This is dedicated to Suzanne.

Eric Clapton --- Tears In Heaven

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I got this from Cliff's blog.

This is taken from the Meridian Star Website

Jeri Suzanne Horne


Jeri Suzanne Horne Services for Jeri Suzanne Horne will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Joseph Hallman, and Dennis Marks officiating. Burial will be in Pine Springs Southern Methodist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Horne, 42, of Meridian, died Wednesday, December 24, 2008, at her residence. She was employed as a hairdresser. Survivors include her parents, Jerry and Betty White of Meridian, daughter, Isabella Horne of Meridian, son, Campbell Horne of Meridian, brother, Greg White and Ronna of Davie, Fla., niece, Madelyn White of Davie. Visitation will be Monday, 5p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Barry Murphy, Mike Grant, David Medlin, Bo Pierce, Richard Daniel, and Bryan Culpepper.

Click here to to the guestbook for Suzanne

Now I will admit that I wanted to commit suicide this past summer and I even tried but thank God my hubby Randy stopped me. I also thought about my kid and I changed my mind. I could not leave them behind. I could not do to them what my mom had tried to do so many times. I physically stopped my mom from committing suicide as a teenager. I found all of her pills and through tem in the backyard and called over family to help me. My mom tried to break my hand to get pills from me. This happened more than once, on another occasion after I was moved out and married she threatened suicide. I went to her house and fought with her to get her to stop. Inmy mom's case she was trying get help but always thought she had to threaten suicide to get it. I made a bold move and threw pills at her and told her to take them. I told her go for it and quit talking about doing it. I then told her that if she wanted to do itshe wouldn't have called my dad or me or othres to us she was going to do it. It totally surprised her. On a couple of ther occassions I got phone calls from friends of hers stating that she was threatening suicide again. So I called the local police department and sen them to her house.
One thing I have learned from my experience with suicide attempts you don't tell anyone and just do it. I also learned that it does not solve anything. Now why am I talking about such a dire subject. Well one reason is to come to terms with my past for my attempt and my mom's (who died of an accidental overdose), but to get out that suicide isn't an anwser. The tough times do go away and the pain eventually fades. It takes time and patience and counseling if needed. Call a friend or family member you trust to talk to. Just please don't do it.

Randy & I took our daughter Faith to see the Christmas lights at a local park. Every year different schools and companies decorate some of the shleters in the park for Christmas. Here are some of the pictures I got of my favorite ones.

The last picture was moving lights to music. Below is the video I shot but I wasn't able to get the sound with it.

I used to listen to the New Kids On The Block as a kid so I have decided to put up one of their Christmas songs for this weeks Music Monday.

Merry Christmas to you all in bloggerland.

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I seen this post in Cafemom on one of the groups I visit and I wanted to shar it with you.
Dec. 20, 2008 at 6:51 PM by TinaNicholeposted to CafeMom's Holiday Party 2008

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come outof the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England werenot permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.-

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John .

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven fold gifts of the HolySpirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love,Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.-

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with meand I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how thatstrange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.

'Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days but I have been busy making cookies for Christmas presents, I post pics here and a couple of recipes in a cpl of days. I have been cleaning house, getting Faith ready for a Christmas play at Church, she is going to be a baby lamb sitting next to the manger. I'll post video of the play after Sunday. I also had to take Gage to the doctor to get his hand xray'd again and get him into a cast. (he broke the right palm pinky bone). and i've been running errands at some point I need to finish wrapping presents. I have also been doing online training to be an Avon Representative. (I'm also an erepresentative) If you would like to see my page go to http://youravon.com/mrusin Talk to you all soon.

This is one of my favorite songs. Amy Lee has such a powerful and beautiful voice.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

[Wake me up] Wake me up inside
[I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me] Call my name and save me from the dark
[Wake me up] Bid my blood to run
[I can't wake up] Before I come undone
[Save me] Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

[Wake me up] Wake me up inside
[I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me] Call my name and save me from the dark
[Wake me up] Bid my blood to run
[I can't wake up] Before I come undone
[Save me] Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
Bring me to life
Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you are the life among the dead
All of this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

[Wake me up] Wake me up inside
[I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me] Call my name and save me from the dark
[Wake me up] Bid my blood to run
[I can't wake up] Before I come undone
[Save me] Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
Bring me to life

Dear Mom,

Yesterday you would have been 57. Even though you are no longer here I want to wish you a Happy Birthday. I am slowly starting to understand why you were the way you were. The more I look at your past it all makes more since to me than before. Despite our disagreements I do love you and I 'm working through my anger at you for stuff I now know you didn't totally control. I want to thank you for doing the best that you could and I do remember the good times. I know in a lot of ways you was weak but through that you was able to teach me the strength that I needed to be an adult.I apologize for all the hurtful things I ever said and I know you are still here with me helping me in my counseling and holding me when I have a hard time. I know you are watching over the kids and I know you are happy with both of them. I also know you are finally at peace with everything and I am glad of that. We miss you and Love you . Happy Birthday.

Shellmo of Building A Log Cabin is doing another giveaway called a few of my favorite things. She is giving away a small batch of items including hot chocolate, a cd, socks and a couple of surprises. The deadline is Dec 14th. So hurry to her blog and enter for a chance to win.

Here are Links to tributes on my Dad. God Speed.

Dedicated to all Veterans (this has a photo of my dad and other family in the military)

Tribute to my Dad: Part 1

Dear Dad, I remember when...

Dear Dad Part 2 (slideshow)

Click on the links to read the Tributes to my Mom. God Speed!

Dedicated to my Mom Part 1

Dedicated to my mom Part 2: The Teenage Years

Dedicated to my Mom Part 3

Dedicated to my Mom part 4

Happy Birthday Mom

Dear Mom

Happy Belated Birthday Mom

Here are links to the recipes I have posted throughout my blog.

Christmas Recipe (just for fun recipe)

Chicken Cheeseball

Parmesean Chicken

Frankensteins Eyes

Enchiladas

Baked beans (Cookout)

Meatloaf & Waldorf Salad
Salisbury Steak Deluxe & Sour Cream Twice-Baked Potatoes

I received this in an email and I wanted to share this with all of you. This is awell done slide show of all of the USA presidents from Washington to Obama.

On saturday Dec. 6th I had a somewhat busy day. I had to get up early so I could take Gage to get a Boy scout Merit Badge on Nuclear Science. Once a month the boys can go all day to earn a badge. After I dropped him off I went and picked up breakfast for the rest of us. We then went to take Faith to the House of the Christmas Mouse. Faith got to decorate a cookie, sang songs with a talking Christmas Tree, watched a puppet play, got to make an ornament for the tree and had her picture taken with the Christmas Mouse.

After that it was time to pick up Gage and we came home. When we got home Randy pulled me to the side and he asked me to remarry him. Of course I said yes. So we are going to renew our wedding vows and recommit ourselves to each other. When we decide when we do it I'll let you all know and of course I'll post pictures.

Later that evening I took the kids to a local park and we looked at all the Christmas lights and Faith got to see Santa.

Christina Aguilera- Keeps Gettin Better
This is a new song that I heard on the radio by Christina. I love it!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

This song no matter how often I hear it makes me want to bounce my head with the beat. Enjoy!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

I love to watch Christmas movies this time of the year and I really enjoy watching A Christmas Carol. I'll watch all the versions of this show but the one I truly look forward to seeing is "A Christmas Carol" with actor George C. Scott. In my opinion he made the best Scrooge and I love how the movie was put together all the way around. I found an excerpt of the movie on You Tube. Enjoy!

Well the countdown to Christmas is on and to start off my countdown Gage and I went to Church on Saturday (Nov. 29Th) to help with the hanging of the greens for Advent. I really enjoyed myself. I helped set up a Nativity scene in one of the classrooms as well as helped attach bows to the wreathes for the pillars and the doors. Gage helped wherever they needed him. All of us had a simple breakfast during fellowship. Here are the pictures I got during and after decorating.
Then today on my way into the Church an older couple who I have befriended well stopped me to give me a Christmas card with $40.00 in it to help get the kids Christmas presents with. I was so surprised and I felt so blessed. I managed to get some stocking stuffer's with it and gloves, a pair of pants for each and tights for sis. I stretched it as much as I could. I also got a Thank You card for the couple. I have gotten to where I look forward to going to Church every week and slowly I am participating more. I really feel at home with his Church and I am making so many new friends. The kids even go every week with me now and all of attend Sunday school. I truly believe this is good for me especially since this is one of the rare times I feel at peace.

As all of you know by now I love to participate in Graham's photography challenges. Well the theme for this month is a photo of what makes you happy(happiness). Well I have had a hard time choosing which photo I wanted to use so I am posting 2.
I chose this photo for 2 reasons. The first because this is a photo I took of my family and me which always makes me happy. Second because I finally figured out the timer on my camera to take the picture with all of us to begin with, and that makes me really happy.

I also chose this photo because I loved how it turned out and I'm also submitting this photo in a local contest called Autumn Artistry. It won't be voted on till January but I had to give it a shot. I'll be in the amateur adult category.

Here is a collage of pictures I got yesterday from a couple different locations. The first place we went was Mill Dam and then to a cemetary with a gorgorous fountain. Enjoy. Here are the cemetary fountain pictures I took.

While visiting WIXY's blog I seen he had a post for a giveaway by Shellmo. I don't usually enter contest's because I don't win but I figure I''ll give this one a shot. At least then I can say I tried. She is giving away a loaf of bread from a store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Go to Shellmo's blog to see a pic of the Cranberry Pecan Bread.

Check It Out

I use to sketch growing up to relieve stress. Now I only do it for the kid's birthday's(if it is something I can draw). The only thing is I can't put on paper what is in my head but I can look at a drawing and transfer it my way. The hardest thing I drew was the Harry Potter stuff. I drew all the house shields. I draw more cartoon stuff than real life stuff and I don't consider myself an artist but sometimes it does relax me and I've been considering going back to it. (I'm considering trying to draw Betty Boop). Any way here are 3 drawings I did as a teenager. The Horse and puppy I drew froma How To Draw book and Ariel I looked at the movie cover.



This last picture I drew on Gage's wall just looking at the cover of one of the Harry Potter books.

I don't know maybe I'll go back to drawing here soon.

This past Friday night we decided to have a movie night. We bought stuff for homemade pizza and we went to Blockbuster to rent the new Incredible Hulk. The movie was good but call me old fashioned in a way because I prefer the old television series with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. In my opinion I prefer a real person over the computer generated Hulk. I mean there are plenty of huge body builders or even wrestlers that would pull off a good Hulk like Lou. If they can do Batman, Spiderman, IronMan etc... with real people why not the Hulk. Correct me if I'm wrong but in the televison series bullets didn't bounce off the hulk he got wounded and healed quickly whereas in the new hulk bullets bounce off, he could fall from a helicopter and not get injured. In the TV series season finale he jumped from a helicopter and died. The New Hulk is entertaining and interesting I just find it more unbelievable. Well that's just my opinion.

The New Hulk

Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk.

Bill Bixby (David Bruce Banner ) and Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk)

This past fridayI was in the mood to cook. So I fixed a salad and I made a meatloaf with potatoes and carrots. I also made waldorf salad stuffed in an apple. Here are the recipes I used.

Meatloaf

hamburger

crackers (crushed) (approx. 1 pkg)

salt

pepper

2 to 3 eggs

Mexene chli powder

Put all in a bowl and mix by hand till well blended. I just put salt,pepper and chili powder to taste. Put in a baking pan and shape top with ketchup or my favorite BBQ sauce. Cut up potatoes and carrots and surround the meatloaf and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.

Waldorf Salad

apples

grapes (seedless)

raisins

chopped walnuts

celery diced

small marshmallows

mayonnaise

Hollow out the apples and put apple pieces in a bowl. Cut grapes in half, add walnuts, marshmallows and diced celery. Add mayonnaise and stir till well blended. Stuff in apples or just eat out of a bowl. Serve cold. Eat and Enjoy.

I actually got this in an email but I thought it would be a good reminder. I'm not sure where this came from but I really like it. Enjoy!

How To Plant Your Garden

First, you come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses....


FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS :



1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:


1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:



1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:



1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another


TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:


1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. NOT BAD, HUH?!