A Kiss on the Nose

 

I got my first kiss from my grandson. It put a smile on my face and a song in my heart. God bless you Peyton.

A kiss on the nose
was such a treat.
It left me excited
from my head to my feet!

A kiss on the nose
made my heart soar.
I loved that little kiss
and I wanted some more.

A kiss on the nose
made my heart flutter.
I begged and I pleaded.
I wanted another.

A kiss on the nose
Oh boy, oh boy
Who thought a kiss
Could bring me such joy.

A kiss on the nose
Oh, Peyton please
Give me one more kiss.
Don't be such a tease!

Meredith

Peyton Michael Troxler

Peyton Michael Troxler
Born 2/12/2010
7lbs 15.9 ounces
21 1/2 inches long

Bethlehem

Built in the 4th century by Helena, the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine, the Church of the Nativity commensurates the birth of Jesus. It is the oldest church in Israel/Palestine. The Church of the Nativity was reconstructed in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian and later repaired by the Crusaders. The Persians are said to have left the church intact in 614, having been moved by the painting inside that depicts the Wise Men of the East dressed in Persian clothing.

At the entrance of the Church of the Nativity is a low legendary doorway, referred to as the Door of Humility. The door is said to have been created in order to prevent carts being driven by looters to enter and to force visitors to dismount before entering this holy place.

The central part of the church is divided by four rows of Corinthian pillars, created from pink limestone. Pictures of the apostles have been painted on the columns along with their names written in Greek and Latin. These pillars are not free from graffiti as many a visitor has carved their own signature over the centuries. The remains of the Byzantine mosaics can be seen through a hole in the floor.

The focal point of the church is the Grotto of the Nativity, a cave which lies beneath the church. Stairways on either side of the main altar lead to the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born. The exact birthplace is marked by a fourteen-point silver star embedded in white marble. Across from the star is the manger where Mary placed baby Jesus after his birth.

Various Christian denominations share control over the different parts of the church. Since 1852, custody has been granted to the Roman Catholic, Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches. The Greeks care for the Grotto of the Nativity.

Next door to the Church of the Nativity is St. Catherine's, which is owned and cared for by the Roman Catholic church. On the way out of the Church of the Nativity is a beautiful Armenian altar built in honor of Mary. The Armenians can be seen praying below through the grates in the floor.

St. John the Baptist

In the town of Ain Karem, close to Jerusalem, lies the church of the birth place of St. John the Baptist, who was born to aged parents, Zachariah and his wife St. Elisabeth, a cousin of Mary. Pictured above is of the most revered site in the church, the grotto believed to be part of the home in which John the Baptist was born. It is believed by many to be the exact spot of his birth.

Emmaus Nicopolis

On my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Bible came alive for me as I walked along the paths where Jesus and other Biblical characters traveled in ancient times. I quickly learned that some Bible stories have more than one possible site. This is true for Emmaus, the village where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his crucifixtion and resurrection (Luke 24;13-35).

Emmaus Nicopolis, the archaeological site and oldest identification currently known for Emmaus, is in question due to its distance from Jerusalem. Most manuscripts of the Gospel of Luke state the distance between Emmaus and Jerusalem as 60 stadia (7 miles), whereas, Emmaus Nicopolis is 160 stadia (19 miles) away from Jerusalem.

Arguments for Emmaus Nicopolis include support from several ancient documents that state the distance from Emmaus to Jerusalem as 160 stadia. It is also argued that in order to facilitate understanding, it is possible that the text was changed by ancient copyists of the Bible; however, it should be noted that it is possible for the disciples to have walked this longer distance in one day as recorded in the Bible.

Whether or not this site is accurate or not, my experience at Emmaus could not be surpassed. This was my first morning in Israel and I had the opportunity to pray and break bread together with my sisters, Alice and Carole, and the rest of our Pilgrimage group just as Jesus and the disciples did so many years ago.

The Ancient Port ofJaffa

On our first morning in Israel, my sisters and I took a cab to the ancient port of Jaffa, which is now part of Tel Aviv. Acording to Christian legend, Jaffa was named after Noah's son, Japhet, who built it after the flood. This could very well be true because archaeologists have determined that Jaffa has been in existence since 7,500 BCE and its natural harbor, serving both Egyptian and Phoenician sailors, has been in use since the Bronze Age.

Jaffa is mentioned several times in the Bible. In Joshua 19:46, cedar timbers used to construct King Solomon's temple arrived in Jaffa from Labanon. When Jonah fled from God he departed from this city (Jonah: 1:3). Ezra 3:7 refers to Jaffa as the port-of-entry for the cedars used in building the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Apostle Peter performed a miracle in Jaffa and Simon the tanner lived in Jaffa.

Our adventure began at Clock Square where we saw the the distinctive clocktower, built in 1906 in honor of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. We easily found our way to the historic town square and the famous Wishing Bridge where we located our zodiac sign, looked out to sea, and made our wishes. We climbed the steps to Jaffa Hill and posed for pictures at the restored Egyptian gates that are more than 3,500 years old. Walking down to the waterfront we gazed out to sea toward Andromeda rock, the rock to which beautiful Andromeda was chained in Greek mythology. We then walked through the market for a bit before heading back to the hotel.

Valley of the Kings

This magnificent pair of statues, the Colossi of Memnon, guard the road to the Valley of the Kings, where from the 16th to the 11th century B. C. tombs for the kings and powerful nobles of Egypt were constructed. Each statue weighs more than 700 tons and stands 195 meters tall. Originally this pair stood at the entrance to the Temple of King Amenhotep III, which was destroyed in 27 BC by a powerful earthquake.

To this date, 63 tombs have been discovered, including the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Prior to this time period, the kings were buried in the Memphis area, where the pyramids of Giza are located.

Pyramid style tombs were abandoned and replaced by catacombs containing an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. The catacombs were easily concealed and made it more difficult for tomb robbers.

During construction a ramp/floor was in place to provide access to the tomb. Food, drink, money, jewels, etc. were placed in the tombs for the king to use in his afterlife. Once completed, this ramp was removed so that anyone entering the tomb unlawfully would fall to his/her death.

And the Winner is--------

Grand Prize Winner: Jodie Stowe of Polkville, NC

Joe and I have just returned from Burnsville, North Carolina, where we enjoyed a fun-filled week and celebrated Thanksgiving with friends and family. A day into nearby Weaverville ended with a most pleasant surprise. While shopping at Mangum Pottery, the owner told us about the 2009 National Gingerbread House competition display at the famous Grove Park Inn which was just a few miles away. We hopped in the motor coach and below you will see a sampling of the gingerbread houses that we saw. This amazing display is free and will be available on Mondays through Thursdays until January 3, 2010. A must-see if you are in the neighborhood.

What mythological figure is half lion and half human?

The Great Sphinx, measuring 57 meters long by 20 feet high, is the largest monolith statue in the world. Having been built of soft sandstone, it would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried in the sand for such long periods of time.

Modern Egyptologists believe that the Great Sphinx was built in approximately 2500 B.C. by the pharaoh Khafre, the supposed builder of the second pyramid at Giza.

Pictured below are the Wentworth girls, Alice Johnson, Meredith Liggio, and Carole Harrison.

Pyramids of Giza

My two sisters, Alice and Carole, and my brother-in-law, Golson, just returned from a trip to Egypt and Israel. Our first stop was Egypt. The picture above shows the four of us in front of the pyramids at Giza, which is just outside Cairo. These pyramids are truly an archaeological marvel.

The Great Pyramid Khufu, also known as the Pyramid of Cheops, is the largest pyramid and has a base of approximately 9 acres. This pyramid is believed to have been built as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. This pyramid took about 20 years to complete and was concluded around 2540 B.C., making it about 5000 years old. It is the one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Pyramid of Khafre, or the 2nd Pyramid, is easily recognizable by the layers of its original casing stones that remain near its summit. Having been built on a higher part the plateau, Khafre's pyramids appears to be taller.

The Pyramid of Menkaura has granite covering one tier of its base.

A Church Divided

Harsh voices bellow out in the hall
As the salty tears run down my face
Rude, angry people standing tall
While the meek hug against the rigid wall
Jesus, please send us your Grace
Cast the evil Satan aside
Vanish him without a trace
Jesus, our savior, be our guide.

Fall in Louisiana

It’s a fall day in Mandeville
Just feel the chill in the air
The trees are swaying in the breeze
And the leaves fall here and there.

Down in south Louisiana
There are no hues of yellow and red
Our leaves rarely change colors
But go from green to brown instead.

Suddenly I miss Burnsville
It must be beautiful there
The cascade of colors is breathtaking
From my front porch, rocking chair.

Been there, done that--Cross Ohio off my list

Well, now I can cross the state of Ohio off my list of states to visit.

Joe and I recently had the pleasure of discovering the unique state of Ohio this July while we traveled the long way to our North Carolina cabin. We entered Ohio via Cincinnati, which I have nicknamed the “City of Bridges.”

Every time we go to a new state, in this case a new city, Joe and I select something interesting to do so that we can remember it later. In Cincinnati, we decided we would lunch on the riverfront; however, this did not pan out.

While looking for the perfect restaurant, a wrong turn brought us to Mt. Adams, a neat urban neighborhood overlooking the Ohio River. Our plans quickly changed; we parked the Pulse and took a walking tour of Mt. Adams followed by lunch in the motor home with Buster and Chloe before heading on to Columbus.

In Columbus, we elected to drive through a German village and enjoy a cold brew and appetizer in the Brewery District before looking for a campground on the outskirts of Columbus. The next day Joe and I headed north to Cleveland and Lake Erie. Our first stop was the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame located on the waterfront. Our half-day visit did not do justice to this museum that is jam-packed with memorabilia, listening stations, videos, and documentaries.

Next stop was Marblehead peninsula and the Marblehead Lighthouse. We arrived in the evening and waited until the next morning before we took a short walk to the Marblehead Lighthouse State Park which provided an awesome view of Lake Erie. We then packed up and headed East to North Carolina. Our last stop in Ohio was Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, located in Amish country, where we dined on Lake Erie perch.

Just a note to anyone that is interested-----three more states to go, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.

The Snake in the Garden

Yikes, there's a little brown snake in my garden
leisurely lounging on a rock.
When my eyes first saw it,
it gave me quite a shock.

I tried to make it go away
but it simply looked me in the eye.
"Go away little snake!"
I heard myself cry!

I began to pull some weeds
that were ever so near
to where that snake lay
my fingers trembled in fear!

The snake finally took the hint
and it slithered away.
It wasn't going to let some human
ruin its glorious day.

Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs, located in Louisville, Kentucky, is well-known for hosting the Kentucky Derby each year. The first Kentucky Derby was held in 1875, the year Churchill Downs first opened. Joe and I had the opportunity to tour the facility in July and here's some trivia for you:

1. Churchill Downs hosts about 800 races a year.

2. Due to the expense of burial, most horses are not buried intact. The heart, hooves, and head are the body parts selected for burial. The heart for bravery, the hooves for speed, and the head represents intelligence.

3. The first filly to win the Kentucky Derby was in 1950, the year of my birth.

4. The Triple Crown, the greatest accomplishment for a three-year-old thoroughbred race horse , is earned when a horse wins all three of the main races for three-year-olds.

5. There are 47 barns on the grounds of Churchill Downs, but due to superstition there is not a number 13 barn.

6. A horse's identity can be verified by an id number tattooed on the inside of its lip. The Kentucky Derby officials check this id number after each race to verify the identity of the winning horses.

7. An average of 1400 horses board at Churchill Downs. The horses work out each morning between eight and ten o'clock.

8. Each thoroughbred is accompanied by a pony (name for calm horse) before a race from the paddock to the starting gate.

9. The saddling paddock, walking ring, paddock runway, and winner’s circle at Churchill Downs are equipped with rubber bricks to provide a comfortable walking surface for the horses.

Power of 10, Plus 3

In hopes of developing some resemblance of a routine in my retirement, I have developed Power of 10, Plus 3. This is how my little system works. First make a list of tasks that you would like to incorporate into your daily schedule. I tried to include tasks that would lead to a healthier lifestyle, but this list is up to the individual. If a task on your daily list becomes automatic, replace it with something else that you want to work on. Plus 3 varies from day to day and consists of three things that you need to accomplish on a particular day. My Power of 10, Plus 3 for tomorrow looks like this:

Power of 10
1. Wake up early—this gives me more time to do everything I want.
2. Daily Devotional—a wonderful way to start my day. Thank you Carole for sending me Upper Room.
3. Yoga—not a full routine, but daily stretches to keep my muscles in working order.
4. Jiggling George—the name of my Chi Machine. It improves my circulation and eases my back pain.
5. A Suduko puzzle a day—to keep my brain working.
6. Floss my teeth—needs no explanation
7. Clean the litter box—Chloe is so grateful!
8. Take extra steps throughout the day!
9. Make sure the kitchen is clean before I go to bed—it sure makes me feel better in the morning!
10. Write in my journal—there may be a poem in my head that I didn’t know about.

Plus 3
1. Go to the bank.
2. Dentist Appointment 1:20
3. Pick up mail forwarding form at the Post Office.

Wrong Turn

Just
a wrong turn
in the course
of life.

One
wrong turn
leading
to the next.

Off the beaten path,
he stumbled,
falling into
quicksand.

The wet sand
drew him in
to the depths
of despair.

Struggling
to surface.
A faint, distant light
beckons.

Closer now,
he feels
a familiar warmth
on his face.

Open arms
reach out to him.
He sees
a smile.

To the edge and back
his journey
has brought him
home.


Thanks to my son, Brett Troxler, who edited this poem for me.

Diet Mania

Another desperate diet
Another popular fad
When will I lose this weight
that I wish I never had?

I will follow the new rules
for maybe a month or two,
and then I will return
to what I used to do.

My sister always tells me
that portion control is the key.
Eat everything you want,
but in a smaller quantity.

And there’s my long time friend
who tells me over and over again.
That drinking wine and mixed drinks
will never make you thin.

The new book I’m reading
says to slow down and chew,
take smaller bites, put your fork down.
But then that’s nothing new!

Bad habits are so hard to break,
especially those around for awhile
I think that I’ll just forget this diet stuff.
It’s really cramps my style!

Strange

Snowing in October
Sleet in July
Strange things do happen.
We wonder and ask ourselves, “Why?”

Missing socks in the dryer.
Just where do they go?
Is there some kind of sock monster
in the dryer lying low?

A bill that vanished in the air
The keys that can't be found
The pens that keep disappearing
A door that opened without a sound.

An open cabinet drawer
The window shades askew
Is there a spook in the house
or is it simply you?

Healthy Me

Take that sour
candy away
It erodes my teeth
And causes tooth decay.

Instead I’ll choose carrots
To improve my vision
And yummy broccoli
To help me conquer division.

A glass at a time
I’ll drink my milk
Stay away from junk food
Watch my hair turn to silk.

I’ll make sure I exercise
My goal is to be fit
Running, dancing, jumping
Please don’t ask me to quit!

I’ll go to bed early
Play games to make me think
Decrease the time I watch tv
See how much water I can drink!

In this world where
At every corner disease waits
I want to be a healthy kid
So I’ll do whatever it takes.