You have only yourself to blame

Earlier today, Dr. Ben Carson spoke with Megyn Kelly about the American family, detailing his impoverished upbringing by a single mother in Detroit. Carson said that reading played an important part in his childhood, and pointed to a poem by Mayme White Miller called “Yourself to Blame” that his mother often read to him. Carson said the message of the poem always stuck with him.


Here’s the full text:

If things go bad for you

And make you a bit ashamed

Often you will find out that

You have yourself to blame



Swiftly we ran to mischief

And then the bad luck came

Why do we fault others?

We have ourselves to blame



Whatever happens to us,

Here is what we say

“Had it not been for so-and-so

Things wouldn’t have gone that way.”



And if you are short of friends,

I’ll tell you what to do

Make an examination,

You’ll find the faults in you…

You’re the captain of your ship,

So agree with the same

If you travel downward

You have yourself to blame





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http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/03/26/ben-carson-mother-poem-yourself-to-blame/

Suspended Coffee

This story will warm you better than a coffee in a cold winter day:

"We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we're approa...ching our table two people come in and they go to the counter -

'Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended'

They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:

'What are those 'suspended' coffees ?'

'Wait for it and you will see'

Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three for them and four 'suspended'. While I still wonder what's the deal with those 'suspended' coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks

'Do you have a suspended coffee ?'

It's simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal."

Easy Sashay Scarves

I made four of these pretty scarves today.  Someone pointed out a great tutorial on you tube that makes it easy for anyone to make these.  I will link the video in case you want to try your hand at making them.  They seem to be all the rage right now.

Watch this video to learn an easy way to make these scarves.  I did modify it and looped on 10 instead of 9 so they scarves are a bit more full.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOhDl9gxD5I&feature=youtu.be

Still busy crafting

Mollie built two jigs to make paracord bracelets and key chains.  This shows a bracelet I am making.

I have also been busy crocheting these stretchy hair bands.  I also learned a way to make a stretch bracelet that I think will be great for children.

Mollie, Hannah and I went to town making these adorable felt hair bows.  They are so cute.

I found a place to get a pretty cheap rack to hang the bows on.  It will help display them and keep them from getting mashed. 

Protein Drink Recipe

2 raw eggs (organic, free range, cage free)
2 t. to 2 T. coconut oil
2 scoops Whey Pro Protein Powder or SP Complete
1 stick celery
3-4 baby carrots ( use regular carrots, peel and cut into small pieces)
1/8 - 1/4 c. kale
1/4 - 1/2 cup berries of choice (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, etc.)
Handful of nuts of choice (walnuts, pecans, etc.  NO PEANUTS)  I haven't used any in mine yet.
Dash of spice of choice (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)  Ive been using cinnamon
Stevia or Grade B maple syrup to sweeten - I use grade b maple syrup
water, coconut milk, goats milk, or almond milk- I use almond milk
*Blend the eggs and oil first
*Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth in your blender.

This is a great tasting drink.  We have been using blueberries but will change it up as we get other berries.  I use my dehydrated blueberries.

This drink provides energy, protein and fills you up.  Its a great way to start the day.
This amount is enough for 2 to 3 servings.

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, March 17, 2013

Date: March 17, 2013 5:51:23 PM CDT

NAMARA CHURCH STANDING ROOM ONLY

Eric Dry and Linda Stanley visited our Namara church on Sunday, March 17th to find it at standing room only. He said about 80% were children (not surprising in a nation with the majority of its population under 15 years of age. The Namara Sunday school numbers over 140 children/week.

Maria Fatima, Baptized last week at the lake in Impiri village, came forward at church today to confess that she still had witch craft items in her mud hut.

Eric said she immediately went home to fetch the items so they could be burned with the entire church as witnesses. The ashes were then buried. Eric says that Maria looked on with contentment and relief very evident on her face as the items burned.

BUSH BUNNY IN TX, PACKING, PACKING, PACKING


Only 2 weeks left before the Bunny heads for Africa.

April 2nd is the take off date. With over 200 lbs of supplies to pack, it keeps this Bunny off the street.

Should be a fun year as our team must build the final children’s complex in order to come into compliance with the new federal laws in Mozambique.

Many Rocket stoves will be built as we train village brick layers to build these fuel saving “Mozambican Microwaves”.

Our newest “potential project” will be announced very soon. Still need to confirm some details before a final decision can be made on whether we can handle it this year or not.

HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR FOOD BUYING 2013

Pastor Buzz Snyder, now retired from Rock Island Evangelical Church in Rock Island, TX was the first to sign up.

Four University students will make up the rest of the team.

Breanne Brammer, Un. Of Missouri, Journalist Major

Katelyn Norman, Concordia Un. Nursing student, Austin, TX

Michele Davis, Concordia Un. Nursing student, Austin, TX

Emma Clifford, ConCordia Un. Children’s Education, Austin, TX



We welcome them aboard, as they will all meet up and fly out on May 13th from Atlanta, arriving in Pemba, Mozambique on May 15th.

All have given their entire summer to assist us in rescuing and evangelizing more orphans in Balama District.



Blessings,

The Bush Bashing, Bag Packing Bush Bunny Brenda, ready to hop on back to Moz.

Hair Bling

I have started making hair bling today.

I have a lot to learn but its kind of fun to play with the beads.

I have really good news.

The other day the ladies in my extension unit went to the next town over to tour the museum. The lady who runs the museum was not there when we got there so we visited several shops along the main street. In doing so I found a place to sell all those crafts I make. I am beyond excited. It’s a membership deal. I pay dues and have to work there 8 hours a month. They take care of the sales tax and the shop has been there for over 30 years and is quite well known.

I go Friday to bring a sampling of my crafts and get approved to join. I don’t think there will be any problem there. They are down to 5 members and need fresh crafters. I am so excited to have an outlet to sell my wares. It’s a win win situation for me. I can now craft as much as I want to and I will have a place to sell my crafts instead of just making them and stuffing them into totes.

I actually think that I have as much stuff made up as they have items in their store. It comes at just the right time because the town pioneer days are in April and they have over 100 vender's there and loads of visitors. I will get lots of exposure to my crafts.

I keep coming up with more ideas of things to make. This is a great way for me to earn a little bit of money. Mollie is going to make Para cord bracelets and key chains to sell there as well.

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, March 12, 2013

Date: March 12, 2013 7:36:49 AM CDT





ALASKA TRIP CANCELED





Due to a strained right shoulder after a horse decided to lift me off the ground last week while I was leading him out of his stall, the decision was made last Saturday that I should return home since lifting my suitcase and a long 2 day flight was not conducive to the healing of the shoulder. Then the Pastor of Little Chapel in Alaska had not received our cancellation e-mail or voice mail, so he contacted us on Sunday saying that my return flight from Alaska would be delayed BY 3 DAYS at least!

Seems the plane wasn’t going to be able to fly in on its normal schedule, so the flight would have had to be canceled anyway.

With only a few days before my departure for Africa, any delay in my return to TX would have been a disaster, as there is much packing and last minute details to attend too.

I’ll miss not getting to see my friends in Cordova, Alaska this year, but I THANK YOU, Little Chapel Church Members for inviting me, and making the trip possible through your generosity in purchasing the ticket.

PTL for Trip Insurance which will reimburse you the flight ticket cost.

So Bush Bunny is sitting in the Cleveland, OH airport as I write this, preparing to fly back to Houston today via Atlanta.

A few days at a slower pace is most welcomed.

My new tune will be “Packing, Packing, Packing! Get them boxes unloaded! Head’em up, move’em out, RAWHIDE!!!!! ( for those of you in the age group to remember that TV show, the tune works for packing too. J)



All is going well in Mozambique with the orphans as they study away in school.

The Impire church was able to have their Baptism last Sunday with 44 new believers being Baptized in a local lake.

We have 106 goats in our herd now, as they continue to drop new babies during this rainy season.



It’s been a GREAT TOUR with many new friends joining us in rescuing orphans in Mozambique.

For those of you who didn’t get to hear me speak, you can contact me till the end of March on my cell: 210-912-3919 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 210-912-3919 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

I fly to South African on April 2nd.



Blessings,

Bush Bunny Brenda





POST SCRIPT:



Go to youtube and type in BUSH BUNNY BRENDA You can see Brenda's presentation in Jacksonville, Florida from last month.






Type in ORPHANS UNLIMITED and see all the Video presentations. Lots of GREAT INFORMATION and WONDERFUL PICTURES.

My little pond

Ive been working on my little pond.  We have about a dozen gold fish in it and they like cold water so I knew I had to get some shade going before the weather really heats up.  I went to a nursery yesterday and the owner dug up some plants from the ditch that runs thru the nursery and sold them to me for only $5.00  I also found out I can plant an elephant ear in a pot and put it in the pond.  I also found out that bamboo like wet feet too and will work.  The people at walmart don't know much cause they had a huge bin of elephant ears and a whole table full of bamboo plants and they said they didn't have anything that could go in a pond.  Glad I went to the nursery.
This is what my little pond looks like right now.  I will continue to work on it and put more plants and such in it.

I am going to make a screen filter thing to sit the water fountain in to keep the fish from getting sucked up into it and place it in the middle of the pond.  That's where it was at first until we got the gold fish.  Then some got sucked up to the filter so I took it out.  I'm hoping that with it being on the shelf tucked in behind the plant for now that it wont suck any fish to the filter and kill them.
I have never had a pond before, this is kind of fun.

Cowboy humor

A cowboy, who just moved to Wyoming from Oklahoma , walks into a bar and orders three mugs of Bud. He sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more.



The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, "You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it. It would taste better if you bought one at a time."
The cowboy replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Arizona , the other is in Colorado . When we all left our home in Oklahoma , we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself."
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.
The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn.
One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss."

The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns in his eyes and he laughs.
"Oh, no, everybody's just fine," he explains, "It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking."
"Hasn't affected my brothers though."

Shiloh's new bandana

He acts like he is being punished with the bandana.

How can you do this to me?

Look closely and you can see how he has an Elvis type smirk.

Ok, I guess its not so bad, lets play.

I am really cute.

Fake honey??

Most people think that anything that says honey on the label is real honey.  Not so.  Here is a list of manufacturers who make fake honey.

I buy my honey from local sources which is the best way.  Currently we get it from an Amish family who drive their buggy to town to sell baked goods and honey.  The honey is delicious too.

Punography:

·I tried to catch some fog. I mist.
·When chemists die, they barium.
·Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
·I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time.
·How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.
·I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me.
·This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore.
·I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I can't put it down.
·I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words .
·They told me I had type A blood, but it was a type-O.
·A dyslexic man walks into a bra .
·PMS jokes aren't funny, period.
·Why were the Indians here first? They had reservations.
·Class trip to the Coca-Cola factory-- I hope there's no pop quiz.
·The Energizer bunny arrested and charged with battery.
·The old man didn't like his beard at first. Then it grew on him.
·Did you hear about the cross eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?
·When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.
·What does a clock do when it's hungry? It goes back four seconds.
·I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me!
·Broken pencils are pointless.
·What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.
·England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool .
·I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.
·All the toilets in New York 's police stations have been stolen. Police have nothing to go on.
·I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.
·Velcro - what a rip off!
·Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy.
·Venison for dinner? Oh deer!
·Earthquake in Washington obviously government's fault.
·I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.