TheBellSite

It’s that time of year again. Time for me to get up on my soapbox. First a bit of history . . .
In my former life (before moving overseas) I worked at a large swimming pool company, Sunbelt Pools. It was a great place to work, I was there for 13 years. It was managed by some great Christian men. While there I started to notice something peculiar each year at about this time. We received a LOT of Christmas cards. There were many from customers but even more from suppliers and companies that we did business with.
I know what you’re thinking, that’s not so unusual. What I started noticing was that each year that went by brought fewer and fewer Christmas cards that actually had the word Christmas on them. It seems to me that Christmas is becoming so sanitized by non-Christians that it is hardly recognizable as the holiday that it is.
Come on people! If you believe that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ then don’t remove him from the celebration. It is not Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, or some such greeting card saying. Say it with me – “Merry Christmas”
When you send cards be sure that they convey your convictions. He wasn’t ashamed of you and you shouldn’t be afraid to proclaim His birth and the celebration surrounding it. I know some now say, “But isn’t it against the law!? They don’t allow such things at school or city hall.” Celebrating Christ’s birth is NOT against the law anywhere; not at school, at city hall, or anywhere else. Quite the opposite. It is a protected right to celebrate religious holidays.  Click here
Send a blatantly Christian greeting card to someone today and make sure it says Merry Christmas!
There – I feel better already
jackie

“Jackie, lets go shopping so I can make our traditional Orange Jello salad for Thanksgiving.” 
“OK, but I don’t want it to take all day!” 
Famous last words.  To shop for a few hard to find American items, does take all day!  We drove up to Tienmu today,this is like Taiwan’s “Highland Park” (a lot of foreigners live here on the company’s nickel).  We discovered a Jason’s Market in the basement of one of the Dept. stores, so we had to stop and shop.  Of course their Christmas decorations were up already, so we had to take pics.  Then we had to go up and down every isle, not to miss a thing for our pantry! After checking out a bath scale ($53 US – no thanks!) at a different store on the 4th floor, we loaded up the goodies and headed to another store. We drove to a central underground parking area and hit the street on foot. We split a turkey sandwich at a German deli, shopped and bought American imports in their basement.  Then we struck out again and walked to the number one import store, Welman’s. After finishing the grocery shopping for the day, we then went up to a 2nd floor book store, found 5 good used books to add to our collection.  We hiked back up the hill to the car garage, drove around the area until we happened upon a good local book store called Caves & bought a book that (in English) that details 20 walking trails in the greater Taipei area.  By the time we got home – the trip took 5 1/2 hours.  I know we didn’t travel 10 miles up the road.  You Wal-Mart’ers…. you are spoiled! Click here for today’s grocery list

I couldn’t wait until Friday to see the doctor about my arm. Last night at BSF I reached down for my bottle of water that was sitting on the floor beside my chair and the pain was so sharp I almost squealed out loud. I decided then that I’d go see what it was ASAP. The doctor says it is sorta like tennis elbow. I have injured a tendon that goes from my elbow area to my wrist; most likely from long periods at the keyboard and mouse. He gave me some NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs) and an antacid. Says to build up the muscle that is on top of the forearm but don’t use the arm any more than necessary. Sounds kind of contradictory. Hmmmmm . . . . Jackie

Fran and I will both be going to the doctor (doctor visits are a whole nother story!) this Friday. We want to get a flu shot – no shortages of vaccine here – and get our cholesterol checked. I’ve never had a problem with cholestrol but Fran has and we are hoping that the diet we’ve been on will have helped to lower it. I’ll also have him look at my right arm. It’s been hurting like a pulled muscle or something – real sharp pain if I fully extend it. Don’t know what’s up with that.
Jackie