Our Guide to Reducing Holiday Stress

STRESS
Did you know….

-Laughter can reduce stress hormones
-Laughter boosts your immune system
-Laughter lowers your blood pressure

-Laughter can exercise certain muscles (diaphragm, abdominal, facial, neck, back, and leg.
Looking for a quick way to “work out”? Laugh! Did you know that laughing 100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes on an exercise bike or 10 minutes on a rowing machine? Amazing isn’t it?

Well Jersey -n-Needles have come up with some amusing ways to reduce your stress during the holidays or any other time during the year. (Some you may not want to try at home):

Jam 39 tiny marshmallows up your nose and try to sneeze them out.
When someone says, “have a nice day”, tell them you have other plans.
Pop some popcorn without putting the lid on.
Pay your electric bill in pennies.
Forget the diet center and send yourself a candy gram.
Bill your doctor forContinue reading “Our Guide to Reducing Holiday Stress”

Why Go to Church

Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and
complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.
“I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have
heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time
and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column,
much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire
menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this … They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If
my wife had not given me these meals, I wouContinue reading “Why Go to Church”

Homemade Gifts

HOMEMADE GIFTS

I receive many gifts from many people from different places. I must say I love them all. I so enjoy them and cherish them.

But there is always something so special about the homemade gifts I receive. Maybe it’s nostalgia, retro or knowing and understanding just how much time and resources have gone into this kind of gift.

Recently, Jersey, one of the partners of “Jersey–n-Needles” featured on The Daily Lily (see Jersey Bio), gave me a beautiful bronze homemade (knit) scarf. It was so beautiful, fluffy and just the right color and size that I wanted lots more. Maybe a little selfish, yes! Maybe just pure joy and childlike delight, hopefully!

Thanksgiving вЂ?05 I had an opportunity to visit with “Jersey-n-Needles” in a hospital where they work and my sister Rachel, a nurse, had worked and Continue reading “Homemade Gifts”

Generational Positives (GP) BE… Part I

GENERATIONAL POSITIVES (GP) Part I-Be

Luke18: 16-17 “Let the little children come to Me…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

In the above two verses we learn a lot about Jesus. We learn of His love for very young children. The children were coming freely to Jesus to receive from Him. People were bringing their babies just hoping that Jesus would touch them. And, Jesus did!

But Jesus wanted something from and for the parents, teachers and leaders as well. He wanted the adults to be just as interested in being touched by God as the children. Think for a moment with me, Jesus a grown man, here on earth, saying, you bigheads become like the little children. And the big grown children just like you and I were sitting and standing and looking at this man, probably thinking “He is strange.”

And, I bContinue reading “Generational Positives (GP) BE… Part I”

Boycott Best Buy

Our Ranger wants to say Merry Christmas to all!

My Husband, Chris, and I went shopping tonight at Best Buy for Christmas Gifts. We were happy to see they had so many items that we could use. Chris had chosen a pricy item for a family member and I had chosen some items as well as a gift card with a picture of a Menorah for a Jewish friend. When, I asked for a Christmas Card for a Christian friend that celebrates the Birth of Christ. I was told they do not have those.

So I asked to see the store manager and to my dismay I was informed “no we don’t have Christmas gift cards. We don’t say Merry Christmas. We have a tree but we do not decorate or have a star.”

We left our items there and went out into the freezing cold of 12 degrees and only twelve days before Christmas to find a reputable merchant that would and does support the ones of us that do celebrate the Birth of ChContinue reading “Boycott Best Buy”

Target Backing Off Ban, May Use Christmas in Ads Later This Year

Remember our article on “Celebrate the Birth of Christ with a Boycott“, by Sara, As you can see we can make a difference. Christmas is important to many of us and we want the opportunity to enjoy and leave this legacy to all other generations.

Target Backing Off Ban, May Use Christmas In Ads Later This Year

Dear

Your efforts are having a powerful effect! Our boycott of Target is working! According to the New York Times, a spokeswoman for Target said it did not intend to ban Christmas and might use Christmas in advertisements later this year! In addition, Sears is adding “Merry Christmas” signs in their stores.

And here is new evidence of anti-Christian bias: A survey done by AFA shows that 91% of TV ads ban Christmas from their advertising. We want you to help us stop this banning of Christmas. The survey included one nContinue reading “Target Backing Off Ban, May Use Christmas in Ads Later This Year”

WHO MAKES UP YOUR WORLD -TRUST- “Was Born” Part III GN

See Part I
See Part II

GENERATIONAL NEGATIVES (GN) PART III Trust “WAS BORN”

I read the headlines in the news early morning and I found myself beginning to sing the Christmas Blues. Why don’t you just sing a few news bars along with me:

“The Twelve Days of Christmas”
How does one sing this song in �05
Estimated price of ’12 Days of Christmas’ gift list up sharply due to gas and gold prices and the bird flu.

‘Christmas’ missing from Bushes’ card
Quote from Psalm 28 but not Merry; so not good enough

“10 Reasons to drink over the Holidays”
My in-laws and……..

Now, I thought why don’t I try changing my tune to some things that my Mother (a generational positive) taught me and have kept me focused over many years.

Chant along witContinue reading “WHO MAKES UP YOUR WORLD -TRUST- “Was Born” Part III GN”

Crafts for the classroom

Several years ago a parent in my class made snowmen socks with my class.
Ever since I have made them every year.

Materials needed: White tube sock (Can have the red and white stripes
or the Nike logo – kids love the logo, orange tic tacs, peppercorns,
fabric glue and/or use low temp glue gun, yarn, buttons, felt, rice,
and cotton batting

Instructions:

Fill the sock about 1/3 full of rice – about 2 cups and then fill with
1/3 of cotton batting. Between the bottom and middle third tie a piece
of yarn to divide the snowman into a head and bottom. Tie a piece of
yarn above the top of the snowman’s head so the stuffing and/or rice
does not fall out. Then turn the ribbing of the sock down forming what
looks like a hat.

Next cut out a felt scarf to go around the snowman’s neck. You may
glue the scarf down where it meets, or make it long enough to tie.

Then placeContinue reading “Crafts for the classroom”

The Teacher and the Serviceman

I am a special education teacher in Mandeville, La.

I receved this email and so enjoyed….

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other
students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between
each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about
each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment,
and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a
separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about
that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the
entire class was smiling. “Really?” she heard whispered. “I never knew that
I meant anything to anyone!” and, “I didn’t know others liked me so
much,” were most Continue reading “The Teacher and the Serviceman”

Selection and Care of Fresh Christmas Trees

There’s nothing like having a fresh Christmas tree in your home for fragrance and beauty. Some of the best varieties for freshness and keeping quality are Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir; Balsam Fir and Scotch Pine. My favorite is Fraser Fir because of its long-lasting fragrance, beautiful pyramid shape, branch flexibility and needle retention. Regardless of what your favorite is, here are some tips to ensure that it stays looking beautiful and fresh throughout the Christmas season.

Make sure that when you select a tree the branches are pliable and not brittle. There should not be excessive needle drop when you shake it and it should appear fresh and green with no broken branches.

You should cut about an inch off the bottom trunk no longer than 1 hour before placing it in the stand. The trunk starts to seal up again after this time period preventing water uptake. Place the tree Continue reading “Selection and Care of Fresh Christmas Trees”