Morning Everyone&#33;<br /><br /><br />It was a nice day today, and right now it&#39;s 36 degrees, so... not too bad.  We do have a winter storm watch for Thursday with high amounts of snow and blowing winds, so Spring isn&#39;t here just yet.  LOL  I have been pretty busy lately, and also my computer is acting up so I&#39;m sorry I haven&#39;t had much time to spend with you.  <br /><br />Today is &quot;Ash Wednesday.&quot;  The beginning of Lent.  Here is an explanation for those who are not familiar with the day...<br /><br />WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY? <br /><br />Ash Wednesday (from the Latin Dies Cinerum, meaning &quot;Day of Ashes&quot;) is the first day of Lent. On this day, Christians focus intensely on their utter and complete sinfulness and the necessity of Christ&#39;s suffering and death to earn their salvation. Ashes are referred to many times in the Old Testament as a sign of sorrow, mourning, repentance, and mortality (2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1-3; Job 42:6; and Jeremiah 6:26). Many churches use ashes during Ash Wednesday worship as part of a rite called the Imposition of Ashes. According to this custom, ashes (traditionally made by burning palm fronds used on Palm Sunday of the previous year) are mixed with a small amount of olive oil and applied to the forehead of each worshipper. The smudge mark made by the dirty ashes is a powerful reminder that we are going to die because death is the penalty for our depraved natures and sins of thought, word, and deed. The fact that the ashes are placed on our foreheads in the sign of the cross directs us to Jesus Christ as the only way to forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in heaven. <br /><br /><br /><br />Falina...my prayers are with your SIL.<br /><br />Deb...said a prayer for your kitty-cat.  Hope all is well.  Both my cats have slowed down a bit in their eating since they have aged, but they seem to be fine.  I have been trying to give them canned food more often since they really like that.<br /><br />Mary Lou...I&#39;m so sorry to hear about the cut in Jim&#39;s hours.  <br /><br />Rose...hope your cold goes away soon...your sister is in my prayers...I&#39;m so glad she is doing OK, now.  A collapsed lung sounds kind of scary, though.<br /><br />Jackie..hope you back is better...hope you have a wonderful trip&#33;<br /><br />Jen...thinking of you and your mom...Hugs&#33;<br /><br />Deb and James...not long and you&#39;ll be cruising&#33;  Have a wonderful cruise&#33;<br /><br />I wasn&#39;t able to go back too far in the posts, so I will just say hi to all my Cruise Crazies friends.<br /><br />Have a wonderful day&#33;