Mama Always ~ L.A. Brown, Author

It has definitely been a banner year for me, well, me, Chris and Andrea. We came off of 2011 with the loss of our beloved Aussie, Draco in November to foster a soldier's dog in January. Angel was not allowed to go home to Korea (where she was born) with her family who was being relocated there because she lacked a blood titer. We fostered her for two and a half months, getting her the necessary titer and shots; getting the proper sized kennel and finally getting the necessary passage and escort to get home. We could not have done it without the help of many friends and their friends and of course, United Airlines who waived the normal fees to get her home to her soldier and family. My many thanks to Sandra, Janet, Christopher, the Air Race family, James Bear Branch Animal Hospital and Home Again for getting her back to her family. I am sure that there were so many, many more who were in the background that helped with this endeavor, God knows who you are and I'm sure that He ...

...that fibro fog is responsible for a lot of things that go on with me lately. I walk into a room and not only do I forget what I went in there for, sometimes I'm disoriented enough to wonder, even for a nano-second what room I'm in. That's happened a couple of times. I've also seemed to have forgotten that depression is a constant companion. Sometimes it stays way in the background, but other times, like today, it is sitting in my hip pocket, poking me and letting me know that I've been kind of useless lately. That tends to work on my last nerve and so when Chatty Cathy is released, which most of the time I can tune out except for the necessary phrases and words, I have the ability to go nuclear. That in return brings out the tears, puppy dog eyes and/or the temper of the Mouse who was just being herself. Of course, this works on the depression more by making me feel like a bit of bug spittle. **sigh** I can't turn the bugger off, either. It just sits ther...

...and all through the house; not a creature was stirring, they were watching a mouse. The stockings that were hung by the chimney with care, were now shredded messes because the mouse was first there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, dreaming of kittens chasing balls of thread. Papa was a snoring and I was awake, hoping to sleep soon for tomorrow I bake. When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter, I jumped from the bed to see what was the matter! Away to the living room I ran like a flash, hoping the Christmas tree was not totally trashed. Embers from the fireplace threw such a glow, I didn't need lights to see this side show.When what to my wondering eyes did appear but eight sets of eyes and a pup cowering in fear. One tiny mouse that once was so quick, was now pinned by the paw of our big old girl, Snick. The others surrounded her ready to pounce should the little one escape, they were ready to trounce. No,Yoda and Dorrie! Geez, Snickers a...

Don't forget to lock your doors and take your keys. OK, that was a pretty dumb thing to say, but let's face it, so is the hype about "the end of the world". How many times in the last two hundred years have we heard just that? I mean, really! Nostradamus told us that the world was going to end July 1999. Miller told us the world was going to end on April 23, 1843. Pat Robertson said that the world would end in 1982, he's still making predictions and failing. Harold Camping said that the Judgement would be on September 6, 1994 and went on later to say that the Rapture would occur on May 21, 2011....we're still here.  William Branham said that the world would end in 1977...he was killed by a drunk driver in 1965 and didn't get to see his failed prediction. The Mayan calendar, Haley's Comet, Hale-Bop comet, Branch Davidians, the list goes on and on. Truth is, the "art" of predicting the world's end has been going on since the Ministry...

I'm hoping that there are plenty of Tums available for the explosive aftermath! LOL! Seriously.....or not...... Yes, I'm going to take on the daunting task of making tamales for the first time in my life. At least if I am successful then there is hope for anything turtle that I make in the future. You see, anything that is "turtle" has it out for me. Usually its the caramel that I can never get right, whether its the amount or the type, I always fall short somehow. However, one day, I will prevail. Now, tamales, well, they seem to be straight forward, but so does turtle cheesecake, until you go to transfer it to a cake plate and have the entire bottom ooze all over everything. The top of it tasted good, the bottom was a soggy, caramel mess. **sigh** Sad to say that I gave it a rather unceremonious burial in the garbage can and caved to a cake mix for a dessert that I was taking to the auction last night. I hate cake mixes, they're no brainers, no challenge, ba...

Another tragedy has come to our Land and hit the hearts of every parent, grandparent, all who love children. Today, we have lost children, most of them kindergartners. My heart just aches over the images, the words, the thoughts that are going through my mind. Right now, I want to bring my children, even though they are grown, closer to me; to hug them and never let them go. I want to keep my Granddaughters from any type of tragedy and I want to keep them always in my sight, but I can't, in either situation. The sad fact of the matter is that we never know when something like this will happen. In the past few years we have seen high school shootings beginning with Columbine, mall shootings, college campus shootings, theater shootings, mosque shootings and now, the absolute innocent, elementary school children are the targets. My heart is breaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the parents and families of those who have lost their babies oh, too soon. My thoughts and prayers ...

With all of the hustle and bustle that we experience during the Holiday Season, it so easy to overlook little things. We are so busy trying to make sure that every stocking is filled, that underneath the tree is bursting with packages; that our menus are set for that Christmas party or the dinner with family that we forget.....a lot. I don't know when the tradition of gift giving started, to be honest, at six o'clock in the morning one would be hard pressed to find me researching anything. However, this was laid on my heart, so with fingers on the keypad, here I go.  Like I said, I do not know right off the top of my head when exchanging gifts on Christmas became a tradition, perhaps it started on that starry night so many many years ago in Bethlehem when the Magi came bearing gifts for the newborn King. How do I know it was a starry night? The Scripture plainly says that the Magi were following a star that appeared in the sky and that they followed it to their destination, B...

...and since it's still not quite over, I don't doubt that there are still a few surprises waiting around the corner. I must admit, when we came into this year, all I was really expecting was my new baby granddaughter who was due in March, right around her sister's first birthday. Soooo, little Cutie Patootie made us wait an entire week for her arrival, which pretty much means that we have been suckered into being at her whim probably for the rest of our lives. All she has to do is bat those baby browns, turn up the side of her mouth ever so slightly and I'm giving away the farm. Sis has that ability, too, but she doesn't have it quite down pat as the Little One. I'm doomed to be a pauper. Of course, the first statement is just a bit misleading, because as some of you may know, we were also fostering a soldier's dog until we could get her home to Korea. With a lot of help from friends and United Airlines, Angel got home to her family in February. That wa...

Well, the names are quite possibly unprintable.  In the last few days I have seen politicians pull some pretty reprehensible stunts, the latest of which are the ones who are compromising their faith for votes and the Nevada judge who wants to make a young woman with epilepsy go through an abortion and sterilization. I commend Florida Senator Marco Rubio for standing his ground, others should take his example. Too many politicians and judges say that they are born again Christians, but their actions betray them. In the Bible it says that you shall know them by their fruit (their actions - paraphrased by me), and if that's the case there are precious few actual born again Christians in the positions of power. To add insult to injury, that "wonderful" (extreme sarcasm inserted here) pastor (bless his heart), Pat Robertson said in response to Senator Rubio's interview to GQ, "If you fight science, you are going to lose your children."     Way to go, "Past...