Today is Leap Year Day!

General Leap Year Info (from Childfun.com)

"The time it takes the earth to spin once on its axis is a day. The time it takes the earth to complete its annual trip around the sun is a year. Unfortunately, these units of time don't divide evenly. This is the "spin" problem: if the earth spinned just a bit slower, a year would be exactly 365 days, instead of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and a little over 45 seconds. If a day was a minute longer than it is, we wouldn't need Leap Year Day."

Here's a link to more Leap Day/Year information http://www.infoplease.com/spot/leapyear2.html

BUT...it's not the "real" Sadie Hawkin's Day! Here's a link to Sadie Hawkin's Day facts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_Hawkins_Day

Funny Friday: "Lost Cat"

A man hated his wife's cat and he decided to get rid of it.

He drove 20 blocks away from home and dropped the cat there. The cat was already walking up the driveway when the man approached the driveway.

The next day, he decided to drop the cat 40 blocks away, but the same thing happened. Each time he kept on increasing the number of blocks, but the cat kept oncoming home before him!

At last he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then right again and another right and so on until he reached what he thought was a perfect spot. Then he dropped the cat there.

Hours later, the man called his wife at home and asked her, "Is the cat there?" "Yes, why do you ask?" answered his wife. Frustrated the man said, "Put that cat on the phone, I'm lost and I need directions.

Hoep for teh speeling challenjed

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

Wonders Wednesday Photo: Blob Fish

What is a friend?

Miracle Baby Story

A 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, was diagnosed with spinal bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta. She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor partially removed the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr. Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile.

A photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, "Hand of Hope." The text explaining the picture begins, "The tiny hand of 21-week- old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life."

Little Samuel's mother said they "wept for days" when they saw the picture. She said, "The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person." Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful.

NOTICE: Busy this weekend

I'll be busy this weekend at my nephew's wedding, so probably won't post anything new until Monday. Have a good one!

Funny Friday: "They Walk Among Us!"

While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning.

She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?"

When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for some time, she shook her head and said, "Oh I don't keep up with that stuff."

Chocolate, Baby!

Wonders Wednesday Photo: Almost a Full Moon

Copyright © 2008 "DJ" author of Sonbeam Corner. All Rights Reserved.

It's Presidents' Day! (links inside)

Here's a link to a site with a lot of great information about Presidents' Day and other patriotic facts and links, as well as activities http://www.annieshomepage.com/presidents.html.

Another good link explaining Presidents' Day and how it started is at http://usparks.about.com/library/weekly/aa021499.htm.

National RAOK Day

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day!

Fun Night with Comedian Robert G. Lee

Tonight our church held a comedy dessert for "Couples' Night Out." We had comedian Robert G. Lee. He was very funny with a lot of interaction with the audience. It was a great date night out. Check out his DVDs and stuff at http://www.robertglee.com/.

The First Funny Friday

This is the first "Funny Friday" post. I plan to post something funny every Friday to the blog. ENJOY!

The All-Time Worst Country Music Song Titles:

1. Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
2. How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
3. I Just Bought A Car From A Guy That Stole My Girl, But The Car Don't Run So I Figure We Got An Even Deal
4. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You
5. I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here
6. I've Got Tears In My Ears From Lyin' On My Back and Cryin' Over You
7. Mama Get A Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head)
8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me

Today is National Organ Donor Day

Find out how you can help many people in need of donations by going to this link
http://www.organdonor.gov/

It's Valentine's Day!

Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 11-17

We should always try to be kind to each other. This is a good week to be reminded of that. Why not do a kind thing for someone this week as a surprise! For more information, click here.

"There You Are" (song lyrics by Stone, Ferguson, McGuire)

Searching in shadows, lost in the night,

Grasping for answers, where is the light?

When out of despair my soul cries,

Then out of nowhere before my eyes

There You are, loving me.

There You are, faithfully.

Pouring out mercy, mending my heart.

Just when I thought I'd wandered too far,

There You are.

Drifting at midnight, caught in a storm.

Drowning in failure, battered and torn.

When out of despair my soul prays,

Then out of nowhere walking on the waves,

There You are, loving me.

There You are, faithfully.

Pouring out mercy, mending my heart.

Just when I thought I'd wandered too far,

There You are, loving me.

There You are, faithfully.

Pouring out mercy, mending my heart.

Just when I thought I'd wandered too far,

There You are.

Quote

"The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day

(Click the dogs to see them move)

Here's a great little love story from Our Daily Bread.

God's Cake

What a WONDERFUL explanation of how every single (good and bad) experience (ingredient) in our lives contributes to the final tasty product! Read the short story below.

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.

"Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you.

He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.

He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

How to Treat Your Bank

This is funny! A 98 year old woman wrote this to her bank. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.

"Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month.

By my calculations, three 'nanoseconds' must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire salary, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways.

I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, prerecorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan payments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:
1-- To make an appointment to see me.
2-- To query a missing payment.
3-- To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
4-- To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.
5-- To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
6-- To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.
7-- To leave a message on my computer. (A password to access my computer is required. A password will be communicated to you at a later date to the Authorized Contact.)
8-- To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.
9-- To make a general complaint or inquiry, the contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call. Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year.

Your Humble Client"

(Remember: This was written by a 98 year old woman)

JUST GOTTA LOVE SENIORS!

Wonders Wednesday Photo: Half Moon in Daylight

This is the first of hopefully many Wednesdays where I will post a photo or a link to one of nature's wonders.

(Click photo to enlarge)

Copyright © 2008 "DJ" author of Sonbeam Corner. All Rights Reserved.

Words of Wisdom From a Little Girl

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Amanda. She wanted to know what the United States looked like. Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Cutting out all the states, he gave it to Amanda, and said, "Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today." After a few minutes, Amanda returned and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."

I Must Be a SENIOR CITIZEN!

I'm the life of the party...even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I'm very good at opening childproof caps with a hammer.
I'm usually interested in going home before I get to where I am going.
I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.
I'm very good at telling stories; over and over and over and over...
I'm aware that other people's grandchildren are not as cute as mine.
I'm so cared for -- long term care, eye care, private care, dental care.
I'm not grouchy, I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, loud music, unruly kids, commercials, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can't remember.
I'm sure everything I can't find is in a secure place.
I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg.
I'm having trouble remembering simple words like.......
I'm realizing that aging is not for wimps.
I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days, and when did they let kids become policemen?
I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel, how could I be alive at 150?
I'm a walking storeroom of facts.....I've just lost the key to the storeroom door.

"Christians" - by Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin',"
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say.. "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!