Daybook ~ June 25, 2009

Outside my Window ... it's yet another beautiful day that I am stuck inside. My weather bug is saying it is 91...I can only look at the sun... bummer.

I am thankful for ... my job. I tend to rag on it a bunch...how I think I am underpaid, etc...but in this economy, I am very glad that I have a job...and a good job. These are great people I work for and I appreciate it.

From the kitchen ... I think we are having chicken tonight...probably some rice too. Or, we might have a breakfast dinner - I really haven't thought about it. I ate too much for lunch so I don't even want to think about it now.

I am wearing ... a green shirt and a pair of black pants (that Terrance isn't too fond of) and some green shoes my mom didn't want.

I am reading ... same thing as last week...and the week before. I actually finished a magazine - so I think I'm doing pretty good. lol

I am hoping ... to go home soon. I am tired and it has been a long day.

I am hearing ... the West Wing - Season 4. I am watching it here at work. This is the first episode of this season...looks good so far.

Around the house ... the dog is becomming the bane of my existance. He tore up the carpet by the back door yesterday. Grrr. Now we need to look into replacing the carpet - hopefully not with more carpet. I am thinking about that hardwood floor-looking stuff.

One of my favorite things ... playing Wii Star Wars in the evening after everyone else has gone to bed. I can do whatever I want - be whatever character I want - and go as slow as I want - and no one else is around to fuss.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... a fairly slow weekend comparatively. I have a GNO Saturday night - I'm not sure where we are eating - but we are playing mini-golf...the one game that I completely...utterly...suck at - but it'll be fun! I think Jordan wants to go skating Saturday...in fact, I know she does...she told me that she hasn't been in 3 weeks and "has" to go. On Sunday, we are having an adults-only lunch for dad for Father's Day. I am looking forward to it.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... our carpet...or what is left of it. Again, grrrrrr.

Mindless Fact Monday ~ June 22, 2009

~ The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

~ Being unmarried can shorten a man's life by 10 years.

~ A donkey will sink in quicksand. A mule won't.

~ The triangular shape that Toblerone chocolates are packaged in is protected by law.

~ Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents.

~ In the late 1960's, Mountain Dew featured bottles with a hillbilly on them. These are now collector items worth $5-10 each.

~ To be born on Sunday was a sign of great sin during the Puritan times.

~ The most dangerous job in the United States is that of a fisherman, followed by logging, then the airline pilot.

~ In October 1973, Swedish sweet maker Roland Ohisson of Falkenberg was buried in a coffin made entirely of chocolate.

~ A British medical journal, The Practitioner, has officially designated bird watching as a hazardous activity. This is because a bird watcher that was so engrossed in watching birds that he did not notice his dangerous surroundings and was eaten by a crocodile.

Happy Father's Day 2009

Today is that special day that we recognize our fathers. To me, a dad is much more than just being a parent. There are lots of guys out there that have kids...sadly, many of them are not "true" dad's. A dad is someone who you can hang out with, talk to when times are tough, play with, someone who is sad when you are sad - and happy when you are happy...someone who puts his life on hold - for you.

Now, a little history about Father's Day... :)

The first known celebration of Father's Day was on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia, where it was commemorated at William Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South – now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton is believed to have suggested it to her pastor after a deadly explosion in nearby Monongah in December, killing 361 men.

It was also during a sermon in 1909 that Sonora Smart Dodd became inspired by Mother's Day. After the death of her mother, Sonora and her siblings were raised by their father William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora wanted to show how thankful she was to her father and, because William was born in June, she worked to have the first Father's Day celebrated on June 19, 1910.

In 1924, President Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday. President Johnson designated the third Sunday of June to be Father's Day in 1966. It was not until 1972 that President Nixon instituted Father's Day as a national observance.

Did You Know – Roses are the official flower on Father's Day, red for fathers who were still living and white for those who have passed on.
Billy Graham said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."

Happy Father's Day!!

Friday Felicities ~ June 19, 2009

Things that make me happy:

• Staying home with the kids today
• A church picnic tomorrow - they are always fun!
• Sausage fettucini for dinner tonight...I've been looking forward to it since last night. lol
• The ability to hear...for as long as the Lord allows it.
• Jordan's new braces - she looks so cute with them.
• Summer days...and getting to the sprinkler later!
• Wipe-out...the show is so funny!! Total nonsense kind of funny. :)

Link up over at Becky's with thing that make you happy...

Daybook ~ June 18, 2009

Outside my Window ... it looks like it's going to be another beautiful summer day...although it's supposed to hit 95 today - so it might be a little steamy.

I am thankful for ... Mama Jean (((Happy Birthday!!!))) She has been the kids sitter from the time Jordan was born. She has basically helped me raise the kids and I love her for it. She is fabulous.

From the kitchen ... honestly - I have no idea. I have some fish that I think I might make tonight with maybe some rice. There...I've just planned dinner.

I am wearing ... a blue tank top and a pair of Terrance's shorts.

I am reading ... the same thing I reading last week...I'm reading very slowly these days.

I am hoping ... that Jordan's mouth doesn't hurt too bad after getting her braces today.

I am hearing ... Myles playing Wii Star Wars...his favorite game. I thought I might get a few minutes alone this morning - but, alas - as soon as I got up - he got up.

Around the house ... I need to start on Mt. Laundry - but why do that today when I can do that later. lol

One of my favorite things ... my new purple toenail polish I just bought. I am loving it! How fun!! Totally didn't need it...but it was $3 - and it's fun....you need that every now and then.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... Another busy weekend. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to have my "blown speaker"...aka - my ear - looked at. We have the church picnic on Saturday in Ashland City and Father's Day is on Sunday. Whatever happened to weekends when we had nothing planned??

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Jordan and her new braces...

Friday Felicities ~ June 12, 2009

Things that make me happy...

• lazy summer evenings
• leaving the doors and/or windows open and smelling the warm spring air
• movie time in the evenings with Jordan...no telling how long she will want to hang with ol' mom in the evenings
• watching the kids play on the slip and slide and in the sprinklers
• laying out and doing nothing except getting a tan
• the end of the week...and the beginning of the weekend!
• hot and spicy chex mix...yum!
• my wonderful hubby that fixed dinner for us last night since I was crampy.

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy.

Daybook ~ June 11, 2009

Outside my Window ... it is beautiful!! We had a fairly major storm come through this morning - it was so dark it looked like night!! - but the clouds have parted - and it's gorgeous.

I am thankful for ... funds that are available to pay for Jordan's braces. They are going to cost $6000!!! ((can you believe it???)) We have already put $3000 down (Thank you Flex-Pay) and will only have to make the monthly payments for 10 months before I will have more Flex-Pay money and be able to pay it all off.

From the kitchen ... spaghetti for dinner tonight. I am suffering from a visit from "Aunt Flo" - lol - and plan on taking it easy.

I am wearing ... black pants and a brown sleeveless shirt - can't wait to go home to my jammies.

I am reading ... Informed Consent by Sandra Glahn - yet another book my sister has loaned me.

I am hoping ... to do nothing tonight and wait for these darn cramps to go away.

I am hearing ... I am listening to/watching The West Wing - Season 2. Steph has been after me for years to watch this show - and I have finally broken down and tried it...and it's good - I hate to admit it - that I like a show about a ton of Democrats - but it's good. The writing is excellent and the acting is great.

Around the house ... Elizabeth is coming to spend the night for the first time this weekend. She is terrified of dogs - so she should have a minor nervous breakdown when she sees Nico. It should be fun though.

One of my favorite things ... it is about 3 weeks until the 4th of July. I really like the 4th of July. It's probably my second favorite holiday. I love the feeling that everyone is so patriotic. I also like to go to watch the Smyrna fire works display - we go every year and love it.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... It's going to be a fairly slow weekend - compared to the ones we've had lately. We have an anniversary reception to go on Saturday for a couple in our church that have been married for 50 years - we are bringing Elizabeth home Saturday night and then celebrating Travis' birthday on Sunday...guess it's not as slow as I thought.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... We have had Nico for 4 months and 6 days...and he is 27 times bigger than when we got him...lol. I thought we got a dog...I think we got a horse.

Coming Soon....

We are very excited about this!!

Believing God To Get You Through The Rough Stuff

I'm the type to smile and pretend that everything is a-ok. I'm not one to just offer up all the problems I'm having just because someone asks "Are you ok?" or "How are you doing?". I will just give my typical response of "I'm fine". I don't know why I'm like that - I just am.

I have been a part of the most wonderful group of women for the past two years. We meet on Monday nights for Bible study. I think part of the reason I love the group so much is that it is small - just 6 other women. They are slowly getting it through my head that it's ok to ask for prayer for myself. I never used to do that. I would sit there and listen to other's prayer requests and pray for them - but rarely offer up my own...or if I did, they were about other people - my kids - my friends, etc. - never myself.

This past year - we did a Beth Moore study called "Believing God". It was amazing. Knowing that you can lean on God for everything is something I "knew"...but didn't practice. We had a 5 statement pledge we said every week:

• God is who He says He is.
• God can do what He says He can do.
• I am who God says I am.
• I can do all things through Christ.
• God's word is alive and active in me.

I put out an e-mail to a few of the women from group last week and was instantly covered in their prayer. It felt so comforting to know that there were people that I could trust like that - to pray instantly - without knowing all the facts.
The problems aren't gone. We're still working on them...but it's nice knowing that there is someone out there praying for me.

Sunday's service seemed to have song after song that touched me. One stuck out in particular:

Trading My Sorrows

by Darrell Evans

I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my shame

I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

Chorus:

And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure

And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

Mindless Facts ~ May 4, 2009

Earth was April 22, 2009. I had a whole slew of mindless facts to use for it...I forgot. :( So, I will do it this week. :)

• Each year, 96 billion pounds of food are wasted in the United States.
• Each day, the sun causes about a trillion gallons of water to evaporate.
• Tasmania is said to have the cleanest air in the world.
• It takes about 63,000 trees to make the newsprint for the average Sunday edition of The New York Times.
• An acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment.
• In a year, approximately 900 million trees are cut down to make the raw materials for American pulp mills and paper.
• Don't leave your tap running!! A dripping faucet means you could be wasting up to 13 liters of water a day.
• Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil. 50 million tons of paper are consumed annually by Americans...more than 850 million trees being cut down.
• Over 1oo,000 birds and sea animals are killed every year due to plastic garbage.
• The Exxon Valdez spilled the equivalent of 125 Olympic-sized swimming pools filled with oil into Prince William Sound in Alaska.

Now that the mindless fact fun is finished...I must say that I resepect the environment because I respect the Creator of the environment. I have tried to be more "environmentally conscious". I have switched, for the most part, to re-usable cloth bags for my groceries. I don't litter and I have a water bottle that I use instead of constantly buying the plastic ones. The difference between me and the gung-go environmentalists is that they are trying to preserve the planet forever, and I know that this is not God's plan. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up."


So, instead of trying to make the earth last forever, we just need to take care of it while we are here, and leave it for those that come after us...until the Lord returns.

Menu Planning

Following in the footsteps of my much older (lol), wiser sister...I have decided to start planning our menus. Too often, when I go grocery shopping, I buy-buy-buy...but come home with very little in the way of food to create meals with. Not that I am buying snacks...I rarely ever buy snack-y type food...because, if it's not in the house - I won't eat it. :) But, I'm usually lacking essential indgredients to whatever I'm trying to cook and end up making several last minute trips to the store - that always end up costing a lot of money...because you NEVER end up just buying that one item that you went in for.

Also, funds have been a wee bit on the tight side around the house lately - so, I figured if we were just spending money on food for meals - we wouldn't be wasting money on stuff we really don't need.

So, we decided to make a list of meals for the next 2 weeks. We don't have any "set" days that these will be made - but, just having a list of meals that we have all the ingredients for is making meal time much less stressful. We never have much problem with the "side items" - and we just about always have salad with our meals. So here is a list of our main dishes:

• Grilled Chicken
• Taco Salad
• Meatloaf
• Keilbasa
• Breakfast dinner
• Hamburgers & Fries
• Spaghetti
• Fish
• Sloppy Joes
• Ham & Beans
• Chicken Salad

This will get us through to the next time I get paid - and I will do the whole thing again. I figured I spend about the same amount as the last time went shopping, and that food didn't last us for 2 weeks at all. This will cover us for every night for the next 2 weeks - except for Sunday's...we don't ever eat dinner on Sunday's because we eat a late lunch with family after church.
It's worth a try - I think it will work. I'll let you know in 2 weeks when I make out my next one. :)

Friday Felicities ~ April 22, 2009

Things that make me happy:

• Gorgeous spring days
• Coming home to find Terrance cooking dinner
• Working out on the treadmill...even though I will probably be sore tomorrow. :)
• Weekends that will be as gorgeous as today
• Kids that are learning about "not" complaining and "using kind words"
• Celebrating birthdays with family
• Friends that you know you can rely on to pray for you when you need it.

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy...

Easter 2009

I must admited that out of all the "themed" sermons throughout the year - Easter is definitely my favorite...especially as I have gotten older. I am amazed every year by how much I am moved by the service. I don't know why that shocks me...it is so powerful - just thinking about Jesus' resurrection.

Easter is the annual celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ...just in case you didn't know. It is called a "moveable feast" because it does not fall on one set day every year. It falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox...not confusing at all, is it?

The story of Easter:

Matthew 28:1-15

1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to (J)My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'
14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble."
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

He Lives!!!

Hallelujah!!!!

After the Storm~~April 10, 2009

Today was a day of intense storms in our area. I woke up this morning a little before 4:00 am to some extremely loud thunder. I turned on the news to see strong thunderstorms over the entire mid-state area. Thunderstorms I can deal with...tornados - I can't.

At about 12:30 this afternoon, I hear that the storms they were predicting for this afternoon had arrived. Had they ever!!

I was at work in Brentwood - about 45 minutes from our house - watching the news as they are saying that a tornado has been spotted close to our house. Now, on a normal Friday afternoon - that would be sad...because it's our house...but today was not an ordinary Friday afternoon. It is Good Friday...so the kids were home with Terrance. A tornado in the area of my "house" is bad...a tornado in the area of my family is terrifying!!!

Sitting at work, I am frantically calling Terrance telling him to take the kids and get in the closet. He is thinking that he should go out and put the kids in the drainage ditch next to our house!! He takes the kids out...and the tornado is right out in front of our house (but not super-close)!! Our house faces a rock quarry (now a fishing hole) and interstate 840 is beyond that. The tornado was on 840!!! Terrance grabs the kids and basically throws them in the drainage hole and stands there and watches the tornado fly by.

All this time, I am at work - not really knowing what is going on at home. I can't get ahold of Terrance - all the circuits are busy. He finally calls me back and tells me what happened...I lost it. I started crying. I was so frightened that something terrible had happened to my family.

I am so thankful that they are safe. God has protected us yet again.

The tornado

The aftermath

Flooding

After the Storm...

Shaded Gray Daybook ~~~ March 26, 2009

Outside my Window ... it is a beautiful afternoon. It started out pretty cloudy and gray this morning...but the clouds have parted and the sun is shining!! :)

I am thankful for ... a very healthy family. I have been reading all of the FaceBook status' of my friends and just about everyone has a sick family member. Our family is all healthy for the time being. Yeah!!

From the kitchen ...Terrance is grilling "something" tonight. LOL I can't remember what it is. It's been marinating for a few days - so it should be yummy. Probably a side salad and some rice to round out the meal.

I am wearing ... a long brown skirt and my new brown and white shirt that I found at Wal-mart. ((My new favorite shirt!))

I am reading ... Play It Again, SAHM by Meredith Efken. I really enjoy these books - they are so funny!! Also reading Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich - also a funny read.

I am hoping ... to get my laundry caught up tonight so I don't have to fuss with it this weekend - only about 1 load to go!!! :)

I am hearing ... Michael Clayton. I'm watching it here at the office...sssssh - don't tell anyone. LOL

Around the house ... the puppy is becoming the bane of my existance.....he has now torn up 3 pairs of shoes AND torn a small hole in the living room carpet!!! But - on the up-side...he has gotten much better about not peeing on the carpet.

One of my favorite things ... FLIP-FLOPS!!! I love my flops and I am so excited that it's finally warm enough that I can pull them out!!! - and put away all of those stuffy toe-enveloping winter shoes!! :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... not too much. Funds are pretty tight for the next couple of weeks because of the down-payment we had to put on Terrance's new car...but - the bills are paid and the sun is shining...it doesn't get much better than that. :) I plan on just relaxing....a lot.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Myles' new 'do!!

Why only God is "awesome"...

I have been thinking about this for a while now...and I have felt the need to post...

I was a teen in the late 80's and early 90's when everything from pizza to movies to tennis shoes were considered "awesome!!". Of course, I picked up on the trend of calling things that. My dad was quick to say that "Only God is awesome. There is no awesome pizza or awesome movies." That really stuck with me over the years. I have really tried to never use that term in regard to anything materialistic or earthly. I have slipped a few times - but every time I have...I immediately regret saying it.

For me, Isaiah 8:12b-13 says it best (this is the HCSB version):

Do not fear what they fear;

do not be terrified.

You are to regard only

the Lord of Hosts as holy.

Only He should be feared;

Only He should be held in Awe.

I looked up the definition of awesome and it says: "inspiring, showing or characterized by awe". In my opinion...that only describes One...God.

Psalm 33:8 says:

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

If we call these earthly things "awesome" - then we are diminishing how truly awesome God is. What can be more awesome than the fact that God sent His son to die for us???

Deuteronomy 10:21:

He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.

You can see God's awesomeness everywhere around you...from the gorgeous sunrises, the rainbows that remind us of His promise, the mountains, the seas...everything around us. You cannot tell me that a "big bang" created all of this wonder. Only an awesome God can do that.

Also, the grace of God is unbelievably awesome!! We don't deserve anything!! Yet God gave us grace freely!! By His grace, salvation is granted to those who believe. How awesome is that?!?!

Ephesians 2:8:

For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

There is a song by Chris Tomlin called "Holy is the Lord" that has become one of my favorite song:

We stand and lift up our hands

For the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great, how awesome is He

And together we sing

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

The earth is filled with His glory

I think it says it all perfectly...

The 4th Photo

Stephanie @ Olive Tree tagged me for this. Here are the rules:

1.) Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.

2.) Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)! Seriously.. no exceptions.

3.) Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.

4.) Tag 4 people to do the same!!

This picture is from the Chrismas program at church in 2007. That is Jordan in the black with her candle. She had just turned 10 years old...double digits...a hard birthday for old mom. :) They sang Light Of The Stable and did a really great job. :) I actually had to go to the sixth folder because 2 of the folders had videos in it and not pictures...why they weren't in the video section and not the picture section...I don't know. Obviously, I need to do some re-arranging.

Here is a video of the performance...you can fast forward through Myles' part if you want...but it's funny. :)

Friday Felicities ~ Febuary 6, 2009

Things that make me happy...
~ The simple fact that it is Friday!!!
~ Our new puppy - Nico Toscani Gray - named after Steven Seagal's character in Above the Law...Terrance's favorite Seagal movie...he's so cute! :)
~ That Jordan is working on her attitude - that she is realizing that a bad attitude doesn't really get you anywhere.
~ My healthy family...I need to never take that for granted.
~ Our warm house on these cold, cold, cold, cold nights...if you can't tell - I don't like the cold. :)
~ The fact that Terrance and I have good stable jobs when the economy is so bad.

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy...

Shaded Gray Daybook ~ February 5, 2009

Outside My Window...It is starting to get dark on another cold cold cold day. I am so ready for the cold to be over. I am *NOT* a fan of cold weather. On the bright side though...tomorrow is supposed to be around 50-ish. :)

I Am Thinking...about my wonderful, precious Bible study leader who lost her father this past week after being sick for a long while.

I Am Thankful...for my healthy family. I think I take it for granted sometimes that we are all healthy - but after seeing the struggles some families have gone through - I want to always be thankful.

From The Kitchen...pork chops on the grill and long grain and wild rice...a family favorite. After a lunch of carrots and celery - I can't wait!!

I Am Going...to play some Wii with the family after dinner. We are loving our Wii - and loving that the whole family can play together. I love it when Terrance walks in the the room and says, "Anyone wanna Wii??".

I Am Wearing...polar bear fleece jammie pants and my gray/black sweater that I wore to work. I don't really match right now.

I Am Reading...The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake. Yet another book loaned to me by Steph. I am liking it so far.

I Am Hoping...to go to bed early tonight. I keep saying that - and then I keep staying up late. I.am.so.tired...

Around The House...Laundry is almost done - I need to put that away. Other than that...it's pretty clean.

One Of My Favorite Things...my new i-phone. I am loving it! I feel so high-tech. :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...nothing major...just regular stuff. I took Jordan to the orthodontist today for a consultation. It's going to cost $6000!!! I am still trying to wrap my head around that.

Here Is A Picture Thought I Am Sharing With You...

Nico Toscani...the new puppy

MIndless Fact Monday ~ January 19, 2009

~ A Leech has 32 brains.

~ Polar Bears can smell from up to 20 miles away.

~ Every U.S. bill - regardless of denomination - costs just 4 cents to make.

~ Lachanophobia is the fear of vegetables.

~ The first Wal-mart opened in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962.

~ The country of Andorra, a tiny country buried in the mountains separating France and Spain, has a zero percent unemployment rate.

~ The largest diamond ever found was 3106 carats. It was found in Guatent, South Africa on January 25, 1905. It is known as the Cullinan Diamond and weighs about 1.36 pounds.

~ During his entire life, Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting.

~ In 1992, approximately 750 deaths occured in the United States due to workplace violence.

~ Heinz has not changed their recipe for ketchup since its establishment in 1876.