In the Garden

On Tuesday, as I was making mental preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, I caught a program on Great American Country TV, or "Gack" as Hannah says. It was Alan Jackson's Precious Memories album as a live concert.

Whew! I was already sentimental as Thanksgiving was my Nana's favorite holiday next to Christmas. But, the songs, which are all hymns, as Alan Jackson sang them were something I knew Nana would love. I was crying in the kitchen and my kids just let me do it. They know that I'm okay if I say, "I'm just missing Nana." Hannah is convinced she misses Nana, too, even though she had only been to MT twice to see her before the age of 2.

I highly recommend this CD for anyone who loves to sing hymns and not be surprised with vocal twists and turns.

This is the one that got me crying... knowing that Nana, and my Bobby & Poppa, and other loved ones are "In the Garden."

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me is falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

Losing a loved one

Marty's Aunt Sue has gone on to her heavenly home. I didn't know her very well since she lived a ways away from us. I do know that she was very loved by her sister, my mother-in-law.

I saw this poem today and thought I would post it here.

Remembrance

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back,
or you can do what she'd want:

Smile, Open Your Eyes, Love and Go On.

Author Unknown

"... but rather, rejoice because your names are written in Heaven."
Luke 10:20

Walmart update

The real story is that Walmart will give 5 percent of online sales to a particular group if the shopper enters the Walmart.com site through a specific link.

Since I would go directly to walmart.com without clicking an ad on their website, I would not be contributing to the agenda mentioned in the story.

Am I getting this right? It's too late to be thinking. I'm going to bed.

**morning time**

Snopes.com had some good info on it. True, but only to a point.
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Wal-Mart Supports Gays

Christmas Shopping

It's getting closer to the day when I need to have my ducks in a row for giving gifts. I'm not even close to being ready. I have only purchased a few things when I need about 100. Well, maybe not that many, but close.

I've come to expect the low prices on the day after Thanksgiving from the various stores around here. Walmart is not the only place that has good deals on Black Friday, as it is called.

Over the years, Walmart has been steadily losing ground in my personal shopping life. The service is unpredictable. The prices on the shelf aren't always what you pay at the register. The meat and produce are not delicious, either. Then there is the new self-checkout line, which is mostly worthless to me with 4 kids in tow.

I'm trying to do some shopping online so that I can have it shipped to my mom's house. We will be there for the holidays and it will be easier to hide gifts from the girls that way. This year I won't do my online shopping at Walmart because of a recent announcement. I can't promise, though, that I won' be going to Walmart ever again since it is basically the only place I can go get medicine in the middle of the night... or get the big block of cheese slices that we prefer.

**I lost my train of thought on this as I had to go break up an argument over the buzzer on a board game. So, I'll leave you with this:

Christmas is coming upon us quickly. I'm getting ready. I buy gifts because I like to give gifts. I know that Christmas is not about shopping and buying all the things kids want. My parents taught me better than that.

Christmas is about Jesus and the gift that He was and still is. I want to teach my children that we give to others because God gave so much to us. Yes, Christmas stretches the budget. But it is nothing compared to what we have received. Make good memories with your family and friends. Enjoy the life that we have in Christ.