The Parakeets

Sorry for the delay in the post, I worked a daylight shift to get prepared for the plethora of presentations I'll be doing for my company. I had a helluva time getting my powerpoint to work with the overhead projector at my presentation practice class today. I hope I can get it all fixed up by the 19th. Sheesh.

Here's a cute little thing that I got in the mail. I thought I would share it with ya!

This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista,
CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I
wonder if any of us could have done as well?

EXPLANATION OF GOD:
'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones
that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He
doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier
to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to
talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of
this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside
bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this.
Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears,
unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him
pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and
dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any
in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water
and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn
about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified
him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they
didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work
on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could
stay in heaven. So he did.. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers
and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he
can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only
more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they
got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if
there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to
the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach
until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very
lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God
can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when
you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But....you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure
God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.'

(If you believe in God, please pass this on, and may God bless you too.)
Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought about you!

Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night.
Isaac Asimov

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

Do you consider yourself an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist?

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Columbarium

PRONUNCIATION:
(kol-uhm-BAR-ee-uhm)

MEANING:
noun: 1. A vault with niches for storing urns. 2. A dovecote or pigeon house.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin columbarium, from columba (pigeon, dove).

USAGE:
"The group's [Americans United for Separation of Church and State] director, Rev. Barry Lynn, says the Berkeley proposal should be 'promptly laid to rest,' by allowing places for unbelievers' ashes, either in columbarium or privately held -- like ashes in a box on your mantel.' Otherwise, it's ashes to ashes, dust to dust -- but not to Berkeley."

ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ

I'm taking a bit of a reading break. I just can't decide what I want to read next!!!

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ

Tonight is: Heroes and The Closer. YAY!

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

The Parakeets
by Alberto Blanco
Translated by W. S. Merwin


They talk all day
and when it starts to get dark
they lower their voices
to converse with their own shadows
and with the silence.

They are like everybody
—the parakeets—
all day chatter,
and at night bad dreams.

With their gold rings
on their clever faces,
brilliant feathers
and the heart restless
with speech...

They are like everybody,
—the parakeets—
the ones that talk best
have separate cages.

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Farmhouse Chicken Dinner



Ingredients:
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 small bone-in chicken breast halves, skin removed
2 cups baby carrots
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 (14.25 ounce) can fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
2 cups MINUTE Brown Rice, uncooked
1 (4 ounce) package Neufchatel Cheese, (1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese )
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:
Mix flour and pepper in shallow dish. Add chicken; turn to evenly coat both sides with flour mixture. Shake off excess flour mixture. Heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, meat-side down; cook 5 to 6 min. or until golden brown. Turn chicken over; add carrots, onions and 1 cup of the broth. Cover. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 20 min. or until carrots are tender and chicken is cooked through (180 degrees F).

Meanwhile, cook rice as directed on package. Spoon onto serving platter. Use slotted spoon to remove chicken and vegetables from skillet; place over rice. Cover to keep warm.

Add Neufchatel cheese and remaining broth to skillet; increase heat to high. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is well blended, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 3 to 5 min. or until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Spoon over chicken and vegetables; sprinkle with parsley.

Yield: 4 servings

Brightest Blessings,
~S~