SodaHead - NJGranny's Blog

Post Turtle

2008-09-03T17:21:59Z

+6 raves

Post Turtle While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old Texas rancher, whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama and his bid to be our President. The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'post turtle'.' Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was. The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.' The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of idiot put him up there to begin with.'

2008 Presidential Candidate Comparison Talking Points

2008-09-03T17:17:52Z

NJGranny

+14 raves

JOHN McCAIN BARAK OBAMA Favors new drilling offshore US Yes No Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it Yes No Served in the US Armed Forces Yes No Amount of time served in the US Senate 22 YEARS 173 DAYS Will institute a socialized national health care plan No Yes Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy No Yes Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately No Yes Supports gun ownership rights Yes No Supports homosexual marriage No Yes Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase No Yes Voted against making English the official language No Yes Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals No Yes CAPITAL GAINS TAX MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax. OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28 % of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.) DIVIDEND TAX MCCAIN 15% (no change) OBAMA 39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.') INCOME TAX MCCAIN (no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500 Single making 50K - tax $12,500 Single making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 60K- tax $9,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250 OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Under Obama, your taxes could almost double! INHERITANCE TAX MCCAIN - 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax) OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes. NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!! You can verify the above at the following web sites: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_o... http://blog.washingtonpost.com/factchecker/candidates/barack_... http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_m...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2008-06-15T01:55:47Z

NJGranny

0 raves

I wanted to wish all my SH friends that are dads a Happy Father's Day. Have a great day tomorrow.

Solitary Moments

2008-06-06T14:39:26Z

NJGranny

+10 raves

Solitary Moments I take the solitary moments to stop and think about my life. I praise God first and foremost for getting me through the tough times, even when I didn’t know Him. I look at the times that I have screwed up badly and ask myself “why did I do that?” But, I have learned from those times. I am not that same person anymore. I look at the times that I have hurt others without that being my intention. If I could go back and change that part of who I am I would. But, I can’t go back, all I can do is say I am sorry, and that may not be enough, but that is all I have to give. If I could I would go back and say I forgive you to all those who have hurt me. But, since I can’t do that either, I will say that I am who I am now because of that pain you caused me. I may not always show it, but I am a stronger person because of them. I learned from the pain. I learned from God that forgiveness works in so many different ways. To give it and to receive it. I look at the family that God has blessed me with. With each separate personality, each individual. I am proud of each of them for who they have become. I do not group them all together; I rate them all on their own merits. There are some that I have issues with, but that is in my heart and I will never speak it. If they don’t know the pain that they have caused me I am not going to tell them. I will never ask them to say they are sorry, that is for them to figure out on their own, in their own time and place. I take stock in the knowledge that I am not here to judge or be judgmental. It is not my place or my job to tell someone how to live their life. I know how it feels to be judged and it is not a good feeling in the least. I am who I am, and if you do not like that, well than I am sorry. I take the solitary moments to reflect on what I have to give and it is not monetary in any way, shape or form. I have time, I have love, and I have compassion. If you chose to know me. The real me, not the one that you think I should be, but the real me. I would hope that you would see that I am honest and giving. That my heart is worn on my sleeve and it has been broken more times than I can count. In more ways than I care to talk about. It seems that it continues to be broken the older that I get. I look at the love that has been given to me. I see that God placed a man of integrity, warmth and compassion in my life. He is my helpmate, my best friend, my provider and my protector. He has held my hand through some of the darkest moments of my life and made me feel safe. He has done more for me than many people choose to understand. No he does not make tons of money, but he provides a home for my family and I. There is always food on our table and clothes on our back. We want for very little. My heart breaks when I see that he is not treated with the respect that he so deserves. All I can give him in return is my love and respect. I will honor him all of my life for being there and helping me to pick up the pieces. I take the solitary moments to reflect on the time that I have left on this earth. I think about what is that I want, but at the same time knowing that it might not be what God wants. I want peace finally in my life. I want that little bit of happiness that I just have not been able to grab. I don’t want the brass ring. I don’t want millions. I don’t want my 15 minutes of fame. I just want peace. I want to know that my family will go on without me and be happy with one another. I take the solitary moments to reflect on my life and I see that some people look at me and wonder who I really am. But, what I see is someone who has hit brick walls many times, climbed them and gotten past them. I see a person who on the outside smiles while on this inside has been broken and bruised. I see a person that God has healed and made new. I am thankful for those solitary moments and the chance that they give me to reflect on who I am, and who I was.

Philippians 2:1-2

2008-05-21T15:40:47Z

NJGranny

+2 raves

God looks into our hearts for our spiritual obedience rather than perfection. We are still living in a sinful and imperfect world, and as spirit-filled believers, we are to acknowledge that perfection is in heaven. "That if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make our joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2).

CHRISTIANS BY MAYA ANGELOU

2008-05-09T18:49:57Z

NJGranny

+2 raves

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'." I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven." When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak And need His strength to carry on. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed And need God to clean my mess. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible But, God believes I am worth it. When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

In loving memory of my Mom ~ 4 years tomorrow

2008-04-29T18:02:04Z

NJGranny

0 raves

Janet 04/04/32~04/30/04 Well tomorrow will mark 4 years since she left us. In so many ways it has been a long 4 years, but in others it has been short. So many things have changed since she has been gone. I am now a grandma to 5 grandkids. And I was waiting on the first when she passed away. All our children have gone thru many changes. Some good, some not so good. But, I think they see them all as a learning experience. We have celebrated birthday's, anniversaries, holiday's and more, but not a day goes by that she isn't brought to mind in some way or another. To say that I miss her would be an understatement in so many ways. I miss the daily phone calls, the little things that she did for each one of us. I will miss her dancing and singing to the song Joy to the World by three dog night. I will miss her love of all things Frog!!! But most of all I will miss the sound of her voice. Her loving advice ( not that I always took it) and just the person who she was. She will never be forgotten or left behind, because we all carry a piece of her in our hearts. We will share about her with the ones who came too late to know her. They will know who she was, and how brave she was when it was her time to go. I truly loved you Mom. I strived to be the perfect daughter, but I never quite made it and I am sorry for that.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

2008-04-15T18:46:09Z

NJGranny

0 raves

The Fellowship of the Unashamed I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

Where I once was and where I am now.

2008-04-14T20:41:08Z

NJGranny

+6 raves

To help some people get a clue as to who I really am! This is from my journal entry yesterday. Thoughts racing through my head. All these old thoughts and feelings once put aside have come rushing back. Why now? Why can’t the forgotten and the forgiven just be left alone? It hurts to look back at the wasted years, wasted chances. Wasted pain that was caused by another. I am who I am. I used to be that other person. Hiding in the corner. Mirrors covered in black. But I am better now. I am whole. I have been saved from the Pit of Despair. So why then did words cut through me like a knife? Why then was the fear awakened within me? Because it is time to bare my soul once again? I think not. No, because it is good for one to know where they have come from and where they are now. I came from the darkest deepest hurt that can ever be imagined. Broken and abused. Thrown aside like yesterday’s newspaper. Shunned by others. The pain ran deep within my veins. I saw no way out. No release from my self imposed prison. Until one day I heard that voice call to me. I felt that hand reaching out from the darkness. "Follow me. Trust me. If you ask for it I will give you forgiveness. If you follow me, you will never be lost again. I will heal all those hurts that you carry like scars." The voice said. I fell to my knees and called out His name. Asking Him to forgive me. Confessing it all. I asked Him to heal my pain. To take it all away. I asked Him into my heart. And He did all this and more, only asking that I believe in Him. That I trust in Him. That I acknowledge that He is my savior. Oh how could I deny the One who took the pain away? Who brought light to the darkness. Who healed me and made me whole again. How could I deny the One who was nailed on that cross for the sins that I had committed? I could not and would not deny the One that Loved me that much. The One that now was so willing to except me, for who I was. So, you see it is good to know where I once was and where I am now, all because Jesus loves me.

Attitude of Humility.

2008-04-09T13:02:17Z

NJGranny

+12 raves

We need to be very careful what we say (or type) and in what Spirit we say or type it. We must keep the right attitude and the right Spirit. The attitude of humility should always be present. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. What is in our hearts is coming out our mouths, or being written. The words we speak, whether it is spoken or written, is telling those who hear or read, exactly what is on the inside. Where is the man or woman that is crying out to God, "LORD, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew in me a right spirit", or the desire of " Let the words of my mouth and the mediations of my heart be acceptable unto THEE, O God". LORD, who are we desiring to please? God or man (myself)?