last day of 2010

The end of a another year. 2011, somehow seems so futuristic. So much has changed in the last 100 years. What a difference a century makes!

1910 Ford Model R Here are some statistics for the Year 1910:
Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only.
The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year ...
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME ..
Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
The Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars .....
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school..
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health' (Shocking? DUH!)
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help .....
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
IT STAGGERS THE MIND

Nickelback sings this great song:

If today was your last day, how would you want to be remembered?

Blessings

Cheese anyone?

Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, published in 1998, is a motivational book by Spencer Johnson written in the style of a parable or business fable. It describes change in one's work and life, and four typical reactions to said change by two mice and two "littlepeople", during their hunt for cheese. With all the changes both professionally and personally that I've experienced this year a co-worker shared this book with me.

Wikipedia's description is this: Allegorically, Who Moved My Cheese? features four characters: two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry," and two littlepeople, miniature humans in essence, "Hem" and "Haw." They live in a maze, a representation of one's environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans, paired off and traveled the lengthy corridors searching for cheese. One day both groups happen upon a cheese-filled corridor at "Cheese Station C". Content with their find, the humans establish routines around their daily intake of cheese, slowly becoming arrogant in the process.

One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left, but they are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared beforehand for the arduous but inevitable task of finding more cheese. Leaving Cheese Station C behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands, "Who moved my cheese?" The humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant, and so are unprepared for this eventuality. After verifying that the cheese is indeed gone they rant at the unfairness of the situation and both go home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese. But Hem is dead set in his victimized mindset and nixes the proposal.

Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found "Cheese Station N", a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw are affected by their lack of cheese and blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. However, Hem is comforted by his old routine and also afraid of the unknown. So again he knocks the idea. After many days in denial (including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station C), the humans remain without cheese. One day, having discovered his debilitating fears, Haw begins to laugh at the situation and stops taking himself so seriously. Realizing he should simply move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiseling "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.

Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" on the wall and, after thinking about that, he begins his journey. Still plagued with worry (perhaps he has waited too long to begin his search...), Haw finds some scattered cheese that nourishes him and he is able to continue his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly disappeared, but has dwindled from continual eating, and that the older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a letdown, an empty cheese station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw's new mindset allows him to again enjoy life. He has even begun to smile again! He is realizing that "When you move beyond your fear, you feel free." After another empty cheese station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.

Uncompromising, Hem turns away the new cheese, to his friend's dismay. With knowledge acquired along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Going still deeper into the maze, impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall ("The Handwriting On the Wall"). These clarify his own thinking and give him hope that his friend will find aid in them during his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day comes across Cheese Station N, abundant with cheese, including some varieties that are strange to him, and he realizes he has found what he is looking for. After eating, Haw reflects on his experience. He ponders a return to see his old friend. But Haw decides to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes:

Change Happens ~ They Keep Moving The Cheese
Anticipate Change ~ Get Ready For The Cheese To Move
Monitor Change ~ Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old
Adapt To Change Quickly ~ The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese
Change ~ Move With The Cheese
Enjoy Change! ~ Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again ~ They Keep Moving The Cheese.

Cautious from past experience, Haw now inspects Cheese Station N daily and explores different parts of the maze regularly to prevent any complacency from setting in. After hearing movement in the maze one day, Haw realizes someone is approaching the station. Unsure, Haw hopes that it is his friend Hem who has found the way.

CHEESE- is the metaphor for what we want to have in life, whether it is a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace.

Blessings

so this is Christmas

It has been a busy few days. This year we saw some changes to our traditions. Krystle & Gerard started their own Christmas traditions on Christmas day so we,(Wayne, Kyle, Darcy & I) had a mini Christmas day. We enjoyed Brunch enchiladas, fresh fruit & dip, flavoured coffee and juice. The boys opened their stockings and we spent the rest of the day playing many games together. On Boxing day, Krystle & Gerard came over for dinner (turkey, gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, baked squash casserole, baby carrots & peas, broccoli slaw, dinner rolls and baked cheesecake for dessert), and of course presents. Last year we started drawing names for Christmas. Wayne had my name I had Darcy, who gave a gift to Krystle, who had Kyle, who gave his gift to Gerard, who had Wayne.
Christmas 2010.

Good gifts...

given in love...

and received with a heart of gratitude...it was a lovely Christmas

Blessings

one more sleep

As our kids were growing up, we used to count down to big events by how many sleeps it was. Each Christmas we'd pull out the Countdown bear that would be filled with treats in each pocket. As each day would pass the kids would move the bear and get the treat. It was never difficult to get the kids up for school through the month of December, because it meant that the first one up got to move the bear and therefore get the treat.

Times have changes considerably. Poor Mr. Bear had sat in Dec 1 pocket for about one week until I remembered to move him. In fact each week he'd jump a couple days to get caught up. Having our boys home over the Christmas holidays has brought back alot of memories of Christmas' in the past, it's been great reminiscing with them. So until the big day......

Blessings

Christmas Card

A few days ago, I posted a picture of the staff from the office trudging through the snow to get a picture to use for the Christmas card we were handing out. Here is the result: From all of us to all of you "Merry Christmas!"

Blessings

Social Network

One of the many blogs I like to follow, www.twentytwowords.com posted this video.



Watching this video, I must admit that I teared up a little bit. It’s often hard to think of Joseph and Mary as just regular people. They become larger than life in our Christmas celebrations. This kind of helped put a face of them in a way, if that makes any sense. No pun intended. The story of Jesus is beautiful, I guess it doesn’t matter how you tell it, just as long as you tell it!

Blessings

Another day in winter paradise

Huron County had been hit with a snow storm that lasted for days on end, closing schools, county roads, and highways. December 2010 will be an unforgettable memory with all the snowfall. Snowmageddon. Six snowdays in the last two weeks. The military helicopters were even rescuing motorists stranded overnight on a major highway not too far from here. We've had at least 5 feet of snow that has fallen since the 1st of December.

During all this, the staff at the office decided to get pictures taken for a Christmas card we want to give out this year, I won't show you the one we're giving but the one that was captured to get the one we're giving. love it!

My work anniversary is this weekend. Four years. It's hard to believe that - so much it seems has happened in the last few years. This year, however, was the year of the most changes; people leaving, others transitioning into other roles and new positions were created.

Even though there has been many changes, one thing stays the same. The genuine appreciation that I feel from co-workers not only for what I do, but also for who I am! Looking forward to many more years!

Blessings

Christmas..... peanuts style

This Christmas marks the 45th year of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and its shining moment of Linus reciting from the gospel of Luke.

In a year where neighbours are objecting to private nativity displays, where Christmas trees are about to be renamed to a more "politically correct" term, and where commercialization is squeezing the last breath out of this holy day--here comes Linus to tell us all the real meaning of Christmas. In this day and age, it almost takes your breath away to think that a TV networks is willing to broadcast the precious words of Scripture on national television.

I was fascinated to find out that a documentary filmmaker was at the bottom of it all, producer-director Lee Mendelson. He and "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz worked with animator Bill Melendez to create this television special. According to the Post, "Charles Schulz was long viewed as a man plagued by anxiety, self-doubt and fear of rejection. Yet when it came to the production of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' Mendelson says, Schulz was the epitome of confidence and assured cool." He was also the one to hold the line about the shows focus, according to the newspaper. Schulz insisted on one core purpose: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" had to be about something. Namely, the true meaning of Christmas. Otherwise, Schulz said, "Why bother doing it?" Mendelson and Melendez asked Schulz whether he was sure he wanted to include biblical text in the special. The cartoonist's response, Mendelson recalls: "If we don't do it, who will?" To Coca-Cola's credit, Mendelson says, the corporate sponsor never balked at the idea of including New Testament passages. The result -- Linus's reading from the Book of Luke about the meaning of the season -- became "the most magical two minutes in all of TV animation," the producer says. Mendelson also credits part of the power of the scene to child voice actor Christopher Shea, whose tone of wise innocence, the producer says, fits the moment perfectly.

Note how when he gets to the verse about "fear not," he drops his beloved security blanket. A wonderful example for us all this holiday season!

Perhaps there's a glimmer of hope to be found there, for what is now rare may actually carry more weight and meaning. Perhaps because it is so unfamiliar, the idea that a Savior was born will provoke curiosity instead of the contempt of the overly familiar. This is my prayer.

May the Holy Spirit impress that truth upon hundreds--even thousands!--of viewers as they watch. Hallelujah, our Savior is born!

Blessings

Take a walk on the Boardwalk

We've been hit with an true Canadian winter storm. School and roads have been closed off and on for the past two weeks. Up until now it's been great, but, I'm starting to panic, we still have some Christmas shopping to do, our food supply is starting to dwindle and one can only play so many games of Monopoly. The history of Monopoly according to Wikipedia can be traced back to 1903, when a Quaker woman named Elizabeth (Lizzie) J. Magie Phillips created a game through which she hoped to be able to explain the single tax theory of Henry George (it was intended to illustrate the negative aspects of concentrating land in private monopolies). Her game, The Landlord's Game, was commercially published in 1924. Other interested game players redeveloped the game, some changing its name to Auction Monopoly and later to plain Monopoly, and many making their own sets customized for their own cities. Several people, mostly in the U.S. Midwest and near the U.S. East Coast, contributed to the American version of the game's design and evolution. Phillips herself patented a revised edition of the game in 1923, and similar games of this nature were published commercially.

Charles Darrow is known to have played an Atlantic City variation of "Monopoly", created by his friends, the Todds, who lived in Philadelphia. He became unemployed in the 1929 crash and decided to sell copies of the game taught to him by the Todds. He launched it in 1933 and it quickly made him rich. In 1935 Parker Brothers bought the rights from Darrow and started manufacturing a slightly updated version.

By the 1970s, the game's early history had been lost (at least one historian has argued that it was purposely suppressed), and the idea that it had been created solely by Charles Darrow had become popular folklore. This was stated in the 1974 book The Monopoly Book: Strategy and Tactics of the World's Most Popular Game, by Maxine Brady, and even in the instructions of the game itself. As Professor Ralph Anspach fought Parker Brothers and its then parent company, General Mills, over the trademarks of the Monopoly board game, much of the early history of the game was "rediscovered".

The Monopoly board consists of forty spaces containing twenty-eight properties (twenty-two colored streets, four railroads and two utilities), three Chance spaces, three Community Chest spaces, a Luxury Tax space, an Income Tax space, and the four corner squares: GO, Jail, Free Parking, and Go to Jail.

It's been fun to play multiple games of Monopoly these past few days, and even though I tend to lose more games than I win; it's not about winning or losing it's about creating memories!

Blessings

Mr. Scrooge

Another snow storm and another day for book work. oh goody! {note the sarcasm} As I sit here entering data into the spreadsheet program, I'm hunched over and rubbing my hands together trying to stay warm, feeling a bit like Bob Cratchit in the movie "A Christmas Carol". With this latest storm hitting the area it's hard to keep the house warm. Not for lack of trying though; Wayne has our corn stove burning at full capacity. Living in the country has its benefits but one definite drawback is that without having other houses close by it's difficult to keep the house warm. Wayne's not really a Mr Scrooge when it comes to heating my office space, I couldn't resist the title of this post. Well, this is enough of a break, I need to get back at the books. ^.^

Blessings

Special Surprises!

Krystle & Gerard came over yesterday as Krystle wanted some help with her Christmas baking. When she first called to ask if I could help her, I figured we'd be doing it at her house, but no she said, "mom, your kitchen is so much more roomier than mine - can we do it at your house?" How could I refuse? So they came and brought with them this beautiful bouquet of flowers! What a wonderful surprise - not only did I get to spend time my daughter and son-in-law but I get to enjoy the beauty of these flowers for days to come. How awesome is that?!

Blessings

O Christmas Tree

Hurray! Our Christmas tree is finally up and the rest of the house is decorated too! With both boys away at school and Krystle & Gerard having their own home; I found it alot harder to get everything ready this year. It was always alot more fun when the kids were around to help. As each box was opened we'd share our memories of Christmas' in the past and decide together where to put all the decorations. It's so much more fun when someone helps.

Blessings

Snow Storms & Blessings

Can a snow storm be a blessing? Sure it can be, it's all about your attitude. There was a time when I used to be angry about snow storms. After all I had plans for the day, places to be and things to do and nothing was going to stop me, not even a whiteout blizzard - ah how things have changed. Now I relish the thought of not being able to get anywhere giving me the opportunity to stay at home. It's kind of nice to have some forced relax time. With the storm raging outside, and not heading into the office I decided it was good day to get caught up on some things around the house. One them being bookwork - you'll remember back in October when I blogged about falling behind? If not you can read it here.

As I am going through the many files entering all the data into my spreadsheet that I prepare for the accountant, I came across my "blessings" file. It's a place where I keep the cards given to me throughout year from different friends & co-workers. This file was started based on a suggestion from a dear friend and I'm very grateful, as it serves as a gentle reminder to me that I am loved.

Blessings

Winter Wonderland

With the fresh fallen snow the view of the evergreen trees outside my window is gorgeous, simply gorgeous! While winter is not necessarily my favourite of the seasons I must admit that on days like today I enjoy this season a whole lot more. How can anyone say this is not beautiful?

Blessings

Flashmobs

A friend shared this yoututbe video with me.

LOVE IT!

We're hearing more and more of these 'flashmobs'. Even though this one was staged, I can't help but wonder how many people will be inspired to create one spontaneously.

Most of the Christmas songs that we hear sung give glory to God. As more and more 'flashmobs's are spreading the good news, it excites me to think that this scripture: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 10 - 11 is being fulfilled.

Blessings

Let the countdown begin.....

Can you believe that we're already counting down to Christmas? And here I am, not even started with decorating the house, let alone having the Christmas tree up. Hearing all the people that have decorated, made their cards and started their baking, I tend to get so frustrated with myself.

In fact, more and more of late, this time of year really stresses me out - all the things we're to do to get ready for Christmas...... mmhmm makes me wonder "if I spent as much time getting my heart ready, how much more would I be ready to do all the other stuff?" So I've decided to slow my life down and take time to read 1 chapter a day of the book of Luke to help my heart get in the "Christmas" spirit.

Blessings