Stump Removal

We have had a tree stump next to our driveway since we moved to this house. Last Wednesday, Naomi was backing the Suburban out and hit the stump (it was in her blind spot). So today, JoJene and Jon Paul took it out. It wasn't too hard of a job now that all the rain has softened up the ground (unlike this summer when Jonathan had tried to remove it.)

A Moment of Peace

This poem was written by Laurel, a member of an embroidery group I belong to. I thought it was worth sharing.

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A Moment of Peace

It came upon the desert sand
That glorious sound so new
No rockets, bombs, or IEDs
For soldiers to pass through

Peace on this land
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
The world at home does kneel and pray
For loved ones so far away

The angels with the soldiers stand
A wonderful sight to see
Each angel wing wrapped round them tight
To protect them on this Eve

Peace in your heart
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
Our world at home is safe and sound
As dreams of you come round

The silence sounds so loud tonight
And stars so brightly burn
The soldier stands with head bowed low
For friends and family yearns


Peace ease your mind
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
And know that you are in our hearts
This day that Christmas starts

And as the soldier kneels to pray
He thinks of you and me
He asks for God's forgiveness
For things we'll never see

Peace fill your soul
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
We thank you for the job you do
May angels walk with you

It's almost dawn on Christmas Day
And soon it begins again
But for a time the world stood still
To share a peaceful reign

Peace be forever
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
And may those in harm's way
Come home to us, we pray

© Laurel A. Olmsted
December 13, 2006
can be sung to the music
of "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear"

(used with permission of the author)

Naomi's injury

Naomi was doing some housework and while putting a glass away in the hutch, the door and glass pane fell apart and cut her hand on the way to the floor. Here are the bandages. It's really not that deep, but there's a pretty good scrap on the back of her knuckle that was bleeding and needed more than just a regular band-aid. She also got several other scraps and minor cuts, so will be sore for awhile.

Misty cat helps to sew

Misty cat was helping Denise to sew Naomi's Christmas party dress. She was holding the fabric down so the pattern would be straight.

Presentation of Football Season Miter

As many of you know, bishops wear different-colored miters for different seasons of the Christian year: white for Christmas and Easter, green for Kingdomtide/Ordinary Time, purple for Lent, purple or blue for Advent, red for Pentecost.

Since Bishop David Epps' collection of miters and copes is incomplete, the Landon family decided that at the annual parish Christmas party at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Sharpsburg, GA we would present him with a miter for a very important season that he is lacking - "football season." Bishop Epps hails from the great state of Tennessee and is an avid fan of the Tennessee Volunteers. Therefore it was decided to present Bishop Epps with a miter in his beloved orange and white.


Length:2:11

Doctor's Visit

I saw my doctor today to discuss my medications and weight loss. My weight loss and exercise program have allowed me to stop taking my blood pressure medicine. YEA!!!!

She (my doctor) also agrees with me that my weight goal is a good target. So I am on track. Now to go shopping for some new clothes that will stay up without a belt.

New clothes dryer

Jon Paul and I got the new (to us) clothes dryer installed. It is really nice not to hear the high-pitched squeak of bad bearings. The old dryer was also starting to not get the clothes dry either.

I went to 5 different stores pricing new dryers. The best deal I found was $300. Then I thought to check a local thrift store that often has appliances in stock. They only had a gas dryer. But one of the customers suggested I try the nearby Habitat for Humanity Restore. I did yesterday and they had a nice big dryer, that looked to be fairly new for only $150. It's nice to support Habitat, as well as to save $150.