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Re: Waterfalls a New Journey... MD by Pat_Update # 219

Started by Pat, March 13, 2007, 01:18:14 PM

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bat

Welcome to page 59!

That's a really good teaser there! Looking forward to more... :thumbsup:

Simpson

As well, Pat, you have done a super work in this canal
Looking forward to the next update my friend
My new city is now here
The région of Kaikoura

Teaser of Lopsas[+ How did I do it?]:Lopsas

blade2k5

Hi there Pat.  It sure has been a roller coaster ride for you regarding your health :(  The Muddy Waters teaser looks great as usual of course :thumbsup:  and I'll be knocking on your door either tomorrow or Friday to help you out with that podacst :thumbsup:  I'll be on MSN after 7 tonight and we can go over the details then ;D 

Once again, nice teaser and I hope you feel better real soon. :thumbsup: 

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dedgren ♦ Emilin ♦ Ennedi ♦ jplumbley ♦ moganite ♦ M4346 ♦ nichter85 ♦ papab2000 ♦
Shadow Assassin ♦ Tarkus ♦ wouanagaine

Old fisherman never die, they just smell that way.

bob56

Hi, i'm back...RL...

Great Muddy Waters!!! I ESPECIALLY LIKE how the mud starts to creep in... any chance there could be transitions, and completely muddiness?

GHreat last few updates!
You can call me Grif

--Currently out of the office, will resume SC4 7/19

Pat



Hey Everyone as a continued on with what I like to do with holidays is to bring up and out stories and meaning of the holidays... Today being Chirstmas Eve and being a special meaning to me and well I like to share this special meaning with you all and at the end 2 of the story if you choose to read there will be to pics as always when I do a holiday update!! There will be a another special one tomorrow on Christmas itself and it will be geared to our armed service personal!!! so without further ado here we goooooooo......................





'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring - not even a mouse.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of Christmas gifts danced in their heads.
A holiday Barbie, some video games,
A basketball goal and some new rollerblades,
A new Beanie Baby - the bear or the frog,
A Giga Pet - maybe a cat or a dog,
An album or CD, some shoes with red lights,
A brand new computer with more gigabytes!
And I, in my jammies and mom in her gown
Were so very happy to finally lie down.

We were exhausted, the bed was our goal.
The last-minute shopping had taken its toll.
The stockings were stuffed all with candy and loot,
And 'lectronic toys that go Zot, Bleep and Zoot.
We hunted and searched so the gifts were just right.
Thank goodness for stores that stay open all night!
We'd fought the crowds hard from dawn until dark
And that was just getting a good place to park!
We'd hiked for two hours 'cross that parking lot,
But we were SO proud of the gifts that we'd bought.

A sweater for Mary, a new watch for John,
Some toys for the Jones kids to clutter their lawn.
For the pastor's wife, something with sentiment deep.
(Oh, she'll never guess that we got it so cheap)!
We'd shopped high and low all night and all day.
It tuckered us out, but that was OK...
For piles of presents - all wrapped up so fine
Were under our own tree - and some of them mine!!

I'd played Santa Claus along side the best
And now I was sleepy and ready to rest.
So I, in my jammies and mom in her gown
Went into our bedroom to finally lie down.
As we lay there, she asked me, "Oh dear, did you pray?"
"Happy Birthday, dear Jesus..and have a nice day."
"What'd she get me?" I wondered, as we lay hand in hand
And we both drifted off into deep la-la land.

It seemed I'd been sleeping a minute or two
When I suddenly awoke to the sound of...a MOO!!
"A cow at our window?" I thought, "Couldn't be!"
But I rose from the bed just to look out and see.
I went to the window and opened the blind.
"Nothing there, I was dreaming - or out of my mind!"
Then I heard it again, this time from inside!!
"Now where in the house could a great big cow hide?"
I looked back at the bed where my wife lay asleep
Then, I heard something else! 'Twas the bleat of a sheep!!
"Something here's just not right", and I started to shake.
And I looked 'round the room for a weapon to take.
"Someone's here playing pranks, and it's not very funny."
I feared they were stealing our presents and money.
So I picked up a lamp - it was all I could find -
And I went out with retaliation in mind.

As I got to the end of the hall, I could see
There were long shadows cast by the light of the tree.
I was frozen in fear as of impending doom.
There were eight or ten people in my living room!
I could tell by the shadows that moved on the wall
There were certainly people - but that wasn't all...
There were some kind of animals also, in there -
They looked like big dogs and they had lots of hair!
As I crept to the room, I thought I'd soon die.
But I just had to fend for my home - I'm a GUY!

When I peeked around that dark corner..Surprise!!
What I saw..I just could not believe in my eyes.
The animals were not dogs, they were sheep!
And I saw some men kneeling, not making a peep.
They were dressed in wool robes and they carried sticks, all -
And their shoes were all stacked on the floor in the hall.
They were all gathered 'round on their knees, I could see
Something had their attention under my Christmas tree.

There was a small donkey and cows really big.
I thought, "Cattle and sheep, and not one single pig."
And somehow in all of this weirdness, I found
That my fear was all gone. Then I heard a strange sound.
The sound was familiar - it made me recall
When my own precious children were still very small.
Then I heard it again, and I knew it to be
The sweet little coo of a newborn baby.

Then the men gathered 'round my tree kneeling began
To sing songs in the language of some other land.
They were holy songs - that I could tell, although I
Could never explain just quite how or quite why.
I just KNEW, and I knew that I just had to see
Who they sang the songs for, down there under my tree.
So I inched my way in, trying not to offend.
'Til I'd worked my way up to the front of the men.

There I saw a young man sitting down on one knee.
He looked quite mature, although younger than me.
In his eyes, I saw wisdom, compassion, and care
And the strength of a man with a great load to bear.
By his side, a young woman - barely more than a child.
But a lady so lovely and gentle and mild.
I could see in her face - innocence and great joy.
And I saw in her arms, her new baby boy!

I was awestruck indeed that this sight I should see.
Then she held out the child and nodded to me.
"Oh, I couldn't," I thought. "That could never be right."
But she nodded again and I shuddered with fright.
Then I looked at the babe and He looked back at me.
And I knew by His look, that this thing had to be.
So I held out my arms and she gave Him to me.
And I held the Christ child beneath my Christmas tree!

He was precious and sweet, and a thrill to behold..
And the moment was worth more than silver and gold.
And then, quite out of habit, without even thinking
I just touched the palm of His hand with my pinky.
And just like any baby, His hand grabbed it tight!
He held onto my finger with all of His might.

He was strong, but so tiny and fragile and frail;
Then I looked at His hand and I thought of the nails.
I thought of Him hanging - His arms outstretched wide.
I thought of Him pierced with a sword in His side.
I thought of the crown made of thorns on His head.
I thought of Him hanging there..on the cross...dead.
I thought of my sin, all my guilt and my shame;
For my sin, He died, and that's why He came.
He rose from the dead, conquered death and the grave.
Though I am unworthy, my sins He forgave.

I awoke with a start, to the sound of the noise
Of a house full of children expecting new toys.
I went to the living room, still half asleep,
And kind of expected to see cows and sheep.
I could see all was normal, as I looked around,
And deep inside, I was a little let down.
The presents were beautiful, stacked on the floor.
But not so important as they'd seemed before.

I looked at my family and just HAD to say:
"Before we tear into this stuff, let us pray."
We stood, hand in hand, and then each bowed his head
And, recalling what happened last night, I said,
"Please forgive us, dear Father..sometimes we forget
That this day's not about all the presents we get.
It's not about friendship, it's just about You.
And what, for Your children, You're willing to do.
Forgive us, oh Lord, we sincerely pray.
Happy Birthday, dear Jesus...and thank You for this day!"



Now as I did promisse you all here are some more pics to feast upon today and here you are!!!





I do appoligze for the lack of edditing the photo's this time as I am rather whipped out for working on the computer all day on the 23 and I am so excited that the person didnt charge me a thing since they could have but anyways... I have been so very thankful for alot this year and you all are one thing I have been thankful and I would like to take this time wish you all a Merry Christmas if you all dont get to stop in tomorrow for the next update!!!

Patrick

Don't forget the SC4D Podcast is back and live on Saturdays @ 12 noon CST!! -- The Podcast soon to Return Here Linkie

threestooges

Merry Christmas Pat. Lovely little piece there, and fine pictures too.
-Matt

kimcar

 :thumbsup: Nice story Pat. I pass by for wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and take care. All the best  ;)

Pat



Here is the Next special update on Chirstmas from me and today I wish you a very merry happy holiday or Chirtmas as I wish to choose but which ever you choose may you have a great day today which ever it be!!! may it be blessed with the loved one as you sit with them in the warth of the comfort of your homes and by the fire place... So now without further ado here we go with A soliders chirtmas............................






'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT,
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.



as what happend with yesterday here are 2 pics and thank you all so much for your support and I so cant believe another year has been almost logged in the books wow!! so anyways here are the pics...





thanks again,

Patrick


Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!!

Don't forget the SC4D Podcast is back and live on Saturdays @ 12 noon CST!! -- The Podcast soon to Return Here Linkie

owlsinger

Wow, Pat! This touched me. My oldest son is on his second tour in Iraq right now, and it's been even harder this time than the last. I am greatfull that our soldiers are in your thoughts tonight. Merry Christmas!

P.S. Great pics too!

Kendra
'Luminous beings are we..'  - Yoda

'Hints of Gold'
by Jasmine Becket-Griffith

bat

Nice three pictures there! And Merry Christmas to you, too!! ;)

paroch

Happy Christmas Pat - when you look at your river pics you can see just how much time and thought you put into them.  Each rock, each clump of plant, all so carefully placed to give us a very nice river indeed.

All the best to you Pat,

Paul

Lilojame

Hi there Pat!
Another two beautiful updates here, my friend!
I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas!

Visit my MD Rainbow Falls or check Rainbow Falls Out of the Box or maybe check on my bats&lots visiting Lilojame´s Corner or if you wish go to Lilojame´s Candidacies.

"Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray."  (Byron, 1788-1824)

Schulmanator

Nice stuff! I hope Santa brought lots of goodies for you this year!   &apls
See the all-new National Capital Region!:http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15118.0

papab2000


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bob56

You can call me Grif

--Currently out of the office, will resume SC4 7/19

Pat

The Meaning of
NewYear's Traditions

From ancient times, people have welcomed the new year with rituals to attract good fortune. Here's a sampling.

New Year's Eve, with its emphasis on romance and indulgence, might seem like a totally secular celebration. But underneath all that glitter and sparkle is an ancient holiday with deep spiritual roots. For centuries, and in similar ways, people have been observing the end of one year and the beginning of another.

Ancient Romans celebrated with six days of carousing that would probably be familiar to us today. St. Boniface, a missionary from England who visited Rome in 742, was appalled at how the Romans celebrated Kalends of January, as the New Year was called, with "dancing in the streets, heathenish cries, sacrilegious songs, tables laden with food and women wearing amulets and offering them for sale."

A Time of Rebirth

Because the Winter Solstice is the turning point of the year, beginning the lengthening of days, it has long been viewed as the birth of the year--by pagans celebrating the return of the Sun, and by Christians welcoming the birth of the Son of God. The days between Solstice and the New Year are a magical, luminous time period, when anything is possible. In England, the Twelve Days of Christmas were considered omen days which could be used to predict the weather in the coming year. In Scotland, no court had power during these days; and in Ireland, tradition held that if a person died during the Twelve Days, he or she went straight to Heaven.

In ancient Babylon, the days between the Winter Solstice and the New Year were seen as the time of a struggle between Chaos and Order, with Chaos trying to take over the world. Other cultures (Hindu, Chinese, Celtic) also viewed this as a time for reversing order and rules-celebrants would change roles with servants or dress in costumes for a time until order was restored.

Starting Fresh

While each culture's New Year celebration has its own flavor, there are certain common themes. The period leading up to New Year's Day is a time for setting things straight: a thorough housecleaning, paying off debts, returning borrowed objects, reflecting on one's shortcomings, mending quarrels, giving alms. In many cultures, people jump into the sea or a local body of water-literally washing the slate clean.

In some towns in Italy, I've been told, you have to watch out for falling objects, as people shove their old sofas, chairs and even refrigerators out of their windows on New Year's Eve. In Ecuador, people make dummies, stuffed with straw, to represent the events of the past year. These "ano viejo" effigies are burned at midnight, thus symbolically getting rid of the past.

Whatever preparations are made, most traditions teach that they should be completed before midnight on New Year's Eve. According to British folklore, you should not sweep on New Year's Day, or you will sweep your good luck away, or take anything out of the house-even trash. You only want to bring new things in to insure abundance in the coming year. If you must carry something out, be sure to bring something else in first, preferably a coin concealed outside the previous night. As this medieval poem reminds us:


  • Take out, then take in
  • Bad luck will begin
  • Take in, then take out
  • Good luck comes about
  • Rituals (and Underwear) for Good Fortune

Everything you do on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is freighted with significance for the future. The American custom of spending the night with the one you love and kissing them at midnight insures that the relationship will flourish during the coming year. In Rio de Janeiro, more than a million people gather on the beaches on December 31st to honor Yemanja, the Yoruban "Mother of the Sea," who brings good fortune.

Even the color of underwear Brazilians wear on the first day of the new year has meaning. Pink brings love, yellow, prosperity; and white, peace and happiness.

Pigs and pomegranates for good luck...

The pig is the symbol of good luck in Vienna, Austria. Pigs are let loose in restaurants and everyone tries to touch them for luck as they run by. In private homes, a marzipan pig, with a gold piece in its mouth, is suspended from a ribbon and touched instead. In Greece, it's customary to throw a pomegranate wrapped in silver foil on the threshold, to spread the seeds of good luck for an abundant year.

In Spanish-speaking countries, people put twelve grapes into their wine or champagne class at midnight. The grapes represent the months of the old year and the new one. At the stroke of midnight, after toasting each other with the wine, people eat the grapes as quickly as possible, making a wish on each one.

Food and Money: Ensuring Abundance

As everything has significance on New Year's Day, the first person to cross your threshold after midnight brings luck to the household in the British Isles. In Scotland, the best possible "first-footer" was a tall, handsome, dark-haired man, who brought gifts of whisky, bread, a piece of coal or firewood, and a silver coin. He entered in silence, and no one spoke to him until he put the coal on the fire, poured a glass of whisky for the head of the house and wished everyone a Happy New Year. In France, the children knock on their parents' bedroom door, pretending to personify health, abundance and joy, which the parents welcome.

Food eaten on New Year's Day is said to affect the quality of the coming year. The ancient Romans exchanged bay and palm branches hung with sweets, dates, figs and gilded fruits. The items hung on the branch expressed hopes the new year would be sweet, fertile, and prosperous.

Neapolitans still wrap dried figs in laurel leaves and exchange them as a kind of insurance of abundance for the coming year. They also make confections of caramelized dough and tiny almond pieces, so the year will be sweet.

The Piedmontese eat little grains of rice which represent money. The traditional Umbrian New Year's cake, made of almonds, sugar, and egg whites, is shaped like a coiled snake, probably to represent the way snakes shed their skin to renew themselves, just as people leave behind the old year and embrace the new. Italians also serve lentils, raisins, and oranges, symbols of riches, good luck, and the promise of love.

In the American South, it's traditional to eat cornbread, cabbage, and black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. The peas symbolize coins or copper money, the cornbread gold, and the cabbage green or folding money.

A Japanese New Year's custom is the money tree: pine and cypress branches placed in a vase, and decorated with old coins and paper pomegranates and flowers. Old coins (with holes in them) are strung on colored threads in the shape of dragon and put at the foot of children's beds. This is called "cash to pass the year." It is supposed to be saved and not spent. However, money is given as a gift, usually in red envelopes.

Although many of these customs may seem like superstitions, they all stem from a similar belief: by ending the old year with respect and beginning the new one in the way we would like it to begin, we establish our intentions for the new year. Whether we gather together to watch the ball drop in Times Square or set off firecrackers at midnight or clink champagne glasses with our loved ones, we are acknowledging an important transition and welcoming a fresh start. May your New Year be rich with all of the blessings you desire.




Well a little a wee late but I wish everyone a Happy News Years!!!

Patrick

Don't forget the SC4D Podcast is back and live on Saturdays @ 12 noon CST!! -- The Podcast soon to Return Here Linkie

alan_vzla

#1176
Wow, that was interesting!... I confess eating the grapes... here we have many traditions as well... for example, to have fortune in the new year, you should use yellow underwear at midnight... and to travel a lot you should go out of the house with a suitcase and walk on the streets... ;D

It's interesting to see what people do as traditions or customs, and how it has been evolving through the years... Happy new year!

Jmouse

Hey Pat, that made for some interesting reading. I've heard of eating blackeyed peas and cornbread in the South, but never heard of the cabbage tradition. Maybe that's why I've never had much foldin' money!

Thanks for passing that story along...

Joan

paroch

Happy New Year Pat

That sure was interesting.  It's also good to see that some of the older traditions are still alive - from watching the TV it seems that every major city sees in the new year exactly the same way - FIREWORKS!!  Very nice, but hardly original.

Well, hopefully Waterfalls saw in the New Year with splashing water and NO fireworks!!

All the best,

Paul

TheTeaCat

Well Well I learned something new today.
I knew of a few of these customs but there are certainly a few new ones to me in there.

one tradition that was done in our family was to bury your empty wallet in the ground before midnight and not remove it before dawn. When you dug it up if there was money in it you were supposed to have a good year.  :D
everytime I dug mine up it were empty &mmm - could that be the reason why I ain't rich today? ::)

Looking forward to what you have in store for us this year
regards
Derry
Kettle's on. Milk? Sugars?    ps I don't like Earl Grey  $%Grinno$%
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - If you're not part of the solution , you're part of the problem!
"Never knock on Death's door: Ring the bell and run away! Death really hates that!"
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