In this issue ...

Click on any of the following to be taken to that section of the newsletter. If you can come up with any icons for the sections below I would sure appreciate you sending them to me. Please notify me of any broken links.

• Adventures of Dabthoms
• Argentina Report
• Australian Report
• Baby Photo Contest
  
• Beef & Bouquets
• Bigsis Pat Journal
• Bragging Rights
• Canadian 'Eh
• Coffee & Chat
• Computers 101
• Common Expressions
• Crafts
• Daddy's Shoes
• Featured Sites
• Featured Story of the Week
• Fun
• Gardening
• Google Groups
• Health Matters
• Dear Heather
• Inspiration
• Kitchen Tips
• Kitchen Humour
• Member of the Month
• Messages from Members
• Mystery Member
• Nature's Water Features Photo Contest
  have you?
• Parentified Children
• Pet of the Week
• Prayer Requests
• Planet Kryzys
• Pursuit of Excellence
• Questions & Answers
• Random Acts of Kindness
• Recipes
• Reunion 2008
• Scotty's Washington State Report
• Spring is in the Air
• Survey of the Week
• Tests & Quizzes
• Valter's Brazil
• Weather Updates
• Welshgog

Baby Photo Contest

• Childhood # 1 = Charito
• Childhood # 2 = Chrissie
• Childhood # 3 = Daphne
• Childhood # 4 = Emma
• Childhood # 5 = Jami
• Childhood # 6 = Pat
• Childhood # 7 = Wanda
• Childhood # 8 = Linda
• Childhood # 9 = Norma
• Childhood #10 = Ruth
• Childhood #11 = Sylvia

THE FRIEND WHO STANDS BY

When troubles come your soul to try
You love the friend who just stands by.
Perhaps there's nothing he or she can do
The thing is strictly up to you.

For there are troubles all your own
And paths the soul must tread alone.
Times when love can't smooth the road
Nor friendship lift the heavy load.

But just to feel you have a friend
Who will stand by until the end.
Whose sympathy through all endures
Whose warm handclasp is always yours.

It helps somehow to pull you through
Although there's nothing he or she can do.
And so with fervent heart we cry.....
God Bless the friend who just stands by.
~ Author Unknown
Florida Marie

We had a fabulous chat on Saturday, February 9th. Maxine, from Ontario, Canada had the ultimate best news concerning her son-in-law, Paul. His kidneys, bladder and liver are now functioning and he is off the respirator. Miracle -- absolutely and she is so grateful for our prayers. Jami from Maryland, USA who was out at the beauty shop this morning was telling us that she is in charge of creating a gawdy red hat for her boss' retirement party and that subject led to the Red Hat Society and Betsy from Florida gave us the link to explore more about that organization. Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada talked about her birthday dinner on Friday. The antics of Bebe and Skippy was discussed and Daphne from Argentina says that they definately have NOT bonded. On the topic of pets Ursula from North Carolina, USA mentioned sadly that they had to put their 11 year old Sheltie down. Cherokee's kidneys quit working. We also talked about another dog she has, a mixed breed named Hashbrown. The probability of another contest was explored based on a suggestion from Lena, from Ontario, Canada who did not join us in chat. I am sure you will be hearing more on this soon. Susan, aka Susie Q, from Smith Falls, Ontario sort of promised to send in her prize TOURTIERE recipe -- that would be wonderful as we have only been waiting about 3 years for that, lol. All in all we had a lovely visit and I have just recently received this message from Merrie from Ontario Canada - For any who'd like to add me to their Windows Live Messenger my addie is shadipad@live.com

We would love to have you join us on Saturday, February 16, around 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Windows Live (old MSN Messenger). If you do not have me on your contact lists please add me using my hotmail address with is sharongreene32@shaw.ca. If you do not have Windows Live you can download it here.

Lots of fun once again.

Parentified Children

Children taking on adult responsibilities in families and serving as caregivers for their siblings or parents.

I think life was much harder then, and you had to grow up faster. I remember my mom saying, when my sister was born she was walking home, from working in the field, and had to hold her till she got home, went back to work in the field the next day too, all the older ones had to help did not matter if you 5 or 8 you still had jobs, and you had to cook and help out and do whatever you could, and in those days they had 10, 12 kids or more; hubby's neighbours had 18. Lena, from Ontario, Canada

My parents divorced when I was about two. My grandmother raised me and I didn't go to live with my mother until I was 10. When I was a few years older she had other children and when I got home from school there was supper to help with, dishes to wash, and baths to be given. All I had time left for was homework and bedtime. As the children got a little older she and her husband left me with them for the week-end and went many places. They visited PA., Tennessee, Canada, New York etc. and I was left babysitting. I finally met (for the first time) my father. I spent about 6 months with him and could take no more. Back I went to all the responsibilities. I wasn't allowed to date or go anywhere. I wanted to be a cheerleader so bad I finally started babysitting when I could for other people so I could pay other teens to babysit for my siblings when there was a game and I could go. I knew how to cook, change diapers, take care of little ones of all ages. Finally I got married when I was 15. Thought I knew what I was doing. (Don't we all at that age!!)

My first husband and I were married for 20 years before I divorced him, he was an alcoholic and I had terrible seizures. The more he drank the more I had. We had three children. Ruth is 45 now and Terry is 43. My son was hit and killed by a car when he was two. (My mother was no help then either.) I am sorry I got married so young, but where would I be without the two wonderful daughters I have and all the grand and great grand children?

I mentioned one time about ice capades and my mother said ....... "Don't you remember them?" I told her, "No, remember I never got to go when you went anywhere." It has only been JUST recently that I heard a song in Church that made me feel I could let go of the bitterness and hard feelings I had with my mother. She felt that the other 5 children she had were the only ones who mattered and only called me when she wanted something. I had to get that out of my system and let go of those feelings. I actually preached my mother's burial service. Today I feel I can forgive her, but the human side of me catches up with me now and then.

I have been married 22 years now to my second husband and my father came and gave me away. That is when we started to develop a relationship. At first I felt a bitterness toward him, but he really tried and we had a great relationship. He died two years ago this August and I miss him terribly. I miss my mother, but not like I do my father. I did know he loved me and I loved him. That was something I didn't have with my mother.

I want so much to love and miss my mother the way I do my father, but I'm not there yet, maybe never will be. I do see my some of my siblings. My stepbrother took my van and had it fixed for me recently. Where he works he could get it fixed at HIS price and it saved me a bundle. I see the girls maybe once or twice a year. We exchange cards. That is all. No bad feelings, just no actual "family" feelings like you have for a "real" brother or sister. I feel that from them even tho they don't mean to show it.

Thanks for letting me share.

NATURE'S WATER FEATURES PHOTO CONTEST

This time the Theme is "Nature's Water Features"

That, of course includes water in all the forms nature brings it in.

The rules are simple:

• Pictures must be 'Members own' - or close friends and family of members - we are not looking for photos taken from the internet or other sources
• Photos must be identified in where/when they were taken and who took the picture
• They can be sent to Daphne or to Sharon, or posted on the Circle Group Google board where I will pick them up
• They can be in any size or format (but not too small) I can adjust the size as needed
• Contest closes Easter, which this year is 21st-24th March, which also coincides roughly with the Circle's anniversary. Voting will start the following week.
• This contest is open to all members of any age anywhere on Planet Earth

Kitchen Tips

EGGS

First things first ... How to select eggs and how to keep them fresh.

Choosing eggs is easy - there are really just two main things to do:

• Check the best before date.
• Open the carton to be sure none of your eggs are cracked.

One final tip: if you're not sure if an egg is fresh, there's a simple test. Drop the egg in a glass of water

• a fresh egg will sink
• an older egg will rise to the top

Recipe Corner

In A recent chat, we decided it might be a good idea to follow up a suggestion from Lena, from Ontario, Canada to find our Circle's favourite recipe from our cookbook, Since we have some 2,000 recipes in there in a wide range of categories and sections, we are going to start with our regular cookbook's BREADS & Muffins section of about 60 wonderful recipes. We would like you to visit, try them; then write in and send us the name of the recipe in that section you like best. Your own favourite isn't in there?? Well, what are you waiting for? Send it to me today to add!!

The Perfect Poach

• Bring 2 to 3 inch of water to boil in a fry pan.
• Reduce heat to simmer.
• Break cold eggs, one at a time, into a custard cup.
• Holding the dish close to the water surface, slip egg into water quickly.
• Do not crowd eggs in pan.
• Cook in gently simmering water about 3 to 5 minutes, until whites are completely set and yolks are firm and covered with a thin transparent layer of white.
• Remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon.
• Drain in spoon or place on paper towels and trim any rough edges, if desired.
• Serve hot.
• Avoid precooking or reheating poached eggs.

• Cover a single layer of large eggs with water in a saucepan. Water level should be at least 1 inch above eggs.
• Cover the saucepan and quickly bring the water just to boiling.
• Remove from heat. Let eggs stand covered in the hot water for 15 minutes (18 minutes for extra-large eggs).
• Drain water from pan and immediately run cold water over eggs until completely cooled.
• Very fresh eggs are harder to peel. Use eggs that have been in your refrigerator for a few days.

Kitchen Humour

Florida Marie wonders if we knew that:

• only a true Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. (If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'!)
• only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it - we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
• every true Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that redeye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
• true Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

Questions & Answers

What lies at the bottom of the Ocean and twitches?????

FEATURED SITES

International Weather Station

Offer: Beautiful,white, fluffy snowLarge quantity available. Easy pickup in my driveway. Take a little or a lot. Must be gone before I have to go to work. Will repost if more available. Thank you to all interested. Jenny/Sag Hope the group has a sense of humor .... Freecycle@yahoogroups.com

Thanks so much for all the snow! Someone must have taken the time to deliver it and everything! Problem is, I have a little too much, so if anyone else is interested, you can send them to come get some from me. Dan ... Thanks sooooooooo much. I just don't know how to express all the joy I am feeling!

Some dogs experience cracking and rawness on their pads in the winter. Usually the culprit is the salt used for de-icing roads and sidewalks. It dries the dogs' pads and causes cracking. Here is a link to site that explains about dog care in the winter months.

A friend told me about a pet friendly salt that is totally safe for dogs tender tootsies. I went to my local pet store and sure enough they had some, it's called Pet Thaw. I have used it already now I know Max's little feet won't be hurt, and I don't have to worry about falling on my behind, or worse breaking some of my old bones. Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada

Member of the Month Nominations

Nominations for Member of the Month for March close February 29 so be sure to cast your ballot here today! Do be sure to add your comments as to why you have selected the member you are nominating.

Health Matters

I will be gone until Wednesday afternoon late. We have to go to Phenix City & take David's mom to have cataract surgery. Linda, from Tallassee, AL, USA

On Saturday I will be meeting up with some friends to learn how to tat which results in a particularly durable lace constructed by a series of knots and loops. I have crocheted for years but have never learned to tat and always wanted to. Will give you an update next week. Would anyone like to join me?

Be sure to check out all the wonderful craft ideas in the WWWCOF Craft Site and lets get this group active and crafting. Any ideas, please send them my way. Add your own favourites or email me, Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and I will be happy to add them to our ever growing collection.

Join WWWCOF KRAFT CORNER      MSN Groups

Computers 101

Be sure to take a moment to sign up in our google board; lots of fun and a great way to get to know the members better! You must be a member of the Circle of Friends in order to join our google board.

Subscribe to World Wide Web Circle of Friends

Email:

Visit this group

REUNION ARGENTINA OCTOBER 2008

Daphne from Argentina

To hold a Reunion we need people, this is the only thing we are lacking. The organization is already well underway as shown in our 2008 Reunion Website; now we need the cooporation and participation of members everywhere. Look forward to seeing many of you here.

This Week, with views to reunion Argentina 2008: LA RIOJA Province

Intro: The one time I was in La Rioja Province was the first year after being here, when we took a month long trip visiting many of the northern provinces, and covered 7,000 kilometers, stopping a few days at interesting places. This of course, was back when kids were not yet brought into the programme. La Rioja was a very hot dry province, semi desert it seemed to me and at one village we stayed in water was brought in by tanker and cost more than any other liquid even petrol. We saw skinny cows, - and just assumed that was where powdered milk came from, hehehe- ostriches running around wild, and were given an ostrich egg to take home. We had to drill it to blow it and it was about the equivalent of a dozen hens eggs. The cleaned empty egg shell stood on a dresser top for years (since then I had never heard of permanent egg decorating) and one day just rolled off by itself and smashed like delicate china. Will have to go back someday, but Argentina has so many interesting places to visit.

La Rioja province is located between the 28 and 32 of South latitude and between 66 and 70 West longitude in the North-West region of Argentina Republic. Divided in 18 departments, structures 6 regions: Bermejo Valley, Famatina Valley, La Costa, Capital, North plain and South plain. The province presents a peculiar geography, with a rare merging of mountains and plains, hills and valleys, where the ochre colour is tinted by the polychromatic plantations.

The Riojano territory was formed, geologically, from the Brasilia mountain mass - in the direction Orient-Occident, and the altitude goes from 886 feet above sea level in Salinas Grandes up to 22,375 feet asl in Cerro Bonete. This relief presents mountain chains climbing higher from East to West, forming long valleys from North to South with no communication between them at all.

Almost the 48% of the provincial surface is mountainous: the foothill, the pre-foothill and the Pampeanas Mountains are located mostly from North to South. The landscapes present huge contrasts: high mountains, plains, valleys and others geological formation, several environments where the desert prevails, except in the areas where the rivers come alive and create several oases.

The agricultural tradition begun with the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, mostly in the two most appropriate places for this activity: Arauco, where olive trees grow, and Antinaco Valley for vines. In this particularly region, Chilecito develops its characteristic grape: Torrontes Riojano

Survey of the Week - Price of Gasoline
What is the price of gasoline in your corner of the globe?

Here in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, at least in Nanaimo, it is $1.05/litre. Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

In Tallassee, Alabama our gas as of today is $2.85/gal. Tomorrow it might be $3.00. It changes so often. Will let you know later if it changes. All the roads will look like this if gas keeps on increasing. May have to go back to horse & buggy. LOL Hugs Linda, from Tallassee, AL, USA.

Feb. 11 - Hey Tallassee Alabama went down to $2.81 today. Come on down!!!

Here in Connecticut a gallon of regular gas is about $3.20. Premium is about $3.60. Mike

Right now the price has dropped to 99.9 cents a litre.

I was reading your article about the new gas pump legislation, and thought you'd like to see this story I heard on the radio the other day. Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada.

An inventor has come up with a way to return you to those good old days of yesteryear, and you won't even have to worry about making small talk. A Dutch entrepreneur has unveiled the world's first gas station robot, designed to do all the work while you wait.

Planet Kryzys

Has anyone ever stopped to think what would happen to our world, if suddenly humans, for whatever cause, disappeared? How long would it take Nature to recover?

According to the author of a book "The World Without Us" Alan Weisman, who spent three years traveling the world and interviewing many authorities on different aspects of life, it would not take very long. In fact as soon as 48 hours after humans disappear there would be massive power cuts due to the fact that no one is feeding the electrical plants. This in turn would cause flooding of underground systems as there is no pumping out of water. Within a week nuclear plants would explode due to lack of cooling elements to their reactors. After one year, pavements, sidewalks and roads would break up due to water accumulating in cracks, freezing and thawing. Within 2 to 4 years cities would be covered in moss, weeds, grasses, and new trees putting down roots in the cracks and gaps. At anytime, the sun could shine on glass or other human junk, and piles of unswept fallen leaves and branches and start the mother of all fires, which no one would be around to control. 20 years later streets would be totally collapsed, flooded, turned into rivers or swamps, and within a 100 years all roofs would have fallen in, thus weakening the rest of the structure even the most solid. 300 years on, all hanging bridges would have fallen due to rust and corrosion and lack of upkeep, arched bridges might last a little longer. Within 500 years all cities would have been taken over by vegetation. 5000 years on, nuclear heads would have corroded, liberated the plutonium and contaminating all around. It would take the Earth 100,000 years to clean herself of Co2 contamination and get back to pre-industrial levels. Our plastic residues would take 1000s of years to disintegrate.

Meanwhile, what about the animals? Domestic animals would be the first to suffer and die, many almost immediately due to lack of care. Some would turn savage. Rats would reproduce at tremendous rates, at least at first and then die off once the source of human foods and trash runs out. Strangely enough it would not be the bugs and beetles who would win, as they are used to the human heating or cooling their homes, and without this they would die, fleas too as they have got used to human and domestic animals. Mosquitoes would be numerous as they would find plenty of stagnant water to breed in and not be subject to extermination. Animals, birds and plants already on the verge of extinction would die off anyway, as they would not have time to recover. Wild boars and depredators would be the winners, and at first our domestic herds and flocks would be their victims. Adapted from a note in a monthly magazine, Muy Interesante, (Argentina) February 2008

Our planet awareness site, Planet Kryzys has many interesting stories of different aspects of a planet under Crisis. Do please take a moment to visit it. Daphne from Argentina

Gardening

Several varieties of fruit salad trees are available online. For example, the stone fruit, citrus or pears, with up to eight different varieties on the one tree. Interesting isn't it? Do check with Jami from Maryland, USA or Aussie Jan for more information.

This event is hosted by the James Bay Market Society. It is where you'll find vendors of organic and heritage seeds, native plants, perennials, fruit trees, fresh produce, worms, honey, products from and for the garden, and more. The Master Gardeners are on hand to answer your difficult questions. You can visit displays by garden clubs and non-profits promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, a bee display, and info on building cob homes. You are encouraged to donate your own seeds (cleaned & labelled please) to the Seed Swap. Take in one of the free, hourly sessions with garden experts, and learn about "Seedy Characters through the Ages" with Keynote Briony Penn at 1pm. - Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Mystery Member

Last week's mystery member has been correctly identified as Norma from Alberta, Canada ... do please take a moment to email Norma and say hello.

Now just who do you think this week's mystery member is?

• My middle name is Ann.
• I do not smoke.
• My eyes are brown.
• I have one sister and one brother.
• My favourite thing to do is to travel.
• My favourite colour is red.
• My favourite type of music is Country.
• I am shy.
• I follow the rules.
• My special talent is sewing.
• I have three children.
• I drive a Dodge Truck.
• I am 63.
• My favourite food is seafood.
• If you and I were stranded on a deserted island; I would bring a boat!

Have you started playing our Trivia Quiz Game yet which is hosted by Aussie Jeanette. Go on try it ... it is fun!

Pursuit of Excellence Programme

Have you started with your Pursuit of Excellence Programme?

Here is an easy goal for this coming week -- stand a little taller.

Just for Fun

• 16 'You know, stop lights don't come any redder than the one you just went through.'
• 15 'Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch after you wear them a while.'
• 14 'If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document.'
• 13 'If you run, you'll only go to jail tired.'
• 12 'Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? Because that's the speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you.'
• 11 'You don't know how fast you were going? I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?'
• 10 'Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?'
• 9 'Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket.'
• 8 'The answer to this question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?'
• 7 'Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy and corn dogs and step in monkey poop.'
• 6 'Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.'
• 5. 'In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC.'
• 4 'How big were those 'two beers' you say you had?'
• 3 'No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we can.'
• 2 'I'm glad to hear that the Chief (of Police) is a personal friend of yours. So you know someone who can post your bail.'

  AND THE WINNER IS

• 1 'You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign here.

Tests & Quizzes

Common Expressions - Origin & Meaning

Origin

'Head over heels' is now most often used as part of 'head over heels in love'. When first coined it wasn't used that way though and referred exclusively to being temporarily the wrong way up. It is one of many similar phrases that we use to describe things that are not in their usual state - 'upside-down', 'topsy-turvy', 'topple up tail', 'arse over tea-kettle', 'bass-ackwards' etc.

Herbert Lawrence's Contemplative Man, 1771 is the first known citation of 'head over heels':

"He gave [him] such a violent involuntary kick in the Face, as drove him Head over Heels."

The first mention of love comes in 1834, by which time the phrase had crossed the Atlantic, and into David Crockett's Narrative of the life of David Crockett:

"I soon found myself head over heels in love with this girl."

Note: Non-American readers might not realize that Davy Crockett was a real person. Certainly in the UK he has the semi-mythic status of characters like Robin Hood and William Tell. Crockett is best known here by the old joke: "Did you know Davy Crockett had three ears? A left ear, a right ear and a wild frontier."

'Head over heels' is a good example of how language can communicate meaning even when it makes no literal sense. After all, our head is normally over our heels. The phrase originated in the 14th century as 'heels over head', meaning doing a cartwheel or somersault. This appeared later in Thomas Carlyle's History of Frederick the Great, 1864:

"A total circumgyration, summerset, or tumble heels-over-head in the Political relations of Europe."

Another note: Carlyle's spelling of summerset for somersault. John Lennon reinvented that in 'Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite' - "Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground."

London Chrissie
Please visit my sites:
Chrissie's Homepage and Chrissie's Place

So just what do you fill a bucket with to make it lighter?
Correct answer is "HOLES".

What a good idea Jami. Random acts of kindness are always touching. I'm going to make a point of doing something for someone on Valentine's Day just because I can. We don't celebrate by giving gifts, just kind words. I am so "Scottish" I can't enjoy flowers that cost a fortune. Personally I prefer $10.00 bunches of flowers throughout the year. Have a wonderful day everyone. Hope it brings all that you hope for. Love to all my friends, Irene, aka Scotty, from Washington, USA

WWWCOF Members

Pami from New York, USA wrote in to say that her chemo and radiation begins this week ... good size tumor on and in the bone .... 3.8 cm. I just started using my walker when my leg got weaker this weak. The Fentanyl patch has given me some relief until this tumor can be totally gone from. Alan is my walker and cane when he is with me ... so the walker stays home. Fentanyl has helped but the tumor is the cause of the pain ... without Fentanyl the pain is awful. It's so hard to see people doing what I did 2 years ago with the other chemo and then they ask me .... but I try to be an inspiration to them .... I just reassure them to know your body ... know your pain ... if they feel invaded by a new pain .... call the doctor as soon as it begins. I failed that because I felt pain when I went to Martha Stewart and didn't report in until January. Maybe one day we can all chat.

Well if you don't believe in prayers and miracles, you should now. You should also know, doctors are not always right and you should believe your heart.

On Thurs. I called 3 pastors, 2 home and asked them to pray with me that God remove this burden, his will be done, but I asked that his will be done by him, it was too much for me.

We got there thurs. night and I realized the direct vein feed was not running, then looked and realized they were feeding him through nose tube to his stomach again. I asked and they said yes his bowels seemed to be working. Hemoglobin still low, they were feeding him 2 bags of platelets for the bleeding from sores to help stop it, I asked and I usually don't, what about white blood cells (wbc), the answer oh yes he started growing them back today. Praise the Lord.

On Fri, at the meeting we were told, his kidney and liver enzymes were much better, his stomach was working, his wbc were now 1.5 (5-10 is normal), they had stopped sleeping and pain meds from being on a 24 hour drip to as needed. Honestly instead of 14 different bags of IV running there is only 3 or 4. They said that they believed Paul had reached his lowest point and was making a slow crawl back up, he is still very critical and any infections would be a definite setback, but they were able to culture the last one and give the proper antibiotics. They said he would not be removed quickly from the vent because the lungs are a muscle and now need to be exercised on Fri., they lowered the machine and made him work he lasted 4 min., before they turned the vent back on, today he lasted 2 hr. I am ecstatic. God is an awesome God.

They have warned me that healing could take up to a year, but God can do it as fast as he wants. I have been asked by his doctors to take care of myself because when he eventually gets out of icu he will need me, I will shorten my trips to once a week and weekends and I now have enough faith to believe in my own healing (for those of you who don't know I was diagnosed with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in June 07, I will now start trying to walk etc. (except right now it is -52 with wind chill)

I know there was youth groups fasting, prayer circles, prayer chains, individual prayer, group prayer, pastor Kienle went and annointed him with oil and god's blessings, thank you all for your faithfulness and belief when I was failing in the belief department. Not that I am giving you permission to stop we have a long road ahead and need all the heavenly help we can get. February 13 - I got called by icu doctor yesterday at 4 while buying groceries, that was scary enough. They wanted to give paul a trach right away. It seems he just doesn't want to ween off the vent, when they try turning it down he panics, his blood pressure sky rockets, 210/110 along with pulse and resps. He gets anxious and fidgety which would make his mouth bleed even more. They say that they have found this works that patients aren't as anxious when they start waking, he would still have the nasal tube feed happening. His wbc were 5 yesterday morning, borderline normal and 4.8 last night. They had to really pump him full of platelets, for this so he wouldn't bleen they got him up to 121 still not normal but he has been 30 or less for the last 4 weeks, they also got his hemoglobin up to 82, low yes but he is usually in low 70's, i got the call back at 9:30 that the surgery went well. I called this morning they say all his vital signs are good, he is sedated and he looks more relaxed without the vent down his mouth, now it is hooked to the trach. As for me I am very tired and congested, erica even looks exhausted. After running on adrenalin for a month and finally relaxing we collapsed. Now we need to find a store of adrenalin again. We may or may not go to hospital today. Thank you for caring. Love Mary Jo

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES

Please email Charla, from Florida, USA with any Praises, Requests and/or UPDATES Thank you. May God Bless Each One and Have a Great Week!

There is comfort to be found in all faiths so be not weary in well-doing and have the courage to stand for principle. May the whole world have the knowledge that their Redeemer lives and live by that knowledge. The choices we make determine our destiny.

I hope everyone enjoyed this week's edition of Global Express and I would like close with the following:

To all my friends who sent me best wishes in 2007 and promises of good luck if I forwarded something; it did NOT WORK. For 2008, could you please just send either money, chocolate, or gasoline vouchers? Thank you and God Bless! Irene, aka Scotty, from Washington, USA