NOVATOWNHALL

I left yesterday around 4 in the morning for a relaxing vacation.  On the road and headed for Wake Forest to pick-up mama.   Imagine my surprise when we arrived.  Seems that Hilly, the man hater, was doing a stump for the cracker po’ white vote.  Before you could say “Yankees!  Fire!” we were on the road again.  This happened before breakfast and I’m just glad there wasn’t more of a delay.

 Heading to Myrtle you have to go thru Chadbourn-the strawberry capitol.  I couldn’t figure out what all the dust was off in the distance.  Once we got to the single traffic light, we saw what the deal was.  Can you say “strawberry festival?”  We are talking bigtime here.  The dust was from the hotrod riding lawnmowers-and those babies can really cook!  We had outdoor barbaques, classic car show and parade.  Life is good.  The simplistic things of small towns and the south.

 Moving onward without further interruption we made it to Myrtle where we settled in for a cool spring’s night.  The spring “breakers” are gone and the bikers haven’t arrived yet.  Just fishing, catching up on times with old friends (which for the older crowd consists of what ailments, what operations and who died), partaking (embibbing) of the favorite beverage(s), eating and soaking up the rays.

Now if you all are headed down this way, look me up.  Otherwise I will check-in to see the news and update this post with what I’ve caught and how big.  Maybe even some earth-shattering news if they re-open the Sante Fe restaurant.  We’ll see.

Update 5/5 Soaked up some rays. Got extra zzz’s. Went fishing but caught nada. Same with crabs. We went and got ice cream and they make some monster banana splits. Toasted Almond and cheese with crackers. Dinner. Another slow day in paradise. I might do something tomorrow but don’t hold your breath!

A little over 2000 years ago, an amazing thing happened. Most likely it occurred sometime around spring — late spring. It was the most amazing thing that ever occurred. The word that spoke “let there be light” (okay, he may have stated Maxwell’s equations specifically long before Maxwell “discovered” them, but the general gist of it was let there be light) took upon himself flesh and blood. The one who set the worlds in motion became a human on a small one of those worlds. There are those that deny it would even be possible. How could a creator take on the “stuff” of what was created? It didn’t fit any of the mathematical models.

Born of a woman? So poor a woman that his first bed was a limestone feed trough? Come on now, that just doesn’t make sense. Even if this creator did want to contact the human race (why would he want to do that in the first place … a jumble of immoral, violent, ingrates that would love nothing more than to be rid of him).

Born under the law? He was the author of all just law. The righteous law is a reflection of his character. There was absolutely no need for him to have the law, for his very nature would do what was required by the law. He would no more do wrong than a cat would fly.

Why? That is the most amazing thing of all. The king had a people who rebelled against him. They wanted to throw off his rule — even though that rule was good, honorable, incorruptible, and perfect. The just penalty for this treason was death. The problem is that the creator was both just (he could not ignore the traitors’ treason) and merciful. Justice requires that all debts are paid. Mercy seeks to forgive those who have done what is wrong. A just and merciful creator pronounced the death sentence, then took the form of the traitor so he could take the place of the traitor. And that is why. The creator/word took on flesh and we celebrate that this season. We are not commanded to do so, but we choose to do so. It is not particularly the time, but it is worthwhile to set a time — and what better time than that which the people who had been traitors used to celebrate, but now with a different meaning.

Maxwell’s equations were spoken into the void and light could not help but come forth. Mercy was spoken by the father and the son became flesh and dwelt among us.

Remember the gift that this season is about. I would wish wars to cease, famine to stop, disease to be conquered; that will not happen in this age.

Remember the gift. It was for us that he came. I would wish everyone would love each other with sincere hearts, treat one another with kindness, theft and violence to be replaced with charity and compassion; that will not happen in this age.

Remember the gift. Now we are the children of God … it is not yet revealed what we shall become.

Merry Christmas

There’s still time to shop online: Not Made In China Toys

NMCtoys.com was developed by parents of two small children in 2007. We have made it our mission to provide quality toys that stimulate and challenge a child’s mind.

There was much news regarding the quality and safety of toys produced in China during the summer of 2007. We walked through the toy department of a big box retailer and could not find a toy produced outside of China. Gone were the wooden blocks, dolls and wooden trains we played with as children. These toys were replaced with cheap plastic toys that had character ties to movies and cereals. We then turned to the internet and were frustrated by the lack of alternatives. We experienced first hand the frustration and angst associated with taking away our child’s favorite toy that was recalled and routinely threw away toys within a few days or weeks of purchase due to poor quality. These experiences led to the development of NMCtoys.com.

NONE of the toys on our web site are made in China. Many of our toys have received awards and they all meet or exceed USA safety standards. For more on these awards see the award winning section of our site. Some of our toys even have a manufacturers lifetime guarantee.

We pledge that our toys will last. If they don’t we want to know!

Our toys are designed to foster your child’s imagination, improve their motor skills and bolster their self-esteem. When our daughter was starting Pre-K, we were delighted to discover all the benefits she would receive through play. Who knew that playing with blocks helps a child’s math and reading skills?

NMCtoys.com is not the manufacturer of toys. We are a retailer of quality European and American Toys.

It is that time of the year where the Christian world gets to celebrate a most favorable day-the birth of Christ Jesus.  Or is it?  The cards have started rolling in with funny scenes and sayings.  The stores are actively pushing their wares under the “Happy Holidays” banner.  What holidays?  New Years Day is a holiday but we don’t give gifts.  Chanukka is a gift giving time but we don’t get a holiday for it.  What happened to Christmas?  Now there is the real question.

Christmas isn’t gift giving.  It is a time off to allow Christians the chance to worship the birth of our Savior.  It allows all believers of different religions and non-believers alike to have a “holiday” from work or an excuse to do whatever.  But Christmas is truly for Christians.  Don’t allow the watering-down of its real reason.  Don’t be politically correct and subvert its intent.  Our savior is born and allow us to celebrate for His sake.  Understand what this day is and call it by its name……..Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all.  May God grant us peace.