Cluff Christmas Brunch

Wheeler Family Christmas Party (My Sister by God But not by Blood)

Vicki and her Family had us over to enjoy and be a part of their Family Christmas Party. It was so much fun, we played Bingo, had great food and enjoyed everyone's company. Steve and I just could not get a break in Bingo it was right at the end of course when we finally started to get some numbers that gave us a bingo.. ; )

Here are some fun pictures from the night.. It is great to have then all a part of our life.. We have been (Family Friends for around 10 years now). We love you guys...

Grandma Arnold Brandon and Kaylee..
Jaime and her Youngest
Richard David and Richard's Wife.

C.J's First Band Concert

C.J. is in 7th grade and started playing the Clarinet at the begining of the School Year (since Aug). He is 3rd Chair already and is doing a great job in band.. His Teacher said he is a natural and that next year he should move up to the Saxaphone, he normally makes studants wait till they are in 9th grade or High School before he suggest the move to Saxaphone but he feels C.J will be ready next year.

C.J. has been enjoying it so much and is looking forward to moving to the Sax. That is what he first wanted to do, but they said that they always start studants on the Clarinet first to learn the basics and then move to sax. Well he has learned the basics so fast and is already reading music really well.. We are very proud of him. Way to Go Buddy!

Answered Prayers

Get some Tissue!

I was walking around in a Target store, when I saw a cashier hand this little boy some money back. The boy couldn't have been more than five or six years old. The cashier said, "I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll." Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him and said, "Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?" The old lady replied, "You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear." Then she asked him to stay there for just five minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly.

The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. "It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her." I replied that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry. But he said to me sadly, "No, Santa Claus can't bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there." His eyes were so sad while saying this. "My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister." My heart nearly stopped.

The little boy looked up at me and said, "I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the store." Then he showed me a very nice photo of himself. He was laughing. He then told me, "I want Mommy to take my picture with her so she won't forget me. I love my mommy and I wish she didn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister." Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.
I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy, "Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll!" "Okay," he said. "I hope I do have enough." I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said, "Thank you God for giving me enough money!" Then he looked at me. "I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that Mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me! I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses." A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket. I finished my shopping in a totally different state of mind from when I started.

I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away.

I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was for people to see and make last wishes before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

I loved this story I could stop the tears..Make me realized that Prayers are answered.

True Meaning of Christmas

I believe that the true meaning of Christmas is different for everyone. For some it means spending the Christmas season with family and friends, remembering the birth of Christ, reliving old traditions, or giving service to those in need. Listed below are personal experiences and stories of those who learned the true meaning of Christmas. and Through out the rest of the month I will be posting more favorite Stories that I hope can touch each of you with the True Meaning of Christmas.

An unknown author wrote:
I am the Christmas Spirit.I enter the home of poverty, causing pale-faced children to open their eyes wide in pleased wonder.
I cause the miser’s clutched hand to relax and thus paint a bright spot on his soul.
I cause the aged to renew their youth and to laugh in the glad old way.
I keep romance alive in the heart of childhood and brighten sleep with dreams woven of magic.
I cause eager feet to climb dark stairways with filled baskets, leaving behind them hearts amazed at the goodness of the world.
I cause the prodigal to pause a moment on his wild, wasteful way, and send to anxious love some little token that releases glad tears—tears which wash away the hard lines of sorrow.
I enter dark prison cells, reminding scarred manhood of what might have been, and pointing forward to good days yet to come.
I come softly into the still, white home of pain; and lips that are too weak to speak just tremble in silent, eloquent gratitude.
In a thousand ways I cause the weary world to look up into the face of God, and for a little moment forget the things that are small and wretched.
I am the Christmas Spirit.

Keegan Has Advanced to Bobcat in Scouts

Keegan Had scouts last night where he was awarded his bobcat and 2 beads and 2 belt loops.

He has been enjoying cub scouts. Way to go Keegan! We love you...

Here is a video of his awards..

Lupus Awareness Month

This is the end of the Month but I just had to touch on something that is near and dear to my heart. As most of you know that I have LUPUS so I have to put some information about Lupus on my blog. to Help keep in Mind that October is LUPUS Awareness Month!

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.

In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.

Inflammation is considered the primary feature of lupus. Inflammation, which in Latin means "set on fire," is characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function, either on the inside or on the outside of the body (or both).

For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Although epidemiological data on lupus is limited, studies suggest that more than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.

Some of the symptoms one can have... (highlighted are mine)
Achy joints / arthralgia (95 percent)
Fever of more than 100 degrees F / 38 degrees C (90 percent)
Arthritis / swollen joints (90 percent)
Prolonged or extreme fatigue (81 percent)
Skin Rashes (74 percent)
Anemia (71 percent)
Kidney Involvement (50 percent)
Pain in the chest on deep breathing / pleurisy (45 percent)
Butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose (42 percent)
Sun or light sensitivity / photosensitivity (30 percent)
Hair loss (27 percent)
Abnormal blood clotting problems (20 percent)
Raynaud's phenomenon / fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold (17 percent)
Seizures (15 percent)
Mouth or nose ulcers (12 percent)