I'm just sayin'...

There's been a epidemic spreading around this country for some time now, and there seems to be no end to it in sight. I'm talking about the influence that Hollywood, television, and magazines are having on our young girls; making them feel that they need to be something different than what they are and forcing them to grow up before their time.
Jonny Diaz sings about this in his latest song:

"More Beautiful You''""

Little girl fourteen
flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way

But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen
I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart

And you were made with such care

your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises,
and hoops they make you jump through

You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one
the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead

And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you'll do instead

Well little girl twenty-one
you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

(CHORUS)
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl.

“The idea that they need to look a certain way in order to be feel beautiful is completely false,” Diaz explains. “Through this song I hope to get the attention of females and tell them the truth found in God’s word, that there could never be a more beautiful you!”

Listen to the song ...here!

~ Mom's Day ~

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold;

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right,

and right she'll always be,

Put them all together,

they spell "MOTHER,"

A word that means the world to me.

--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."

-- George Washington (1732-1799)

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." -- Honore' de Balzac (1799-1850)

Small Blessings

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day

With little time to stop and pray,

For life's been anything but calm

Since You called on me to be a mom,

Running errands, matching socks

Building dreams with building blocks,

Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes

And other stuff that children lose,

Getting lids on bottled bugs

Wiping tears and giving hugs,

A stack of last week's mail to read

So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet when I steal a minute, Lord

Just at the sink or ironing board,

To ask the blessings of Your grace

I seen then, in my small one's face,

That you have blessed me

All the while,

And I stop to kiss

That precious smile!

Author Unknown

Join us for weekly words to live by...here!

Dearest Mother o' Mine

This Mother's Day card is over 85 years old.

It was sent by my mother to my grandmother. Who knows where she got the cut out of flowers to paste on. My guess is the Sears-Roebuck catalog.

I would guess she made this at the two-room school house that she attended in our neighborhood, and I'm sure every kid used this same verse!

I love how she signed her full name so that Grandma would be absolutely sure who it was from. This is something I will cherish forever.

Angels are Around Us

Most of us have heard the word "Angel" as it applies to those moguls that finance theatrical productions on Broadway. Others at posh invitation-only galas are there to pledge millions of dollars towards a particular charity.

Both are worthy endeavors. One brings joy, employment and entertainment. These galas produce needed monies to finance research in medicine to alleviate man's pain and possibly provide cures yet unknown.

But these angels pale in comparison to the thousands of unknown angels that care for the ill and the elderly. These "angels", no matter how tired they may be, are ever cheerful, up-beat, and filled with so much encouragement, that it becomes contagious. They come in all shapes and sizes. When off - duty, they blend into the crowd. That suits them just fine because they seek no applause; just a little progress and a smile from the ones they are helping.
This is their reward.

Despite their own pain, they put the care of their "charge" first.
These are God's real angels! They don't have wings, as artists have depicted them down through the ages. You may be certain that He smiles on them and has a special place in heaven for each of them.

Charlie - age 84
(One of my residents or "charges" as Charlie calls it.)

Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy...

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?"
Do you know her? "Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is."
The little girl said, "Well, who is she?"

" That's just Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy" replied Timmy.

" Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? "

" Well" Timmy explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life, so I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

Happy Mother’s Day week!

Slow Cooker Mexican Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Mexican beef Stew
6 servings

2 lb. beef stew meat
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup frozen whole onions
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can whole kernel mexicorn, with red and green peppers, drained

instructions:
In slow cooker, mix beef, tomatoes, frozen onions, and chili powder.
Cover; cook on low heat setting 9 to 11 hours.
Stir in taco seasoning mix, using a whisk. Stir in corn and beans.
Increase heat to high.
Cover and cook 15 to 30 minutes or until thickened.
Enjoy!

Weekly words to live by

“At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.”
Barbara Bush
Wife Of The 41st President Of The United States

For more words of wisdom... join us here!