Posted in Cathys Contemplations

Have you ever put quite a bit of time compiling a post on your blog?  Not just any old post, but one that really described your heart on a matter to a tee?  Okay, picture the perfect post disappearing with a careless or maybe an accidental slip of the fingers onto the wrong key!  Ah Ha!  I saw you CRINGE!  I've backspaced away HOURS of paragraphs into the unknown reaches blogosphere!


So, as I make note of these tips for myself, I'll share them with you too!

1.  Save your work OFTEN!

2.  Prepare your work beforehand in a program like Windows NotePad, then after it's saved to your harddrive, copy and paste it onto your blog post. 

I recently found a free open source program that is very similar to Windows NotePad but it has a few extra features built in but still remains rather lightweight.  It's called NotePad2 and you can download it here: NOTEPAD2

3. If your blogging software has a "save as draft" feature, use it if you are not quite done with your post. 

Well, that's it for today's Timesaver Tips!

In His Love,

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

I thought that I would end this 3 part series with a video clip of the parade that I wrote about in part 1.  It's 16 minutes long and ends with a beautiful version of "Taps"  the song that I wrote about in part 2.  Have a wonderful day, hug a vet and be blessed!


In His Love,

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

Be forewarned! Kleenex alert!  I never knew the whole story behind the origins of this song.  It is one that is far too touching and moving to stay on a dusty old shelf destined to be forgotten.  I found this story, TAPS: The Story Behind the Bugler on the following website.  True Americans.com  Thank you for sharing this with us.

TAPS: The Story Behind the Bugler
 
 

This is one of those fascinating, but little know historical facts. In his book,
Amazing but True, Doug Storers says this occurred at Harrison's Point, Va. in 1862.

We have all heard the haunting melody of "Taps." It's the song that gives us that lump
in our throats and tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song?

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain
Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing, Virginia.

The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
During the night, Captain Ellisombe heard the moans of a soldier who was
severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate
soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for
medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain
reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward the encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually
a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and
suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim lighten he
saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying
music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy
enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission to give his son
a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a
funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier
was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give
him one musician.

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes
he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted. The haunting melody, which we now know as "Taps"
used at military funerals, was born.

Here are the little-known lyrics to "Taps"

Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well, Safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky
Gleaning bright
From afar, Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise
For our days,
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh. 

In His Love,

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

How many readers fully comprehend the depths and the sacrifices that are now and have been made by veterans?  The longer that I live, thankfully the more that I learn and understand.

After attending a beautiful worship service this morning, we bundled ourselves up and drove downtown to watch the annual Veteran's Day parade. 

Along the way we marveled at the many leaves still clinging to the trees, those yellow leaves vividly enhanced by the bright sunlight that embraced the day. On one of the main streets downtown, we quickly found an opening by the curb to stand and watch.  Our anticipation grew as we heard the marching bands approaching over the 17th street bridge not far off.

Soldiers from many eras of war led the parade.  I didn't expect the tears to flow as they did when one of the soldiers played taps.  For far too many years I had a head knowledge and knew this song was played over the fallen soldiers, but I never really knew what it meant until the day that I heard my father, a WW2 veteran say that they were always saddened when they heard these all too familiar notes being played in the distance as it only conveyed one thing to their ears.  A  dear comrade has now fallen.  What thoughts raced through their minds?  I could've be me.  It could've been me.  All of the surviving veterans take no glory or honor upon themselves.  There exists a common heart of understanding between them.  As a  civilian approaches one of these veterans to thank them for their sacrifice as I witnessed, the response is always the same and these sad words, "the real heroes, are still over there" is all that they will say.  I guess I'm a bit slow to understand at times.  I looked to my dad and asked him,  "what does that expression mean?"  His look said it all and then I understood.

It was quite difficult to quench the tears after they began.  As the bands passed us by, they continued to play patriotic songs. 

The word armistice means a truce, a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties. Armistice Day came to be through the first World War when fighting between the Allies and Germany ceased.   It went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
Armistice Day became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

Please take the time today to reflect upon the meaning of this important holiday.  How quickly we forget.  May history always serve as a reminder to us all.  May we embrace that which is good, true and noble.  May we learn from those mistakes that we have made as individuals and as a nation, never to repeat them.  May God continue to bless this country of America.  May she continue to shine forth that liberty, compassion and mercy upon a hurting world.

Always Remember..........
Greater Love has No Man than this, that He Lay Down His Life for His Friends (John 15:13).

In His Love,

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

De-Stressing

Stress is something the Lord has patiently shown me how to deal with little by little throughout the years though I still need His love reminders to this day. =o) Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from without. I have learned that our response is critical. Our stress levels can run so high that the effects could bring sickness to our physical bodies. Ever had a “stress” related headache? How about stomach aches or muscle cramps? I don’t doubt that a good portion of our illnesses are brought on by high levels of stress. Stress can elevate our blood pressure! I decided to look up the definition for the word stress and I found the best description listed under “mechanics”
a. the action on a body of any system of balanced forces whereby strain or deformation results.
b. the amount of stress, usually measured in pounds per square inch or in pascals.
c. a load, force, or system of forces producing a strain.
d. the internal resistance or reaction of an elastic body to the external forces applied to it.
e. the ratio of force to area.

I say this is the best description because this is “exactly” what it feels like when I’m stressed out! We as Christians know that our adversary, the devil is thrilled to see us stressing out and worrying. As a matter of fact, in those times as the spiritual wickedness hurls those impressions toward our minds, I can just picture them hovering there with a huge pin ready and waiting to pop our strained souls!
When all around me begins to pluck my last nerve, the first thing I do is cry out to the Lord in prayer. This causes hope, even just a little to begin it’s work in us because we know that Jesus, our Lord and Savior hears our pleas. Even if all we can say is “help”, we know He is near and He will begin to answer. His Word is filled with so many, many verses that we can remember when we are stressed. Here is one of them;

Psalm 31: 1-8
1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me, for you do what is right.
2 Turn your ear to listen to me;
rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
a fortress where I will be safe.
3 You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
for I find protection in you alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

6 I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to my enemies
but have set me in a safe place.

We are told by our Lord in His Word to resist the devil and he will flee. This is what I usually do secondly in a stressful situation. I rebuke and resist him, the devil. Sometimes our own sin natures are to blame as we feed on a diet of worry and fear even when we know this cannot and will not change anything. When we focus on our problems they can grow larger in our minds and therefore larger in life itself!

The third way I like to de-stress is by reading a good book written by a Christian author. This will help take my mind off of whatever is causing the stress.

Number four on my list is;
listening to classical piano pieces and or praise and worship music. I have also found my self cleaning when I am stressed. Listening to Godly men and women speak on my ipod is another great stress reliever for me.

In His Love,


This post originated from a homework assignment as part of the Talk-A-Latte * Organization 911! HELP for the Messy Mom! Seminar Series  * By Cindy Rushton * Come and join us!

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

The Considering Homeschooling Ministry is planning to launch a television campaign with the hopes of educating parents to the damaging effects of sending children off to preschool. You can read more on this at the Christian News Wire website.   In my last post you may have read about the recent research that was conducted that have shown the negative consequences that are reaped from placing children in institutional preschool programs. 

"As the universal preschool lobby makes political inroads in states across the union and as parents are inundated with the message to separate from their babies and young children, Considering Homeschooling is attempting to counter this attack on the biblical family."

"The growing debate, initiatives, and legislation concerning preschool are all based on the faulty presupposition that preschool is beneficial to children," said Charles B. Lowers, Executive Director of Considering Homeschooling. "Studies have shown negative consequences from placing children in institutional preschool programs. This makes sense because God created the ideal place for children to thrive, learn, and grow -- right in their mom's loving arms."

Since, in our society we are literally *glued* to the television set, I can't think of a better way to reach these parents.  Hats off to CHM for doing something like this to help curb this ugly tide in our midst.  Please keep this issue in your prayers and don't forget to visit the CHM website for updates and also at this link:

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

In these times we live, it is not uncommon within the average family to find both mom and dad are part of the workforce. If these families have children to provide for,  I am sure that their intentions are very good but sadly their priorities are way out of line.  Sure we all need food and clothes but sadly these parents have forgotten the importance of spending precious time with their children.

A recent study study on the effects of preschool on children conducted by Berkeley research shares their finds.  The study found that children who attended preschool at least 15 hours a week displayed more negative social behaviors when compared with their stay-at-home peers.

"The biggest eye-opener is that the suppression of social and emotional development, stemming from long hours in preschool, is felt most strongly by children from better-off families," said UC Berkeley sociologist and study co-author Bruce Fuller."

Posted in Cathys Contemplations

Have you ever had one or maybe two of those days when you can feel a cold or a virus trying to invade your system, it has begun to cause *some* nose stuffiness but not too much?  Our cockatiel insists upon whistling to me until I give him a whisle back but my nose feels funny and my ears are very sensitive due to the invading virus.  Someday I'll record his whistles to play for you and it will serve two purpses; first you can hear what he sounds like and second, he will hear himself and will have a good ole time at that!  LOL 
I have been tagged by Becky LaMereAcademy and I am to post 6 random things about myself and then tag 6 others...............okay, here goes..............

Random things:

#1.  I love to read books and read articles online and I almost need to pull the reigns in at times, it gets hard on the eyes. 

#2. I like to crochet and sew when I have the time.

#3. I find birds whistling when you are trying to compile a post or write anything is distracting and can become a hindrance to the writing process!!!!