Prayer for the New Year

Grant me the strength from day to day
to bear what burdens come my way.
Grant me throughout this bright New Year
more to endure and less to fear.
Help me live that I may be
from spite and petty malice free.
Let me not bitterly complain
when cherished hopes of mine prove vain,
or spoil with deeds of hate and rage
some fair tomorrow's spotless page.
Lord, as the days shall come and go
in courage let me stronger grow.
Lord, as the New Year dawns today
help me to put my faults away.
Let me be big in little things;
grant me the joy which friendship brings.
Keep me from selfishness and spite;
let me be wise in what is right.
A Happy New Year!
Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end.
Let it be said I've played the friend,
have lived and loved and labored here,
and made of it a happy year.
~~ Edgar A. Guest ~~

Blogging's First Magazine

Family Minute #48

Is your family's motto, "I want that?"

The list of "I wants" can go on and on. For kids it's, "I want that video game." "I want that scooter." For us, it's, "I want that car." "I want that couch." No matter what we have, there's always more. So how do you change perspective? Henry David Thoreau said, "We make ourselves rich by making our wants few." Ahh, it's the old "being content with what you have" lesson. To get there, adjust your expectations. Most of us already have what we need . . . it's just a matter of controlling what we want.

Remember your family first.

Family Minute #47

Who is the greatest man who ever lived?

Born in an obscure village to a peasant woman. He worked as a carpenter until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book or held office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. While still a young man, popular opinion turned against him . . . he was nailed to a cross, died, but rose again. Twenty centuries later he is still the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, and all the kings that ever reigned, have not affected mankind as powerfully as this "One Solitary Life". . . Jesus.

Merry Christmas.

Remember your family first.

Favorite Cookie Recipe

I love the taste but love that there is no baking . . . oh, so easy.

1 stick of Margarine
2 c Sugar
4 Tbs Cocoa
1/2 C Milk
1/2 C Peanut butter
2 1/2 C quick oats

Melt margarine. Add sugar, cocoa and milk. Bring to boil and let bubble for 1 1/2 minutes. Add peanut butter, oats, and chopped nuts. Mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let set in refrigerator.

A Month of Stuff

I was able to participate in 31 Days of Holiday Crafts at Angela's blog. Each month has a different theme and every day features a blogger, like you and me, related to the monthly theme. Go to A Month of Stuff to check out my interview.

According to Today in History, on December 22, 1882, Thomas Edison created the first string of Christmas lights.

Make Me Laugh Monday - Fastest

Share something funny with us -- a note, a video, a poem, a picture, a joke, a riddle, whatever you think is funny -- by adding your link to the post (not to the front page of your blog).

Thought of the Day - 12/20/08

Living on purpose is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing.

Our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (II Corinthians 4:17).

Absent . . .Yes? No?

I apologize for being absent here at All Things Cherished. What little time I do have lately has been spent at 365 Days of Christmas. Between my arthritis, fibromyalgia, the weather, Renee's (foster daughter) surgery, cleaning, and doctor appointments I have no energy to do anything. Cameron is now sick. My throat has been sore (and can barely talk) for several weeks. Ugh.

In the midst of all the chaos, I got my Christmas decorating done despite some major setbacks. Please join me at 365 Days of Christmas and Boomama to celebrate and ooh & ahh over all the wonderfully divine Christmas trees, lights, decorations, and nativities.

Works for Me Wednesday #10

White vinegar will set the colors of towels/sheets on new linens so they don't fade in future washings. Add 1/2 to 1 cup to the wash when you add your detergent.

101 Things

I just discovered that another friend has a blog and, of course, I had to go check it out, so this was snagged from Welcome to Michael Land .

After you read this, copy and paste to your blog. Then bold the things you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

There are some items I wish to do, especially the traveling, and some I wouldn't bother with. I would love to see your list.

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Head on over to my Christmas blog, 365 Days of Christmas, to see all of my Christmas trees and decorations.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Veteran's Day

Be sure to thank a veteran today for keeping our country free and preserving our freedom.

THANK YOU!

Get Your Kids Hooked on Books

Young people now spend an average of only seven minutes a day reading for pleasure, reports the National Endowment for the Arts. That is one reason 12th grade reading scores are declining.

These web sites can get your kids excited about books -- and help them think outside their required-reading lists.

Book Adventure - Created by Sylvan Learning, this site's Book Finder matches kids (grades -8) with reads they will enjoy. Acing book quizzes lets them win prizes, like Highlights subscriptions and free access to e-books.

Guys Read - Author Jon Siezka (The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs) launched this site to connect boys of all ages with literature relevant to them. Siezka encourages reading which includes non-fiction, comics, and magazines.

Reading is Fundamental - Kids can rate and review books they have already read. Each month there is a featured book and a featured author.

Teen Reads - This site posts extensive lists of upcoming books and interviews with popular writers. There are also tips on how to start a reading club.

Happy Election Day!

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

13 Days of Halloween

Check out my 365 Days of Memories blog for a countdown to Halloween using vintage Halloween postcards.

Mommy Test

I was out walking with my then 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 asked her not to do that. "Why?" my daughter asked.

"Because it's been on the ground, 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,
"Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart."

I was thinking quickly and said. "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, as 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.