Advents Corner

This is so funny.  They guy actually pretends to be an Elf or maybe he is an Elf and calls Barb at American Greetings to tell her he is upset about the Elf tossing game they have up on their site.

When we give of ourselves we give to the world. This is such an inspiring story of a boy with autism who gave of himself to the basketball team and a coach and team that repaid the favor.  In the last game the coach decided to give the boy a chance to see what is was like to wear a uniform.  With only minutes left in the game the coach put McElway in and he amazed everyone.  Please watch this video of him playing in his first game and stealing the show.  He scored 20 points in the final minutes of the game.  You might want to make sure you have some tissues handy, I know I needed them.  Merry Christmas

Read the verse to your child then let them color the picture. 

Thanks to all of the online gamers in the world a new word has been given the top spot in the dictionary…….w00t!!!!!!!  I know I have used the term more times than I care to admit but isn’t it much cooler to say w00t than yay?  You hear it most often used when someone levels in a game along with the famous

Read the verse to your child then let them color the picture. 

I have lived in several places through out my life. I was born and raised in Louisiana but moved away shortly after graduating high school and since then I have lived in a few different places such as, Orlando Florida, Saratoga Springs New York, Auburn Alabama and a few more. I have always said my favorite place was when I lived in Charleston South Carolina.

I loved it there because we had beaches but we still had a winter. You lived in a city but you also had that southern charm. People there were always so friendly and the variety of things to do was just amazing. There is Rainbow Row for those that like old houses and the farmers market to get all kinds of souvenirs. You can take a boat out to Fort Sumter or see the beautiful steeple on St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. There were just so many things we did when we lived there it is hard to name them all. I also enjoyed walking around Charles Towne Landing and watching them make candles in their period dresses. I think Charleston is the only place I have lived that I would actually move back too. Of course that is not in my future because right now we are talking about LA although I wish we were talking about Hawaii. If you are thinking of going there sign up for the Trusted Travel eNewsletter to get more information on the places you can see.

I know this is just something someone wrote and it probably is not true but I have a feeling someone somewhere in the world has done something like this at Christmas time.  I am 36 years old and I still believe in Santa.  I believe he lives in all of us and not just at Christmas time.  I have a rule in my house EVERYONE must believe in Santa, if they don’t then they do not get presents because Santa does not visit anyone that does not believe in him.  For as long as you believe in yourself you should believe in Santa.  Now read below, the beautiful story and think about a time when you gave of yourself for someone else.  Post your story here if you like, we would love to hear all of the good deeds you do. 

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she jeered. “Even dummies know that!”
 
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her “world-famous” cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
 
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. “No Santa Claus?” she snorted….”Ridiculous! Don’t believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and
let’s go.”
 
“Go? Go where, Grandma?” I asked. I hadn’t even finished my second
world-famous cinnamon bun. “Where” turned out to be Kerby’s General
Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. “Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I’ll wait for you in the car.” Then she turned and walked out of Kerby’s.
 
I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
  
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock’s grade-two class.
 
Bobby Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn’t have a cough; he didn’t have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
 
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.  “Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied shyly. “It’s for Bobby.”
 
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn’t get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
 
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker’s house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa’s helpers.
 
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby’s house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”  I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.
 
 
Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.  Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker’s bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were — ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.  I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

I really want to win this cute Yoda backpack for Lani, could you just see her going off to daycare with Yoda on her back teaching her the way of the force.  You could also win this or 5 other prizes during the Six Crazy Christmas Gifts giveaway.  Check out what you need to do to get into the running for Yoda, a Sonic Boom Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker for those hard to wake sleepers or a Marshmallow Shooter that shoots up to 30 feet.  I know Matt would love this one; the guys in his office all have air soft guns so this should fit right in.  Take a moment to visit and register to win.

Parson is another term for clergyman or pastor.  So Parson Brown is Pastor Brown. They are telling “Pastor Brown” that they are not married but he can marry them when he is in town.

“In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say ‘Are you married ?’, We’ll say ‘No man,
For you can do the job when you’re in town.’”

Read the verse to your child then let them color the picture. 

My brother is not really a boxing fan but this bout has got him in a whirlwind over these two guys.  This is the not first time Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez II have met in the ring.  Way back in 2004 when they stepped into the ring Pacquiao was clearly the favorite taking down Marquez 3 times in the first round but through true grit Marquez bounced back with the battle ending in a split draw.

There was some talk about Pacquiao moving to fight David Diaz but instead decided he would once again fight Juan Manuel Marquez.  This is going to be a battle from the sound of the first bell.  Everyone has waited for what seems like forever to get this two back in the ring.  HBO PPV is covering this fight because there is such demand from the fans to get quality fights available to everyone.  With both of their records outstanding Pacquiao is 7-1 and Marquez is 6-1 this is sure to be a fight you do not want to miss.  If you are going to be in the Vegas area on March 15, 2008 you can try your hand at getting Manny Paquiao tickets for ring side.

This is really starting to tick me off; Matt got called for jury duty, AGAIN.  All I want to do is perform my civic duty and I have NEVER BEEN CALLED.  Everyone I know has been called at least once and some like Matt have been called twice.  Even my daughter’s ex-boyfriend was called.  I am really beginning to believe I do not exist.  When I started to buy saving bonds a few months ago I opened an account with the US department of Treasury or maybe I should say I tried to open an account with them.  You go through this gauntlet of questions to prove your identity and when I was all finished I was told that they could not verify who I was.

I was left with a form I had to take to my bank to have notarized stating I was who I said I was.  Do you think that has something to do with the fact that I have never been called for jury duty?  I have been registered to vote since before I graduated high school.  As soon as we moved to Florida I got my new drivers licenses, registered to vote, and also checked the box to become and organ donor because I think that is very important.  I have voted in very election we have had including the primaries and I don’t understand it.  I do not have a criminal record, I have only received on ticked in my life, and that was 16 years ago.  I am an upstanding citizen and I want to go to jury duty dang it.  If you have any insider information on how they pick the people they call for duty please share it with my readers, I would really appreciate it.

Even though Christmas is almost here I am still looking for good deals on stuff.  We have Matt’s dad and Matt’s brother left to get so I am still on the shopping prowl.  Just don’t forget to look for Overstock coupons and last minute travel savings with Travelocity deals.  Want to make a memorable Christmas?  Send flowers with a Proflowers coupon, Matt sends me flowers from them and they are always so beautiful and they always last forever.  Buying presents for people is getting so hard especially if they do not live near you.  I wish I knew everyone more than I do but hopefully one day that will change.  We are scheduled to move to LA in a couple of years and I say if we are moving that close to Hawaii that we should just go ahead and move all the way there. 

LSU will be playing Ohio State for the BCS Championship.  I am sure I will have many jokes to pass along to you from all of my family in Louisiana about the buckeyes as the game gets closer.  I will also be keeping my eye for cool stuff for you to check out.

Read the verse to your child then let them color the picture. 

Read the verse to your child then let them color the picture. 

Looking for a last minute gift for the geek on your list? How about Personalized Flash Drives? I was looking for Matt one of these a couple of months age. You can get them in all different colors and you can get their name on it or a message like, Bow before the computer God. That should get you a laugh or two. You could just get flames on it or load up your own logo. If they already have a flash drive how about a pen drive, they are very cool. They look like a pen but put it apart and you have a flash drive.

Lani and I had a morning of shopping and waiting in line at the post office.  The lines are getting really long there with people picking up and dropping off.  The rush as not even hit yet but I am happy to say I got all of the presents mailed that needed to go out.  After all of that Lani and I  grabbed some lunch then came and she took a nap.  That was a lot of excitement for a little one and of course she was so good in the stores and at the post office.  She always is.

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Read the verse to your child then let them color the picture.