IT NEVER FAILS

If you are NOT a football fan skip this post. I love it and miss very few games.  Direct TV’s Sunday Ticket gives me the opportunity to watch all the games.  But what gets me is the Star Spangled Banner.  The singing of the National Anthem gets me every time. The Chicago Bears  do an outstanding job of celebrating America at every game…but I love Martina McBride. Can you imagine singing it with a wind chill of 5 degrees.  She just sang it for the Jets-Steelers Game. And who would have known it was freezing? I don’t have a favorite for this game, really didn’t with either game today.  My teams are out.  But I know the players. I know all four coaches…well not personally, but I know a lot about them because I read.  I may be the only person ever that watches the players as the national anthem is sung.  I know weird.  I always have.  I love to catch one singing, really singing.    You see everything. Tonight, I saw Big Ben singing (he has had some days in the last year where he had nothing to sing about). I hope his is a story of redemption.
I saw Jason Taylor, I saw the young Mark Sanchez.  I saw a group holding  hands, no doubt praying. This is a Big Game.   You can tell the ones that really feel the song and seem to understand that honoring America is much bigger than a football game.  I love pretty much everything about the game and thinking we are down to the last two for this season makes me sad if not depressed.  If its not your thing, you do not get that.  In the big scheme of life there are so many things more important.  It’s just my DRUG of CHOICE.  Ha
I love to know the players stories.  I love the smack, I love the challenges.  The one thing I cannot stand is showboats and dances in the end zones. Hate it.  I like a player with class.  One that acts like he has been there before and plans on returning.   I even tried to like Aaron Rogers today. He seems like a nice young man.   That will be an inside joke to people that have read my blog a long time.  After tonight's game I will spend the next two weeks reading the stories of all the players on both teams.  I love knowing how they reached their dream. Enough football…and probably my last football post for the year. 
Not breaking news, but I have had the flu. (I am just guessing since I had every symptom but had some Tamiflu on hand and did not go to the doctor)  Guess I was due, low resistance, lots of stress, etc.
I know most of you have kept up with Joanne’s progress.  If not, catch up on her blog, The Simple Wife.  The updates are nothing short of miraculous. And if you have missed her sisters updates, a new blog for you to read is Kristen's. What a gifted writer and what a special sister. 
The winner of the GIVEAWAY is Sally at
Life is A Beautiful Gift.  A surprise package will be on its way to her.  
I just finished the best book…..UnSHAKEN, about a man working for Compassion International that was trapped for days in the Haiti earthquake.  I could not put it down.   I would love to GIVE my copy away.  All you need to do is leave a comment on this post.  that’s it….if you have a great remedy for the January blues, leave it for me or if you are on a new eating plan and its working, leave that too. I will draw at the end of the week (or Parker will)
Remeber the Elmers Glue Jack poured all over his carpeT at my house.  His Mom just told me he poured over a half a bottle of Baby oil in his room at home Today.  Woody can make a mess. 

I HAD ANOHER POST BUT THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT

My heart had been broken all week for blogger friend, Joanne Heim. I cannot go five minutes without thinking about her. This time last week she was fine.  Tonight, she is fighting to live, literally after suffering a stroke on Tuesday.  This is a 38 year old super fit, full of life Mom and Wife. 

Life changes in a heartbeat.  I am going to copy and paste some information that just came out.  Check her blog and read about the last week. 
From her close friend,  How You Can Help
Hello, my name is Janna, and I've been given permission by Toben to hijack Joanne's blog for a little bit. I met Joanne several years ago through her lovely sister Kristen. I have the pleasure of considering these two sisters my dearest of friends.
Many of you, like me, feel honored to call Joanne "friend.” Some of you know her in real life and some from the blogosphere. Some of you may have never met Joanne but have come to her blog to get updates and to pray. I feel confident that Joanne would consider you a friend, also.
The outpouring of love, prayer and interest in Joanne's condition has been overwhelming. The family is extremely moved and encouraged by how the Body of Christ has come together in this time of crisis. Many of you have asked how you can help. So with the collaboration of some of Joanne's many friends, we've organized some new features on Joanne's blog to Help the Heims.
If you have ever met, read or come into contact with Joanne, you have probably been blessed in some way. That is Joanne. Now it is our turn to bless her. Let's join together to show her family our support and love. -------------------------------------
How You Can Help the Heims:
Financial gifts
Even with the most desired outcome, Joanne's medical and recovery time will be very costly. There is time off of work (Toben), medical bills, etc. Giving financially is one of the most practical things we can do to help them on this long journey ahead.Click on her sidebar to give via PayPal:Or make checks payable to Toben Heim. Mail to: Joanne Heim, c/o Kristen Haufschild, 11004 Grayledge Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
Prayer
Thousands of people all over the world are praying for Joanne. Please do not cease in lifting Joanne up to the Lord. She needs a miracle. Psalm 46 is the scripture that the Heims are claiming over Joanne. Please read it as a prayer for her.
Spread the word
Spread the word about Praying for Joanne by displaying her button your blog. Grab the HTML code from the sidebar.
Encouragement     Send cards, letters, pictures, scriptures, prayers, etc. to Joanne. Mail to: Joanne Heim, c/o Kristen Haufschild, 11004 Grayledge Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130 
PLEASE DO THIS…you know how I feel about snail mail
News  Stay updated on Joanne's condition here on her blog and on Twitter via Toben.   Thank you for being a part of her life, her recovery and her blessing.
Below is the post by her weary husband tonight.  This week has been a nightmare. 
http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/the_simple_wife/2011/01/rollercoaster.html
I will admit I have struggled with this all week.  After emailing a dear friend, I don’t think she will mind me using an illustration she gave me…It is one I have thought about all day.
From Melinda
I had a friend tell me once that life was like trying to work a puzzle without the benefit of the picture on the lid. We have random pieces that we do our best to fit together, but it would be so much easier with the lid. To me, that's where we sit right now, with Joanne, where my friends sit in their grief, and where I've been sitting all year: learning how to rest in the fact that the One who holds the lid to the puzzle box lives in us. He can see how it all plays out, why some people get the miracle (more lives affected for the kingdom if they continue life on earth?) and others don't (more lives affected for the kingdom if they pass to eternity?). It boils down to a matter of choice for us: We can trust that, because He knows how it all fits together, and He loves us enough to have made a way to spend eternity with us, we don't have to understand, just trust.  WOW
I have not forgotten the giveaway, but this week it has seemed rather insignificant.  I will be back with another post later this week and want to introduce you to a new blogger.

TOO MANY POSTS in MY HEART, SO THIS IS A RAMBLE

This weekend started out great.  I had a long over due lunch with one of my dearest friends on Friday.  We caught up.  Then on Friday afternoon and evening  (until 3 AM) Amanda and Terri helped me take down our biggest job this year. That would be multiple trees with what seemed like a million ornaments. Why do we attach them so good?  I understand why those that take their own down say ugly things about us.   Saturday Terri and I went back to the house and got everything organized and ready for next year.  I griped all day because my back hurt, but I will be thanking Terri next year for encouraging me that we needed to GET IT DONE!
 Saturday night was great football, great take out food and lots of blog reading, and trying to not get bogged down in the Arizona tragedy.  Those that know me, know the news junky x 10 that I am,  so that was impossible. 
I woke up depressed just thinking about it.  I have been on the couch all day. LITERALLY, except to get something to eat..We are having icy weather with snow here, no school tomorrow and in our area, no one goes out when its snowing and raining or at least I don’t.  I just pray the power does not go out.
Nothing makes me happier than a PJ day with a roaring fire, lots of football, in my case all the trees still up (I really love Christmas lights) and a son-in-law that not only cooks  but delivers. Thanks Micah, we love you.
I have one more house besides my own to take down and then it will be a wrap for another year for this tree decorator. 
In  this same weekend, I have witnessed the most horrible rampage in Arizona.  I have been glued to every report.  The picture of the little nine year old girl is almost more than I can look at.  The innocent people that were so brutally murdered on an ordinary normal day in front of a Safeway.   Is this still America?  See what I mean, I have so many things I want to blog about.  During this weekend, I found out that one of my favorite friends Dad probably has lung cancer, a gal that I love and had just visited with went in for an appendix surgery this week and they found a tumor behind her appendix and it was not one you would want to find, a local blog friends Dad just found out he had stage IV tongue cancer, so tonight my heart is heavy.  So many needs, so many prayer requests.  A few minutes ago I saw that Beth Moore had posted…It was a WORD…
then my new friend Edie posted…another WORD.
Don’t miss either of these posts.  They so encouraged me tonight…Ask God to give the people above a miracle, a good report….I know he CAN…its been only a few short months that my family needed one.  That miracle is sitting in a chair across the room from me reading a book and watching a little football. 
Time to have a  New Years Giveaway….Nezzy, one of my favorite bloggers just wrote about a SURPRISE  GIVEAWAY  she won on my blog. Same kind of GIVEAWAY this time…A SURPRISE.  I will have Parker draw next Friday…and I want YOU to WIN. If you send a new friend I will throw your name in twice. A comment is all that you have to do.  Have a great week.