing it here.

TDO: What�s your favorite thing about Stillwater?

BP: I think the size, actually. It�s big enough to have all the things you need, but not so big you have to worry about big-city problems. There�s not a big gang problem here. People pretty much just get along. You got a Wal-Mart, what else do you need?

TDO: What is your favorite original song to play?

BP: As far as meaning, probably �More to me.� It�s one on the CD that I wrote for my wife a couple years ago. The one we have the most fun with, they�ve actually played it on the radio numerous times, it�s called �Horses.� It started out as a joke and it just blossomed. It�s probably not the song you want to be known for for the rest of your career, but hey, it�s a good jump start, I suppose.

TDO: Do you have a favorite cover you like to play?

BP: I guess my favorite slow cover would be �Long black veil;� I really enjoy doing that song. And a faster one would be �Satisfied.�

TDO: Are there any crowd favorites that you�re getting sick of?

BP: �Sweet Caroline.� I�m not to the point of being totally sick of it, but it�s approaching there.

TDO: Now, your Web site is a little mysterious...

BP: (Laughs)

TDO: And I was trying to figure out, is �Live at Roosters� your first album?

BP: Yeah.

TDO: Where there any unexpected challenges as far as it being a live recording?

BP: Well, I decided to do all the organization myself rather than hire out as far as publicity and getting people together to do it. That wasn�t as big a hassle as I thought it would be, but the biggest hassle was dealing with the reproduction, as far as organizing when to have it to them and when they would have it back; things that were not in my hands to control were the things that I had the most headache with.

TDO: Who are your musical influences?

BP: I�ve listened to so much music and so many types of music that it�s almost impossible to pinpoint one group or one person as an influence.

TDO: Who are you listening to right now?

BP: I have some Stoney (Larue) bootlegs that I like to listen to. And Brad Paisley, I really like his stuff.

TDO: What is the most embarrassing CD in your collection?

BP: (Laughs) Well, I don�t have any �Achy Breaky Heart.�

TDO: If you could play a duet with anyone, who would it be?

BP: Anyone in the whole world?

TDO: Dead or alive.

BP: Jesus! (Laughs) I think LeeAnn Womack would be cool, she really likes the Texas/Oklahoma red-dirt type music and you can see her hanging out and doing acoustic stuff. She has just an angelic voice.

TDO: What do you hope to be doing in five years?

BP: Countin� the benjamins! (Laughs) I hope to have a well-established band together and playing. Still playing.

Bo Phillips can be heard nightly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Fridays at Roosters, 412 S. Washington, or at http://www.myspace.com/bophillipsmusic. For news and a complete schedule, go to http://www.bophillipsmusic.com. 

got'er Easter Motor running early...

Phil, Tammy and Austyn dropped by Saturday after hunting Easter Eggs at church, and Austyn showed us his big bucket full of eggs he found with lots of goodies inside. Grandma Ann gave him his Easter basket and he opened it and found even more goodies! We had a great short visit. They are going to Doris and Jim Rowland's today for Easter Dinner with MK and Mom. The rest of the family is coming to our home for Easter dinner.. yelp.. you read that right. Something that does not happen that often is about to happen and make ole Grandpa and Grandma Moffat very happpy... Jake got to come in for the day, Jon called and said they moved things around so they are going to be here... and Madison Ann is hope fully going to be well enough to come over with her folks today too.... wow.. how wonderful a day it will be!! Easter with family...

I know some of you don't know it, but I am walking 6.25 miles a day now, and this day, I did not. first day in over 2 weeks that I have not walked. My weight is now at 248... long ways from 299 in hospital, or 360 last Sept 1!! I am feeling much better, but ole knees are really causing me problems. I can not sit or ride in car for over 10 miles... but.. I am hopeful this gets better with time ...

I have been taking photos.. lots and they are online over at dotphoto.com or on the family gallery on PCL.
My web business is really taking off and ole Payne County Line keeps on keeping on with a life of it's own now. We are starting to get lots of respect in the Oklahoma music world from artists and fans alike. One recent deal was a wonderful write up about an artist in Stillwater in the Ocolly. It is cool to see name in print.. haha...

all for now.. much more later..

Welcome - Stan and Ann's Ramblings

Today's Quote

If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.

-Jonathan Winters

Ann is home in Tulsa Town...

They are landing.. 2900 ft and 200 kts... right on target landing to the West... and they are about 10 mins late... due to 1700 and 200 kts now... and still in the air at 1:50 so they are even later... but they beat the rain coming.. and the cold front.. must have had to do a "go around" .. bet the wind caused a missed approach.. hum... loved it better in the left seat.. haha.. later.. s

Ann's homeward bound...

They are flying at 30,000 and about 300kts ground speed and flying around thunderstorms... interesting.. haha... should be in Tulsa at 1:40pm...

later.. S

Ann on last leg of trip home..

Due to weather forming to Southwest... Ann's plane was about 15 mins late taking off.. but she is in the air and headed to Tulsa town... according to flight map.. they reached 30000 and 390 kts.. but now are at 12000 and only 274 kts.... hummmmm..

Welcome - Stan and Ann's Ramblings

7800 and 200 knts.. she is now on ground and will be there about an hour then head for Tulsa... Welcome home...

Grandma Ann is at ....

12800 and 386 kts... almost to Cinn....

Ann...

Annie is getting ready to land in Cincinnati... now at 24,000 ... earlier was at 20900 ft...387 kts..

Ann...

Over Ohio and entering KY airspace... slowing to 315 knots and lowering to 24800... feet in mile, 5,280.

Ann...

Now at 24,000 and 393 knots... running 10 mins ahead of schedule... for Cincinnati...

Ann...

Well, i was almost right.. they actually climbed to 30,000 feet and slowing to 388 knots.. nearing Ohio, West Virgina border... I .... am happy, can you tell...!!!

Welcome - Stan and Ann's Ramblings

My Annie's comin' home.. she is in the air at 26,700 feet and traveling at 398 Knots... over west virgina right now... heading to Cincinnati, OH. landing in about 20 mins... they are slowing down and losing altitude... Oh boy... I miss her!!!

Think about this one ! ! ! ! ! From Heather!

Think about this one ! ! ! ! !

On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.

That won't ever happen again.

You may now return to your (normal ?) life.

new pics on ....

For those of you who like to look at photos...

new ones on http://www.paynecountyline.com/Gallery/index.php

and on


http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=moffatfamilyblog&p=FC2E&CID=1222373&E=Y&ILD=1961828

Bubba, Junior and a Blonde - from Heather

Bubba and Junior were standing at the base of a
flagpole, looking up. A blond lady walked by and asked what they were doing.

"We're supposed to find the height of the flagpole,"
said Bubba, "but we don't have a ladder."

The woman took a wrench from her purse, loosened a
few bolts, and laid the pole down. Then she took a tape measure from her pocket, took a measurement & announced, "Eighteen feet, six inches," and
walked away.

Junior shook his head and laughed. "Ain't that just
like a dumb blond?

We ask for the height, and she gives us the length.

Bubba and Junior are currently doing government work
supervising the reconstruction of those New Orleans Levees.

Today's Inspirational Story

The 'I Love You More' Game

A little girl teaches her mom a thing or two about love.
By Christie A. Hansen

Reprinted with permission from Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Mothers.

Meet my daughter, Amanda. Four years old and a fountain of knowledge. The other day she was reciting a list of all the facts and tidbits she has memorized. One plus one is two. If you mix yellow paint with blue you get green. Penguins can't fly....On and on she went.

Finally, she finished. "Mom," she said, looking very smug, "I know everything."

I let on as if I believed her, but chuckled to myself thinking of all the "this and that's" that a four-year-old child couldn't possibly know. Comparing her four years to my almost three decades of life experiences, I felt sure I knew what she knew and then some.

Within a week, I'd learn I was wrong.

It all began as we were standing in front of the bathroom mirror, me fixing Amanda's fine, blonde hair. I was putting in the final elastic of a spunky pair of pony tails and finished with, "I love you, Amanda."

"And I love you," she replied.

"Oh, yeah," I taunted, "well, I love you more."

Her eyes lit up as she recognized the cue for the start of another "I love you more" match. "Nuh-uh," she laughed, "I love you the most."

"I love you bigger than a volcano!" I countered--a favorite family phrase in these battles of love.

"But, Mom, I love you from here to China"--a country she's learning about thanks to our new neighbors up the street.

We volleyed back and forth a few favorite lines. "I love you more than peanut butter"...Well, I love you more than television"..."I even love you more than bubble gum."

It was my turn again, and I made the move that usually brings victory. "Too bad, chickadee. I love you bigger than the universe!" On this day, however, Amanda was not going to give up. I could see she was thinking.

"Mom," she said in a quiet voice, "I love you more than myself."

I stopped. Dumbfounded. Overwhelmed by her sincerity.

Here I thought that I knew more than she did. I thought I knew at least everything that she knew. But I didn't know this. My four-year-old daughter knows more about love than her twenty-eight-year-old mom. And somehow she loves me more than herself.

Sometimes, we need to be aware of what we are praying for... from Heather...

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home.

He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed:

"Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen. God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.


The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the chequebook. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog.

Then it was already 1 P.M. and he hurried to make thebeds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework, then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.

At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper. After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed.

At 9 P.M. he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said:
Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."

The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied: "My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were." You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."

Uncle Ivan sent this along.. thanks Uncle!!

Bubba and Billy Joe are walking down the street, and they see a sign on a store which reads,

"Suits $5.00 each,
shirts $2.00 each,
trousers $2.50 each.

Bubba says to his pal, "Billy Joe, Look here! We could buy a whole gob of these, take'em back to Sand Mountain, sell 'em to our friends, and make a fortune.

"Just let me do the talkin' 'cause if they hear your accent, they might think we're ignorant, and not wanna sell that stuff to us.

Now, I'll talk in a slow Georgia drawl so's they don't know we is from Alabama."

They go in and Bubba says with his best fake Georgia drawl,

"I'll take 50 of them suits at $5.00 each, 100 of them there shirts at $2.00 each, 50 pairs of them there trousers at $2.50 each. I'll back up my pickup and.....

"The owner of the shop interrupts, "Ya'll from South Alabama, ain't ya?"

"Well...yeah," says a surprised Bubba...."How come you knowed that?"

"Because this is a dry-cleaners."

This and that...

New pics from Jake's new job.. here are a couple of links to two albums.. same pics, but one might show them better on your computer...

http://www.dotphoto.com/MemViewAlbum.asp?AID=3339751

http://paynecountyline.com/Gallery/

Enjoy the day!!

By the way... had a nice phone call from my ole' buddy, Shawn Howard on Thursday. He is doing great in ole' McAlester ville... rocking and rolling... Great to hear from him!!

Lots on new photos at...

http://www.dotphoto.com/MemViewAlbum.asp

Who-ieeee..... what a great day... yesterday was!!!

Wow, what a great day Saturday was!
We all, yelp... ALL got together Saturday for noon meal along with Uncle Ivan, Aunt Freda, and Aunt Fannie from El Reno, OK. It was a GREAT DAY and a wonderful time by all. We enjoyed some great cooking... and wonderful visits and good times watching all the Grandkids play! I have decided it is a good thing parents don't become Grand parents first, or there would never be fewer kiddos in the world... haha... Grand kids are cool!!! We had a house full, and a table full, and it was awesome!
Many thanks to Uncle Ivan and Aunt Freda and Fannie for making the long drive to visit with us. That was wonderful.
And Happy Belated Birthday to Uncle Ivan, and Happy Anniversary to Phillip and Tammy, and Happy Birthday to Heather Ann! and we wish you all many many more. For those who don't know, Phillip and Tammy were married 14 years ago on Heather's Birthday, and Heather just went past 33.... whew.... Phillip is job hunting, thinking of finding a desk job vs. working in the heat and cold laying brick. Paul has been with SPD for 14 years... Heather has a new job, Madison was "running" at 9 months, Austyn has a new space ship from Lowes that they made in class when the Lowes folks came to their classroom, Kaitlyn is tearing it up, running around like there is no tomorrow, and her and our little dog Zoa' became good buddies.... Jon is being promoted to Manager of Digital Design and Developement for the Chickasaw Nation... and on and on.... wonderful wonderful day... thanks to everyone for taking time to get together. Some day we won't all be here to do that! Enjoy the day!!

Subject: Happiness

Subject: Happiness


Words to live by
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each
morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and
shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home
today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled
sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual
description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been
hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just
been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied.

"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room
or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I
arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make
every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed
recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer
work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day
and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in
my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.
I am still depositing."Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Stan Ramblings

Hello all.... found this quote.. and it's so true...
To describe happiness is to diminish it. so I won't try to share what happiness is.. just want to let you know I am happy!!!

Heather has new job, pay raise and has moved up several levels in her career... she is truly awesome at her job. She really connects with people and does it very well. She has some info on her blog about it... and her family. You would think she loves them or something.. haha... between family, job, and goats, and ....... she finds a bit of time for her too....

Phillip is going back into the masonry business. We... thought he might. He is an outdoors person, and loves to make things, build things, create things... and he is darn good at it. He has a long list of folks who want his services... and know the quality of work he does... so by bye trucking, hello brick/stone laying!! He has some info on his blog too...

Jonathan is doing really really well is school, yelp, he is a "back to school" boy working on his degree in Ada. He just completed a series of test and did very well on them. All the while he is moving up in his company, about to become manager of his division... He is a true Moffat... love people, works hard, and keeps his eye on the prize! He is doing an awesome job with Kaitlyn, too.... and still finds time to help his father out of jams he gets in from time to time!!

Jacob has done rather well, after hitting bottom several years ago. He is clean and green, is still enrolled in his welding classes at VoTech in Stillwater, but has been employed by Custom Fab in Carney building the big "metal" boxes that go under a drilling oil rig, the 50 foot long 12 feet wide things made out of HEAVY metal on the long skids.. and now is about to start another adventure in his life. He has bought a welding rig and will start building the big oil rigs for Baker in OKC this next week, probably around the middle of the week. He will drive back and forth daily, but will be making "big time" money. Seems his skills are in high demand right now, and instead of buying a new rig/truck, he found a great deal on a used one... so does not have a lot of expense to pay off...

As you might imagine, Ann and I are very proud of our kiddos... We set at night when we are alone and talk and smile and enjoy our time together talking about how blessed we are, and they are.

Randi is doing very well with her new job, and loves her work. She has her hands full with Jon and Kaitlyn, but is always smiling, except at me, and loves it all. She is one of the best mom's I have seen in many years!

Paul is loving his "day" job, and his weekends off. He is a remarkable man, to be able to be a "Police Office" during the day, and then go home and be the awesome father he is to his family!

Tammy keeps on doing great in her job as well. And from time to time she tries a new recipe... and shares it with us, and reinforces the fact she is one of the best cooks in the land!! How in the world she can be such a great mom, a terrific cook, super wife... and then still have a bit of time for Tammy is beyond my belief! And another neat new thing... she has a new car that is so cool... lots smaller than her big truck she drove for years... bet she loves that too...

And Ann... is holding down the fort at work for her boss who took the month off to be with his wife as she goes thru a having a breast removed... they are in our prayers... Lots happening at her work, too. I just should not put it all here... haha... She might take a trip to Washington DC to a banquet her office helps fund each year. Jake and I are pushing for her to go...
I think Heather is heading to Boston next month too..??

All I can tell you about me.. my health is improving, have not been back to hospital, but head to the Dr. on Monday to have a general followup to my bout in December. Have lost about 90 pounds, and still need to lose a 100 more.. hahaha.. yeah right!!! love to eat to much. My work load has increase as well. Lots of new clients, and PCL is keeping me busy about a half day each day, plus I am now part of Flatland Entertainment in Stillwater... office is about 3 miles away, and it gets me out of house and away from icebox!! Working with bands, lots of phone time... but I enjoy helping others chase their dreams. Payne County Line is starting to have a life of it's own. It is getting lots of state press and even received National recoginition in the media for the annual music awards we do each year. kind'a makes me little ole head swell a bit... hahaha... but Ann keeps that in line too... believe me she does... and I am walking 5 miles a day.. in 30 days I will have walked to Denton, TX or to Elk City or to Miami OK... how bout them apples.. haha..

All I can say, I have said before, but bears repeating! I am the luckiest man alive. AWESOME wife, family, and grand kids!!! How richly blessed I am. May not have a dime, but I have lots to LOVE!! and i love them all, each and every one!

Enjoy the day... and each other!

Steel gates looking south.. tree in distance is on half mile line.. or close... 

Fires last night south of our home... on Brush Creek..

you really have to look but in the distance you can see near end of the arrow, the second fire... just across from some homes... wheat is on the right side of the fence.. so this one burned up to the wheat for about 1/8 mile... the post in the fore ground are the half mile line, south of our house. Click on the photos to enlarge them... 

photo 3 looking southwest from the gates... 

Fire last night along our east road.. that runs north and south ... two places.. someone set them on purpose. I smelled smoke about 1:30am, wind was from the south, but did not look out.. I knew that Jake got up and if there was a problem he would have awakened us, and also there is a smoke alarm in our home which did not go off, so I knew it was not NEAR.. but did not know it was only a quarter of a mile from our home... while we slept.. but from the tracks on the inside of the fence, someone with dually truck was driving around where it burned, so I supposed either Stillwater or Perkins FD came out.. but at this writing I do not know. .there are four pics taken with my cell phone.. just sharing the latest. with all.... enjoy the day... 

photo from the steel gates on the quarter mile looking south.. the distant tree is on half mile line.. or close to it..  

Welcome - Stan and Ann's Ramblings

Perkins Famous Citzen.. Pistol Pete

Enjoy

Another historical link to the past in Payne County OK.

perkins journal online... sort of..

http://www.smalltownpapers.com/listPKJ.htm

A bit of Perkins Oklahoma History...

probably long forgotten by many in Perkins today...

http://www.air-and-space.com/b-36%20wrecks.htm#49-2658

my three things...

Today's Quote

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

-Jose Addison

Happy Valentines Day

Just wanted to tell everyone HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to one and all!!

Welcome - Stan and Ann's Ramblings

Every wonder how something is made?? Well here is the answer... madehow.com will share the answers with ya... Enjoy!

Cowboy Poetry

Cowboy Poetry

Jake, the rancher went one day, To fix a distant fence. The wind was cold and gusty; The clouds rolled gray and dense.

As he pounded the last staples in And gathered his tools to go, The temperature had fallen; The wind and snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup, He felt a heavy heart; From the sound of that ignition, He knew it wouldn't start!

So Jake did what most of us would do, Had we been there. He humbly bowed his balding head And sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for one last time, He softly cursed his luck. They found him three days later, Frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life And done his share of roaming. But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked -- It looked just like Wyoming !

Of all the saints in Heaven, His favorite was St. Peter.

(Now, this line ain't really needed, But it helps with rhyme and meter)

So they set and talked - To check the status of your file, But you know, Jake, We hadn't heard from you, in quite a long while."

"And though all prayers are answered, And God ain't got no quota, He didn't recognize your voice, And started a truck in Minnesota !"

BETTER KEEP IN TOUCH!

Locals honored at District Livestock Show

Locals honored at District Livestock Show
Stillwater NewsPress
February 5, 2006
By Paul W. Newlin

More than 1,000 animals were exhibited during the District Junior Livestock Show this weekend and Payne County
4-H and FFA members took their share of honors.
The district show completed its fifth year at the Payne County Expo Center, where more than 50 schools were represented from 15 counties in the district.
In the market steer show, Bobby Lowry from the Perkins-Tryon FFA chapter exhibited the grand champion, the AOB champion.
Caleb Eytcheson of Ripley FFA had the champion Shorthorn.
The grand champion prospect steer was exhibited by Macie Griswold of Payne County 4-H while another grand champion honor went to Tyler Eberly of Perkins-Tryon FFA on his market goat entry.
This was the first year for goats with 88 head entered.
In the sheep show, Harley Runner of Perkins-Tryon FFA exhibited the grand champion.
She exhibited the champion Hampshire, Suffolk and Crossbred.
Laurie Fitch of Payne County 4-H exhibited the champion Southdown and Speckle Face and had reserve champion Dorset.
Jacob McDaniel of Ripley FFA had champion Shropshire.
Christine Crowson of Stillwater FFA had reserve Southdown.
In the hog show, Derrick Slavens of Glencoe FFA exhibited the reserve champion Hampshire and Branson Morgan of Payne County 4-H had reserve grand champion on his champion Crossbred.
Show Superintendent Kenny Beam noted this year’s entries were up by 43 head, 1,166 exhibited this year. In the first
district show in the county, the number was about 800.
He said exhibitors continue to be impressed with the facilities from show rings to pens to concessions.
Shawnee was the previous location of the Central District Show.
The Payne County Junior Livestock Show will be Feb. 27-March 2 with the auction the final night.

Act of God

Act of God



There was a preacher whose wife was expecting a baby. The preacher went to the congregation and asked for a raise.

After much consideration and discussion, they passed a rule that whenever the preacher's family expanded so would his pay check.

After six children, this started to get expensive and the congregation decided to hold another meeting to discuss the preacher's salary.

There was much yelling and bickering about how much the clergyman's additional children were costing the church.

Finally the preacher got up and spoke to the crowd, "Having children is an act of God"!

Silence fell upon the congregation. No one dared challenge the thought.

In the back of the room a little old lady stood up and in her frail voice said, "Snow and rain are also acts of God too, but when we get too much, we wear rubbers."

Don't you just love little old ladies?

JUST NEVER KNOW!!!

JUST NEVER KNOW!!!


Acts 2:38


An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church

services when she was startled by an intruder.


She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and

yelled, STOP! Acts 2:38! (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus

Christ so that your sins may be forgiven.)


The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and

explained what she had done.


As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why

did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you."

Missouri - God's Country

Missouri - God's Country



A man in Topeka, Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around th

country. He started by flying to San Francisco, and started working east.

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes.

He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with

a sign which read "$10,000 a minute."



Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and sign. The pastor answered

this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he pays the

price he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor and continued

on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Salt Lake City,

Chicago, Milwaukee, and around the United States, he found more phones with

the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.



Finally he arrived in the lovely Ozark Mountain country of Missouri. Upon

entering a church, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. BUT THIS time

the sign read, "Calls: 25 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor.

“I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I found this

golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and could

talk to God, but, in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your

sign reads 25 cents a call. "Why?" The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son,

you're in Missouri now, and it is a local call."

Solving the world's problems.. from Heather this am.. haha...

The Pentagon announced today the formation of a new 500-man elite fighting unit called the United States Redneck Special Forces. These Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas boys will be dropped off into Iraq and have
been given only the following facts about terrorists:


1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus.
5. They are DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.


We expect the problem in Iraq to be over by next Friday.

The Super Bowl Fan (from Uncle Ivan)

The Super Bowl Fan


A man receives a free ticket to the Super Bowl from his company. Unfortunately, when he arrives at the stadium he realizes the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium-he is closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field.

About halfway through the first quarter he notices an empty seat 10 rows off the field right on the 50 yard line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat. As he sits down, he asks the gentleman sitting next to him,

"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?"

The man replies negatively. Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, he again inquires of the man next to him,

"This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Super Bowl and not use it?"

The man replies, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Super Bowl we haven't been together at since we got married in 1967."

"Well, that's terribly sad. But still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or close friend?"

"No," the man replied, "they're all at the funeral."

thought this was an interesting article... about life in Oklahoma that we know nothing about...

Panhandle County Combats Shortfalls, State's Neglect
By Paul Monies, The Daily Oklahoman

Jan. 29--BOISE CITY -- The semi-trucks roll through here at all times of the day and night, taking cargo back and forth from the Texas border to Denver and beyond. Most don't stop, but those that do frequent the Love's or Shell truck stops to refuel. During the day, they check in at the scales -- if they're open. At night, drivers take a respite at the Longhorn or Townsman motels. This Panhandle town of almost 1,500 people sits at the intersection of five highways. The busiest is U.S. Highway 287, part of the 1,400-mile Ports-to-Plains trade corridor that stretches from the border town of Laredo, Texas, to Denver. More than 2,400 vehicles pass through Boise City each day, with almost two-thirds of them 18-wheelers, according to government estimates. As international trade increases, planners expect that daily total to rise to 4,200 by 2025. "It's not a problem now, but if you double the traffic going through town, it will be a problem," City Manager Rod Avery said. That's because the trucks go right through the center of town, stopping at the traffic "circle" -- on the town square -- that surrounds the Cimarron County Courthouse. Officials fear it's only a matter of time before a truck carrying hazardous or oversized cargo spills its load and puts local lives in danger. If they're headed north to Denver, truckers prefer to use U.S. 287 because it has fewer bridges and isn't as steep as connecting to the more westerly Interstate 25 that runs through Raton, N.M. In both the summer and winter, tourists heading to vacation hotspots in Colorado add to the traffic as they travel through Boise City. While most folks in Boise City describe themselves as proud Okies, they often feel ignored and isolated from the rest of the state. Some jokingly refer to the secessionist movement that flares up every 10 to 15 years, where disaffected residents of western Kansas and the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles talk about forming their own state. If you're an Okie stranger to the three-county "No Man's Land" of the Oklahoma Panhandle, you're liable to get called a "downstater." It's not always a charitable term. After all, the distance from Boise City to Denver is 288 miles. The state Capitol in Oklahoma City is 330 miles away, at least a five-hour drive. "People think Oklahoma ends at Woodward," said Britt Smith, who owns No Man's Land Beef Jerky in Boise City along with his sister, Belinda Gardner. "People don't have a clue we are out here." In recent editorials, C.F. David, editor of the Boise City News, poked fun at state leaders for their lack of attention to the Panhandle. The paper offered a $50 "bounty" for proof that either House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, or Democratic Gov. Brad Henry had visited Cimarron County recently to promote economic development. "Hiett, like other politicos from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, have no real clue that Oklahoma even has a Panhandle or that we contribute anything to the state beyond tax dollars," David wrote. That frustration can be traced in part to the amount of land in Cimarron County held by the state's School Land Trust -- more than 274,000 acres, or 25 percent of the state's total school lands. Commercial, agricultural and mineral leases on school land allow the trust to distribute about $60 million a year to the state's colleges and schools. But that's land that can't be taxed for local schools, hospitals or fire districts. Clifton Scott, secretary of the land office, said governmental units are supposed to get reimbursed for the missing property tax revenues. Competing interests in the Legislature mean the reimbursement fund provides just pennies on the dollar.

As Cimarron County Commissioner John Howard Freeman quipped: "We get 9 cents an acre. That might have been good about 50 years ago." Scott, who sat on the land office's board for 20 years as state auditor, said he's tried for years to get legislators to fully reimburse counties and schools that lose out because of their concentration of school lands. "What really kills them is that they're so far out there, people have a tendency to forget," Scott said of Cimarron County. "Whether they want to believe it or not, with the way politics works, the whole county has less than 3,500 votes in it." Hospital's importance In September, county voters approved a 5 percent hotel/motel tax to pay for operations and improvements at the Cimarron County Courthouse. But school-land related tax shortfalls show up most acutely in the county's largest health care facility, Cimarron Memorial Hospital. The hospital is Boise City's largest employer, with 105 workers. The health care sector in Cimarron County employs about 230 people, with a payroll of $4.1 million. In all, the sector has an annual economic impact of $5.8 million, according to a 2004 report by Oklahoma State University's Cooperative Extension Service. After a succession of voter-approved sales tax hikes, Cimarron Memorial Hospital is taxed to the hilt. Most of its funds come from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, and the county's 2 percent sales tax goes entirely to the hospital. Along with city and state sales taxes, shoppers in Boise City pay a combined 9.5 percent in sales taxes -- one of the state's highest rates. Cimarron County ranks 50th out of 77 Oklahoma counties in per-capita income.

In the past three years, the hospital has had eight chief executive officers. Billing problems have been rife, and management companies hired to turn things around have failed. One even tried to shut down the hospital. Amid financial difficulties, overworked employees were at least a paycheck behind for most of 2005. It wasn't until the end of the year that the hospital was able to catch up on its payroll. Meanwhile, competition from health care facilities in nearby Elkhart, Kan., Clayton, N.M., and Guymon adds to the pressure to recruit surgeons and nurses. Patsy Shields, a medical services consultant from Colorado, became the hospital's latest chief executive officer in August. "We have made progress," Shields said recently. "A lot of the issues we've had as far as billing have been straightened out with extra training and better equipment. But the employees absolutely need some stability; they've had way too many administrators." Shields said funding continues to be the hospital's biggest challenge. Officials are talking to a Clayton, N.M., bank to restructure the terms of a $300,000 loan from 2004. A new nurse practitioner should join the hospital soon, and Shields hopes to have another family practitioner by summer. "In six months, we anticipate being able to focus on generating new revenues and finish fine-tuning the internal procedures," Shields said. Frank Lynch, the hospital board president, said he's hopeful about the future. He didn't feel that way in early 2004, when he first came to the board. There were a lot of sleepless nights, Lynch said, with confusion over which creditors to pay first. That subsided as the two chief executives before Shields began to make changes. "There's been a lot of changes in attitudes," Lynch said. "I'm starting to hear good things from the citizens."

"We had one guy here who said, 'I wouldn't go to that hospital if I was on my death bed.' Well, he got on his death bed and the hospital saved his life twice. He wrote a beautiful letter of commendation to the hospital, and he's one of our best fans." Cimarron County residents have rallied around the hospital, recognizing its dual importance as an economic lifeline and in providing care for an aging, rural population. Economic development experts say it's hard to attract new jobs or retirees if health care resources are scarce. "I'm afraid if we lose our hospital, we'll lose 200 kids out of our school system and that'll be the beginning of the end," said Freeman, the county commissioner for District 2. "It's hard to get the county to tax itself, but people have shelled out money year after year to help the hospital and schools. People always come through and pull together." Economic connections Boise City Mayor Craig Sanders said everything is connected economically. The farms depend on the weather, the tax base depends on good farming, and so on. Farmers faced drought conditions in four of the past five years. "If we can raise the crops, we'd be close to surviving," said Sanders, who also owns farm-supply store Sanders Town & Country. "But with the low prices and drought together, it makes me question the survival of farming." Plumber Delane Schwindt, owner of Ferguson Plumbing, also wonders how the area will fare. As the only licensed plumber in a 65-mile radius, he's noticed there's just not as much money flowing around the community. Although it pains him, he's had to stop extending credit to customers and go to cash-only payments for plumbing jobs. "The ranchers with cow-calf operations have cut down on their herds, so they can't take advantage of the good cattle market," Schwindt said. "There's just not as much money around. The banks have cut down on their credit and loans." Down the street on the courthouse square, Audie Cochran sees it, too. She and her sister, Lane Reynolds, own the Style Shoppe, a clothing store. "We just try to keep the doors open and wait 'til better times to help the town keep going, but I don't know how long we can do it," said Cochran, who's been in business seven years. "We're surviving, just hanging on." Cochran said part of the reason she's managed to hang on is because she stocks the essentials. For most other things -- and despite recent high gasoline prices -- residents make the 60-mile drive to Guymon or head further afield to Amarillo, Texas, 120 miles away. "You don't realize how you miss the little things until you can't drive downtown anymore to get what you want," said Mike Munsch, manager of Bartlett & Co.'s grain elevator in Boise City. "I don't think there's anything here that's on rock-solid footing. Everything's struggling. "I'm amazed farmers are hanging on like they are because the farms are getting bigger and there's less people farming," Munsch said. Highway help The community received some good news last summer, when the federal government approved the first batch of money -- $36 million -- to acquire rights-of-way for a U.S. 287 bypass around Boise City. The bypass is part of the $2.9 billion Ports-to-Plains project slated for completion by 2030. The $55.9 million needed for the Oklahoma portion also would widen the 40-mile stretch of the highway that passes through the Panhandle. While the bypass would ease concerns about accidents involving 18-wheelers driving through Boise City, some are worried about losing sales tax revenue. More than likely, the 24-hour truck stops in town, and possibly the two motels, would move out to the bypass, a route just outside the city limits. Avery, the city manager, said it's still to early to say what might happen. Regardless, the bypass should help to improve the local economy, officials said. "That could have a real positive effect on the economy, even though Oklahoma is just a little chunk of it," Sanders said. In the meantime, the area needs to attract new jobs in order to grow, although some have doubts about attracting the kind of large-scale industry at Seaboard Farms Inc., 60 miles to the east in Guymon. Guymon's sales tax revenues and property values swelled as the population jumped by 34 percent in the years after Seaboard opened its hog operation in 1996, but many think Guymon wasn't prepared to deal with that kind of rapid growth. Schools, police and housing all have been stretched to the limit. "A lot of people think they sold their soul for industry," said Munsch, the elevator manager. Out toward the western edge of Cimarron County near Black Mesa State Park, tourism offers the best hope for growth. A couple of bed-and-breakfast establishments have popped up around the desolate -- yet beautiful -- mesa area near Kenton. Locals say an Arizona businessman, James Parker, plans to build a motel, steakhouse and convenience store as part of a development called Cimarron River Ranch. Parker couldn't be reached for comment. His outsider status has raised eyebrows in tight-knit Cimarron County, where generations of ranchers have leased the same tracts of school land. In a heated October school-land lease auction, representatives of Parker's son, Samuel, leased 23,141 acres of land through Cimarron River Ranch LLC. At the end of the auction, state troopers escorted Parker and his representatives to the door. "It caused some friction," said David, the newspaper editor. "It's a double-edged sword. The ranchers out west have been leasing the land for generations and it's untaxable. Some farmers and business owners out east don't like that setup, but it's an auction and it's the fair way to do it."

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Daily Oklahoman

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

wow, food for thought.... got this in an email today... from my friend Jay Red Eagle...

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." - Chief Seattle

Cute... Makes you wonder, haha.. thanks Heather

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter.
She picked up something off the ground and
started to put it in her mouth. I took the item
away from her and I asked her not to do that.
"Why?" my daughter asked.
"Because it's been laying outside, you don't
know where it's been, it's dirty and probably
has germs" I replied. At this point, my
daughter looked at me with total admiration
and asked,
"Wow! How do you know all this stuff?"
"Uh," ....I was thinking quickly, "All moms know
this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to
know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy." We
walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but
she was evidently pondering this new
information.
"OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass
the test you have to be the daddy."
"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my
face and joy in my heart.

THE CAT THIEF-- in San Antonio, Texas

THE CAT THIEF-- in San Antonio, Texas

This is too funny! This could only be true, you can't make this stuff up.

(Dillard's is a posh department store)


Clutching their Dillard's shopping bags, Ellen and Kay woefully gazed down

at a dead cat in the mall parking lot. Obviously a recent hit --- no
flies, no smell.

" What business could that poor kitty have had here?" murmured Ellen.

"Come on, Ellen, let's just go..." But Ellen had already grabbed her
shopping bag and was explaining,"I'll just put my things in your bag, and
then I'll take the tissue." She dumped her purchases into Kay's bag and
then used the tissue paper to cradle and lower the former feline into her
own Dillard's bag and cover it.

They continued the short trek to the car in silence, stashing their Goods
in the trunk. But it occurred to both of them that if they left Ellen's
burial bag in the trunk, warmed by the Texas sunshine while they ate, Kay's
Lumina would soon lose that new-car smell.

They decided to leave the bag on top of the trunk, and they headed over to
Luby's Cafeteria.

After they cleared the serving line and sat down at a window table, they
had a view of Kay's Chevy with the Dillard's bag still on the trunk. BUT
not for long. As they ate, they noticed a black-haired woman in a red
gingham shirt stroll by their car, look quickly this way and that, and then
hook the Dillard's bag without breaking stride.

She quickly walked out of their line of vision. Kay and Ellen shot each
other a wide-eyed look of amazement. It all happened so fast that either
of them could think how to respond. "Can you imagine?" finally sputtered
Ellen.

"The nerve of that woman" Kay sympathized with Ellen, but inwardly a laugh
was building as she thought about the grand surprise awaiting the
red-gingham thief.

Just when she thought she'd have to giggle into her napkin, she noticed
Ellen's eyes freeze in the direction of the serving line. Following her
gaze, Kay recognized with a shock the black-haired woman with the Dillard's
bag, THE Dillard's bag, hanging from her arm, brazenly pushing her tray
toward the cashier.

Helplessly, they watched the scene unfold: After clearing the register, the
woman settled at a table across from theirs, put the bag on an empty chair
and began to eat. After a few bites of baked whitefish and green beans,
she casually lifted the bag into her lap to survey her treasure. Looking
from side to side, but not far enough to notice her rapt audience three
tables over, she pulled out the tissue paper and peered into the bag. Her
eyes widened, and she began to make a sort of gasping noise. The noise
grew. The bag slid from her lap as she sank to the floor, wheezing and
clutching her upper chest.

The beverage cart attendant quickly recognized a customer in trouble and
sent the busboy to call 911, while she administered the Heimlich maneuver.
A crowd quickly gathered that did not include Ellen and Kay, who remained
riveted to their chairs for seven whole minutes until the ambulance
arrived.

In a matter of minutes the curly-haired woman emerged from the crowd, still
gasping, strapped securely on a gurney. Two well-trained EMS volunteers
steered her to the waiting ambulance, while a third scooped up her
belongings.

The last they saw of the distressed cat-burglar, she disappeared behind the
ambulance doors, the Dillard's bag perched on her stomach.

My mom always taught me if it doesn't belong to you don't touch it. Guess
she didn't have a wise mom like I do. Serves her right!


Happy Trails!

Rain... Rain.... Rain..... Rain....

0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain....0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain.... 0.30 inches.. first since mid summer of 2005... Rain... Rain... Rain.... Rain....Rain.... Rain....etc...

If you like the Eagles.... enjoy these... cds...

Eagles - Very Best Of .. Disk 1.zip (16843 KB)
Eagles - The Very Best Of .. Disk 2.zip (16418 KB)

Eagles - Hell Freezes Over.zip (16220 KB)

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.

-French Proverb

WEATHER BULLETIN

WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a Historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to tens of thousands.
George Bush did not come....
FEMA did nothing....
No one howled for the government...
No one blamed the government
No one even uttered an expletive on TV..
Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit
Our mayors did not blame Bush or anyone else
Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either
CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snow storm
Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House....
No one looted....
Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something
Nobody expected the government to do anything either
No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera
No Sean Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found
And Nope, we just melted the snow for water
Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars
The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny
Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families
Families took in the stranded people - total strangers
We Fired up wood stoves
Broke out coal oil lanterns or coleman lanterns
We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die"
We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.
Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.
"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% most of the world's social problems evaporate."

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

Learn to write your hurts in sand.
Learn to carve your blessings in stone!

-Unknown

If tomorrow starts without me...

IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME

A few weeks ago, a woman was killed in an auto accident. She was very well liked, so the office shut down for her funeral and it was on the news and so on. On the day the workers came back to work, they found this poem in their e-mail that the deceased woman had sent on Friday before she left for home.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from m y eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past."

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.

NASA Plans 3rd Try to Launch Pluto Mission

NASA Plans 3rd Try to Launch Pluto Mission
By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 11 minutes ago



NASA scientists hope the third time is the charm for their $700 million unmanned mission to Pluto.

The space agency planned to make a third attempt to launch the New Horizons probe on Thursday, a day after a storm knocked out power at the Maryland-based laboratory that will command the mission.

Strong winds in Laurel, Md., knocked out power at the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and mission managers were wary of launching the spacecraft without backup power at the facility.

"The air conditioning was off. The flight controllers were sitting there wiping sweat," said Alan Stern, the mission's principal investigator. "If they were dealing with any spacecraft issues, which first day out of the box a lot of spacecraft have, you can't concentrate like that."

High winds at the launch pad also kept the spacecraft from lifting off on Tuesday. Winds in the Orlando area were expected to be 10 to 15 mph Thursday.

Scientists have been working 17 years on the nine-year voyage to Pluto, and they were unfazed by the back-to-back postponements.

"Two or three days doesn't mean a hill of beans," Stern said.

The space agency has until mid-February to send the spacecraft on its way, but a launch in January would allow the spacecraft to use Jupiter's gravity to shave five years off the 3-billion-mile trip, allowing it to arrive as early as July 2015.

The spacecraft is about the size and shape of a concert piano attached to a satellite dish. It will study Pluto as well as the frozen, sunless reaches of the solar system known as the Kuiper Belt. Scientists believe that studying the region's icy, rocky objects can shed light on how the planets formed.

The planned launch has drawn attention from opponents of nuclear power because the spacecraft is powered by 24 pounds of plutonium, whose natural radioactive decay will generate electricity for the probe's instruments.

NASA and the Department of Energy estimated the probability of a launch accident that could release plutonium at 1 in 350. As a precaution, the agencies brought in 16 mobile field teams that can detect radiation, plus air samplers and monitors.

___

On the Net:

New Horizons Mission: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu

Nuclear protesters: http://www.space4peace.org

Photo by Phillip... We all go together for Tammy's Birthday on Sunday. AWESOME time by all. Jon even made it up to see us too, how cool!! We ate and Birthday'd at Applebees in Stillwater. Tammy got some nice gifts from all and she was excited!! We all were excited for her. And Tammy... We love ya....! 

Amazing...

USDA Using Satellites to Monitor Farmers


Email this Story

Jan 13, 7:44 AM (ET)

By ROXANA HEGEMAN

(AP) In this photo released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a satellite view shows a higher seed...
Full Image



Google sponsored links
Dairy Farmers Wanted - Stable Pay Prices, Farmer Owned The Organic Valley Family of Farms
www.organicvalley.coop

Agriculture Careers - Texas State Technical College offers AAS and certificates.
www.tstc.edu







WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Satellites have monitored crop conditions around the world for decades, helping traders predict futures prices in commodities markets and governments anticipate crop shortages.

But those satellite images are now increasingly turning up in courtrooms across the nation as the Agriculture Department's Risk Management Agency cracks down on farmers involved in crop insurance fraud.

The Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency, which helps farmers get loans and payments from a number of its programs, also uses satellite imaging to monitor compliance.

Across government and private industry alike, satellite imaging technology is being used in water rights litigation and in prosecution of environmental cases ranging from a hog confinement facility's violations of waste discharge regulations to injury damage lawsuits stemming from herbicide applications. The technology is also used to monitor the forestry and mining industries.

"A lot of farmers would be shocked at the detail you can tell. What it does is keep honest folks honest," said G.A. "Art" Barnaby Jr., an agricultural economist at Kansas State University.

Satellite technology, which takes images at roughly eight-day intervals, can be used to monitor when farmers plant their acreage, how they irrigate them and what crops they grow. If anomalies are found in a farm's insurance claim, investigators can search satellite photos dating back years to determine cropping practices on individual fields.

What's catching the attention of Barnaby and others is a spate of recent cases involving the use of satellite imaging to prosecute farmers. The largest so far has been a North Carolina case in which a couple faked weather damage to their crops by having workers throw ice cubes onto a tomato field and then beat the plants.

In September, Robert Warren was sentenced to six years and four months in prison, while his wife, Viki, was sentenced to five years and five months. They were also ordered to forfeit $7.3 million and pay $9.15 million in restitution.

The Warrens and at least three other defendants pleaded guilty. But in one related trial that went to a jury, prosecutors used satellite images and testimony from a satellite image analyst to present their case.

"It was impressive to the jury to have this presentation about this eye in the sky and satellite imagery and a trained expert," said Richard Edwards, the assistant U.S. Attorney in North Carolina who prosecuted the case. "In our case it did not make the case, but it sure helped and strengthened and improved the case."

The Risk Management Agency is involved in three other multimillion-dollar crop insurance fraud cases that have yet to be filed that will rival the Warren case in scope, said Michael Hand, RMA's deputy administrator for compliance.

While fewer than 100 cases have been prosecuted using satellite imaging since the RMA started its crackdown in 2001, data mining - coupled with satellite imaging - pinpoints about 1,500 farms annually that are put on a watch list for possible crop fraud, Hand said. Ground inspections are done on the suspect farms throughout the growing season.

The agency says its spot checklist generated by the satellite data has saved taxpayers between $71 million and $110 million a year in fraudulent crop insurance claims since 2001.

The agency stepped up its enforcement after the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 mandated it use data mining to ferret out false claims, Hand said. Every year, it ships claims data to the Center for Agriculture Excellence at Tarleton State University in Stephensville, Texas, where analysts look for anomalies in claims. They generate a list of claims for further investigation, with satellite imaging pulled on the most egregious cases.

Just as U.S. satellites kept track of things like the wheat harvest in the former Soviet Union, other countries have also launched satellites to monitor American crops. Germany, France and others have satellites monitoring crop conditions, and many other private firms sell those images in the U.S.

"Everybody spies on everybody. I was stunned to hear that myself," Edwards said. "Someday, I may have to rely on a French satellite to convict an American citizen."

Wonderful time last night....

What a wonderful time visiting and eating last evening with Sharon and Lawrence Robinson last evening and their new short term family addition, Jasmine, an exchange student from Vienna, Austria, who is 16 and will go to school here for one semester before returning home. Great Grandma Moffat and Sis MK and Phil and Tammy and Austyn were there also, along with Jake. We had Taco Soup, and wow, it was AWESOME! and Pecan Pie by Sharon and a Blueberry Desert by Ann. oh my gosh it was great, and visiting and taking the dollar tour of Robinson's beautiful home in Stillwater on Boomer Lake was truly great as well. They have remodeled their home to take in the lake view from all areas of the home and wow, they DID it up right! It is a now a Homes and Gardens Award winner, declared so by me!
Speaking of Jake, there are some new photos from his work online in the family albums along with a couple of short videos... we need to get a battery out of the camera case Phil has borrowed so he can get some more taken today... but he is already at work, so maybe next time.
Heather called about 5 to tell us they could not make it last night as she was on way to pick up a very sick Andrew at school... and take him home. We missed them all the more. Maybe next month of Feb. 10th, they can make the next one, and it would be awesome for Jonathan and Randi and Kaitlyn to come up as well. Maybe some time? it never hurts to dream, huh??
Jon reports an ok second day of school. Glad all is going well with him in his venture.
We ... the family, will celebrate Tammy's Birthday tomorrow at 11:30am at applebees in Stillwater. Yelp, she turns another year older... sigh.. as we all are in 2006...
Pray for Rain....
enjoy the day...

This week...

Isn't this weather something else? Hi's in the summer figures and lows in the winter figures.. WOW! And with every day that goes by warm, we have beat ole man winter out of a cold day!!
Poor geese can not decide whether to go south or stay here, and there are tons of them on the wheat fields this am.
Walked about a mile today... took 21 mins. But I will get better! I am feeling a bit more like a human being now. Don't have to carry a "bag" or have needles in my arms, but still have a few problems that puzzle me.
Got our bill for the helicopter ride to Tulsa.... our part of it is a bit shy of 2000.00 dollars. total bill was almost 12000.00. Sort of feel like we have been had. What we learned was... it cost about 7000.00 to have a copter ride to Tulsa, but after 7pm and before 7am and on weekends, they tack on a "fee" for after hours and it was over 5000.00 dollars. Man, that is like really taking advantage of folks. Sorry, just my opinion on this matter...
enough of me, how about you? How are you all doing??
Jon started back to get his degree yesterday and said his day went well. He will get his degree and we will all be proud of him! It takes some big time adjusting to go back to college and finish. Ask Phil... Who is taking car of our cattle for us this winter, many thanks PHIL!! speaking of him, his company is now owned by National Carriers, and Rains and Son's and employees are now employees of theirs. He did not call with a report but yesterday was their day to meet with National to see what the future held... bet we here later, or you might check his blog..
Paul is now for the first time in his many years with Stillwater PD, working day shift and off on the weekends. This too is a big adjustment for the family... but they to will make it!
Heard from Jon that Randi has been taking care of a sick Kaitlyn last week too... hope she is better now...
Jake got his figure cut at work last week and made a trip to the emergency room, and went back yesterday to get stiches out. It was still a bit pink but they took out the stiches... He is LOVING his job, welding about 12 hours a day 6 days a week getting time and half after 40! He loves his checks too!!
Sure there is more news, but for now... enjoy the day!

quote...

Today's Quote

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.

-Karl Barth

Did a walk a bout today in the snow about 8am. Lots of beauty to behold. I'm afraid I can not due justice with camera to how beautiful it was, but there are some more pics online in family album... Enjoy! 

Uncle Ivan sends along this funny.... haha..

Lost in Wal-Mart

Lost in Wal-Mart

Two old guys are pushing their carts around Wal-Mart when they collide.

The first old guy says to the second guy, "Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

The second old guy says, "That's OK. It's a coincidence. I'm looking for my wife, too. I can't find her and I'm getting a little desperate."

The first old guy says, "Well, maybe we can help each other. What does your wife look like?

The second old guy says, "Well, she is 27 yrs old, tall, with red hair, blue eyes, long legs, big busted, and is wearing short shorts. What does your wife look like?"

The first old guy says, "Doesn't matter --- let's look for yours."

Miss Madison and Mr. Andrew came a visiting Sunday. More pics are in the Gallery.... Enjoy! 

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

A love affair with knowledge will never end in heartbreak.

-Michael Garrett Marino

Last night...

Had a wonderful time renewing a very important friendship last night with Sharon and Lawrence Robinson and their son, Morgan. They were our neighbors for many years and our kiddos grew up together. Sharon is spearheading a fund raising effort to buy a beautiful water display fountain to be installed in Boomer Lake in Stillwater. She is indeed a one man band. Sharon is the one you want on your side in a pickle... She has done more in the communities of Stillwater, Ripley and Perkins to raise money for kiddos, help the schools, foster kids, and the list goes on and on, then anyone I know of in any community anywhere.
Anyway, we had a wonderful meal and visit. We needed a few more folks there, but overall it was a success.
Ann and I actually double dated with Phil and Tammy and Austyn. The event was at El Chico's and a percentage of the food sold will be donated to the cause.
Jon and Heather... a small donation in your names was made since you could not attend.
Heard from Cousin Joanna in Norman over night. She says hey to all, and that things are busy and going well. She mentioned that someone's birthday was coming up and we might need to do something... will email you with some thoughts...
Doris's Jim is recovering quite well I think. What I heard was Doris keeps him busy... haha, can you imagine that?? haha.
Thanks Phil for the invitation... last night.
Stay safe, watch out for wildfires, and don't burn anything outside!
love to all... Stan

Borrowed from Phil's Blog.... el chico tonight!

el chico tonight!
January 5th, 2006
if you live in stillwater, ok you need to be at el chico’s tonight for dinner! our friend, sharon robinson, is raising money for a fountain to be placed in boomer lake. tonight, el chico will donate to the fountain fund based on how many people eat. when you get there, be sure to tell the staff you are eating for the fountain so they can mark you on the list.

...... EVERYONE NEEDS TO ATTEND THIS GREAT EVENT. YOU GET TO EAT, EL CHICO GETS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNTAIN TO BE INSTALLED IN BOOMER LAKE, VIA SHARON ROBINSON....

Miss Kaitlyn came to visit on New Years Eve, to celebrate Grandma Moffat's birthday and have Christmas at Great Grandma Moffat's. She's really special! 

Best commerical of 2005

You need to take time to download this and look at it... it is awesome......

Best Commerical of 2005

Want to veiw the fires in OK?

Here is a link to view where the fires are burning in Oklahoma... what an unusual winter...!!!

Good news.... for some, haha....

For those folks wishing my demise.... sorry! I am back and in about 6 weeks, I ought to be better than before. Got a clean bill of health from the Drs yesterday. Don't have any needles in my arms or tubes hanging out of me.... And I am smiling.... very big smiles.... Got to send a big THANK YOU to Ann who has baby sit me since December 21st, our first trip of 22 that we made from that date to yesterday. She was a trouper... Boy, did I do good in picking my BEST friend!! She was my arms, legs, etc. She made every trip with me, even when Phil offered to haul me to emergency room, she said no and did it herself. The irony of all this is that the 21st was her first day of vacation and yesterday was her last. And all she did was care for me. I could not have made it without her. I never in my life felt more SUB human than I did during this period. It was embarrasing, it was sad, my heart ached for Ann, who was tired, sick, and still smiled and told me she loved me... wow.... how uplifting she was, and still had family together for Christmas, and one other time... Ann, I love you and will be there for you too... but gosh I hope the best and hope you never have to go thru what I did, ever!
Anyway, no pain pills... body is adjusting, very short tempered and no patience at all, I have learned today trying to get back into the hang of working again.. eyes are tired... ok enough of me.. how about you???

Uncle Ivan sends his best wishes to everyone and says he has his diabitics under control... I can see his big ole smile all the way up here!!! Glad you are doing well, Uncle Ivan... and hey to Aunt Freda too.

well, got to get back to killing rabbits... later... S

Heather sent this tidbit along.... sigh.... what a deal... haha

Jacksonville, FL Police Dept.

A man goes to a party and has too much to drink.

His friends plead with him to let them take him home.

He says NO -- he only lives a mile away.

About five blocks from party, the police pull him over for weaving
and ask him to get out of the car and walk the line.

Just as he starts, the police radio blares out a notice of a
robbery
taking place in a house just a block away.

The police tell the party animal to stay put, they'll be right back

and they hop a fence and run down the street to the robbery.

The guy waits and waits and finally decides to drive home.

When he gets there, he tells his wife he is going to bed, and
to tell anyone who might come looking for him that he has the flu

and has been in bed all day.


A few hours later the police knock on the door.

They ask if Mr. Smith is there and his wife says yes.

They ask to see him and she replies that he is in bed with the flu
and has been so all day.

The police have his driver's license.

They ask to see his car and, she asks why.

They insist on seeing his car, so she takes them to the garage.

She opens the door.

There sitting in the garage is the police car, with all its lights
still flashing.

True story, told by the driver at his first AA meeting.

Happy Motoring !!!

Welcome - Stan and Ann's Ramblings

first day without pain killers since Dec. 19th. I am making progresss!!! hopefully, will get a clean bill of health from drs today... the swelling I have willl take about 6 weeks to get rid of the first dr. told me this am...
thanks for all the prayers and words, etc... love to all... will post more later.. s

Another of the wonderful "things" I saw this am...

in my walk about. I think I am losing my mind... haha... or starting to enjoy the "Farm" life.... Whichever it is, it's kind'a nice...

Enjoy the day...

In looking for the greatness in things, we sometimes overlook the true beauty of what we see...

One can look far and wide, and not see what is in front of their nose... sometimes.. haha! I used to be told that by Dad. He would send me to look for something, and then come and find it before I could even start looking for it! And he would mutter this under his breath, "I send you to look and you do not see. When will you start "seeing"?" Well, at the ripe ole' age of soon to be 59, I think I have finally begun to "see" what is around me! This am was AWESOME! The ice crystals that clung to things made the view great and the fog made it AWESOME... and then God sent just the right amount of light for the eye to enjoy it, yet the camera had a hard time capturing it. Guess that is yet another proof there is a God, for man an not even come close to capturing His natural beauty in the "things we see".

Took me 50 years to learn this, and still have trouble accepting it!!

Trouble is a part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love you enough.

-Dinah Shore

a joke from Heather... hehe...

A fellow bought a new Mercedes and was out on the interstate for a nice
evening drive. The top was down, the breeze was blowing through what was
left of his hair and he decided to open her up. As the needle jumped up
to 80mph, suddenly he saw flashing red and blue lights behind him.
"There's no way they can catch me in a Mercedes," he thought to himself
and opened her up further. The needle hit 90, 100 ... Then the reality
of the situation hit him. "What am I doing?" he thought and pulled
over.
The cop came up to him, took his license without a word and examined
the car. "It's been a long day, this is the end of my shift and it's
Friday the 13th. I don't feel like more paperwork, so if you can give me
an excuse for your driving that I haven't heard before, you can go."
The guy thinks for a second and says, "Last week my wife ran off with a
cop. I was afraid you were trying to give her back."
"Have a nice weekend," said the officer.

We had a wonderful weekend...

Jake walked in Saturday afternoon with his bonus for working at his new job for only two weeks.. and it's more than most employees get who have worked a life time with someone... He was super excited, and really appreciated it very much. Needless to say, he headed at the door a bit early... 5:20 AM this morning... to get to to work on time.
Then we saw Jonathan and Randi and Kaitlyn for a bit Saturday Evening. That was awesome, and then...
we got to visit with Heather and Madison and Andrew on Sunday!
How cool is that???

We still need rain, BAD! Might remember that in all the Christmas prayers this coming week.

I am off to the Dr. today to have another lower urinary tract scope done.. I love this deal.. yeah... RIGHT!

My heart is doing great. I am having a problem with my blood being to thin, I guess, bleeding a bit inside... but it will get better. I have learned to eat differently and love the new way. Sometimes I get a bit hungry... but try to ignore it. Sure miss the ole' meat and potatoes and hahahahahahhahahahahah....

Well, got to run, have a great day... and enjoy! Take time to head over to the kid's blogs... they have updated them, see the family artist on one.. the beautiful christmas roses on another, and who knows.... Jon might update his.. hahah..... teasing JON>>>!!!

later.. DAD

(Heather sent this... ) This is Ann for 33 years and 26 days... she has.....

WHY I LOVE MOM

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches.
Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.

She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.

She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.

She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store.

She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack.

She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed."

And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here?

Wonder why women live longer...?
'CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL......
(and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

(on top of all this, she has time to be my BEST FRIEND!)