Is marriage the culprit?

 "Income and Poverty in the United States: 2015" I've found the gap problem. Marriage. Married couple households in 2014, $81,118; female headed households $36,193; male headed households $53,746. In 2015, it was $84,626; $37,797; and $55,861. I think that's a big jump for all groups, but obviously, married couples do better. Even with my math challenged thinking, I know that two earners will usually yield more income than one earner.  I'm not sure why, but it seems to be in the best interest of government departments and agencies to expand poverty definitions, and there's a new one in the works which adds in all the government benefits instead of using wages/income and adjusts for geographic area. You would think that would lower poverty rates, but it seems to increase them. It's called Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM).  Also, in the first four years of the Obama administration real poverty that lasted 48 months was only 2.7%. Most poverty rate measures are based on months.

White Trash Sliders

 

I saw this recipe on my great nephew Jacob's Facebook wall--"White Trash Sliders."  Really simple.  But I added a few veggies to make it a bit more nutritious/delicious. 

1 lb. sausage (I used Bob Evans mild natural)
1 lb. hamburger/ground beef
1 lb. Velveeta
Use your favorite seasonings, but I then added

half a chopped onion
2 stalks of celery cut fine
sliced button mushrooms

I cooked the meats over low heat, and drained off the fat and added the veggies. Then cut up the Velveeta in smaller chunks and add it, stir over low heat, turn it off, and put the lid on.

This is to be served on small buns, but my husband is out with another woman for lunch, so I'm going to mix some chopped lettuce and cooked rice, and put it over that.  Yummy.

End of the year contributions, 2016

 Why do I have 5 envelopes for some organizations and none for others?

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Coming Home Network International, Zanesville, OH
Lutheran Bible Translators
Pregnancy Decision Health Center, Columbus
Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Columbus
St. Gabriel Radio, Columbus
168 Film Project (California)
Lakeside
COCINA (Haiti school)
EWTN (Alabama)
Pinecrest Community (in memory of my parents) Mt. Morris, IL
Salvation Army

Donations in Kind
Cat Welfare (memorabilia, jewelry), Columbus, rescue
Discovery Shop (wedding dress) Columbus, cancer

Memberships
Ohio History Connection
Columbus Museum of Art

Death with dignity gears up to take Ohio

So you were OK with aborting your kids' siblings in the name of "choice," or your career, and now they'll return the favor with "death with dignity" legislation and lies when you're old and just too much trouble to take care of. This is a heads up that the pro-life community is looking out for you just as we did the unborn.

“It is a sad truth that after more than two generations of telling parents that they have the right to choose if their children live or die, it is children who are advocating for their parents, spouses, and selves a right to death. Six states (Oregon, Montana, California, Colorado, Vermont, and Washington), along with Washington DC have legal assisted suicide laws. Colorado proponents raised nearly $5 million for the ballot issue adopted in November of 2016, which won by a 2 - 1 margin. Even as European proponents reconsider their support for the laws, the US continues to push forward and expand assisted suicide. Every indication is that Ohio is next. 

An Ohio-based “death with dignity” organization secured its nonprofit designation with the IRS in just one week last April; the group has organized speaking tours, media “educational” seminars; it is hosting events with major medical facilities; and it has identified lawmakers to introduce legislation in early 2017.” Fall 2016 newsletter, Greater Columbus Right to Life.

And notice how quickly the Ohio group got its IRS status--there are still conservative groups waiting after the last IRS scandal and Obama's election. The same administration that funnels money to Planned Parenthood supports removing mom at the other end.

An attack on Jews

Let's get real, Mr. Kerry. This is an attack on Jews by the U.N. and the Obama Administration, no matter what you call it. Have you told Turkey or Egypt they can't be Muslim? If the dove of peace miraculously joined the two sides in Israel in hand holding love, there is still the civil war in Syria, hundreds of thousands of refugees, nukes in Iran thanks to Obama, ISIS in Iraq and Afghanistan thanks to Obama, a civil war in Yemen with interference from the Saudis and the U.S., Turkish coups and unrest with Russia, with your fingerprints all over it. So let's pick on our only ally and the only democracy in the middle east. Your boss is doing his best to screw things up for President elect Trump so he'll be so busy putting out fires he can't touch his precious failing insurance scheme.

What he said--Senator Ted Cruz

"America is an unshakable friend of Israel, and we are horrified at what has transpired this week.
I believe Obama's and Kerry's shameful conduct will backfire. That it will be short-lived, and will inspire a bipartisan repudiation of their radical anti-Israel agenda.

All Americans who understand the value of the U.S.-Israel alliance must immediately and unequivocally reject their false and dangerous narrative, and reassert our fundamental commitment to Israel's security.

Thankfully, Congress and the incoming administration can and I hope will take decisive action to intercept the administration’s final and desperate Hail Mary, and that should begin with eliminating U.S. funding to the U.N., unless and until this disgraceful resolution is reversed." (posted on Facebook)

Christmas Waste watcher--$139 Billion

$139 Billion. As a percentage of the total budget, I suppose that isn't huge, but when I think how we struggle to raise money for small projects, it's breath taking.  Or even big projects like crumbling neighborhoods.  That $139B could go a long way toward cleaning up water problems in aging cities to make them safer for children.

 "Some of the spending items detailed in the [waste] report include a Pentagon Task Force that spent $150 million on lavish, rented villas in Afghanistan with flat-screen TVs in each room; $356 million on a computer system that does not work; $34 million spent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to introduce Afghans to soybeans; and $47,530 on “elegant” bicycle shelters for the National Institutes of Health." (CNS) https://russell.house.gov/sites/russell.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/Waste%20Watch%206.pdf

Trump is a business man (definitely not a politician), so we'll see if he can cut any of this theft in office by bureaucrats, or if he'll have to play the game. 

The Purpose of all this Propaganda

"The entire purpose of 60 years of slanted media and slanted news and slanted education and social pressure and brainwashing and deception and indoctrination — all of it, everything we complain about every day, all day, for years and years and years — the purpose of all this is to get people to vote for the most left-wing candidate in each presidential election. The goal is to bring about a self-imposed silent revolution in America, a democratically elected socialist government voted in by low-information rubes unaware of what they’re doing.

And it has looked ever since Obama’s ascendancy in 2008 that this long-term strategy had reached a tipping point of success from which there was no return — no conservative could ever win another presidential election. With each passing year, the population was getting younger, more radical, more brainwashed, etc. (Midterm/off-year elections are a somewhat different story, as regional conservative outposts could still elect local representatives — but on a national scale, they were greatly outnumbered by burgeoning young generations of leftists.)"

Zomblog.  http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=2143

Zombie also writes at PJMedia

Hezbollah working close to our border

"Where do terrorists get their money? Although we think of Islamic State as the richest terror group in the world, a recent report prepared by the U.S. House Task Force to Investigate Terror Financing yields a shocking result: The largest terror “fund raiser” in the world is close to the U.S. border in Central and South America.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group -- essentially an arm of Iran -- has been linked to drug trafficking organizations in the Americas since 2010.

Yet fifteen years ago, when the group began smuggling cocaine into Europe and the Middle East, it was only able to moving small quantities. Now, Hezbollah is moving hundreds of tons of the drug into these locations, amassing “hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of dollars” in currency around the world."

Clarion Project.  http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/global-terror-america%E2%80%99s-doorsteps#

Have you tried coloring?

If Obama's legacy weren't already destroyed . . .

The U.N. Security Council and Israel

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly reaching out to President-elect Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress in order to prevent the Obama administration from what the Israeli government fears is an American attempt to have the U.N. Security Council pass more resolutions against Israel by approving principles for a Palestinian state, The Times of Israel reports.

This comes after the Netanyahu government was angered that the Security Council on Friday condemned Israel’s settlement activities when the US failed to veto the resolution."

We only have one president, but it looks like he is attempting to make things difficult for President elect Trump with last minute actions. Netanyahu has publicly blamed Obama for the resolution’s passing.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/netanyahu-trump-congress-block/2016/12/25/id/765552/

Christmas 2016 recap

We served communion at UALC Lytham 10:30 service--really a good crowd--great sermon by Jeff Morlock and then home to prepare dinner. While things bubbled and cooked, the family was enjoying "A Christmas Story" in the living room.  They've all seen it so many times, they were speaking the lines. I put out some snacks in the kitchen, like the Harry and David box Rick and Kate sent of cookies, popcorn and candy, some crackers and cream cheese, plus a new cereal I found--Rice Chex with dark chocolate mixed in which makes a nice snack.

 It was probably the largest ham I've ever fixed. Phil donated it. I did find the right glaze recipe by checking my blog when I couldn't find one.  Just real maple syrup with about a generous teaspoon of mustard.  I basted it about 3 times, but it was so large, Phoebe had to help, and Mark had to lift it out of the oven.  The the rest of dinner was potato salad, tossed salad, vegetable casserole, green beans, sugar free apple pie, home made pickles from my Mom's recipe, olives, garlic bread, corn muffins, and wine using my gingerbread boy plates.  I won't do that vegetable casserole again--although everyone tried it, there was a lot left over and no one offered to take any home.  We have so much ham left over, it will take months to use it up--even after sending half of it plus the bone home with Phoebe (we're hoping for some of her delicious bean soup for cold January nights).

We received so many nice gifts.  Big surprise for me was a necklace I wasn't expecting.  We got gift cards to our favorite Friday night date spot Rusty Bucket, my favorite brand of Merle Norman foundation and a lovely Coach leather clutch bag which can be used with a strap. I don't like big, bulky bags, but this is just the perfect size.  I got a lovely, cozy robe, and subscription to my favorite magazine and a book from my TBR list;  Bob got a huge umbrella since he claims he gets wet under these lady types and his box of goodies for watching bowl games. He got two books, one as a trial for a new mystery series, plus Megan Kelly's new bio and YakTraxs for walking in the winter plus a knit facial ski mask.  The Levi's I got him fit well, he's already using the new billfold, but the hat has to go back to Kohl's.  We both got underwear, but we deserved it.

Merry Christmas 2016, same hair style I had in 1946

Kevin's movie countdown

Before I start snapping green beans and creating a glaze for the ham for our Christmas dinner, I tuned into Fox and Friends for its happy clappy Christmas stories and songs. Great stories about blankets for rescue dogs and a little boy who has many seizures and hour—but parents can’t work or they would lose his Medicaid. Then a song about Santa Claus by a Girl Scout choir, and the feel good reunions about military people home for a few days and reunions with family.

Kevin McCarthy was on to talk about his five favorite Christmas movies—but he was skyping from the home of his in-laws neighbors who had a wireless connection, and his wife’s parents didn’t! Since he’s sort of a nerd who’s on TV a lot, you’d think Fox would take care of that for him.

#5 Christmas story*
#4 Love actually
#3 Nightmare before Christmas
#2 It’s a wonderful life*
#1 Home alone*

I’ve seen three* of the five—not too bad since we rarely go to movies. Love actually sounds pretty good from his review.  Maybe I'll have to check with my daughter to see if it is in MASSIVE and HUGE collection of movies.

Ready for dinner, tonight and tomorrow

We're having a casual Christmas Eve dinner before church. So I decided to set the table in the kitchen and then also set the table in the dining room for tomorrow. It will be a little cramped, but I can put all the food on the counter.  I have two sets of Christmas dishes and am using them both.  Unfortunately, they don't have serving pieces, so I have to do a work around. This Paul McCobb mid-century modern set was our original dining room table (has 2 leaves) with a matching china cabinet, and we purchased it in 1964 when we had a very small dining room (house on White St. in Champaign, IL). The house originally had a very large dining room, and we built a wall down the middle to make two rooms.  When I say "we," you know who did the work. In the mid-90s this set resided for awhile in our daughter's home until she bought a dining room set.  Recently I checked on buying two additional chairs thinking I'd move it back to the dining room, but it appears it is now the most expensive furniture in the house.  Two additional chairs would be about $3,000. All the tree lights, inside and out, are ready.

The Ghost of Christmas Future Imperfect Conditional

 
The Ghost of Christmas Future Imperfect Conditional

http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/continuousconditional.htm

http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/conditional/

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/Grammar/conditional2.htm

Brief history of the Christmas creche

At our church we have a display of nativity scenes/creches from all over the world representing all cultures and ethnicities, arranged from the collection of David and Donna Hahm. Donna is a member of Friends of the Creche and in 2007 with the help of our church's Visual Arts Ministry brought the biennial show to Columbus/Dublin.

"The first-ever Nativity scene recorded in history was created by St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was concerned that the meaning of Christmas was becoming lost as most people were more focused with the ritual of gift giving them they were of the true message of Christmas.

Determined to remind people what Christmas is really about, he set about creating the world’s first known Nativity scene to help tell his people of The Nativity Story. It was created in a cave and near Greccio, Italy, and involved real people and animals, making it a living Nativity scene.

This is a life size nativity display at our Mill

Run campus.

Today, nearly 800 years later, we still hear religious leaders echoing St. Francis’s words. The true message of Christmas is becoming lost; buried underneath layers of secular traditions. Yet at the same time, we also still see nativities everywhere come Christmas time." Read more at http://festivenativities.com/

Can Christians agree to pray for other Christians

Let all Christians pray in agreement that President Trump can help these Christians. Their plight is currently ignored by our government.  He is their last hope. "The Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul, Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf told Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) this week that without President-elect Donald Trump’s help, Christian families who have escaped ISIS in the Erbil area of the Kurdistan region “are finished.”" (CNS News, Dec. 23, 2016)

 Sharaf, who was the very last bishop to flee ISIS in Mosul in June 2014, told Smith, “So often concern for Christians is minimized. I am so happy, because you are the first American who has come to just ask about the Christians. We pray that President Trump will help us. We are the last people to speak the Aramaic language. Without help, we are finished.” 

“This Christmas season, the survival of Christians in Iraq, where they have lived for almost 2,000 years, is at stake,” Smith, who is chair of the House panel on global human rights and international organizations, commented on Monday.

Pray also for Representative Smith who called the legislation he is proposing “a blueprint for how to assist Christians and other genocide survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.”
 https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5961

The Good News at Christmas

We have a friend on our Christmas card list that we haven't heard from in a number of years, but we'd continued to send our card each year. We met her husband about 45 years ago when he lived in Columbus when he was single, so I'd actually never met her.  Today we got a card/letter from her catching us up on the news of her now adult children, all doing well--and one we've seen on TV. But two big surprises--after 10 years of widowhood, she has met someone to love and he has led her to Christ. Wow. What a wonderful surprise present for us--first to hear from someone we'd lost touch with, and then to find out she's now in touch with God.

Middle school is much harder than the 1950s

 
I picked this title up at Barnes & Noble a few days ago.  I made it to page 4.  Middle school is a lot harder than I remember.