149. Welcome 2015

Welcome 2015



Our earth is keeping a steady pace
in orbit around the sun in space.
Around and around and around she goes
and where she stops, nobody knows --
except her divine Creator
who constantly repairs and updates her.

As she orbits, her axis of rotation
is 23.5 degrees away from the sun
in relation to the perpendicular
of her orbit's plane around her "star."
This simple tilt becomes the reason
for the earth's having four seasons.

The duration of this earth's orbit is always
three-hundred-sixty-five-and-one-quarter days.
That should make the reason clear
why every fourth one is a leap year.
This question oftimes has been raised,
"How many orbits has the earth made?"

Scientists have long debated this:
"Millions of years," say evolutionists.
Creationists say, "The Bible is clear,
it has been about 6000 years."
Regardless of which side wins this fight,
whenever God made it, He made it right.

Our calendar numbers the years of this earth
beginning the year of Jesus' birth.
Those years before Christ are called BC
whereas those after are labeled AD,
abbreviating "Anno Domini,"
Latin for "The year of our Lord," you see.

As the old year now exits the stage
and the new one comes on with a new, blank page,
my hope is that you and your family
will fill it with deeds that make you happy.
Forget about envy, hatred and strife.
This marks the beginning of the rest of your life.
© 2014, cbs

148. Written By the Old for the Young

The typical U.S. household headed by a person age 65 or older has a net worth 47 times greater than a household headed by someone under 35, according to an analysis of census data released Monday.


They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are "Baby Boomers" getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time. We walk a little slower these days and our eyes and hearing are not what they once were. We worked hard, raised our children, and worshiped our God and grown old together. Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

In school we studied English, history, math, and science which enabled us to lead America into the technological age. Most of us remember what outhouses were, many of us with firsthand experience. We remember the days of telephone party-lines, 25 cent gasoline, and milk and ice being delivered to our homes. For those of you who don't know what an icebox is, today they are electric and referred to as refrigerators. A few even remember when cars were started with a crank. Yes, we lived those days.




We are probably considered old fashioned and out dated by many. But there are a few things you need to remember before completely writing us off. We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote The Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We didn't fight for the Socialist States of America; we fought for the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag. We know the words to the Star Spangled Banner, America, and America the Beautiful by heart, and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing. We have lived what many of you have only read in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America.


Yes, we are old and slow these days but rest assured, we have at least one good fight left in us. We have loved this country, fought for it, and died for it, and now we are going to save it. It is our country and nobody is going to take it away from us. We took oaths to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that is an oath we plan to keep. There are those who want to destroy this land we love but, like our founders, there is no way we are going to remain silent.




It was mostly the young people of this nation who elected Obama and the Democratic Congress. You fell for the "Hope and Change" which in reality was nothing but "Hype and Lies."




You youngsters have tasted socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don't like it after all. You make a lot of noise, but most are all too interested in their careers or "Climbing the Social Ladder" to be involved in such mundane things as patriotism and voting. Many of those who fell for the "Great Lie" in 2008 are now having buyer's remorse. With all the education we gave you, you didn't have sense enough to see through the lies and instead drank the 'Kool-Aid.' Now you're paying the price and complaining about it. No jobs, lost mortgages, higher taxes, and less freedom.



This is what you voted for and this is what you got. We entrusted you with the Torch of Liberty and you traded it for a paycheck and a fancy house.



Well, don't worry youngsters, the Grey-Haired Brigade is here, and in 2014 we are going to take back our nation. We may drive a little slower than you would like but we get where we're going, and in 2014 we're going to the polls by the millions.



This land does not belong to the man in the White House nor to the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Eric Holder. It belongs to "We the People" and "We the People" plan to reclaim our land and our freedom. We hope this time you will do a better job of preserving it and passing it along to our grandchildren. So the next time you have the chance to say the Pledge of Allegiance, Stand up, put your hand over your heart, honor our country, and thank God for the old geezers of the "Grey-Haired Brigade."

147. Reap What You Sow

You Reap What You Sow

Good morning said a woman as she walked up ? ?to the man sitting on the ground.
The man slowly looked up.
This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....
To his amazement, the woman continued standing.
She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
" This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a godly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh."
The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, maam. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee."
God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..
Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing..
LIVE WELL, LOVE MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN

146. Puppies

Puppies

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.
As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls.He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment.Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid.Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said,
"Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

"How much?" asked the little boy... "No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."

145. Apples

Apples
 

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago .. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding...

ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her; no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride .... and he wondered. He gently went back and said, “No, I am nothing like Jesus - He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place.”

The girl gently nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him - only He knows who will do His will. Thank you for hearing His call, Mister."

Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day .

You are the apple of His eye even though you, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we really need to be sharing what we know.....

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.
It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections."

142. Red and Warm

Red and Warm

Right in the middle of winter,
Tucked between snowstorms and hanging icicles,
Peeking out from woolen scarves and thermal boots
Showing a lacy patch of red and warm
And lighting spirits young and old, near and far,
Comes Valentines Day -
A time to let your heart shine most clearly
To open it for all to see
That special day to dance, to sing, to laugh, to love.
So, I searched for something to give you,
But, cards seemed plain and did not contain the fullness of my feelings,
Glittery, sparkly diamonds were far beyond my means,
And, then, I turned my eyes to the heavens
And I saw just what there was for you . . .
The sparkling stars are so much brighter in the evening sky
Their glittering glory is yours to have, to admire, to feel, to share
I thought of flowers,
But, all of them paled to the rainbow and God's verdant fields,
And they are all there for you, too, in everyday abundance.
I thought of sending something sweet -
But how could I match the joy in a childish giggle,
The warmth of a baby's smile, or the loving care of a mother's touch ?
Candy is gone in an instant, but God and His world are eternal
So, on this Valentine's Day, I offer all of this to you
Embrace His creation
Celebrate His worth
And wrap yourself in His glory !


Happy Valentine's Day

© Susan Gordon

141. Great Quotes

Great Quotes

"The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it."
- Debbi Fields

"The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can't do."
- Dennis Waitley

"There is no royal, flower- strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it. For if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard."
- C.J. Walker

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches."
- Napoleon Hill

140. Be A Winner

Be A Winner

No matter what your age in life --
press forward.
Regardless of the pain or strife --
move onward.
Victory is never won
unless the job is fully done
and the race completely run.
Climb upward.

The swiftest in a race does not always win --
Use cunning.
He may tire and slow near the end --
Keep running.
The stronger in a fight does not always prevail
if you feint and jab and make him flail.
You may score points and cause him to fail --
Keep gunning.

Nothing is gained by your looking back --
Look forward.
It may cause your pace to slack --
Speed onward.
What lies behind you doesn't mean jake
except you must learn from every mistake
and try to never those same ones make --
Look goal-ward.

The rules are the same in youth or old age --
move outward.
In closing a chapter or turning a page --
press forward.
Every person has his or her calling.
To fail to fulfill ir would be quite appalling,
so get in the race. It's time to quit stalling!
Look Heavenward.

139. Arlington Cemetary

Arlington Cemetary

Jeopardy Question

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was "How many steps does the guard take during his Walk across the tomb of the Unknowns?" All three contestants missed it!

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance . Fascinating. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his Walk across the tomb of the Unknowns And why? 21 Steps: It Alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which Is the Highest honor given any Military or foreign Dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face To begin his return Walk and why? 21 Seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet? His Gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his Grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all The time And,if Not, why not? He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path,he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed? Guards Are changed every thirty minutes, Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a Year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard Limited to?

For A Person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he Must be Between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and His waist size cannot exceed 30.

They Must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, Live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot Drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of Their lives. They cannot swear in public for the Rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the Uniform or the tomb in any way.

After Two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that Is worn on Their lapel signifying they Served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey These rules for the rest of their Lives or Give up the wreath pin.

The Shoes are specially made with very thick soles To keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to The top Of the shoe in order to make the loud click as They come To a halt.

There are no Wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards Dress for duty In front of a full-length Mirror.

The first six months of duty a Guard cannot talk to anyone nor Watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 Notable people laid To rest in Arlington National Cemetery

A guard must memorize who they are and where They are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe Lewis {the boxer} Medal of Honor winner Audie L. Murphy, the most Decorated soldier of WWII and of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty..

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was Approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days Off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC Evening news, it was reported that because of The dangers from the Hurricane, the military Members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier were given permission To suspend the assignment.

They Respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, Marching in the Pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that Guarding The Tomb was not just an assignment,

It was the highest honor that can be Afforded To a service person. The tomb has been patrolled Continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

137. One Nation Under God

One Nation Under God

DID YOU

KNOW

As you walk

up the steps to the building which houses the

U.S. Supreme Court you can

see near the top of the building a row of the

world's law

givers and each one is

Facing one in the middle who

is facing forward with a full frontal view ....

It is Moses and he is holding

the

Ten Commandments!

 

DID YOU KNOW?

As you enter the Supreme

Court courtroom,

the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on

each lower portion of each door.

 

DID YOU

KNOW?

 

As you sit inside the

courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme

Court Judges sit, a display of

The Ten Commandments

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

 

There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the

Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington , D.C.

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

James

Madison, the

fourth president, known as 'The Father of Our Constitution' made the

Following

Statement:

'We have staked the whole of all

 

Our political Institutions

upon the capacity of mankind for Self-government, upon the capacity of each

and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to

sustain ourselves according to

The Ten Commandments of

God.'

 

 

DID YOU

KNOW?

 

Every session of Congress

begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been

paid by the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU

KNOW?

 

Fifty-two of the 55 founders

of the Constitution were members of the established Orthodox

churches in the colonies..

DID YOU KNOW?

 

Thomas Jefferson

worried that the

Courts would overstep their authority and instead of Interpreting

the law

Would begin making law an

 

Oligarchy: the rule of few over many.

How then, have we gotten

to the

Point that everything we have done for 220 years in this

Country is now suddenly wrong

and

Unconstitutional?

Lets put it around the

world and let

The world see and remember

what this great country was Built on The Holy

Bible and

belief in GOD!

136. Stone

Stone

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT .

DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND ,

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH.

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

"And This To Shall Pass Away"

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT' LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE

134. Believe in Miracles

Believe in Miracles

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect.. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick....and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it.. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.'

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago .

'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audible. 'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.' He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. 'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?' Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost....one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need. A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.

133. Seven Percent

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'. I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.

131. Signature Found

Signature Found

A Pennsylvania college president who was cleaning out his office last week stumbled across a lost document signed by President Abraham Lincoln 150 years ago.

Lycoming College President James Douthat, who will retire at the end of the month after 24 years, was cleaning out a closet in his office last week when he found the certificate signed by Lincoln in 1863 that named the college's founder a Civil War chaplain, The Associated Press reported.

Displayed inside a slightly worn black frame, the certificate itself appears to be in good condition. Lincoln's neat signature is clearly visible, just above an ornate, patriotic-themed imprint at the bottom of the commission certificate for Methodist clergy Benjamin Crever.

"In the back of my mind, I remember hearing about it," Douthat told the AP. But he never went looking for it and didn't know what it looked like.

Douthat initially thought the frame was an access panel — the kind to get to interior plumbing, for instance.

"When I took it down, of course I recognized Lincoln's signature immediately," he said. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton also signed the document.

"I assume it was in the top of the closet 24 years ago," Douthat said. "I had never seen it."

College officials say they always knew they had it in their possession. Somewhere.

"It was (initially) discovered a while ago," associate dean and library director Janet McNeil Hurlbert said in her office as she proudly displayed the document on a table. "And then it got ... put someplace else for a while."

Word of the document's rediscovery sprouted slightly different theories of how it might have been misplaced.

It could have been in the closet all along during Douthat's tenure. Or maybe someone brought it to his office to show Douthat, but, unbeknownst to him, it got stored away in the back of that shelf.

A preliminary appraisal has valued the certificate at more than $6,000. For Lycoming, a school of about 1,400 students in central Pennslyvania, its added value is its proud connection to founder Crever.

"It was a pleasant surprise just to see it," Douthat said.

John Brinsfield, a U.S. Army Chaplain Corps historian emeritus, said Crever was one of 500 Union hospital chaplains. Crever was assigned to the military hospital in Frederick, Md., and served between July 1862 and August 1865, a period that would have included the major battles in the region at Antietam and Gettysburg.

"Civil War commissions of any type are rare because they were sent to the individual chaplains," Brinsfield wrote in an email. "If any exist, it is only because the families saved them."

Until the school decides where to permanently place the document, it will be kept in the college archives in the basement of the library.

But one thing's assured: "We will know exactly where it will be from now on," McNeil Hurlbert said.

In Philadelphia, The Raab Collection recently sold for $11,000 a similar certificate signed by Lincoln that appointed Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's brother-in-law as a hospital chaplain, said Nathan Raab, vice president for the historical document dealer.

The powerful story behind the certificates, Raab said, was that Lincoln approved the chaplains in the first place.

The renewed interest in Lincoln — including last year's epic film biography by Steven Spielberg — and the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War have also added allure to such documents.