|
Posted on 03/01/2011 1:23:44 AM PST by JustAmy
|
Thank you, pam.
I’ll be here...When I can’t say...LOL
7% BUMP!
“ERROR” LOL!
Have a great day all you FRiendly posters at Amy’s Place.
My family and I live in an apartment, so our “flower garden” consists of what we can grow in indoor pots. For a long time our plants would not flower despite watering and fertilizing. Then we discovered that the soil had to be raked and turned over if the plants were to bloom. Now our potted plants are a pure joy to look at with their healthy leaves and blooming flowers.
Sometimes we need a little raking and turning in our own lives to make us bloom. Writing to the harassed believers in his day, Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
Like the soil in our potted plants, these Christians were having their lives “turned over.” God’s purpose in doing that was to allow their faith to result in praise and glory to Him at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:7).
God wants to loosen the things that can choke our lives and that prevent us from radiating joy. To do this, He sometimes has to allow pain and trouble—trials that help stir up the soil of our lives. If this is what you are experiencing today, rejoice. Surrender to His touch and acquire a joy and fruitfulness you never imagined possible.
Read: 1 Peter 1:1-9
Thank you for your comments! Its people like you that makes us “keep on keeping on!”
Beautiful.
With Spring here, I am reminded of Jill Barklem's books, one for each season. But my daughter used to love them. They had wonderful illustrations. Too bad they are out of print.
| If you're watching Season 10 of American Idol, you know who he is. If not, let me introduce him. I'm a big fan of Idol, having watched it every year since the second season in 2003, and always have a few favorites, but have only REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted ONE contestant to win badly - and he did! Taylor Hicks ~ Season 5. Only one, that is, until James Durbin auditioned this year. His back story might have something to do with it, but, like Taylor, the moment he opened his mouth to sing for the judges I was hooked. No one expected either of them to have a voice like that! I was so happy to see James advance through each round as the contestants were dwindled down to the Top 13, which were announced three weeks ago to begin this year's competition. I think he's going to make it to the end - I hope he's going to make it to the very end and win it like Taylor did. James is 22 years old, and he and his fiancee have a 2 year old son. The amazing thing about James is that he has both Tourette's AND Aspergers, and when he's interviewed, the little tics and grimaces are there....... but when he sings, he is so completely wrapped up in his music there are no signs of Tourettes! I hope you enjoy listening to him, and if you like hearing him sing Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed", here's his recording of Jon Bon Jovi's "I'll Be There For You" which he performed last week on Idol:
American Idol airs on Fox on Wednesday & Thursday nights |
Thank you, Jane!
Hi Billie. I enjoyed your post this morning. Yes, I am watching, as I do each AI season. James is good. He’s very good. Lots of interesting talent this year and I am pleasantly surprised by the good job the new judging panel is doing this season.
Thank you for his story. I’m a big Idol fan too, but I have missed some episodes! I certainly missed his whole story. But I did notice some tics when he was talking to Ryan, etc. He has a great voice and it is amazing to accomplish all he has accomplished! I’ll be watching tonight! (The judges really like him, don’t they?) They have a lot of great talent this season!
I have an appointment today but will check in when I can! Have a great day!
Do you have a favorite? I liked Paul when he did Maggie, but since then he hasn't impressed me. His dancing is cute and silly though. Pia needs some personality to go with that big voice, and I'm not seeing what's so fabulous about Casey except that he's funny. Scotty could be recording Country songs RIGHT NOW! Jacob is way too much.
In one of the interviews when he was talking about his 'life', he said in school people were always telling him to "Quit that!", and he said, in explanation to that "I CAN'T"!
The first couple times I saw Steven do his thing on the panel I thought,.....yikes, they are going to have to reign him in! LOL. I love Randy's double-takes over some of the things that come out of Steven's mouth. He such an outrageous kick in the pants. But I loved how he interacted with that one contestant's wheelchair bound fiance. He has a big heart. But all that being said, he doesn't bring much "critique" to the panel. He's fun though.
I was glad to read your take on Jacob. I can hardly bear to listen to him sing. The judges just love him, but it just sounds like so much over-the-top screaming to me. I guess I don't have a refined "ear" for that type of singing. LOL. He might be good if he could just tone it down some.
Scotty is fabulous! The only criticism I would have is that he is maybe a bit locked in his genre. But the judges keep telling him that it's okay to stay with what he knows and what he does best.
I hope that Paul's disappointing performances were because of his cold. I really thought he had a lot of promise early on.
I am not real excited about many of the women this season, but, compared to some past seasons, the overall talent has been exceptional, I think.
Hi Billie! What a great graphic of James Durbin and him singing is terrific! I’m a big fan of American Idol and this year, to me, has been especially interesting, because they have some really good singers! James singing range is excellent! Thanks for sharing! (You are hooked again! LOL!)
Billie, I like James, too! I almost cried when they told his 'story'. I also really like Scotty - he has a great deep voice, but when he forgot his words, I knew he didn't have a chance of winning. Thanks for posting your "James Durbin" opening today!
I didn't think I would even be watching it this season, with the new judges - but I actually like them much better than Simon and Paula.
Here is a YT of him before Idol:
I agree, yorkie. I was prepared not to like the new panel, but the producers did a great job selecting the new people. It’s a tough job, replacing people who have been with the show from the beginning. I am sure most everyone just knew they were going to be disappointed, even though both Paula and Simon left a lot to be desired. Even my husband seems to be enjoying the show this season, rather than tuning it out as he has in the past.
I'm enjoying the judges this year!
Hey! back in season 5, I also picked out Taylor Hicks right from the audition part of the show. He was special and it was obvious to me. I also like James.
Cheers!
I expect the Top 5 to be 3 guys and 2 girls: Casey, James, Scotty, Pia and Lauren - not necessarily in that order, except that I think the 3 guys will be Top 3.
I hope Paul at least makes it this week, so he'll be in the Top 10 and get to go on the tour this summer.
Very nice.
Pretty flowers.
An old man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig his potato garden but it was very hard work as the ground was hard. His only son Fred, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.
Dear Fred,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my potato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over I know you would dig the plot for me.
Love,
Dad
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
For heaven’s sake, don’t dig up that garden! That’s where I buried the BODIES!
Love,
Fred
At 4am the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant the potatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love,
Fred
I agree about Scotty, and was surprised when the judges put him through after forgetting the words Hollywood week. That's usually an automatic end of the line. I like Scotty - such a cute personality and great country voice!
I totally agree with all that you said, Billie! And enjoyed listening to him again! Thank you! (He sure is cute!!)
I must be just about the only one around who has never watched American Idol. I've seen clips, seen some who have gone on to fame, but that's it. For some reason, it just never interested me. *shrug*
So, each of you enjoy it enough for 2! K? :)
LOL! I did NOT like Simon AT ALL - so happy he’s gone. I did NOT like Kara AT ALL, and also happy, happy, happy she’s gone! I liked Ellen last year because I LIKE Ellen anyway. :)
What a pretty rose graphic, Yorkie! Thank you! I like the new judges better, too! And Randy seems to be more comfortable with them.
~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY~~
~~LUVVY~~
May you have many, many, more!
That’s O.K.! Just go to your room and don’t come out till you start “liking” American Idol! I suppose you didn’t watch “Dancing With The Stars” last night, either!!
Illustration
“That ‘Green’ Thing”
Featured Illustration items are well suited for introducing or illuminating a point in a sermon, speech, or devotional. Funny, moving, or perhaps even graphic, the point of them is the point you make with them.
In the line at the store today, the cashier told an older woman ahead of me that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”
That’s right, they didn’t have the green thing in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.
In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks. But she’s right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.
Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts.... “wind and solar power” really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.
Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then.
They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But they didn’t have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But that old lady is right. They didn’t have the green thing back in her day.
|
I'm not a TV watcher, haven't been for years!
Hi Meg! What a lovely graphic and frame! Thank you! Have a good day, yourself!!
~~A Sunny Spring Tuesday~~
~~At Amy's Place~~
Looks like you’ve got company. Haven’t watched a single episode of either show.
Been spending a lot of time reading mystery novels. TV viewing includes sports (NASCAR & football) & crime type shows.
Who is your favorite mystery author, DD?
Teenie - do you think that rose actually has green in it - or is it the lighting? (I’ve never seen a green rose, but it is beautiful!)
Good question...it’s called mintjulep so who knows. I’d love to have one tho I’ve never seen any like it. But then, I live where not much of anything grows well anyway. (Execpt weeds, tumbleweeds, oak trees, and druggies! lol)
James Patterson, Lisa Gardner and David Baldacci are a few I like.
There’s also a trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I’ve read the first two and I’m waiting for “The girl who kicked the hornets nest” to come out in paperback. They are the kind you don’t want to put down until you’re done.
Also I just finished “The Lincoln Lawyer” by Michael Connelly which was really good. I understand it’s coming out in a movie.
Well then.....you are forgiven!! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
