Christmas Message December 2011

"O Holy Night!"

by John Sullivan Dwight

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

     Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!
     O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
     O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

     He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
     Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
     Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace.
Chains shall His break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

     Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
     His power and glory evermore proclaim.
     His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Message for November 2011

Father, We Thank You
by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank You.
For tender grass so fresh and sweet,
Father, we thank You.
For song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in Heaven, we thank You.

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank You.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank You.
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank You.

For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank You.
For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank You.
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Your goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank You.



This poem was later illustrated by Mark Graham (2001)

Message for October 2011

The Wisdom of Shel Silverstein
collected by Poor Anne

Put Something In

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.



No Difference

Small as a peanut,
Big as a giant,
We're all the same size
When we turn off the light.

Rich as a sultan,
Poor as a mite,
We're all worth the same
When we turn off the light.

Red, black or orange,
Yellow or white,
We all look the same
When we turn off the light.

So maybe the way
To make everything right
Is for God to just reach out
And turn off the light!



Hug O' War

I will not play at tug o' war
I'd rather play at hug o' war
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.



How Many, How Much

How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love is inside a friend?
Depends how much you give 'em.



Listen to the Mustn'ts

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me---
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.



God's Wheel

God says to me with kind of a smile,
"Hey how would you like to be God awhile
And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.
Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"
"Gimme back that wheel," says God,
"I don't think you're quite ready yet."



The Search

I went to find the pot of gold
That's waiting where the rainbow ends.
I searched and searched and searched and searched
And searched and searched, and then---
There it was, deep in the grass,
Under an old and twisty bough.
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine at last.....
What do I search for now?



The Oak and the Rose

An oak tree and a rosebush grew,
Young and green together,
Talking the talk of growing things---
Wind and water and weather.
And while the rosebush sweetly bloomed
The oak tree grew so high
That now it spoke of newer things---
Eagles, mountain peaks and sky.
"I guess you think you're pretty great,"
The rose was heard to cry,
Screaming as loud as it possibly could
To the treetop in the sky.
"And you have no time for flower talk,
Now that you've grown so tall."
"It's not so much that I've grown," said the tree,
"It's just that you've stayed so small."



The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Check it out at your local library.

Message for September 2011

What Education Should Be

"The foundation of education should be laid in the knowledge and love of God. Education, without MORAL TRAINING, is like a sword in the hands of a madman. "Knowledge is Power" for good and for evil. See to it then, that your children are trained in the principles of religion, honesty, integrity and virtue, in obedience, self-government, benevolence and kindness. They need line upon line, precept upon precept, and constant watchfulness over faults and habits. No schools however well conducted, no colleges however high in literary advantages, without this care and effort to establish correct principles, and form the character to virtue, can be safe for our children. They should be taught moreover, that they must be, under the blessings of God, manufacturers of their own fortunes. Many parents toil and labor, and deny themselves the comforts of life to hoard up wealth for their children. But fit them to take care of themselves, and it will be of more value than the wealth of the Indies. The earlier you teach them to depend upon their own resources the better. See that their morals are pure, the mind cultivated, and the whole nature subservient to the laws of God, and it will be of greater value than the riches of the world. Train them up to habits of industry, economy and virtue, and it will be the best estate they can have, of which no misfortune can deprive them."

A direct quote by L.G. Abell from the book "A Mother's Book of Traditional Household Skills" (2001) first edition published in 1852 as "The Skillful Housewife's Books".

"An amoral education is dangerous." -Poor Anne

Message for August 2011

Poor Anne's Favorite Proverbs/ Quotes

If you want happiness for an hour --- take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day --- go fishing [or hiking].
If you want happiness for a month --- take a vacation.
If you want happiness for a year --- inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime --- serve someone.

--- a Chinese Proverb

Message for July 2011

The Star Spangled Banner 3rd vrs.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Message for June 2011

"Poor Anne's Prayer"

Our Father, who is in the Heavens,
Holiness is Thy name, May Reverence be given.
May Thy Kingdom Come and Thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven.

We Thank Thee this day for our daily bread,
For Thy Divine Interventions,
For always being mindful of us,
And forgive us of our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.

We know that we are ALL sinners before Thee.
Remember the sacrifice of Thy Son that
We may be washed clean in His blood,
And let us remember to forgive others
As You have been so willing to forgive us.

Let us not be led into temptation or be deceived,
But deliver us from evil by discovering the truth
And leading courageously in that truth,
For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power,
And the Glory, Forever and Ever, Amen.

Even though I lead only in my small corner of the world,
May I come to the end of my life and find out that I was
surprisingly useful.

`Poor Anne



Benjamin Franklin's Prayers

In The Morning...
Waked by the call of morn, on early knee,
Ere the World thrust between thy God and thee,
Let thy pure Oraisons, ascending, gain
His ear, and succor of His Grace obtain,
In wants, in toils, in perils of the day,
And strong Temptations that beset thy way.
Thy best resolves then in His Strength renew
To walk in Virtue's path, and Vice eschew.

At Night...
To HIM intrust thy Slumbers, and prepare
The fragrant Incense of they Evening Prayer.
But first tread back the Day, with search severe,
And Conscience, chiding or applauding, hear.
Review each step; "Where, actin, did I err?
Omitting, where?" Guilt either way infer.
Labor this point, and while thy frailties last,
Still let each following day correct the last.

Message for Mother's Day May 2011

A Mother's Prayer

My Lord, only You know how inadequate I am; how unsure and awed by the tremendous responsibility I feel. These our children, whom we have brought into the world, are ours briefly to guide and influence. What they learn within the four walls of our home will be a part of their lives forever!

My Lord, I know I cannot be the Mother I ought to be, the Mother I must be, without Your constant help and guidance. With Your help, I can do even better than my best.

`Betty Leggett Lieder - 1980 Mother of the Year

Easter Message April 2011

"I Believe in Christ"

I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.

I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ; who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

`lyrics by Bruce R. McConkie
`music by John Longhurst
found in the hymnal of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints".

Earth Day Message April 2011

"Every Day is Earth Day"

Poor Anne here: While I don't believe in the threat of Global Warming or that the Earth will someday burn up into dust solely because we are burning fossil fuels, I do believe in taking care of the Earth in general. I do advocate fighting against pollution, both physical and spiritual, and in reducing, reusing, recycling, and respecting the Earth we live on. So down below are just a few notes on how we can do that. ` Poor Anne

1. Reduce
-Buy products with less packaging to reduce the garbage you make.
-Conserve energy by turning off the TV, computer, radio, and lights as soon as you are done with them.
-Walk or ride a bike, when ever possible, to save gasoline and cut back on air pollution.
-Don't waste water - turn off faucets tightly and take short showers.

2. Reuse
-Find new ways to use old things.
-Buy things that you can use over and over.
-Donate or give things to someone else who can use them.

3. Recycle
-Recycle all you can - glass, plastic, metal, and paper.
-Create a compost pile for better organic gardening.
-Buy things made out of recycled products.

4. Respect the Earth
-Never, Ever Litter!
-Be kind to animals.
-Volunteer for Earth-Day projects, like planting trees, cleaning-up your neighborhood or reading about how to better conserve energy.
-Enjoy nature and the beauty of our planet.

Information gleamed from the "Earth Day" insert of the Idaho Falls, Idaho Post Register, April 12, 2011, with a few items added in italics by "Poor Anne".

For more information, you may go to www.egbar.com or read "30 Simple Energy Things You Can Do To Save the Earth" by Earth Works Group, 1990. Check your local newspaper for any Earth Day events in your area. For the Iona, Ammon, Idaho Falls area, go to www.IFEarthDay.com

Message for March 2011

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.


Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
by Robert Robinson
Music by John Wyeth

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Message for February 2011

"Do It Anyway"
` accredited to Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Message for the New Year - January 2011

"I'm not here to tell you how to get the perfect Margiela wardrobe or the perfect man or the perfect job in fashion. I've had all these things, and trust me, there's a bigger prize to be had. I believe the world will change only when we change ourselves. And that starts with finding ourselves. And that starts with listening to ourselves, learning to quiet the clamor in our minds and the voices of everyone around us and moving toward what feels right. It means taking a journey like the spectacular and terrifying and ultimatley mind-blowing adventure I've been on. I hope that you, too, will choose to have a journey instead of just a life. Actually, I hope it's a full-on expedition." ` Kelly Cutrone in If You Have To Cry, Go Outside