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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Mar 12 2008, 07:31 PM
So, who's complaining?
Well, nobody at Kansas City Christ Church Unity of the Rev. William Bowen.
At least now anyway (well, mostly).
Rev. Bowen went on a mission of sorts back in July of 2006.
What started as a sermon in his church regarding complaining, and how you ought not to, has turned into a worldwide message that has reached millions.
You see, Rev. Bowen was encouraging his congregation of 250 to go for 21 days without complaining, believing it takes that period of time to break a habit.
He handed out purple silicone bracelets stamped with the word "Spirit" to use as reinforcement, telling all that each time they complained, they should switch the bracelet to the other wrist.
Anyone who could go 21 straight days without complaining would receive a "certificate of happiness" for their achievement.
"Countless positive thinking techniques and self-help programs have come and gone in the decades since Norman Vincent Peale launched a cottage industry in the 1950s. Maybe it was the purple bracelet, which was Bowen's own twist, that attracted millions around the world. "
"The real magic of the idea is the switching – taking it off, going back and forth," says Bowen. "Complaining is like bad breath. You notice it when it comes out of somebody else's mouth, but not when it comes out of your own."
"The no-complaining idea struck a chord. Word of the initiative spread and the church began getting requests for bracelets from around the world. Bowen set up a nonprofit group, A Complaint Free World, separate from the church, and recruited volunteers to fill orders. He started giving dozens of media interviews, appearing in People magazine, and hobnobbing with Matt Lauer on national TV. One day after Bowen appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show last March, he received orders for more than 2 million bracelets. Today, requests are holding steady at about 25,000 wristbands a week. "
"Bowen was the first of his congregation to go 21 days without complaining (gossiping and sarcasm are no-nos, too). It took him about 10 weeks, which is pretty fast. He says it takes most people four to 10 months to make it for three straight weeks. "The average person complains 20 to 30 times a day and I was at the high end of that," he says. "Now I may complain two or three times a month. But I catch myself."
Read the entire article from the Christian Science Monitor
One Man's Crusade to Stop the World from Complaining à here
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Now, I’m not complaining…
I’m just not much for this kind of thing.
If you read the article, you saw a psychologist say life is hard and it’s alright if people are not happy all the time.
I believe that.
But I’m also not knocking people making an effort to be more positive either.
I just wouldn’t want to see a bunch of fake, happy robots walking around, telling everyone to “smile” all of the time.
Nothing wrong with realizing how often we complain, though.
And, that most everyone does it.
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Jan 1 2008, 12:01 AM
To my fellow Bloggers
and their families….
and all of my readers…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May we have Peace in 2008
Mel Torme & Judy Garland - The Party's Over
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Dec 29 2007, 12:01 AM
When I was a kid, every Sunday morning my father took my younger sister and me to a Reservoir in Thomaston, CT where he would park the car and we would set out on a five mile hike. This hike was year round, unless it was pouring rain or a blizzard.
Most of the hike was on a dirt road, but parts were an adventure in the woods and other areas. Connecticut has over 850 reservoirs. I would expect that post 9-11, the public is not able to have access any longer to these beautiful areas, full of gorgeous trees, wildflowers, birds, animals, and natural water springs.
Sometimes my dad would take us into the huge, empty water pipes and tease us once we were quite far in, “Listen! Do you hear the water coming? Oh, he loved to scare us… kind of like as if we were on a roller coaster ride. Trouble is, how in the world could he know whether it was safe? What if they would have released the water? Still, I didn’t have to do it. I guess I have always been one to take a chance.
In the winter there would be huge icicles hanging off of natural rock formations and small cliffs; clean, clear water icicles. Like Popsicles for the thirsty hiker at the fourth mile. Otherwise, there was a cluster of three giant oak trees with a natural spring. The freshest, cleanest water you ever tasted. So cold. Bubbling up right out from in between the rocks. People could be seen filling water jugs there to take home. That’s where my dad first taught me about a divining rod and how to search for water, using a willow branch in the shape of a "Y." It really does work!
On very cold days, it could be zero outside and we would turn a corner where there was a grove of pines. If you have ever wondered how animals can stay warm in winter, this is how I found out. This grove of pines was about a half mile long. It could be so windy outside…blowing, deafening. But when you walked into the pines there was silence. They were thick and green on top. On the ground was a thick bed of brown needles, like a soft cushion. It was so very warm in the pines. Amazing. I could just picture deer and other animals bedding down in there. Who knew? My dad knew.
I'll never forget those walks long ago, with my dad, my sister, and on some weekends, my mom, too. What a beautiful place in a beautiful time. Five mile hikes. Parents....children....talking.....nature....activity....
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Dec 25 2007, 06:15 AM
Finland has Santa Claus. Russia has traditional handmade Christmas ornaments. Germany has Christmas markets. But arguably the most well-known of Christmas traditions -- decorating the Christmas tree -- may have its origin in Latvia. And it's all but unknown.
In the past, there have been stories about Martin Luther walking in the woods near Riga and he created the first Christmas Tree. But actually, the Riga tree reference and the Martin Luther Tree reference are two different occurrences. |
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Riga's First Christmas Tree |
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The Martin Luther Tree was not the Riga Tree. In fact, little is known about the original Riga tree other than the fact that it was attended by men wearing black hats, and that after a ceremony, they burnt the tree.This was a mixture of pagan and Christian custom, as were very many of the customs in Central/Northern Europe at that time.
The Martin Luther walk in the forest, believed to actually in Northern Germany and his lighted tree actually occurred several decades later.In Latvia as in all of northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun as a part of pagan activities where people were living their life as they had done for hundreds of years before.
The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer.
It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.
Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means wheel, the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Holly berries were thought to be a food of the gods.
The tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again.
In all societies, there were people who filled the roles of judge, doctor, diviner, mage, mystic, and clerical scholar - they were the religious intelligentsia of their culture.
These people often used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping huge trees and gathering around a large bonfire.
The legend says that the first Riga tree in 1510 was decorated with paper flowers and burnt on the bonfire after the ceremony; most probably, with a toast for the future, with steins held high!According to Countess Maria Hubert von Staufer of the organization Christmas Archives International based in the England, "Riga is very important in the History of the Christmas Tree". | _____________________________
I’m Latvian, so I’ve always found it interesting that the first Christmas tree is said to have its origin in Riga, Latvia, where my Grandfather was born. Funny, my Grandfather and Grandmother ended up having an artificial, white Christmas tree when my Grandfather was in his 90s. I remember staring at that tree thinking I had never seen anything like it before!
I’ve never had an artificial tree. When I was a child, we always cut our tree down in the woods. It didn’t look picture perfect, but it was large and wild and a family tree. I remember one year helping my dad plant 300 trees in our back yard. Seven years seemed a long time to wait for a tree.
In my own family we have cut our own, and bought them. My favorites? A Blue Spruce when cutting our own and the Frasier Fur when buying a pre-cut tree. My father-in-law used to own some land in Delafield, and getting the Blue Spruce was not hard to do several years ago. Sometimes there would be birds nests included in the deal, though.
As the cost of a tree keeps climbing and the needles keep falling, every year I am tempted to buy an artificial tree. I even know some people who leave their trees with the lights on them (and for all I know they keep the ornaments on them, too). That would sure make it easier, but I guess it would take some of the spirit out of decorating the tree.
So, I guess for now we’ll stick to a fresh Christmas tree and I’ll remember my “roots” when I am decorating it.
Merry Christmas to all and a wish for Peace.
Janet
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Dec 24 2007, 09:10 AM
Track Santa at Norad ◄ Here
NORAD Set to Track Santa; Commander Thanks Troops, Families
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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| WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2007 – Members of North American Aerospace Defense Command are gearing up to track Santa Claus’ travels on Christmas Eve, providing detailed information about his whereabouts on the command’s Web site and through a toll-free telephone line.
Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, delivered a tongue-in-cheek assessment of the Santa-tracking mission.
He reported a “consistent phenomenon” the command has tracked for decades. “Sometime around the 24th of December, this individual begins to take flight, and he makes a very rapid trip around the globe,” he said.
When Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD’s predecessor, first took notice of this flight in the 1950s, “there was a great concern, because we didn’t know if this was a threat to our country and to free nations around the world,” Renuart said. “What we found is, this gentleman brings good everywhere he goes.”
NORAD’s system to track this person has evolved over the years, refined through the use of radar systems, satellite sensors and communications and interactive information technologies, he said. “So we can precisely, at any time along his flight, identify his location, ensure he has the proper protection and … he can complete his mission on time.”
The NORAD elves are looking forward to tracking Santa again this year, Renuart said. From 2 a.m. Mountain Time Dec. 24 through 2 a.m. Mountain Time Christmas Day, they’ll track his progress, posting details on the command’s Web site at www.noradsanta.org.
“At any time in this process, they can find out where Santa is and when he should be into their area,” Renuart said.
In addition, children can call the NORAD hotline at 877-HI-NORAD toll-free to check up on Santa. Translators we be on hand to report on his travels in six different languages, Renuart said. They’ll also remind children that Santa can’t come to their houses if they’re awake, he said.
“It’s an amazing planning process Santa goes through to arrive in each part of the world after the children have gone to sleep to ensure that he can review whether they have been good or bad, naughty or nice, and reward them appropriately,” Renuart said. “So it’s a mission we take very seriously, and we are looking forward to it.”
The Santa-tracking mission dates back to 1955, after an ad in a local newspaper printed an incorrect number for Santa Claus that sent callers to Continental Air Defense Command’s operations center. Its commander, Col. Harry Shoup, started the tradition of tracking Santa, a mission NORAD assumed in 1958.
Last year, the command’s Santa-tracking Web site received more than 941 million page views from 210 countries and territories, NORAD officials reported. In addition, 756 volunteers answered more than 65,000 calls to the toll-free phone line.
While enjoying the levity of the mission, Renuart turned serious to extend thoughts and prayers to young men and women deployed in harm’s way around the world and to their families who will spend the holidays without their loved ones.
“This is a difficult time in our country’s history as we continue to struggle against this rash of violent extremism around the world,” he said. “We’ve got great members of our military who have given selflessly of themselves. But importantly, their families have given selflessly as well, and our thoughts and prayers go out to them.”
“We wish them all the best in this holiday season,” he said. “We want them to be safe, and we want them to return home safely just as soon as this mission allows.”
Meanwhile, Renuart assured that NORAD and NORTHCOM will continue carrying out their mission to ensure troops their families are protected and that, if disaster strikes in their communities, it’s ready to respond.
“We take this job very seriously, and we are committed to make sure that when they arrive home safely, they come back to a safe home, as well,” he said.
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Dec 23 2007, 06:10 PM
By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Dec 19 2007, 06:35 AM
I was thinking back to what I like about the Christmas season, and I came up with a list of my Twelve Favorite Things. They’re in no particular order.
Twelve Favorite Things of Christmas
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Christmas Cookies! |
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I've always loved homemade Christmas cookies. When I was younger, |
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my mom baked, but she was an "expert" at pies and cakes, not fancy cookies. Her best friend always brought over the intricate cookies. |
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My favorite was always the "turtle." The round, lightly maple flavored cookie, |
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With pecans for the legs, and glossy chocolate frosting. When I got married, |
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I started making fancy cookies. Dozens of them. Intricate and beautiful. |
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After my children were old enough, the whole family joined in. Now I would |
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just rather eat them than make them . . . I don’t have time! But my favorite |
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cookie is still the maple turtle cookie. A double batch! |
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| Two. |
Christmas Music! |
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Starting December 1st . . . Christmas music is so wonderful.
I especially like the old-time artists. |
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But the voice of Karen Carpenter is so beautiful, too. |
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Christmas music makes me misty and miss my family. |
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| Three. |
Ornaments! |
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No red and green balls on the tree for me. I even have a green snake! |
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But when I was a child, my mother had her mother's fragile, hand blown, |
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huge German ornaments. They were spheres; some with points on the |
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top or bottom. Beautiful colors hand painted on them, with jewels. But to |
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a child, they were old fashioned, or just plain "old." "Mom, can't we get some |
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NEW ornaments?" I recall my younger sister and I whining one year. |
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She gave in. I can feel her disappointment in us to this day. My mom was |
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not one to save things. She just threw those beautiful ornaments away! |
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What ignorant children we were. But, we were children, afterall.... |
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Now, I'd give anything for those beautiful heirloom spheres. But I have a |
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tree full of all types of ornaments. Wildlife, spheres, porcelain, just |
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beautiful pieces. There are never enough. Every year I made sure I bought |
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each of the kids an ornament so they would have some to start their own |
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trees when the moved away. And they have beautiful trees. |
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| Four. |
Santa! |
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Yes, there IS a Santa. And if you don't say so, no presents for you! |
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Funny thing about Santa . . . Seems where you live in the country and who |
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you live with, matters as far as what Santa's likes and dislikes are for |
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midnight snacks! When I was a kid, before going to bed, we always left |
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a carrot for the reindeer and a mug of beer for Santa, with a cookie. We |
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treated Santa well in my family! So, when I moved to Wisconsin and I |
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found out my husband was used to leaving "milk" I was a bit surprised! |
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I don’t drink milk . . . So Santa kept getting beer at the Evans home! |
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I figured he needed that by the time he got here. |
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| Five. |
Food! |
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When I was young we always had a fancy meal at Christmas. Still do |
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now. Usually a sit-down dinner at my home with at least 25 people. |
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But I like the days before and after when we seem to have a lot of |
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appetizers. I don't care so much about the other stuff. It's just fun to |
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sample all kinds of different things. And there's always something new, |
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along with the traditional items. Food, glorious food! |
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| Six. |
Lights! |
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I love Christmas lights. The more the better. Especially red and green |
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ones. Just don't leave them up all year! It sure was sad during the energy |
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crisis years when people didn't put up lights! |
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| Seven. |
Christmas Movies! |
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Just like I have to see Planes, Trains and Automobiles every Thanksgiving, I |
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need to see my Christmas movies. A Christmas Carol, Holiday Inn, |
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and whatever |
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other one I might want to put in the mix (if I have time). |
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| Eight. |
Advent Calendars, Popcorn Balls and Ribbon Candy!! |
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I can't help it. It's fun to open the little doors on an Advent Calendar and see what's underneath each day. I also make homemade red & green popcorn |
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balls that taste so good, and when else do you ever see ribbon candy! |
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| Nine. |
Decorating! |
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Well, when the decorating is completed! It's so cozy and festive and full of |
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spirit. Whether it's tradition or it's doing something brand new. |
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| Ten. |
Presents! |
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I like choosing gifts for people - just the right gift. But I don't like it when I have to go off of a "shopping list." |
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A gift should be from the heart. I enjoy making homemade gifts for |
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certain people. I've made homemade vanilla, Kahlua, peppermint bark, and acrylic flower arrangements. |
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This year I did blueberry vodka. A homemade |
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gift isn't for everyone, but some people love them. |
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| Eleven. |
Snow on Christmas Eve! |
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That's the only day I will admit I love snow. We need snow on Christmas Eve. |
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Huge, soft, fluffy flakes. Ones that float slowly to the ground and land on the tip of your tongue if you stick it out. |
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The kind that makes you want to make a snow angel. |
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| Twelve. |
Festivity! |
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I love the spirit and cheer people feel. They forget about their troubles for a |
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little while. There are extra hugs and smiles.
| What are you're favorite things?
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Dec 13 2007, 05:05 PM
 Who hasn’t gotten one....
I’m talking about one of those Christmas “newsletters.”
You know, the one that comes tucked inside a Christmas card folded in quarters (or sometimes in a long red envelope all by itself). When I see that folded piece of holiday paper, I just cringe.
I think to myself, “Now, what wonderful, happy, exciting,
better-than-you-can-imagine news was this family fortunate enough to have for the past year?"
Some of the letters aren’t too bad. Others are just over-the–top. We get one each year from a distant relative who lives down-south. Their letter is actually a piece of Christmas comedy for me. They have the most picture perfect family, have traveled to the most exotic places; even bad health and illness sound like an adventure for them. I just roll my eyes at this letter. It’s like I don’t want to look at it, but I just have to....like a bad accident. One year it came with pictures of exotic animals all over it from their African safari.
In over 30 years this family has had the best of all possible fortune in their Christmas letters. They just plain flaunt it. When we get together with family at Christmas we say, “Did you read “the” letter?” And we just shake our heads in disbelief.
I’ve been tempted to write my own letter and send it out. My own dose of reality letter. Filled with the real life story of my year. All the boring, everyday c-r-a-p that goes on. The bad health, any sad times, money matters, the tax audit, how much I miss my kids, work is drag, etc., etc., etc. But I don’t. I figure “most” of the people I would send it to wouldn’t think of it as a joke, because in reality, most of us know our lives are not those picture perfect Christmas letters we receive.
I wonder why these people can’t just write a note in their cards though? Just a short one. Are their lives REALLY that perfect? Am I supposed to believe this “Christmas Story?” And what happened to calling people once in a while during the year? Or writing a “real” letter, handwritten, in your own penmanship sometime other than at Christmas?
So, I’ll open the Christmas letters, read them, and just continue to shake my head in disbelief. I guess if it makes the sender happy that's all that really matters. After all, it is the season of giving!
Merry Christmas!
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Nov 22 2007, 06:15 AM
Although juicy and tender butterball turkeys are the main cuisine of today's Thanksgiving celebrations, these birds were NOT the most popular centerpieces on the first Thanksgiving tables.
In 1621 when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the first Thanksgiving, they were gobbling up many more foods than just turkey.
Since lobster, goose, duck, seal, eel, and cod were plentiful during this time, these foods were most likely the main courses of this first feast.
Deer meat and wild fowl are the only two items that historians know for sure were menu of this autumn celebration.So how did the turkey become the main mascot of modern-day Thanksgiving if we don't know for certain that turkeys were at this first feast?
One story tells of how Queen Elizabeth of 16th century England was chowing down on roast goose during a harvest festival.
When news was delivered to her that the Spanish Armada had sunk on it way to attack her beloved England, the queen was so pleased that she order a second goose to celebrate the great news.
Thus, the goose became the favorite bird at harvest time in England. When the Pilgrims arrived in America from England, roasted turkey replaced roasted goose as the main cuisine because wild turkeys were more abundant and easier to find than geese.
Turkey Trivia:
- The long fleshy skin that hangs over a turkey's beak is called a snood.
- The color of a wild turkey's naked head and neck area can change blue when mating.
- Male turkeys are nicknamed "toms" while females are called "hens."
- When turkeys reach maturity they can have as many as 3,500 feathers!
- Faster than a speeding bullet--Wild turkeys can run up to 55 miles an hour!
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And I apologize for this, but I just can't resist ....
Your dinner will be the talk of the TOWN!!
You should try this!
Sure to bring smiles from your guests!
Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey.
1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.
2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan,position the foil carefully.? (see attached picture for details)
3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve.
4. Watch your guests' faces... (scroll down)
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Nov 18 2007, 08:30 AM
Santas in Sidney, Australia were warned “Ho, Ho, Ho” is offensive to women.
They should instead belly laugh "Ha, Ha, Ha" to children who approach them during the Christmas season.
That's right, in the spirit of Christmas, these Santas are being warned to be politically correct. That "ho" is too recognizable to woman in the U.S. as implying they might be a, well, you know . . .
Just how old are the kids visiting Santa in Australia anyway????
Just something else to ruin when it comes to Christmas ….
I'd say a few decisio | |
