I am waiting to see who has won this contest! I entered the Christmas Tree out of Recyled Jewelry!

Today has a reason!

There is a reason why you are here to live through this one-of-a-kind day. Do you know what that reason could be?
Yes, in some way, somehow, somewhere you know. And the more you can connect with that reason, the more beautiful, fulfilling and meaningful this day will be.

Perhaps you have arrived at this point in order to learn something new and valuable. Perhaps you are here today to lend a hand or to give a lift to someone who would otherwise have no one else.

Perhaps you have something to create, something that has never existed before. Or perhaps you have something to say, something that others would truly benefit from hearing.

Today has a reason. Of that you can be sure. And today has a special reason just for you. Discover it, live it, and delight in being today who you are meant to be.

-- Ralph Marston

Tussie Mussie!

Here is a new tussie mussie that I just made this week..it is made out of a sheet of scrapbook paper...hugs, cheryl

Pennies.....

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America '
'No, not that; read further.'
'One cent?' 'No, keep reading.'
'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!' 'And?'
'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

Wisdom of God...

The Wisdom of God for the Best


It has been through the everyday issues of life
that God showed me what can't be erased.
For the trials of the journey became priceless treasures
when they taught me to seek out His face.
When the way seemed uncertain and I truly needed
direction on how to proceed,
I found that the silence between heaven's answers
would hold all of the peace I would need.
It was in those times I felt utterly desperate
with no resource but the power of prayer,
That I came to realize that God made me desperate
just to prove He was already there.
It was there in the weakness of my own human nature
that exhaustion left my heart asking, "Why?"
But it was there Jesus taught me to rest in His presence
and to take from His endless supply.
It was times of disappointment and continual roadblocks
that showed me God's will is supreme.
For beyond the disappointments He revealed greater purpose
that was higher than my hopes & dreams.
The hard times and trials have added up to give me
the wisdom of God for the best.
For they changed me and showed me what I didn't know
and I walked away knowing I'm blessed.

©Sheila Gosney

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8

My Brother and I...rare diagnosis...that we both have it!

Eosinophilic esophagitis is an emerging disease worldwide, as documented by recent case series from Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Spain, Japan, England, and the United States.1,2 Eosinophilic esophagitis mimics gastroesophageal reflux disease and may result in narrowing and stricture of the esophagus. I was diagnosed back in the summer and my brother was diagnosed in October with this...I had to go back to the doctor yesterday for a follow up at Loyola and my doctor looked at me when I asked her how often has she had both brother and sister with this..she said she has never had this happen to her at Loyola...she just shook her head and told me, "Cheryl I don't know what is happening with you, but you still always keep going and smiling!" I fought back the tears and shook my head as I told her all the things that have happened to me since I saw her last and she just couldn't believe all I am facing...she told me she is thinking of writing a medical paper on us..I just shook my head! I told her if I hear one more doctor tell me that! We have had that told to us too many times now! I just want it to stop...She is a really neat doctor and very caring! Just can't believe once again how strange that my brother and I would both have this throat disease! hugs, cheryl

Life! I really do keep trying...toilet paper~

Sometimes you just need to cry and cry...it seems like that is what I have been doing lately ...it really stinks but I can't help it.. I think I am just going to wake up and everything will be ok someday and another struggle happens..or another thing put on my plate to figure out how the Brown's are going to make it one more month! Today was my last day for a food pantry that we have been getting food at and now with winter hitting I sure do not have any idea where we are getting it next month from..I so remember the day our church told me to go so many years ago and I just about died that day but I knew I had three little girls at home that needed food and I had no way of providing that ..it seems so long ago..I thought it would only last a year or so and now it has probably been 9 years of going to food pantry's and being humbled ....we got our Thanksgiving meal but Kerry is so hungry for a turkey he wants to make it this weekend...so I guess we have turkey this weekend! He is so excited at putting some of the food away..I haven't told him yet that this is the last month..how do you tell a husband that hasn't worked in 10 years and is disabled that you do not know how we are going to make it..instead I just try to keep it inside but it seems like the stress of 10 years is just doing me in anymore...not sleeping, not wanting to really eat and just plain exhausted! Then so many things that I just wish I could fix and not one that I can...at the place that God has me and I remember so many years ago when I cried out on an October day wondering how we could do Christmas in so many days as the sign had read down at the end of the block...and that day we had also run out of money and toilet paper! Ironically I got two calls and one from Karen Hamilton asking if the school could help us with Christmas from the Needy family fund ...and the other from Hazel Eaton asking if their church could put our names on a tree ...I cried as I told them don't worry about Kerry or I just get the girls something ...well they wouldn't take that for an answer and we were blessed but the neatest thing happened that day and Hazel had no idea that we were out of toilet paper...she just listened to the nudge from God and she went downstairs of her home as I had asked for a crockpot and she had one for me to use until Christmas and brought it over and left it at my doorstep along with 12 rolls of toilet paper...my daughters that day came home and they were all shocked at finding 12 rolls as they knew we had none...I told them that Hazel had no idea about our situation and I had not told her..from that day on we were given toilet paper for four and a half years..always left at our door step not with a note or anything just left by strangers....I guess today I need to be reminded of all those years he took care of the simplest things and reminded me so many times how he cares about even the toilet paper! Tears and all hugs, cheryl

No arms, no legs, no worries...!!! Youtube

Spoon Jewelry with an Angel!

Here is another spoon Jewelry piece we designed for the new season...it is a flattened spoon with an angel, piece of broken china, a pearl, lace and the worlds, "Believe!"

Joann Fabric Coupons and Hobby Lobby Coupons 40 off

Here are two coupons this week..

http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/weekly.cfm?page=2

Good until November 8 for 40 off...

this is good until November 15...remember to print out extras and pass them out and make some new friends at the store..hugs, cheryl

http://www.joann-mail.com/J091102SU2/coupons_only.html?r=3151_2081336&i=J091102SU2004&bc1=520832028917441000403

How to make a Christmas Tree out of Recycled Picture Frame and Old Jewelry!

I went to Good Will and found a picture frame and a bag of jewelry...this started the neatest Christmas tree that I donated to Christian Womens Club for the Second year in the row for their Fall Auction ...the proceeds go to Missions! We are in the process of making a youtube video on how to make one! hugs, cheryl

Found on Flickr!

Kerry and his interthecal pump! Needs to be changed!

Kerry my husband has one more obstacle to fight through...his pump started beeping..it is an interthecal pump that delivers pain medication into his spine where he had the infection 10 years ago to help with all the chronic pain from all the nerve endings being cut and debrided in that area...the pump was just put in 23 months ago and should have lasted several more years..than last night I was googling medtronics pumps and found this FDA recall and very upsetting to see this...I called and the only pump available to put back into Kerry is the same one as he has the latest style but you wonder what is wrong! They can wait fortunately till Dec 8 for Kerry to go through this as he is just getting over his fusion and they do not want to put him under right away...so one more obstacle for him to face! hugs, cheryl Keep Kerry in your prayers!



http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/3910

Pain! I have learned so much in the last two months...I can't even imagine what my husband lives with..

It has sure been a rough two months and to go through so many tests and doctors and driving back and forth to hospitals...they finally came up with a few things that I have ...one is fibromyalgia, frozen shoulders, Osteoarthritis, chronic insomnia from all the pain of not being able to sleep on my side, stomach or roll over without waking up crying... then last week I went through another EMG that I said I would never do and had one more but still waiting as they still are not sure what is causing my leg tremors from February those started..so now I have added more doctors to my list that I never would have imagined I would have at the age of 47 from Rheumatologists, Neurologists, to Neurosurgeons and then the one to help me the most has been my Acupuncture Doctor Jing Li! Amazing how natural seems to make the most sense after all of this..Dr. Li has been amazing and she has helped me for 2 years now deal with from plantar fasciitis to when I had the bad disk in my low back pain to headaches, stress, shoulder pain, neck pain and other problems along the way...I can only thank her for what she has done to help me keep fighting this and keep trying to go on...then Jim Stein who has given me so many massages and always been there for me with a listening ear! He was the one that told me about Dr. Li and I thought how could needles really help! It is amazing as each time I would go Dr. Li would then tell me to go to the beach and asleep I would go and she would have to wake me up to take the needles out...it is amazing the feeling you get after acupuncture..so many people are afraid of needles or trying acupuncture but after the last few years and all I have endured with the medical field it is truly the best way to go...then this past week with my neck so bad she referred me to a doctor up north and I went on Saturday with tears in my eyes by the time I arrived at Dr. Deng's...I laid down on his bed and tears were rolling down my face as the pain was honestly getting too much as I have not been able to hardly lift my arms for two months now...he told me to turn around and trust him as he turned and pulled on my neck and arms and adjusted my neck and disks in my cervical..it was immediate relief as so much pressure had been taken off and then he did the acupuncture to my cervical, shoulders, and neck...I left being able to turn my head, move my arms and was not in tears anymore! It was honestly amazing and I can say acupuncture is honestly amazing..I have to thank Dr. Deng and Dr. Jing Li who has helped me and given me the relief from the pain I have had for these past years...please give it a try and read all the benefits of acupuncture you will be amazed...hugs and prayers, cheryl

Here is Dr. Jing Li's phone number if you live near Naperville, IL
630-854-7084
check out this site with information...
http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/acupuncture?utm_medium=ask&utm_source=smart&utm_campaign=article&utm_term=Acupuncture&ask_return=Acupuncture

Perjury...something that has always bothered me since we lost our trial..then yesterday when I heard this! It is not over yet!

I have always prayed that there still might be justice for my husband...so hard to watch what happened to our court case ...then to see what happened to these men in Chicago..my heart goes out to there families..cheryl

Burge indicted years after torture allegations on perjury charges

by Daniel Lambert
Oct 21, 2008

Related Links

The Indictment

A former high-ranking Chicago police officer, long accused of torturing suspects while they were in custody, has been indicted by federal authorities.

Former Commander Jon Burge, 60, was taken into custody without incident at his Florida home Tuesday morning on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury stemming from responses given in a 2003 written interrogation, U.S. Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald said Tuesday in announcing the indictment in Chicago.

“According to these charges Jon Burge shamed his uniform and shamed his badge,” Fitzgerald said.

The charges come less than a month before the statute of limitations on the alleged perjury runs out. Fitzgerald added that Burge may not be alone in being charged.

“We have a reason to believe that other people may have lied about that torture and abuse. We intend to pursue that part of the investigation moving forward,” Fitzgerald said.

The 2003 investigation in question is the result of a civil lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court in Chicago, Hobley v. Burge, et al.

The lawsuit alleged that in January 1987, Madison Hobley was coerced into a confession at Area Two headquarters. Burge’s written responses were given during discovery for that case.

The City Council voted in January to settle that suit, paying four men who alleged they were torture victims a combined $19.8 million.

The actual indictment issued Tuesday does not specify the specific incidents of torture that Burge was aware of or participated in – he has been accused of abusing more than 200 men, mostly African-American, between 1972 and 1991. However, Fitzgerald did say that those specifics would be dealt with when the case went to trial.

The specific statements prosecutors contend Burge falsely gave are that he denied both participating in torture techniques and possessing knowledge of torture.

Fitzgerald said the prosecution will dispute this statement by proving torture not only occurred, but Burge either participated in it or was aware of its continued practice.

“As of last Thursday when we brought the indictment, we felt comfortable we could prove torture and abuse and that his statement was a lie,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald was asked if a code of silence among officers aware of the alleged torture prevented indictments in the past. He responded that that code would not prevent indictments in the future.

“If their lifeline is to hang on to a perceived code of silence, they may be hanging on air,” Fitzgerald said. “Anyone who thinks they can lie in a grand jury or rely on a code of silence is taking a great risk.”

While the statute of limitations for prosecuting possible acts of torture has long since passed, prosecutors said Burge could still be held to account for his actions.

“People who commit multiple crimes, if you can’t prosecute them for one, there is nothing wrong with prosecuting them for another, Fitzgerald said. “Al Capone went down for taxes; that’s better than him going down for nothing.”

Burge served as a Chicago police officer from 1970 until his firing in 1993. It was in 1991 that a series of lawsuits alleging Burge and his subordinates participated in the torture of suspects began to surface.

Burge appeared before a federal judge in Tampa on Tuesday afternoon. He was released on $250,00 bond and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Chicago on Monday.

If convicted, Burge faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of obstruction of justice and five years in prison for perjury, and a $250,000 fine on each count. Officials said a judge has latitude in sentencing, noting that federal sentencing guidelines are advisory.

Sayings to post!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." ~Henry David Thoreau

"Do your work with your whole heart, and you will succeed ~ there's so little competition." ~Elbert Hubbard

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul ~ sings the tunes without the words ~ and never stops at all." ~Emily Dickinson"

. . . love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy." ~Louisa May Alcott

"Love on through all ills, and love on till they die." ~Thomas Moore

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~Plato

"If you judge people, you have no time to LOVE them." ~Mother Teresa

"There is no remedy for love but to love more." ~Thoreau

"Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other." ~Euripides

"There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love." ~Unknown

~ Adversity Refines Character ~

"Little said is soonest mended."

"Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend." ~Jewel

"Putting all our soul into our work makes it not only alive with passion and emotion, but also it exists as one of the truest and most honest expressions of self . . making life itself a beautiful art. Beauty is one of the most important (yet difficult) things to create and express." ~Jewel

"A woman's most beautiful make~up is her passion". ~Yves Saint Laurent

A Christian..... Worth passing on! Will make you think!

A Christian

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change.'

The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town?'

'Yes' he replied.

'Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.'

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.'

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian.'

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
I'm glad a friend forwarded this to me as a reminder. So, I choose to forward it to you - my friend. God bless you; I hope you are having a wonderful day!

If you don't pass this on to anybody, nothing bad will happen; but, if you do, you will have ministered to someone.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not PROTECT you...

Stay FAITHFUL and Be GRATEFUL

Mallory Got her License for Hair Stylist Yesterday..She passed her Boards!

My middle daughter has been doing hair since she was a Junior as she was able to take a program through the school district WILCO and yesterday she took her boards for the second time and finally passed!!!! We are so excited as she is going on the floor soon at Mario's...she is in the coloring part of Mario's and love's it there...This was a huge accomplishment for all we have gone through...the ironic thing was this was the 10 year anniversary of the day her dad fell 10 years ago and she was just 9 years old and I remember Mallory riding her bike where he was working that day and they were going to Awana's as he was a Spark leader and everyone loved Kerry there...so many memories to that day but now we have new Memories and a new start for Mallory! Thanks to all who have prayed for her all these years and the teachers that shared in getting her through school and all the support my girls have had in Plainfield, IL to make it to where they are now in there adult lives..hugs and prayers, Cheryl

My husband had his surgery and I am having a brain MRI today...

Kerry came through surgery and is in a lot of pain but they were able to take out two disks in his neck and fuse his spine...so hard to watch him suffer anymore...it has been 10 years next week when he became disabled...

Then I had the neurologist and they ordered an MRI to rule out MS or any other balance or neurological disorder...now she wants me to go to a Rheumotologist to see if I have Fibromyalgia...never would I dream I would live in chronic pain...after watching my husband for all these years! Please keep us in your prayers...hugs and prayers, cheryl

My dad is doing so much better ...my mom and him came over at the age of 85 and 84 and mowed our lawn this week...unbelievable that he has come through his stroke, seizure and now is fighting prostate cancer but still always there for me...

Challenge # 2 Ruebee "Count Your Blessings!"

I took a Wallpaper Book and used the outside cover to use as my base and covered it with wallpaper and then altered it with different papers, lace, buttons, trim, and a bow to make my Altered Art...