Jonathan 22 !!

Thursday September 18th was our oldest son Jonathan's 22nd birthday. I can't believe I have a son that old! To celebrate, his 4 favorite ladies took him out to dinner. (Myself, Chantal, Briana, and Cynthia....Paul and David are still gone slaying giants! lOl) We decided to do something different, so middle eastern cuisine is what we picked. We enjoyed the atmosphere, delicious food, and ate under the tent of an Ancient Arabian King. It was quite a neat experience. Chantal had made Jonathan a birthday cake, and so after dinner we went to the beach and ate birthday cake under the stars, and enjoyed the sights and smells of the ocean. (Only in San Diego!!!!)
I am so proud and thankful for Jonathan. He has been nothing but a delight and blessing to us. He is very smart, a very hardworker, he loves God, and is a PERFECT gentleman! I am so proud of the man Jonathan has become. Happy Birthday Jonathan, mom loves you!!!!

Happy Birthday Jonathan

The 'Big' Hunt

I must not let another day pass without acknowledging a VERY important event in the life of my  'Lovey-Dovey' son David.  

The day finally arrived folks, David 'Hunter' Bertram is on the 'big hunt' as we speak.  There is a form of incredible relief in the fact that the day has finally arrived!!  Jonathan, Chantal, and I have valiantly tried our very best to smile graciously at David's continuous (no joke) CONTINUOUS, reference to the 'big' hunt.  David has lived and breathed the arrival of this monumental hunt.  That is ALL he has talked about.  We have lived with, (literally woke to and went to sleep to) the sound of the Elk Caller bellowing at feverish pitches.  We have tripped on mounds of camo, and bow cases, and graciously 'oohed' and 'aahed', through every celebratory opening of yet another delivered box of Cabela merchandise.  

Yes, my two handsome hunters (Paul and David) departed Sunday Night after church, to the sounds of the youth group chanting "We want meat, We want meat, We want meat", towing a trailer full of empty ice chests and tons of hunting gear.  

They are in La Grande Oregon with Jess Parker (The Pro Elk Hunter!),  and I know they are having the time of their lives!

Although this post is poking fun at my handsome Hunter guy, I must say I am so excited for him!  I hope he gets the hugest most massive Elk that Oregon has ever seen!  (He really is quite the shot!)  Go get em David, Mom loves you and is cheering you on!!!!

This Will Turn Your Stomach!

While unwinding tonight, I ran across Jana Allard's blog.   I must say what I read got my blood pumping more than the mile walk I took earlier.  

The Washington Post published a cartoon that is VERY OFFENSIVE.  They are making fun of Sarah Palin's religion, and went WAY TOO FAR.  Things that I hold very sacred have been blasphemed, and I think that there should be a thunderous cry heard all over the nation, from God fearing people.  I am passing this information along because it so disturbed me, and I want to give my friends and family a chance to contact the Post and complain. 

 The artist is Pat Oliphant and the cartoon apparently ran in today's paper, 

9-10-08.

http://wpcomics.washingtonpost.com/client/wpc/po/2008/09/09/

Below are Washington Post email addresses;

CEO-CarolineLittle@wpni.com; executive.editor@washingtonpost.com; VP-Sales-Ads@wpni.com; VP-Classifieds-LocalProducts@wpni.com; ombudsman@washpost.com;

Never Forget This Day

"A country without a memory is a country of madmen."

George Santayana

There are some things best left forgotten.  There are other things that we must never forget. One of these things is September 11th, 2001.  

We live in a country that will forever be impacted by what a few very evil men did.   These men  took many years, and were very patient.  They schemed, planned, and followed through with their hate filled plot.  They changed countless lives, and left thousands of people with grief stricken holes in their hearts because their loved ones would forever be absent from their arms.  Not to mention the constant turmoil of wondering just how much did that love one suffer before he or she died.  

Later, while the wound of this tragedy was still so fresh...other evil people who live in our great country, but are loyal to these violent radicals, danced in the streets.  OUR streets..... hate-mongers, celebrating the demise of OUR very own.  Let me add....a 'few' evil men followed through...(And no they are NOT now enjoying the company of 70 virgins!), but there are SCORES of these evil people who live only to plan the destruction of you and I, and our friends and family....and every other human being that does not believe like they do.

The reason why we must NEVER forget.....

If we forget, we just might vote a man into the highest and most powerful office in our country, where we can be destroyed from within.  A man who has put leaders and mentors in his life (Followed them for 23 years!), who HATE OUR COUNTRY.  A man who WOULD NOT, let me repeat, WOULD NOT put his hand on his heart to salute our flag while the Pledge Of Allegiance was being recited.  A man that every evidence proves, has embraced the Muslim religion as his own.  We vote him in to lead our country?!   Have we turned into 'MADMEN'?!

I am so thankful that I was born in this great country.  When I salute the flag, and recite the 'Pledge of Allegiance', or hear a patriotic song sung, tears never fail to fill my eyes.  I LOVE MY COUNTRY.  

So, today I am doing some 'reflecting', and thanking God for my country.  I'm taking the time to 'remember' what we have, and realizing how easily it can be taken away....in the end, by our very own,... if we are 'without a memory'.

Dynamic Preaching!!!!

Today was a day filled with powerful preaching!  I am so thankful for my husband, who is a Man of God ALL OF THE TIME!!!!    His powerful preaching doesn't end when he leaves the pulpit.  He LIVES WHAT HE PREACHES!!!!  Today as I sat and listened to him preach, I felt such a deep feeling of gratefulness.  Thank you Lord for my Pastor and husband who feeds me your word and earns my respect!

Spending Time w/People That I Love

I am so glad I have friends like Lori Domingues and Susan Hill.  One call, and they dropped everything, and we all escaped life for a few days.  What a great time at the Garment District, the incredible Manicotti, and talking till 5 am.....memories that we will always cherish.  Speaking of 'Cherish'....I enjoyed my time spent with this little doll.  She has a very tender heart with what 'Jesus likes'!! .....We were at DSW shopping and they have huge TV screens.  She (Cherish)  wanted to sit in the very comfortable leather chairs that just happened to be in front of the TV screen.  She was with me, and I said "We can't sit there because Jesus doesn't like that".   Her eyes got very big, and she really seemed to accept that.  A few minutes later, Susan was in a different part of the store that had another leather chair (no TV's near), and Cherish in a very 'anointed' tone pointed at the chair and said "Mommy, Jesus doesn't like that."  We cracked up!!  She thought I meant the leather chair!!!!   Aunt Lorraine then took Cherish by the hand and walked to the screens and made real clear what Jesus really doesn't like!!!!  LOL

After enjoying my friends that I love very much, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a WHOLE day with my boyfriend!  We spent all day today just being together, and I always love those times.  

Thank you Lori, Susan, Cherish, and my boyfriend Paul for a very special week!

Getting Started

I've finally taken the big leap!!!  I have a blog!!  I'm still learning and have my faithful friend Lori Domingues showing me all the ropes.  I will soon be a PRO blogger!