"Books & Making Another Art Movie"

Hey. It's been about four days since I last wrote, so I figured I'd better follow-up. Time was well spent at Books-a-Million, when I went with cousins Tom & Rita. I found some wonderful books that peaked my interest. The first book I bought was ultimately the November issue of Herb Companion magazine. It had an article about bees. The second book I got was author Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal. I saw an article in it that was very informative: it taught me to create a homemade still. It is so cool! The directions are very simple: first get a stainless-steel pot, center a brick in it, put rose petals up to the brim of the brick, then add just enough water to cover the roses. Place a glass bowl on the brick. Afterwards, place the lid on the pot upside down, and turn on the heat. The vapors go upward, then fall down into the bowl. Wow!!! The other book I got was discounted because it was out of date, however, I bought it because I still have Adobe Golive 6 which was the last version. Then I got a tourist book on Italy which tells about the history of many sites there. And that was it. It cost a little over $70 with my 10% discount card, but it's worth it. I might decide not to keep the Italian book though; it has nothing in it about the areas where my grandparents came from. Well, after creating a CD and Super CD of my artwork on my mac, I decided that I wanted a true DVD version of it. So The Lord told me and reminded me of how to do it: first, I export the original movie from my Apple laptop onto a tape in my DV Camcorder. Then import it into my PC. From there I had to review the entire movie and add breaks in it so that it'd have separate chapters. I finally finished it and it looks great! Except for some minor details, which I wasn't going to crack up over by fixing them. I also printed and filled out my copyright forms. I still have to call up the Copyright Office to see which form to use, due to the fact that there is music as well as pictures of art drawings and it's a movie. I had to take Santina to the hospital Friday. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning and got home at 4:00 in the afternoon. Hope I didn't grieve any friends who called me while I was sleeping because I sure didn't answer the cell phone.

Artwork completed..........

Wow, I finally completed most of my artwork. I separated my originals from my copies, scanned my originals, uploaded them into my computer's iPhoto program, transferred my iPhotos to iMovie, make titles and table of contents for both the movie and the binders of originals and hardcopies, inserted my voice narration and songs that I wrote, then I saved iMovie and sent it to be saved as a movie by using QuickTime...and then some: I finally made it to the final stage of copying my movie onto a CD. I made two copies as a super video CD, which is able to be viewed on any DVD player that has MP3/CD/JPEG capabilities. It took all night and half my afternoon to finish the encoding and writing to my CD! Anyways, I'm making another CD of the movie as a regular video CD, just to see what the difference is. I think there could be a big difference though. First, I tried playing the super video CD on my computers (both Mac and PC) and it didn't work. And second, I played it on my DVD player and it worked. I really enjoyed viewing all my art on the television, as well as hearing me sing. So now I'm waiting for my regular CD to get done encoding and writing while I wait for my cousin Tom and Rita. We're suppose to go to the Dayton Mall area and browse around in Books-a-Million and then eat. If we can't find Books-a-Million, then we'll gladly go to Barnes n' Nobles. I love books! I love to read and learn about computers, web page/site design, and other cute stuff. One of these days I'm going to create my own video game! They have books on making games for teens, so I figure if a teen can understand it then so can I. However, some of those games are written in C programming language, as well as Basic. Well, the only thing that I have left to do for my art collection is to write the page numbers on both originals and hardcopies. Sounds easy, but I've got about 250-300 pages in each binder. When I get all that done, I've got to call and talk to somebody at the copyright office in Washington, D.C. to find out if I should send the binder of hardcopies, or the CD. They probably would want the CD since it is lighter and way less bulky.

My Birthday and Hurricane Wilma

My birthday was different this year. There was no cake. I guess I shouldn't complain; I'm 42 years old. But I had to run around and do errands. First, my friend, Missy, called to wish me a happy birthday. We had planned to celebrate by going to a movie, as well as having dinner at Golden Corral because they offered me a coupon for a free meal on my birthday. Mom had answered the phone and told Missy that I have a family too and my family would like to celebrate with me. I got so upset! My mother was so selfish - I didn't mind when she told me that I had to take her to her doctor's appointment, but when she said that I had to take her to Indiana for her own selfish habit, I got furious. That was no celebration at all! And nobody had anything planned for me when I got home either. Second, when I did take Mom to the chiropractor, his office was closed when we got there, meaning that Mom got confused as to what time her appointment was. She thinks maybe it's a good thing since she has been hurting from the last couple of treatments. Third, I had to go home to rest only to take my Mom all the way to Indiana. I have more compassion on her these days, and thank God He has opened her eyes and put a desire in her heart to go to meetings so that she won't go anymore. So when I got home, I wanted to shop for some cake-decorating necessities to make my grandnephew a cake for his birthday. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought some Wilton products. Afterwards, I decided to call my sister, who was at her daughter's house, and go over to keep her company while she watched her grandson (my grandnephew). However, my sister did give me a birthday present. I told her she didn't need to wrap it, so she handed me a skirt and a matching top. It is so pretty. I just have to lose weight for it to fit me better. Then we ordered pizza and a Greek salad (of course I ordered a cheesecake, and it didn't even taste good). So Saturday was different. Sunday we celebrated my grandnephew's 4th birthday. We had the party at LaRosa's Italian Restaurant. I brought my Digital Video camcorder and had a blast taping the children and the guests. We all had salad (this time it was Italian) and pizza and cake. Although my niece made the cake, they said that I could make another cake on Monday, which is his birthday. So after the party, I went home and made DVDs from the video so I can give one each to his grandma, his mom, his dad, and his great-grandma. That took me all night up to this morning. Today I'm watching the news which is reporting about Hurricane Wilma hitting Florida. We're very intense on watching it because Mom and I are concerned about our house near the Clearwater/Tampa area. I'm praying that God/YHVH and His living Son, JESUS watch over and protect our home in Florida.

My vision of Christ Jesus

Two weeks ago at church I was discussing with a church lady friend about a vision of Christ Jesus that I had seen back in 2004. She said that medicine could had caused me to hallucinate, but I disagreed. I didn't tell much about the vision, but I know that it was real and a gift from Father God because I had prayed in the Holy Spirit, being led by the Holy Spirit as to what to pray. I felt like someone was holding my hand as I prayed upon my bed. I'm not sure if I want to publish my vision, because everyone will read it and try to imitate it or act like they had a vision too and copy off of my description and details. I don't like false prophets who lie. Anyway, I haven't had a vision like that before in my life. And I haven't seen anything since. However, I'm praying that I see Jesus again. I really need the Holy Spirit to stir in me my gifts again. I wish I could pray like how I prayed that night before the vision. All I remember was that I was flowing in enormous love, having been very attracted to an actor I saw in a movie that I saw that evening before I prayed. I know that I prayed for the actor and the real-life man that he portrayed, and I also remember praying that everyone on the earth and in the earth, in Heaven, in Hell, and all those who are His and all those who are not His, to see Him. I wanted to see Him so badly.

All I can say is, He answered my prayer. My Savior truly saved me.

Sin

I just want to write my thoughts about sin and what my attitude towards sin is. A friend of mine had told me that it's not right to be judgmental because everybody sins. However, The Bible says that we are to "be holy, as our Heavenly Father is Holy", 1 Peter 1:13-16. The Bible says a lot of things and we are expected to adhere to and do what it says to do. I'm not sure if I can be friends with such a person who claims to be a Christian and then turns around and acts like sin is nothing. It should bother a Christian, especially if the Holy Ghost lives inside. Jesus said in Luke 17:1-10 that if a brother sins against you seven times, you are to forgive him seventy times seven. Also remember the example of how Jesus forgave the aldulteress, and He said to her, "Go and sin no more." It is clear that the Holy Bible wants us to not sin. Also in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul instructs us to expel the immoral brother.

It is evident that Jesus was against sin, and we should be against sin too. For it is written in Mark 9:42-50 that if anyone would make any of these little ones, who believe in Him, to sin that it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck. He continued to say that everyone will be salted with fire and if we were to lose our saltiness, then how could we ever be salty again? He says "have salt in yourselves and be at Peace with one another." I believe that the fire is the Holy Ghost who keeps us from sinning. But if we did sin, we have a Great High Priest in Heaven, Jesus, who will intercede for us. But the Bible still says to stay away from sin. Like Joseph in Genesis, who fled the other way when he was tempted.

"Watch out for false prophets," JESUS said in Matthew 7:15-23. He went on to say that they'll be wolves in sheep's clothing, meaning that they'll look and talk like good people. But He said that you'll know them by their fruits. I think that the fruits of sin and the fruits of a Godly life reveal two different people. "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven." Also just because a person prophesies and casts out demons in His name doesn't mean Jesus will receive them either. That tells me that just because people have the "gifts" of the Holy Ghost, doesn't mean they'll make it to Heaven. It's the people who have the FRUITS of the Holy Ghost that will get into heaven. "But the fruits of the Holy Ghost are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Paul also wrote in Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently."

Love to everybody,
Anna

Hey

Do you like the picture of my niece? Isn't she a beauty queen?

I'm typing with my Apple laptop tonight. How is everyone doing? Today was okay. I had to take Mom to the chiropractor again. I have to take her every other day, and sometimes every day. The doctors and the message therapists there are really nice people, and I look forward to taking Mom there each time we go; however, it's getting to be too much. But Mother needs it. She does not have a car up here so that she could go by herself, and even if she did, I wouldn't feel right letting her drive on the Interstate. She's getting way up there in years and I really worry about her, but her mind is still young.

I completed my geocities website. If anybody would like to see it, click this: www.geocities.com/annamarieisgro63.

While Mom was at the doctor's office, I decided to go to McDonald's Restaurant down the street from the Rehab center. I am determined to win something from that Monopoly game! So far, I've got about $19 worth of those Best Buy coupons. All I need is one of each set of tickets to win something. I think the ones I need are Boardwalk, Short Line Railroad (5026), Pennsylvania Avenue, Ventnor Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, Tennessee Avenue, Virginia Avenue, Vermont Avenue, and Mediterranean Avenue. When does this game end, anyway?

Books I've been reading.....

This week has been busy. I think it all started when I went to the bookstores and bought a few books. I bought "Creating Web Pages for Dummies" and "Creating Web Sites for Dummies" and "iCon"; the latter being a unauthorized biography about the life and business of Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO; I don't like how the author of iCon tends to glorify the man as though he is a god because I believe that God/JESUS gave Steve Jobs the power to do what he's done. I plan on reading the book about Web Site right after I finish reading the book on Web Pages. The Web Pages has given a wealth of information within the past week. I learned about the advanced web creation programs of AOL and Geocities and experimented with them by designing my own webpages there. And I would have never have known about www.blogger.com, nor would I have known how to use it, if it wasn't for that book "Creating Web Pages for Dummies." It is an exceptional book. The chapter that I'm reading about now is teaching me about hyperlink and anchors. I have so many aspirations to write about in my website, if I ever make my own. The website that I have now is created by some guy in San Diego, California and I'm all the way on the East side of the U.S. He's pretty reasonable though, and he is so knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge with me whenever I ask. I guess I could put up my resume on my current website. I'm not sure if I want to put any of my recipes on it because I'd like to keep my recipes private since I have an aspiration to sell my baked goods some day. I wouldn't mind having a coffee shop, or a chapel. I also have an aspiration to create a widget for the Apple Operating System 10.4 Tiger, if I can ever learn how to create one.

I served too..........

I served in the military and went through a bunch of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual discrimination, which produced a very bad attitude in me by the time I was honorably discharged which, by the way, was not my idea. I wanted so bad to have a nice career proudly serving my country in the footsteps of my father, but I had to work with morons who took advantage of my body, mind, spirit, and innocence. They didn't care that I wanted to be an officer; they didn't care that I graduated from an elite, private high school, and they especially didn't care that I loved Christ Jesus. JESUS' name was a taboo. But I spoke His majestic and holy Name anyway. If I could just write my life story, it would be enough. I could forgive the world for destroying my life because they are expected to be worldly and cruel without God's love. But what hurt me the most was a church who I connected with spiritually and mentally. I depended on that church so much after I was royally thrown out of the service, and they threw me out too. I tell you, when the church can't love their sister and brother who are in need, there's no hope for the world. God is Love, and if the church does not have love nor show love, then there is no love at all in the world. But then again, what about the love of a father, and mother, and family members: God must be somewhere in their hearts even though they aren't "church" people. Maybe the church isn't what it's suppose to be; then again, maybe I just went to a bad church. All I know is that I haven't felt like I click in with any group of people anymore; I feel totally like an outcast. I mean, I was a whole person before I went into the military, and then I came out all messed up. After being out of the service and church for 15 years, I am just now struggling to go back to church on a regular basis, but it is so very hard. I attend services only occasionally these days. What I've learned is that there's nothing like family. I left my family when I was young because I thought they were all disfunctional, but when it came to push and shove, they were there for me. I was homeless when I got out of the military because I couldn't take care of myself having been totally oppressed with psychiatric symptoms (that the military did not treat me for even though they recognized it). It was my family who gave me a home again. Now all I do is stay home and go to my doctor every month, and take strong medicine to keep me sane. I want to write a book about my life story so badly. I know it would make the best seller list; there's so much I've done and so much I've went through. I guess I could write about my past in my blog. That's what it's for, isn't it? But I can't concentrate very well; I'll have to do it little by little. All I know is that I've always lifted up Christ JESUS all my life, including while I was young, and He has taken care of me and made me want for nothing. God is so very GOOD. My Savior has truly saved me.

The Holy Spirit sings to me

There's a song that I woke up to playing in my head this morning. The verse that keeps playing over and over is this: "JESUS will still be there; His love will never change, as sure as the steady rain. JESUS will still be there...." It's so kind and compassionate that the Holy Spirit will bring it to mind. It's almost as if He were singing it to me like a momma sing to her babe. He gently wakes me up. Praise Jesus! Thank you, Jesus for such a blessed morning.

Here a Holy Scripture that I just opened my Bible to and my hand pointed to: Isaiah 48:10-11 "See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another." Isaiah 48:10-11.

He certainly has refined me. I'll post my life story later.

Good Morning!

I woke up early this morning after going to bed late as usual.

Does anybody know how to play "Myst," the computer game? I can't figure out what to do for the life of me.

Keeping busy.......

I've been a good girl all day long. Mom left with my sister and cousin and left me at home. So I tried to keep busy by reading a book, updating my websites on the computer, updating my software on my computer, and going out to do some errands. Last night was the same thing. I had to take Mom out to Indiana and drop her off at her favorite place, got some powerball tickets on the way home, and then stayed home all night at the computer. Then I had to pick her up, of course, when she called. I'm not complaining; at least it gets me out of the house. I didn't go to church today. I felt like I wanted to stay at home. I do miss meeting my friends though when I miss church services. Savior, save me.
Do you like this picture of boxes that I designed? It's one of my original artworks. I wish I could do something more with my artwork, like maybe burn and color them in on wood, paint them on canvas, make a rug by latchhooking them, and/or making embroidery of them. I just don't know what to do with them. I know I'd like to make wallpaper using my artwork too...and ceramic tiles...maybe even mosiac.

Web of Positive Thinking vs. true Salvation

I was reading a blog tonight and it talked about positive thinking. I've got my own ideas about positive thinking.

I think positive thinking is a great way to increase the mind's productivity. However, once I commented to my sister that I would like to name my church, if I should ever pastor one, "Church of Messiah Jesus, FRIEND OF SINNERS." Well, she commented that nobody would attend the church because they'd feel like they were sinners instead of saints. I told her that in order to come to God and to receive JESUS in your heart, you have to admit that you're a sinner and that you need Him. ............................ Afterwards, Jesus cleanses you and takes away your sins, and you have power from the Holy Ghost to stop sinning. Now, Paul wrote that his flesh wages war with his spirit because his flesh wants to sin all the time, and his spirit does not want to sin. "Oh wretched man that I am," he said. Also, in the Gospels, Jesus said that it is the sick who need a doctor, not the healthy; meaning He came to save us from our sins. However, I understand that people, after having been saved by God, do want to confess that they are washed in the Blood, white as snow, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, the Proverb 31 woman, etc. I believe in speaking the Word of God to your soul to encourage you and to keep you from stumbling. Thank God for His Word, the Word made flesh - JESUS.

God is so GOOD!!!

Just want to write about how God saved me again today, or rather saved my mother instead. He answered my prayer. My mother insisted that I take her to the casino tonight, so I prayed that she'd win, and she did. I know that God-Jesus is God of the lots, just like in the book of Jonah and Acts in the Holy Bible. I pray that she gets all her money back that she lost throughout the years due to that stupid, evil gambling boat that deceives her and makes her think she'll win big all the time. Only God/JESUS can give you the jackpot. The Holy Bible says in Proverbs that when God gives a person wealth, there will not be any evil to come because of it. I'm really happy that she won tonight. Thank God He answered my prayer in JESUS' Name.

ISAIAH 53:1-12, Holy Scripture

"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people He was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

ISAIAH 53:1-12 (NIV)

I really love that Holy Scripture. It speaks of JESUS, our Messiah and Savior & Redeemer of all peoples. JESUS is the Friend of sinners. JESUS is the only mediator to God for man. The above picture is from my art collection describing Christ JESUS' suffering on the cross when He bore all the sins known to man on Himself. In the picture, you can see all the sins known to man on JESUS' body that He bore, so that we didn't have to die; instead, He died for us and took our place. He makes sinners into saints when we ask Him to save us. "Savior, save me!"

Here's one of my peaceful drawings. I really like the orange on the green leaves. 

Here's another favorite picture. I call it Rainbow Kaleidoscope. It's copyright also, so please don't copy it. 

This is one of my most favorite drawings in my artwork collection. It's copyrighted...so please don't copy it. All I did was doodle, and then as I looked in the lines I saw a flower and an angel (or fairy). So I colored it in! It is so pretty! 

This is me with the former sheriff of my county back in 1995. It was taken at a picnic held by my former congresswoman's office. 

lazy day....

Hey everybody.......I was looking at some other blogs today and I noticed that they look much better than mine. I really enjoy this website! I was so tired today. Guess I'm not drinking enough water, in fact, I don't think I've had very much over the past few days. I had tohelp my mother watch little Anthony today again. He is such a good boy, but he is so active! I showed him a new game a few days ago and he just loves it! I had bought a Nintendo64 about 10 years ago and I got it out and showed it to him. He hasn't been able to put it down ever since! That's what he was playing when I left to go do some errands. I had to go to the bank to make a deposit for my mother; it took about 30 to 45 minutes to get there! Then I decided to go see my sister on her break. I took her some food from Frisch's restaurant. Before I saw her today, I went into the Goodwill store to see if there was anymore Nintendo64 games left from the other day. To my surprise they were all gone. They were a good bargain; only $4.00 each. I'm glad I got some the other day when I did. So after leaving my sister, I drove home. I was so tired that I thought I was going to fall asleep at the wheel! I couldn't wait to get home. Then when I did get home, I went straight to bed to take a nap. Little Anthony asked me to let him play his games, but I couldn't because Mom was watching her soap opera on the television. I don't really care for soap operas, but Mother likes them. She's been watching them ever since she came to America from Italy. That's how she learned her English language. So I fell asleep....... When I woke up, my sister was already home to pick up little Anthony. Now I'm on the computer checking my website, http://www.annamarieisgro.com, to see who all visited my site. Then I checked my forum, http://www.annamarieisgro.com/forum, to see if anybody wrote any thoughts about some of my topics. Then I checked out some other blogs and enjoyed reading them. I guess I can do the rest of my artwork to get them ready for the copyright office. I still have to call them to see if they want a CD/DVD of all my artwork, or a huge binder. I'm sure they would prefer the disk, but I just want to ask them anyway.

My duty to report a crime....

I was talking to a 17 year old the other night on the Internet and she confided in me saying that she was raped and molested by her father several years ago. I encouraged her to report it to the police, but she said that she was afraid. I told her that I understood her feelings, so I offered to call the police for her. She was grateful. On Monday, which was a holiday, I tried calling the FBI but they said that it was the jurisdiction of her local police department. So I got her city police number and left a message on his voice mail. So today the sargeant called me, but my mother answered the phone. I have no idea of what he said to her, except from what Mom told me. From what she said, I felt totally degraded as if the cop thought I was crazy. I sure hope the police of North Carolina has enough respect for women to lock up men for committing rape and incest. I thought about what to say to that police officer all day long, and it made me sick. I thought I was doing a good deed by helping a minor. JESUS, help me.