Very Interesting & Thought Provoking!

The following is soo true and worth the read! Gotta love Ben Stein!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.


My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.Are you laughing yet?Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it.. no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.


My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,Ben Stein

Our Thanksgiving!!!

Cute pictures of the kids on Thanksgiving Day! After this pic session, the kids really got tired and so we relaxed by watching a funny Christmas movie called Fred Claus and drank some hot chocolate by the fireplace! AWWWWWW!

A beautiful Thanksgiving dinner, but still missing my brother!

This year Thanksgiving for us was quiet and relaxing. I guess I should say relaxing for me AFTER the food was all cooked. I felt thankful for my husband and children and the many blessings that God has given me. Durring grace I said a prayer for all of us and thanked God for the many blessings we have and in front of us. I also thanked God for blessing me with such a wonderful brother for the last 30 years. As I was praying for my blessings and my brother I then choked up and had to leave the table for some fresh air and to compose myelf as I began to cry and didn't want to upset my family too much. After a bit of fresh air and calming down, my family asked if I was okay and gave me hugs and kisses. We then began to eat the feast that was before us in a beautiful setting on my brand new table. Everything came out delicious and looked beautiful. I then decided to take a few pictures and I even set a spot for my brother. His picture was there and he ate with us in spirit. It was beautiful but it would have been even more so if my brother was with us to talk with us and make us laugh like the Thankdgivings before! He loved the holidays, he was like a kid again this time of year and he was so much fun to be around! Although it was beautful Thanksgiving dinner with my husband and children, I wished he was here!

New Lipstick, Love it!

I bought this new lipstick today and it's by Too Faced cosmetics! I love it, it is the perfect shade for the holidays! Has a little gold shimmer to it! It is called Celebrity Meltdown! LoL, what a name, right?!? The case it is enclosed in is very cute, metalic pink with a rhinestone on top! A little pricey for a lipstick, I think...but it's worth it!!!

ABOUT THIS LADY, READ AND TAKE NOTE'S: I saw this and thought , Yeah how sassy! I can be a little sassy from time to time, did I ever mention that earlier?

Well I decided to share a liitle more about myself:

I love my beautiful crazy life, lol! I have an amaazing husband! He is perfect for me and makes my life wonderful! He satisfies my mind! I thank God for the day we met! My children are the world to me! I cherish every moment I have with them! No matter the toddler tantrums or the pre-teen attitudes, lol....yes I said pre-teen and he is only eleven, lol....I have great, loving, caring, talented compassionate kids, but you know every kid has their moments, well just like we all do in this world. Austin is in guitar lessons he loves it and also loves to write songs. He was into some sports, but wants a break from that and I believe in not pushing my kids, if it is not there hearts desire. There are other things in life that can inspire a child other than sports, but don't get me wrong he still loves basketball and Karate. He wants to be in football next year though, he tried baseball but didn't care for it to much. Victoria is in dance lessons . She loves it She is so gracful and to elegant for her age, too precious!!! She loves to sing, read, play dress up ( she is very girly) She wants to be like mommy, she loves her bracelets and necklaces and wants me to put makeup on her and she also loves to play with Boots. I think she thinks he is her baby, lol. She is so smart and funny. She manages to crack us up on a daily basis. As for me, well I think I am a passionate person. I know when it's time to be serious and a time to act silly! There is a time and a place for everything. I love being playful with my husband and children. I love being a mommy and thank God I am able to stay at home with them until just recently actually November 13th was my first official day at ULTA BEAUTY. I love what I do, being a makeup artist is fun and exciting. I eventually want to go to school again but for now I am content in living my life to the fullest with my family. I love to write in my journal a lot and I need to get into scrapbooking more for my children, so they will always have that as a keepsake and know that mommy did all of that, just for them. I am full of creative ideas and wish I could do them all, but I think I get overwhelmed with all the things I want to do and accomplish in my life. One of these days I want to do something great, greater than I can even imagine doing! I have always been a dreamer and want the world to be a better place for our children to live in. I can go on and on, on that subject...but I will spare you. I love to decorate my new house and make it feel like a warm and cozy place. I love to have fun with family and friends and wish they all lived by me so we could have some good ol' party times! I love to go on drives with my husband to quaint little towns and discover new areas, maybe go antique shopping or something like that. I love looking at nature and taking pictures of the sky, flowers, just anything beautiful or interesting that catches my eye. Some of the simplest things in life make me feel so good and happy! I am proud to say that I am a match maker of 3 succesful marriages! yay me! I love to wear pretty haedbands and antique earrings :)I also love to laugh, I mean who doesn't, but to just crack up till you have tears rolling down is thee best, yet I am a sensitive soul and can cry at the drop of a hat, go figure! O'h and this is so totally random....lol.... but I think everyone should take an acting class sometime in their lives, lol....I loved my acting classes, and you would be amazed at how your emotions can just take over! It is soo much fun! I never became an actress, which has always been a life long dream for me, but still it is just one of the best expierences I had ever had.

When I awoke this morning from a deep sleep, I thought to myself this is going to be a good day, just wait and see, ha like the song goes. Little did I know my emotions were going to get the best of me and hit me like a rock. Before this though I had some coffee and decided to check all of my on-line stuff and I came across the new Will I Am, "Yes We Can" video on you tube. I must say I loved it. I loved how the song was written using Obama's exact words from all of his great speech's. The video is worth watching. The power of change, the hope, we are one people, we are one nation under God and yes we can!!! We all need to walk the line and know that this new great president is walking with us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHEO_fG3mm4

As I was watching the video, hubby asked "why are you up so early? Maybe you should go back to bed." I said "Nahh, well maybe I'll take a nap today". As he rushed off to work he gave me a sweet gentle kiss and said well baby, I am worried about you and you need your sleep.
I new full well, a nap was not going to happen as I have so much weighing on my mind.

All I could do was look at the clock waiting for the time to hurry up and pass. I wanted to call my mom and hear her voice, but new it was way to early to call her. As it is, she never gets a good nights rest, due to her nerve damage and Fibromyalgia. Not to mention her emotional state that has come to pass, because of the unfortunate loss of her child, my brother. She is very fragile right now and I am just so worried about my mother and to see her in this much pain just devastates me to the fullest degree. My poor mom is in extreme pain over the loss of her beloved son. She is suffering with no end, on top of her sickness, and all of her grief, she is dealing with some other things that I am not going to even go there, here on this blog. But those who know us, know what I am talking about. I am just heart broken over the loss of my brother and for the pain my mom is going through. For the pain in her heart and her heart that was once whole is now broken.

When I did finally get to talk with her right before noon, she seemed very groggy and I could hear the cracking in her voice and I could tell she had just got threw crying. We didn't get to chat very long. She said she wasn't feeling well and that her stomach hurt and that she felt like throwing up. She said she needed to lay down. I told her I would call her later to check up on her which I did, but she didn't answer her phones. I was so worried , but new she didn't feel like talking with anyone right now. I know how she feels, I get like that too. Since losing my brother there are days where I just can't get out of bed really. But I know I have to for my husband and children. I just do what I got to do and just don't move from my bed or the couch, because I think after the loss of my brother I fell into this sadness that I can't shake. I can not come to grips with his death and sometimes I just want to close off the world and just scream. Some days are not that extreme though thank goodness. I know my brother is in a better place now and i do have peace in knowing this. There is a lot more I can go on about, about how I feel. But I save that for his memorial page. My new blog is not the place to go into so much detail. I feel like I have already said too much.

My wonderful friend Krimsin gave me a ring today and shared with me her thoughts on some important stuff that I needed to hear. She is a wonderful friend and a blessing in my life. Thank you Krimmy!

So tomorrow is my official day at Ulta Beauty! Now I have something to be happy about. I haven't worked outside my home though since right before I was preggers with Victoria. So it is going to be an adventure to say the least! I did go to the holiday meeting this passed Sunday and it was great. The girls there were all very nice and welcoming. It is going to be nice to meet new people and venture out into the world of makeup, beauty, and making people feel fabulous again. I sure have missed it! I feel like makeup application is a true art form. I am an artist with my brush, applying makeup to enhance the beauty of women! And I think that is a wonderful thing.

Well now I need my beauty sleep! I should have blogged earlier as I had planned on going into great detail about my new job, let you all know a little more about myself for the new friends that have visited me today here on AUGV. But as it is, I am one sleepy mama! Thank you to all of those who paid my blog a visit.


Hugs, Love, and Light,
Angelique

Thank you!

First of all, thank you Lisa for taking your time out from your hectic life and making this new blog beautiful for me. I love all the graphics you have made and for teaching me how to add links, etc. I am truly blessed to have a friend in you!

I am creating this blog for my mindless and sometimes insightful ramblings about things that happen in my life. Some say I am a fun, witty kinda gal, that always has something interesting to say. But I just try and keep it real. I wish I was that interesting though. I guess you can say I am a passionate person and I also have a lot of compassion for others as well. If people like to read what I have to say or stop by and visit me, well I just think that is just fabulous! This is for me to have an online journal, but hopefully nothing too too personal. That is for my actual writings in my paper back journals here at home and for my children to read after I pass. I love to journal about everything that goes on in my life and what I think about life and the world. Maybe share some of my life with all of you as well.

So I hope you enjoy this crazy, blessed, sometimes tragic, beautiful life that I am about to share with the world! Or it may just be for me, lol...Who know's! But I do look forward to your comments and your HO's yet respectful.

Hugs, Love, and Light,
Angelique