Proclamation

By Abe Lincon
It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon: and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy scriptures and prove by all history, that those nations are blessed whose god is the Lord.

We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we hve grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and stregthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that has made us. March 1863

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should besolemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States , an also those who are at sea and those who are sojourninhg in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. October 1863

Project Car--Hot August Nights Here We Come

Back in the 80's I had a 1966 Mustang coupe-- white with original red pony seats. It was so sweet until my step dad rolled it. Since then I had been looking for another one.

This one just about fell in our lap. We have a 14 year old who needs to learn how to work on a car what a better project could he have.

At this time we can drive it around town-- it does need muffler work. Lexie has driven it and is totally not impressed. Carson thinks this is the icing on the cake. Me I remember why now they are called muscle cars-- no power steering.

Carson has the insides almost totally torn out, once we get new seats (right now you need a milk crate behind one of them to see over the dash) we will start detailing the inside, later add some paint and more power and sweet have an awsome muscle car to drive around.

learning something new

Husband and I learned to use a lathe for wood working

Walleys

We spent a week out in Genoa at Walleys Hot Springs- a day into it and the kids were bored, they had a tv, Wii, cell phones and Ipods along with board games and cards but no computer so they were bored. So we went hiking up along Tahoe Ridge

swimming at Lake Tahoe

and went into Reno to see some of the Hot August Night cars

Next year I think we will leave the kids home-- I dont remember acting like that when I was a kid on vacation

Day at the lake

We had just got our skis tuned up and decided to take them out to Lahonton lake while there is still enough water, to see how well they ran. Lexie and her dog took the larger ski out and had a great run

Tim was too scared to ride with me -- He says I'm too crazy on them, I've never fallen off or flipped them even when the waves are a couple feet high-- No since of adventure Tim

OUR ANNIVERSARY

Another adventure for the Shoopman family





Every year for our anniversary Tim and I take a weekend trip away and buy a coffee cup. This year we decided we wanted to go to Heavenly to do some hiking, photography and go down the zip line. Well this weekend sure did not turn out as we had planned. We lost our front breaks going over the hill, my camera lense was messed up and Heavenly will not be open until Memorial weekend. Luckly anywhere we are together things are good.

I booked this bed and breakfast online. When we got there it was nothing like I thought. I had not planned to stay at a little strip motel, which is what I saw at first glance. It ended up being absolutely wonderful. Our room was so nicely decorated in a rustic theme, ( each of the rooms is decorated differently). We had a fireplace, got breakfast in the morning, had a hydro massage each day, and private time in the hot tub with bottomless wine all part of the package. They treated us like we were the only ones there.

The first day we had to take care of the truck for obvious reasons. While it was being repaired we went to breakfast and took a hike through a meadow towards Lake Tahoe. Got a good photo of a very big coyote in the meadow. After we drove up to Heavenly, big disappointment to find it was closed-we were really looking forward to that zip line! Ended up taking the resorts bikes down to the lake and walking along the beach. It was beautiful out.

Well when things dont go as planned gotta improvise and all turned out well--yes we did get our coffee cup.

OHIO TO SEE GRANDMA

The end of February my mom and I flew to Ohio to see my grandma. It was cold. I'm an active person so sitting around in the house was difficult, and walking by her home was not recommended. Stationary bike it was, I did talk mom and grandma to walking at the mall one day. I also spent time with my aunt she had found my dads baby book and school books during her move. We spent the day going through those and other photos she had --That was fun. The best place we went was to the Amish country, The life style is so different from what we are used to. They travel by horse and buggy and dont use electricity in their homes.--I was a little unhappy because the small farms and stores are more commerial since the last time I had visited there. I didn't go there to see and get things made in China, I like the handmade furniture and quilts.

Hot chocolate

HOT CHOCOLATE
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups — porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He then told them all to help themselves to the hot chocolate.When they each had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.""The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.""What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup... but you consciously went for the BEST cups." "And then you began eyeing each other's cups.""Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups.They are just tools to hold and contain life." "The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have.Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate."The happiest people don't need the best of everything.They just make the best of everything that they have.Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.And enjoy your hot chocolate!!~Author Unknown

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! TO ONE AND ALL

GREETINGS!

I am unused unspotted without blemish and I stretch before you for three hundred and sixty-five days. I am 2009 and I will present each day to you in its turn. Each day will be a new page in your Book of Life. It is, however, for you to choose what is written on each page.
Remember, it remains for you to make of me what you will! If you write with firm, steady strokes my pages will be a joy to look upon when the year 2010 arrives.
Each day will be a fresh new time in which you may make good choices that will enrich your life. It's time ahead for sweet and welcome new beginnings.
Be brave, strong and as determined as possible to fill each day with lots of Love, Kindness, Hope, Adventure, Awareness, Appreciation, Responsibility, Striving, and Forgiveness of Self and Others. Trust yourself and be forgiving and patient when events or people disappoint you -- for health's sake.
I am New Year 2009 and I am filled with possibilities and promise. Write your pages well and make me your best year ever.
New Year 2009

Tradition has it that every 365 days, you try to kick bad habits and start your life anew. We have a clean slate to write the next chapter of our lives. A chance to get it right. Let this year be better than all the others. So what will yours be?

In 2008 we worked out together, tightened our belts a bit, learned some new things, traveled to see family and generally got busy with life.

2009 promises to be busy also. My goals for the most part remain unchanged:

1) I want to show Gods love more and show it every day

2) Continue to reach and maintain my health goals

3) Increase our wealth and decrease our debt

4) Grow by learning something new

5) Keep my focus on what is truly important.

Glory to God in the highest heaven

who unto man His son has given

While Angles sing with tender mirth

A glad New Year to all on earth.

--Martin Luther

I pray you all the best in this up coming year!