AMEN!!!

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good &evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.
What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.
Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him.

To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
- Darrell Scott

Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech.
Please share this with your family & friends!

My Birthday Surprise

Well my kids "surprised" me for my Birthday!!  Of course they waited until 4 days afterwards to get me, lol!!  This is what they got me - rooster place setting (8 of ea. - dinner & dessert plate, bowl, coffee cup & glass) LOVE THEM, they are so me!!  Now I have to crochet me some placemats to go with them! 

The Door

Good to know, I thought it was age!!

This proves it’s not Alzheimer's!

 

This is an interesting factoid for us.

Ever walk into a room with some purpose in mind, only to completely forget
what that purpose was?

Turns out, doors themselves are to blame for these strange memory lapses.

Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing
through a doorway triggers what's known as an event boundary in the mind,
separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next.Your brain files
away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate
for the new locale.

Thank goodness for studies like this. It's not our age, it's that darn door!

I Wish You Enough

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

Please Share this with your friends. It has the potential to inspire alot of people.

Be Blessed Of Divine Light.

(Found this on Facebook & just had to share!)

Update on Bentlee (EDIT)

Please keep Bentlee in your prayers, they've put him in the NICU last night and he won't be able to come home with Mommy & Daddy today. Mommy & Bentlee both had a fever after delivery, so they're having to give him antibiotics and keep running tests.  He has to stay in NICU for at least 48 hrs.

 There is nothing seriously wrong w/ Bentlee, they are just taking precautions!!  He is doing well on the antibiotics & as of now will be released from the hospital on Sunday.

A New Edition

Bentlee Isiah Stiefel is HERE!!! He was born on 1/2/2013 at 9:57 p.m. in Chattanooga, TN. He weighed a whomping 9 lbs. 2 oz. & he is 21" long. Sorry I have no pics I suffering from old timer's disease & forgot my camera. I will try & remember my camera when I visit him again, lol :-)

A New Year!!

Well today is the first day of 2013!!  It's cold, rainy & foggy today, a good day for a fire in the fireplace, movies, crocheting & coffee!!  We will be going to my daughter's for dinner later, her & her hubby are leaving at 3:30 a.m. for the hospital to get induced.  I know why is she cooking - I offered but she insisted & I know not to upset a pregnant woman, lol!!!  We will be babysitting her furry baby while they are gone & my granddaughter (their daughter) is going to be staying with her great aunt & great grandmother (my sis-in-law & mom-in-law).  They want to keep her so that I can be free to go to the hospital when Bentlee arrives!!  I'm really excited for Bentlee to get here, will post pics when I get some :-)  Youngest son & his family are in the process of moving out (AGAIN) so we will be empty nesters once again!!  This time we have told ALL the kids "The Inn & Bank" are CLOSED permanently!!  Now if I can just keep Hubby to it, lol!!!  Well I better run, baking cookies to take to daughter's.  That's all from the mtn. for now, take care & catch ya later.

God Bless,

Gretchen