April 18, 2014 Good Friday

10 Minutes of yoga, really not enough but something, before I went to doctor for check up.  I'm stressed but fine, he said.


Ephesians chapter 2 -  About how we are made alive through Christ's death.  Does that explain "Good Friday"?  "for it is by grace that you have been saved through faith = and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."


On this day - Murphy's Law: "If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it."
- Edward A. Murphy Jr  
1998 - Mom and Nicole and I met Nicole's grandma and grandpa at a high school for the Barbershop show that Grandpa, Ed was in.  It was the Grosse Pointe chapter of Barbershoppers, and they were great!  We loved the shows they put on once or twice a year.  I am so glad I videod them to watch.


Parenting - Our two families were very close when the kids were little, there was a lot going on and we always showed up to support one another.  As families grow up, their lives take different paths quite often, and we don't see each other as much.  But we do have memories, and videos.


Book Club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link,  Ok I got to the solution of the mystery, but their is still the aftermath to read about.  I think you would enjoy this.


Yo Chen Belize -  I would really like to go here! 

April 17, 2014 Thursday

Kick boxing!  You just do what you can.  I sure don't open the blinds before I do this.


Genesis chapter 41 - Is about Joseph (the Technicolor coat guy) saving Egypt by having inside info from God about a 7 year famine coming in 7 years.  Joseph was put in charge of storing up grain during the 7 good years and ultimately saved all of Egypt when the drought hit.  Can you think of a connection between this and today, which is Maundy Thursday?  I'm having a hard time making the connection.  Good story though.


On this day; 
1961 - The attack on Cuba failed.  Castro is still in power.
1997 - The journal said that Nicole went to a Vipers game with the Mathis family.  Are they still around?  Haven't heard the name, what happened to them?


Parenting - Did you see the video of the two brothers that staged a child being taken in a park?  There is a lot of conversation about the reason or worth of the video.  The people that were there were totally freaked out and the TV "specialists"  said they didn't think it was worthwhile.  We do have a tendency to get lulled into a false sense of security in our own park or yard.  What do you think?


Book Club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link


Yo Chen Belize - 

Battle of St. George's Caye[edit]

Main article: Battle of St. George's Caye

An excerpt from the 1898 Gazette that declared 10 September an official holiday, part of the efforts of the Centennial Committee

The Battle of St. George's Caye refers to a military engagement off the coast of what is now Belize that is said to have lasted from 3–10 September 1798. But the name is typically reserved for the final battle that allegedly occurred on 10 September. The British first appointed a superintendent over the Belize area in 1786. Before then, the British government had not recognized the settlement as a colony for fear of provoking a Spanish attack. The delay in government oversight allowed the settlers to establish their own laws and forms of government. During this period, a few wealthy settlers gained control of the local legislature, known as the Public Meeting, as well as of most of the settlement's land and timber.
Accounts of the battle describe an engagement between an invading force from what would become Mexico, attempting to capture the Baymen controlled territory for Spain from a small force of Baymen and their Black slaves.
The Spanish are said to have repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to gain control over the territory by force. Contemporary accounts mention that Spain's last attempt occurred on 10 September 1798, when the Baymen and their Black slaves repelled the Spanish fleet in a short engagement with no known casualties on either side, known as the Battle of St. George's Caye. The anniversary of the battle is a national holiday in Belize and is celebrated by some Belizeans to commemorate the "first Belizeans" and their defence of the territory


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!

April 16, 2014 Wednesday no snow and not tax day!

Did some ballet this morning.  Hope this will do my balance good in the years to come.


Galatians chapter 3 -  This is about being adopted through Christ into the kingdom of God.  We are all heirs to heaven, if you want to be.


On this day:
1900 - The first book of postage stamps was issued. The two-cent stamps were available in books of 12, 24 and 48 stamps.  Gone are the days!  Now they are, what? .48 a stamp.
1992 - I had worked full time for Quality Picture Frame Company since 1966.  When I had my daughter I stayed home with her, till I found it necessary to go back to work, just for health care.   I wonder if other people are using this method to keep their family covered?  It is an option you might look at, if possible.


Parenting - I was very fortunate in having my mother and mother in law available to care for Nicole when I worked.  Now I see what people are facing.  Some are starting pre-school at 3 and of course there is day care, schools are looking at year round sessions and longer days, with meals provided for kids that are there longer hours.  We aren't a farming community anymore with summers to work the fields. Both parents have to work to keep up their homes and lives and provide for their family.  We have to change with the times.  They will of course, track the changes in children's behavior, personality and overall well being.  From what I see, parents, as always, are finding the best way to take care of and care for their children.


Book Club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link, my book is vacationing in Florida with Nicole.


Yo Chen Belize - Interesting history here.  Check it out:

Colonial history[edit]

Spanish conquistadors explored the land and declared it a Spanish colony but chose not to settle because of the lack of resources such as gold and the strong defence of the Yucatán by the Maya. Later English and Scottish settlers and pirates known as the Baymen entered the area in the 17th and 18th century respectively and established a logwood trade colony, slave economy and port in what became the Belize District.^[19] Baymen first settled on the coast of what is now Belize in 1638, seeking a sheltered region from which they could attack Spanish ships (see English settlement in Belize). The settlers turned to cutting logwood during the 18th century, establishing a system of slave labour using Black slaves. The wood yielded a fixing agent for clothing dyes that was vital to the European woollen industry. The Spanish granted the British settlers the right to occupy the area and cut logwood in exchange for an end to piracy.<sup>[13]


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!</sup>

April 15, 2014 Tuesday! Tax Day

Early morning run to airport.  Nicole off to Florida for a couple of days.  Who knew there would be 3" of snow today to make the roads icy and traffic bad?  Then the plane is still sitting there after 2 hours, getting deiced.  Everyday is a gift.


Psalm 19 - After praying all morning on the road and now for the plane, the last line here sticks with me "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,  Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."


On this day:
1817 - The first American school for the deaf was opened in Hartford, CT.
1990 - It was Easter and after serving a big pancake breakfast at church, we went to the Red Run Golf Club for Easter dinner with my husband's family.  Not sure how I got my husband and son to go along, but we were all in yellow, well, their shirts were yellow.  It was a beautiful day, in the 70's or 80's even and we walked the paths outside enjoying the day.  Did not get a picture of us in our yellow outfits though.  Nice memory, considering the weather we have today. 


Parenting - I will be so happy when my daughter feels better, so I can feel better.  You know how that is right?


Book club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link  Great true mystery from Michigan!


Yo Chen Belize -

Early history[edit]

Extent of the Maya civilization

The Maya civilization emerged at least three millennia ago in the lowland area of the Yucatán Peninsula and the highlands to the south, in what is now southeastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and western Honduras. Many aspects of this culture persist in the area despite nearly 500 years of European domination. Prior to about 2500 BCE, some hunting and foraging bands settled in small farming villages; they later domesticated crops such as corn, beans, squash, and chili peppers.
A profusion of languages and subcultures developed within the Maya core culture. Between about 2500 BCE and 250 CE, the basic institutions of Maya civilization emerged. The peak of this civilization occurred during the classic period, which began about 250 CE.<sup>[13]


Enjoy the Day!  Make it Memorable!</sup>

Aprpil 14, 2014 Monday

Work today, maybe that bicycle thing later.


Matthew chapter 16 - Peter Declares that Jesus is the Messiah.  This fact isn't so because Peter said it, but Peter knew this without being told by anyone on this earth.  Jesus declared that Peter knew this because God revealed it to him.  Jesus told Peter "Blessed are (you)"  Do you know that Jesus is the Messiah?


On this day:
1865 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He actually died early the next morning.
1989 - It was Joey's birthday today.  It still is.  He was the little boy across the street that came over when he was still in diapers, before I had kids.  When Nicole came along, he became a permanent fixture of our family.  Today I saw his mom across the street and we talked a while.  She reminded me that today is his birthday, because he was kind of a shared child.  He lives in Florida now and is doing well.  He was such a good eater, that boy. 


Parenting - Sometime we are called on to fill in gaps in someone elses child's upbringing.  We reach out in the parents absence, or neglect or sometime when all else fails.  I don't think we should ever be caught thinking that we are the know all and end all of parenting.  Most of us have had that opportunity at least once.  It is a gift of fate I think.


Book Club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link,  Times have changed, we are not so small minded or superstitious anymore, or are we?  Good story.


Yo Chen - Belize -

Etymology[edit]

The origin of the name Belize is unclear, but the earliest record of the name is found in the journal of the Dominican priest Fray José Delgado, dating to 1677.^[11] Delgado recorded the names of three major rivers that he crossed while traveling north along the Caribbean coast: Rio Soyte, Rio Xibum, and Rio Balis. These names, which correspond to the Sittee River, Sibun River, and Belize River, were provided to Delgado by his translator.^[11] It is likely that Delgado's "Balis" was actually the Mayan word belix (or beliz), meaning "muddy-watered".^[11]
Others have suggested that the name is derived from a Spanish pronunciation of the name of the Scottish buccaneer Peter Wallace, which was applied to an early settlement at the mouth of the Belize River,^[12] although there is no proof that Wallace actually settled in the area and some have characterized this claim as a myth.^[11] Several other possible etymologies have been suggested by writers and historians, including French and African origins.^[11]


Enjoy the Day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday Joey!

April 13, 2014 Sunday Palm Sunday!

Good day for a walk!


The sermon today was, of course, about Holy Week.  The story of Jesus's triumphant entry amid hosanna's from the crowd, to the long walk through the week with the last supper on Thursday, the prayers in Gethsemane and the betrayal into the hands of men who did not know better.  The glorious story ends or begins you might say with Christ Jesus's resurrection on Easter Sunday.  AS Pastor Chris suggested, keep your mind on Holy Week, remember the story this week.


On this day:
1829 - The English Parliament granted freedom of religion to Catholics. Now that we all have the freedom of religion, we have less practitioners. 
1985 - My house was called the Lodge for many years.  I had many roommates which adds up to a lot of stuff around the house.  On this day, I was very pregnant and with the warm weather coming, we were all preparing for summer.  My brother brought his boat over to join Ty's boat in the driveway, so the preparation could get underway.  We were all about boats,  I have Nicole's in the garage now, its a kayak.  Go boating!  Get your boat ready!
Parenting - This morning in church their were two young men as acolytes.  I mentioned to one of their dad's that his son looked great on the altar.  Most men, these days, would not see that as a great thing, but this dad lit up like a Christmas tree.  There are still those who revel in worship and church life and would love to have their son become a Pastor.


Book Club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link -  oh, the plot thickens!


Yo Chen Belize - Here is a little more info:
In general, Belize is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to the entire Latin American and Caribbean region. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA), the only country to hold full membership in all three regional organizations.
Belize is known for its September Celebrations, and is the birthplace of chewing gum^[7][8] and Punta music.<sup>[9][10] 


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!</sup> 

April 12, 2014 Saturday!

Pilates, again.  Gotta re-think these videos, getting repetitive.  But, I do like Pilates and each person does different sets.


Isaiah chapter 43 - God reminds the Israelites that, yes he did save them from Eygpt, but get over it.  It is a new day, remember to move forward and enjoy all the wonderful days and gifts that God gives you.  I like the writers closing line "God gives fresh starts from the inside out".


On this day -
1096 - Peter the Hermit gathered his army in Cologne.  Who is this guy?  I think I dated him.
1982 - Went to baseball practice with Andy and Alice, Julie and Danny.  I think Alice and Julie were the players, the rest of us were there to watch.  I have spent a lot of time at baseball (and other venues) watching people play.  Wish I had spent more time playing.  Don't you miss the boat!  Get out there and play!


Parenting - As I told my daughter yesterday - Life is a game.  You have to learn the rules. Practice. Buy the equipment. Show up and play well.  Cry with your friends when you lose and drink beer and celebrate when you win. 


Book club - Isadore's Secret by Mardi Link.  OK!  this is proving to be a good story.  A murder mystery from up north in the early 1900's.  You have to order it from Amazon, its not in any libraries or book stores that I checked. 


Yo Chen Belize -
Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.^[6]
Belize has a diverse society, with many cultures and languages. Originally part of the British Empire, it shares a common colonial history with other Anglophone Caribbean countries. From 1862 to 1973, its name was British Honduras. It became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1981, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!