From my family to yours, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

God Bless America and its people that suffered such a terrible attack on Sept 11th. My heart felt sorrow to those that had loved ones in those two towers. The world is grief striken with you. Canada supports her great ally.

On September 11, after learning about the terrorist attacks, Mattie wrote this poignant poem.

It was a dark day in America.
There was no Amazing Grace.
Freedom did not ring.
Tragedy attacked sky-high.
Fiery terror reigned.
Structures collapsed.
Red with blood, white with ash,
And out-of-the-sky blue.
As children trust elders,
Citizens find faith in leaders.
But all were blinded,
Shocked by the blasts.
Undefiable outrage.
Undeniable outpouring
Of support, even prayer,
Or at least moments of silence.
Church and State
Could not be separated.
A horrific blasting of events
With too few happy endings.
Can the children sleep
Safely in their beds tonight?
Can the citizens ever rest
Assured of national security again?
God, please, bless America
And the rest of our earthly home.

September 11, 2001
Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

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The night before Christmas by a friend. Thanks Sandy.

> Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
> Only one creature was stirring, & she was cleaning the commode.
> The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds, while
> visions of N-64 & Barbie, flipped through their heads.
> The dad was snoring in front of the TV, with a half-constructed
> bicycle propped on his knee.
> So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter, which made her
> sigh, "Now what is the matter?"
> With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand, She descended the

> stairs, & saw the old man. He was covered with ashes & soot, which
fell
> with a shrug,
> "Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
> "Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake." "Your gift was
> especially difficult to make."
> "Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone." "Exactly!" he
chuckled,
> "So, I've made you a clone."
> "A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?" "Run along, Santa,
I've
> no time for chit chat." Then out walked the clone - The mother's
twin,
> same hair, same eyes, same double chin.
> "She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess. You'll relax, take

> it easy, watch The Young & The Restless."
> "Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!" "I'll shop,
> I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"
> From the room above, the youngest did fret. "Mommy?! Come quickly,
> I'm scared & I'm wet."
> The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart." "Hey," the mom smiled,
> "She sure knows her part."
> The clone changed the small one & hummed her a tune, as she bundled
> the child in a blanket cocoon.
> "You're the best mommy ever. I really love you." The clone smiled &
> sighed, "And I love you, too."
> The mom frowned & said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal." That's my child's
LOVE
> she is trying to steal."
> Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear, only one loving mother

> is
> needed here."
> The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed. "Thank You, Santa, for
> clearing my head.
> I sometimes forget, it won't be very long, when they'll be too old
for
> my cradle & song."
> The clock on the mantle began to chime. Santa whispered to the clone,

> "It works every time."
> With the clone by his side Santa said "Goodnight. Merry Christmas,
dear
> Mom, You will be all right."
> Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about. Especially at
> times during the Holiday season, when all we seem to do is clean and
> bake and shop and and and and and and and....You get the picture, I'm

> sure. So stop for a moment and hug that little one so special,
whether
> he/she is 2 months or 22 years, or even older than that.
> For they are the Gift that God gave us in life...and what a gift to
be
> treasured, far above any other!
> May the real meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas be with you all
this
> year.
>


May God bless you and yours,
Sandy

I HAVE SEVERAL PAGES FOR YOU TO VISIT.
A section about me and my family, what my interests are.

Newly approved site.
DESIGNED BY WOMEN Click on Santa's sled.

Celebrate the spirit of women,
Our spirit is what we as women are
capable of and what we represent.
The spirit of diversity and the right
to express how different each one of us is.
Let's show the world what women are capable of.

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Please see all the web-sites and my clubs that I belong to:

Ladies of the Heart, a wonderful organization. Take a look , click the misteltoe.

For my skinny friends at Christmas. Enjoy!
I hate this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced
frivolity, but because it's the season when the food police come out
with
their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the holidays
without gaining 10 pounds. You can't pick up a magazine without finding
a
list of holiday eating do's and don'ts. Eliminate second helpings,
high-calorie sauces and cookies made with butter, they say. Fill up on
vegetable sticks, they say. Good grief. Is your favorite childhood
memory
of Christmas a carrot stick? I didn't think
so.
Isn't mine, either. A carrot was something you left for Rudolph.

I have my own list of tips for holiday eating. I assure you, if you
follow
them, you'll be fat and happy. So what if you don't make it to New
Year's?
Your pants won't fit anymore, anyway.

1. About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on
a
holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if
you
see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum
balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine
single-malt
scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch.
You
can't find it any other time of year but now.

So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's
not
as if you're going to turn into an egg- nogaholic or something. It's a
treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you
think.
It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy.
Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with
gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports
car
with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your
eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other
people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's.
You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the
time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table
while
carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted
Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near
them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the
center of
attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. You can't leave
them
behind. You're not going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each.

Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always
have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor
Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory
celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some
standards, mate.

10. And one final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the
party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread
tips.
Start over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just around the corner.

By Craig Wilson, USA TODAY

Garden of Friendship

click the little girls to visit.