Baltimore Woods

This past Saturday David and his brothers took me for a lovely hike in these woods. We had so much fun!

The path.

My boy and I:)

Kevin and his "walking stick".




Two of my "other" brothers. :)

There was a beautiful flower garden at

the beginnig of the woods.


Blacked Eyed Susans

Bee Balm

It was a great afternoon and I hope to do it again someday.......:) Thanks guys!

Beautiful!!

This is one of my favorite pieces of music. Such feeling and emotion. Totally Beethoven!! Enjoy!

Lost-A Boy!

Not kidnapped by bandits and hidden in a cave to weep and starve and raise a nation to frenzied searching. Were that the case, one hundred thousand men would rise to the rescue, if need be. Unfortunately the losing of this lad is without dramatic excitement, though very sad and very real.

The fact is his father lost him. Being too busy to sit with him at the fireside and answer his trivial questions during the years when fathers are the only great heros of the boys, he let go his hold.

And his mother lost him. Being so much occupied with teas, dinners, and club programmes, she let the maid hear the boy say his prayers, and thus her gripp slipped and the boy was lost to his home.

Aye, the Church lost him. Being so occupied with sermons for the wise and elderly who pay the bills, and having good care for dignity, the ministers and elders were unmindful of the human feelings of the boy in the pew, and made no provision in sermon or song or personal contact for his boyishness. And, so the Church and many sad-hearted parents are looking earnestly for the lost boy.

Anonymous

Peter Marshall's Challenge

(I know quite a few of you have already read this , but I'm going to post it anyway.)

Peter Marshall, one-time chaplain to the U.S. Senate, exhorting American women, said the following:

The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge-that of being godly women. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now.
We hear about every other kind of women-beautiful women, smart woman, sophisticated women, career woman, talented women, divorced women.
But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman-or of a godly man either, for that matter.
I believe women come nearer fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else.
It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife than to be Miss america.
It is a greater achievment to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel, filled with filth.
It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultra-modern.
The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith.
The world has enough women who know how to be smart.
It needs women who are willing to be simple.
The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant.
It needs some who will be brave.
The world has enough women who are popular.
It needs more who will be pure.
We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.
Let us not fool ourselves-without Christianity, without Christian education, without the principles of Christ inculcated into young life, we are simply rearing pagans.
Physically, they will be perfect. Intellectually, they will be brilliant. But spiritually, they will be pagan. Let us not fool ourselves.
The twentieth century challenge to motherhood-when it is all boiled down-is that mothers will have an experince of God...a reality which they can pass on to their children.

The first time I read this I was brought to tears. In the world's eyes, the wife and mother at home is despised and looked down upon, but in God's eyes she is doing what he has called her to do. Lord willing, I hope to be a wife and mother at home. I think it the highest calling a woman can possess on this earth. The happiest and most content women I know are homemakers. That should tell you something!!
I except Mr. Marshall's challenge. Who will join me?

Did you ever wonder why???

(I found these from Sarah's Promise, too. I think they'll tickle your funny bone!! They did mine!)

...why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

...why you don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?

...why doctors call what they do "practice"?

...why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor, while dish soap is made with real lemons?

...why the man who invests all your money is called a broker?

...why there isn't mouse-flavored cat food?

...why they don't make the entire plane out of the material used for the indestructable black box?

...why they are called apartments when they're all stuck together?

...why they call the airport "the terminal" if flying is so safe?

In case you need further proof the the human race is doomed because of stupidity, here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods.

On a Sear's hairdryer: "Do not use while sleeping." (and that's the only time I have to work on my hair).

On a bag of Fritos: "You could be winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside." (the shoplifters special).

On a bar of dial soap: "Directions: Use like regular soap." (and that would be how???...)

On some Swanson frozen dinners: "Serving suggestions: Defrost." (but, it's "just" a suggestion).

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert(printed on bottom): "Do not turn upside down." (well...duh, a bit late, huh)!

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: "Product will be hot after heating." ( and you thought?...)

On packaging for a Rowenta iron: "Do not iron clothes on body." (but wouldn't this save me more time?)

On Boot's Children Cough Medicine: "Do not drive a car or operate macinery after taking this medication." (We could do a lot to reduce the rate of construction accidents if we could just get those 5-year olds with head colds off those fork lifts.)

On Nytol Sleep Aid: "Warning: May cause drowsiness." (and... I'm taking this because?)

On most brands of Christmas lights: "For indoor or outdoor use only." (as opposed to...what?)

On a Japanese food processor: "Not to be used for the other use." (now, somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

On Sunsbury's peanuts: "Warning: Contains nuts." ( talk about a new's flash.)

On an American Airlines packet of nuts: "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts." (Step 3: maybe, uh..fly Delta?)

On a child's Superman costume: "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly." ( I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

On a Swedish chainsaw: "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals." (...was there alot of this happening somewhere?)

The 7 Ups

I found this while reading a magazine we used to subscribe to called, "Sarah's Promise".

1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day.

"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24


2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.

"He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!...for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.

"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do
not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good..."
Galations 6:9-10

5.Look Up!!...to the Lord.

"I can do all things through Christ who stengthens me." Philippians 4:13

6.Reach Up!!...for something higher.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7.Lift Up!!...your prayers.

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phillipians 4:6