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>>HI THERE WELCOME
WELCOME TO HOMEKEEPERS WE
HAVE EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS
HERE IN OUR LITTLE CUP OF
TEA, ACTUALLY AND THAT IS
WHAT SHE ACTUALLY,
SOMEBODY GAVE IT TO ME, IT
IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE ALL
OF THE CHRISTMAS STUFF
AROUND, AND WELCOME WE
HAVE SUCH A SPECIAL
PROGRAM FOR YOU TODAY AND
EARLIER THIS YEAR CAROL
KENT, WHO WROTE WHEN I LAY
MY ISAAC DOWN, AND MANY
OTHER BOOKS, WITH HER
HUSBAND THEY WERE HERE
LAST JANUARY, AND I SAID
WOULD YOU SIT DOWN AND
TALK WITH ME ABOUT
CHRISTMAS, AND WHAT IT IS
LIKE TO GO FROM A GREAT
FAMILY CHRISTMAS TO
STANDING IN LINE IN A
PRISON, WAITING TO SEE
YOUR SON, AND THAT IS YOUR
CHRISTMAS, AND THERE ARE
NO DECORATIONS OR ANYTHING
THERE, AND HOW CHRISTMAS
COMPLETELY CHANGED WHEN
THEIR SON WAS TAKEN TO
PRISON FOR LIFE, NO CHANCE
OF PAROLE.
AND I THOUGHT OF A VERY
THOUGHT-PROVOKING STORY,
AND CAROL IS THE ONE THAT
WROTE A NEW KIND OF
NORMAL, AND IF THAT IS NOT
AN APPROPRIATE TITLE FOR
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY, I WANT TO OFFER
THAT BOOK TO YOU, AND IT
IS AVAILABLE TO YOU BY
CALLING THE 800 NUMBER,
1-800-229-0059, OR WRITE
TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND YOU
KIND OF NORMAL IT MIGHT
EVEN BE A HAPPY THING, BUT
SOMETIMES IT IS NOT.
AND SOMETHING COMES THAT
COMPLETELY CHANGES YOUR
LIFE, FOR EVER.
AND SO YOU ESTABLISH A NEW
KIND OF NORMAL, AND THEY
CAN BE SO MANY THINGS, AND
I THINK EVERYBODY WILL
NEED IS SOME TIME IN THEIR
LIFE, AND THIS IS WHY I AM
VERY PLEASED TO OFFER YOU
THE BOOK, AND I HOPE TO
HEAR FROM YOU ON THAT.
I JOINED WANT OVER HERE,
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A
CHRISTMASY THING, AREN'T
WE?
>>YES WE ARE
>>WHAT IS IT?
>>IT IS A CRANBERRY
SQUARE.
>>CRANBERRY GELATIN
SQUARES, AND YOU CAN CUT
THEM LIKE BROWNING, SORT
OF?
>>YOU CAN
>>AND EXPLAINING IN THE
BEGINNING, AND WE TOOK 28
OUNCE CANS OF CRUSHED
PINEAPPLE, AND WE DRAINED
IT, AND WE PUT THE JUICE
ITSELF, THE RESERVE JUICE
IN A MEASURING CUP, AND IF
IT DOES NOT COME TO A FULL
COPY YOU JUST ADD MORE
WATER, AND YOU ADD THAT
MUCH, AND BRING TO A BOIL
ON THE STOVE, AND THEN
>>OVERLAPPING
CONVERSATIONS
>>AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES
THE LIQUID, AND WHEN IT
COMES TO A BOIL, THEN YOU
ADD, YOU TAKE IT OFF THE
BURNER, AND YOU ADD, THERE
ARE 2 OUNCES, OF
STRAWBERRY GELATIN.
>>AND HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T
NEED TO USE ANY WATER, BUT
IF YOU DO AND THIS GOES IN
HERE?
>>I MADE A MESS-YES AND
YOU INTO THAT OUT, AND
THIS IS GOING TO SPILL OUT
ON THE.
>>THIS IS CRANBERRIES, AND
WHOLE BERRIES, AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT?
IT HAS TO BE WHOLE?
>>IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY
HAVE TO BE THAT, IF YOU
LIKE THAT, I THINK IT IS
RIGHT NICE ACTUALLY.
>>AND THIS GOES IN HERE?
>>YES, AND YOU CAN ADD
THAT IN THERE, AND THIS IS
JUST A HALF A CUP OF MILK.
>>AND IT IS VERY MUCH
DRIED UP
>>HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM.
>>AND THIS IS DRIVE A
PINEAPPLE.
>>I SHOULD NOT BE TO
DRIVE.
>>AND YOU HAVE IT EARLY
MIXED.
>>THOROUGHLY MIXED.
AND I'M GOING TO MIX THIS
TOGETHER, FOR A MINUTE OR
TWO.
>>DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN
CAROL WAS HERE?
>>I DO.
SHE IS A WONDERFUL WOMAN.
>>AND THAT IS THE MOST
AMAZING STORY, IT HAUNTS
ME, I AM NOT KIDDING YOU,
IT HAUNTS ME.
AND IT IS ONE OF THE WORST
AND THE LORD IS BRINGING
GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.
>>I SAW HER NOT TOO LONG
AGO ON THE TELEVISION.
>>AND I THINK SHE WAS ON
THE WE NETWORK YES, I SAW
HER THERE.
AND THIS IS JUST SOME
CREAM CHEESE, WHICH I
WHIPPED UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND THE REASON I'M DOING
THIS, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY
THE TOPPING THAT GOES ON
THE CRANBERRY GELATIN,
ONCE IT IS MOLDED, AND I'M
GOING TO ADD THIS TO THIS.
>>AND I KEEP MIXING AND
MIXING THIS, BECAUSE
WANDA, SHE SAID IT HAD TO
BE VERY THOROUGH.
AND SHE IS A
PERFECTIONIST.
AND I'M THE SLOB.
AND SHE GOES INTO
MOURNING, IF IT IS NOT
RIGHT.
>>I SAW THAT.
>>BLENDER SOUND
>>AND THAT IS INSTANT
PUDDING.
AN INSTANT VANILLA
PUDDING?
RIGHT?
>>RIGHT.
AND YOU MIXES TOGETHER.
>>IS THAT WHAT GOES ON THE
TOP AFTER HE GOES IN
THERE?
>>THE GELATINE IS RIGHT
BEHIND YOU.
>>AND WHAT DO WE DO WITH
IT?
>>AND IT IS PARTIALLY
GELLED.
DO YOU PUT THIS IN HERE?
>>YES, YOU ADD THAT RIGHT
IN THERE.
>>AND IT IS PARTIALLY
GELLED.
SO THEY WERE MIXED IN
THERE, RIGHT?
AND WHILE SHE IS SHOWING
YOU THAT, I'M GOING TO GET
THIS ONE OUT OF HERE.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND
FESTIVE, AND I HAVE A
HUNCH THAT IT REALLY
TASTES GOOD.
>>AND ONCE THIS.
>>AND THIS IS A WONDERFUL
RECIPE THAT YOU CAN FIX.
TWO DAYS AHEAD OF TIME I
BET.
>>I'M SURE YES, AND MAYBE
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
>>AND IT IS NICE AND FIRM,
WATCH ME MAKE A MESS.
>>AND I WILL WATCH, AND
THAT WILL BE FUNNY, AND
I'M VERY CONTENT TO WATCH
YOU DO THAT.
>>LAUGHTER
>>OH.
>>HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>>I HAVE A CROSS TO BEAR
WORKING WITH A
PERFECTIONIST.
TRUST ME.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO
GET THIS ONE OUT.
>>AND I CAN SLEEP TONIGHT.
>>ISN'T THAT PRETTY?
>>VERY PRETTY.
>>I LOVE IT.
>>AND ONE THING WE DID NOT
TELL THEM, YOU TAKE THE
TABLE SPOON OF MELTED
BUTTER, AND DIFFERENT
KINDS, AND YOU MIX IT
TOGETHER, AND YOU PUT IT
IN THE OVEN FOR ABOUT OH,
MAYBE FOR FIVE MINUTES,
UNTIL YOU START TO SMELL
THE AROMA, AND THIS IS
GOING TO GO INTO THE
REFRIGERATOR AND SAID, AND
ONCE IT IS SET, THEN YOU
PUT THE TOPPING ON.
AND THEN YOU KNOCK IT OFF
THE TOP OF THAT.
>>LISTEN, AND THAT COULD
EASILY BE A DESERT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE.
>>IS THE TOPPING GOOD?
>>YES.
IT IS DELICIOUS.
IN FACT, YOU MIGHT HANG
ONTO THE RECIPE IN THE
TOPPING AND THAT COULD BE
DELICIOUS.
>>OH, YES.
AND IT IS NOT AWFULLY
SWEET.
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING.
AND THEY ARE CALLED?
>>AND CRANBERRY GELATINE
SQUARES, AND OF COURSE
BEFORE YOU AND IF YOU ARE
HAVING COMPANY YOU WANT TO
KEEP THEM IN THE
REFRIGERATOR UNTIL RIGHT
BEFORE THEY GET THERE, AND
THEY WOULD BE PRETTY, ON
THE DECORATIVE PLATE, AT
ALL, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO
PUT THEM INDIRECTLY FROM
THE FURNACE, AND THEY ARE
VERY GOOD, AND SOMETHING
LIGHT AND AS I SAID BEFORE
IT IS NOT JUST SWEET, IT
IS VERY NICE.
>>AND THAT IS WHAT I
WANTED TO ASK YOU, IS IT
TART?
>>KNOW, IT IS DELICIOUS.
>>AWESOME.
>>I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT
CAROL AND JEAN HAVE TO
SAY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY
OF TODAY'S RECIPE PLEASE
SEND YOUR REQUEST ALONG
WITH A GIFT OF FIVE
DOLLARS OR MORE TO
HOMEKEEPERS P.O.
BOX 6922 CLEARWATER, FL
33758.
>> I THINK MOST OF US IF
YOU LIVE VERY LONG, YOUR
GOING TO DEAL WITH
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES,
AND THAT IS WHY I WANTED
TO SIT DOWN WITH JANE AND
CAROL KENT AND TALK ABOUT
THE DIFFICULT CHRISTMAS
ANSWER TO THE FIRST ONE
WHEN THEY VISITED THEIR
SON IN PRISON.
AND IF YOU HAVE WATCHED
THIS PROGRAM VERY MUCH,
YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
THEIR STORY.
AND IF YOU HAVE NOT, IT IS
A WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN
FAMILY, THEY CAME FROM
CHRISTIANS, AND THEY
RAISED A CHRISTIAN BOY,
AND A LONG STORY SHORT, HE
IS IN PRISON TODAY FOR
LIFE, BECAUSE A
FIRST-DEGREE ***.
AND HONESTLY, TO THE TWO
OF YOU I THINK, I CANNOT
THINK OF ANYTHING MORE
SHOCKING, AND YOU BOTH
TOLD ME IN OTHER
INTERVIEWS, WHAT IT WAS
LIKE WHEN YOU GOT THE
PHONE CALL.
AND IN YOUR BOOK, THE NEW
KIND OF NORMAL, YOU TALK
ABOUT THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS
AND I'M TELLING YOU I
ALMOST WEPT WHEN I READ
IT, AND IT LITERALLY GAVE
ME WHAT I CALL A PAIN IN
THE GUTS.
>>I THINK ARTHELENE, WE
ARE SO USED TO CHRISTMAS
BEING A CELEBRATORY TIME,
AND WE HEAR THE MUSIC, AND
WE DECORATE THE HOUSE, AND
WE MAKE SPECIAL FOOD AND
THAT IS WHAT WE MAKE FOR
THE FAMILY, WHEN THEY COME
FOR THOSE VERY EXCITING
HOLIDAYS, AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN YOU ARE FACING
TRAGEDY AND DEATH, AND
THERE ARE SUCH SADNESS, IN
YOUR LINE THAT YOU CANNOT
IMAGINE LOOKING AT
EVERYBODY ELSE'S HAPPY
LIFE AND REALIZING WHAT
YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH, AND
IN THE LAWS IS MAGNIFIED
IN A GIGANTIC WAY.
>>AND BY CHRISTMAS TIME, I
GOT THE IMPRESSION THERE
ARE NO CHRISTMAS
DECORATION IMPRISONS?
IS THAT TRUE?
>>NONE
>>AND YOU THINK THEY MIGHT
BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF
JINGLE BELL OR SOMETHING.
>>YOU WOULD THINK SO.
>>A COUPLE OF CHRISTMAS IS
A GO, I WAS STANDING IN
THE LINE ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, AND THERE WAS
NOTHING, A MICROPHONE
BLARING CHRISTMAS MUSIC,
AS PEOPLE WOULD WAIT TWO
HOURS TO GET THROUGH THE
LINE, AND THERE WERE NO
WREATHS, AND THERE WERE NO
CHRISTMAS TREES, AND YOU
WOULD WALK INTO THE
VISITATION AREA, AFTER YOU
GO THROUGH THE SECURITY
SYSTEM, AND AS I WAS
STANDING IN THE LINE, I
OVERHEARD THE WOMEN IN
FRONT OF ME, AND ONE OF
THEM WAS SAYING, OH, THIS
IS MY LAST YEAR TO STAND
IN THIS LINE, AND THE NEXT
YEAR MY HUSBAND IS GOING
TO BE HOME WITH ME, AND
ANOTHER ONE SAID ALL, WE
HAVE EIGHT MORE YEARS
BEFORE MY SON IS HOME, AND
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.
ANOTHER ONE SAID, WE HAVE
FOR YEARS, AND WE ARE
GOING TO HANG IN THERE,
AND MY HUSBAND AND MY
CHILDREN'S FATHER WILL BE
HOME AND I BURST INTO
TEARS, AND IS
SIMULTANEOUSLY SAYING I'M
SO HAPPY FOR YOU.
AND WHEN I SAY TO THAT
STORE TO THE EDITOR, SHE
SENT IT BACK, SHE SAID
CAROL, SHE SAID YOU ARE
LAUGHING AND CRYING AT THE
SAME TIME, AND WHICH ONE
WAS IT?
AND I SAID TO HER, I AM A
WOMAN, AND I CAN LAUGH AND
CRY AT THE SAME TIME.. AND
I WAS SAD THAT DAY, AND I
THINK THE GENE CAN ATTEST
TO THE FACT, WE DO A LOT
OF THE CRYING.
>>CAN YOU REMEMBER THE
FIRST CHRISTMAS
>>AS I THINK BACK ABOUT
IT, I THINK ABOUT ALL OF
THE CHRISTMAS AS WE HAD
PREVIOUSLY, AND THE TREE
WAS UP, AND ALL THE
PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE,
AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD
HAVE A BREAKFAST BEFORE WE
OPENED THE GIFTS, AND YOU
WOULD EVENTUALLY OPENED
THE GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, AND HAVE SUCH A
GREAT TIME TOGETHER, AND
TRYING ON THE CLOSE, AND
PLAYING WITH THE TOYS, AND
YOU HAVE ALL THAT FUN AND
EXCITEMENT TO LOOK FORWARD
TO, AND WE GOT A CHRISTMAS
MORNING AND THAT FIRST
CHRISTMAS, AND ANY FEDERAL
HOLIDAY IS A VISITATION
TIME, TOO.
AT FLORIDA PRISONS.
AND THAT WAS A VISITATION
DAY.
AND WE GOT UP ON THAT
MORNING, AND WE GOT
CLEANED UP, AND WE DON'T
ALWAYS GET CLEANED UP, ON
CHRISTMAS MORNING, AND
LOOKING LIKE WE WANT TO.
AND OPEN THE PRESENTS.
AND WE GET CLEANED UP, AND
I PUT ON MY CHRISTMAS
SOCKS.
>>AND SOMETHING CHRISTMASY
>>YES, AND SOMETHING
CHRISTMAS FOR THE PRISON.
AND THEN WE GET INTO THE
CAR, AND WE DRIVE AWAY
FROM HOME, AND ALL OF
THOSE FEELINGS OF LOVE AND
COMPASSION ARE, AND WE
DRIVE TO A PRISON, 37
MILES AWAY, AND WE ARE
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND
WE SEE THE TOWER IN THE
DISTANCE, AND AT THE WATER
TOWER WE KNOW THAT WE 1500
INMATES, AND THAT IS WHERE
OUR SON IS, AND WE KNOW
THAT WE ARE GOING TO STAND
IN LINE FOR ABOUT 90
MINUTES BEFORE YOU EVER GO
IN.
AND WE GO THROUGH THE
SEARCH, AND THE PATDOWN,
AND NONE OF THE GUARDS
WANT TO BE THERE BECAUSE
IT IS CHRISTMAS.
AND THEY WOULD RATHER BE
HOME.
THERE IS NO SINGING, NO
GIFTS, NO DECORATIONS, NO
ANYTHING ELSE, AND IS SO
YES, LEAVING DAD.
>>AND THERE IS WIRE
ALL-AROUND?
>>AND WIRE IS ALL AROUND,
IT IS A TERRIBLE SCENARIO
TO THINK ABOUT.
AS WE'VE YOU DO THAT FIRST
CHRISTMAS.
AND WE SAW OUR SON COME
OUT IT WAS TERRIFIC.
>>UNTIL YOUR SON WALKS
OUT, AND YOU EMBRACE HIM,
AND ARTHELENE, WE SAT AT
THE LITTLE TABLE IN THE
VISITATION AREA AFTER
ORDERING OUR FOOD, AT THE
FOOD WINDOW, AND WE GOT
SODA POP OUT OF THE
VENDING MACHINE.
>>AND THIS IS NOT LIKE A
LITTLE GRILL, AND THEY
GIVE YOU SOME FOOD, THAT
YOU PAY FOR, AND THEN YOU
CAN WARM IT UP IN THE
MICROWAVE.
AS WE SAT THERE, BUT THE
ONE WE LOVE, WE REALIZED
THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE
THAT WE WOULD RATHER BE
THAN WITH OUR SON.
AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR
CHRISTMASES MIGHT NOT EVER
BE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE'S,
BUT IT IS OKAY.
AND THEN YOU GET TO THE
REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
AND YOU ARE THERE TO GIVE
TO OTHERS, NOT TO JUST
TAKE WHAT YOU CAN TAKE
FROM THEM.
AND I KNOW JEAN OFTEN WILL
STAND IN LINE AND LOOK FOR
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAD,
AND THE CHILDREN THAT NEED
ENCOURAGEMENT, AND THEY
HAVE AN INCARCERATED
FATHER.
AND I HAVE SO MANY TIMES
WATCHED MY PRECIOUS
HUSBAND AS HE HAS MADE A
JOKE WITH ONE OF THE
CHILDREN, AND HAD SOME FUN
WITH THEM, TO LET THEM
KNOW WHO SOMEBODY CARES,
AND SOMEBODY LOVES THEM,
AND IT TOUCHES MY HEART,
AND I KNOW HE DOES IT
BECAUSE HE CARES.
>>AND IT ILLUSTRATES THE
REPERCUSSIONS OF OUR SINS,
IT DOES NOT AFFECT JUST
THE PERSON COMMITTING THE
SAME.
AND THE REPERCUSSIONS
AFFECT ALL OF THE
FAMILIES.
AND THE LITTLE KIDS THAT
ARE THERE AND WHATEVER WE
CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE THEM.
>>AND THEY ALL HAS THIS
FEELING, THAT GOD HAS YOU
RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS YOU?
>>I DON'T LIKE IT.
>>EVEN IF YOU GO KICKING
AND SCREAMING.
AND HOW MANY CHRISTMASES
HAVE YOU SPENT IN PRISON?
>>10-EITHER BECAUSE OUR
SON WAS ARRESTED IN THE
MONTH OF OCTOBER, AND WE
CROSSED THE NINE-YEAR
MARKET NOW, AND THIS IS
THE 10TH CHRISTMAS BEHIND
BARS, AND I HAVE GROWN TO
REALIZE THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING VERY PRECIOUS
ABOUT SIMPLICITY, AND IS
SO MANY TIMES WE ARE
SPENDING MONEY THAT WE
DON'T HAVE, AND CHARGING
OUR CREDIT CARDS, TO GET
BIGGER AND BETTER AND
NICER EVERYTHING, IF IT IS
A MEAL, AND THE GIFTS WE
ARE GIVING, AND IN PRISON
YOU CANNOT GET GIFTS LIKE
THAT, YOU GIVE OF
YOURSELF, AND THE MOST YOU
CAN GIVE TO AN INMATE IS
20 POSTAGE STAMPS, OR A
FEW CARDS IN AN ENVELOPE,
OR YOU PUT A LITTLE BIT OF
MONEY IN AN ACCOUNT, AND
ALSO WHAT I HAVE BEEN SO
AWARE OF, IS HOW I CAN
RECOGNIZE THERE IS A WIFE
OF AN INMATE WHO NEEDS
HELP FINANCIALLY RIGHT
NOW, AND IT MIGHT BE $20,
AND THEN SHE COULD BRING
THE KIDS IN EXTRA TIME
THIS MONTH, TO VISIT HER
HUSBAND AND TO BUY FOOD
OUT OF THE VENDING MACHINE
FOR THE FAMILY OF FOUR.
AND YOU WOULD START TO
THINK OF WHAT CAN I GET
INSTEAD OF WHAT CAN I GET,
AND THERE IS A JOY THAT
GOES WITH THAT, THAT IS
YOUR NEW KIND OF NORMAL.
AND IT IS PRETTY SPECIAL.
>>AND YOU ARE DOING MORE
KINGDOM THINKING, I WOULD
SAY.
I HAVE A WEBSITE UP, AND
FROM THAT YOU CAN GO TO A
LINK THAT IS A NEW
MINISTRY THEY ARE FOUNDED
CALLED SPEAK UP FOR HOPE.
AND IT'S A NICE THING, AND
IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TO
BRING SOMEBODY
ENCOURAGEMENT, AND SOME
JOY, AND $20 HERE, I'VE
BEEN IN MOTELS, AND THE
LORD WOULD SAY GO GIVE THE
CLEANING LADY $20, AND
$20?
AND WHEN YOU DO IT, YOU
KNOW THAT THE LORD SPOKE
TO YOU, AND THE NEED WAS
MET.
AND WE THINK OF CHRISTMAS
AS MAGICAL, I HEARD A
STORY ONE TIME, OF
OPPOSING ARMIES IN THE
SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER, ON
CHRISTMAS EVE YOU COULD
HEAR BOTH SIDES SINGING
SILENT NIGHT.
AND THESE WONDERFUL
STORIES, IS THERE ANY
MAGIC IN A PRISON
CHRISTMAS?
>>THERE IS.
>>AS I THINK BACK ABOUT
IT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS
IS THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, IT
MIGHT BE THE SECOND ONE,
OR MAYBE THE THIRD ONE,
AND AS WE WERE STANDING IN
LINE WAITING TO GET IN, I
WOULD GO THROUGH THE
BARBED WIRING, AND GO
THROUGH SECURITY AND ALL
OF THAT, A FEW OF THOSE
TIMES THERE HAVE, THEY ARE
LETTING INMATES OUT,
BECAUSE THEIR SENTENCE IS
UP.
AND WE ACTUALLY END UP
SAYING THAT, AS THEY END
UP COMING OUT AND SEEING
THEIR LOVED ONES, AND I
CANNOT REMEMBER IF IT WAS
CHRISTMASTIME OR NOT, BUT
IT IS SO SYMBOLIC OF THE
FREEDOM THAT WE FIND IN
CHRIST, AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF RELATIONSHIPS.
AND YOU KNOW OTHER THAN
GOD'S WORD, AND HIM, AND
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE
ANOTHER, THAT IS ALL WE
HAVE.
AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
>>AND GENE DISAPPEARED
FROM THE LINE, AFTER THREE
INMATES GOT OUT OF MONDAY,
AND WE WERE CHEERING FOR
THEM.
AND HE WAS GONE, AND IT
SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME, I
SAID WHERE DID YOU GO?
AND HE SAID WELL, I HAD 60
BUCKS IN MY POCKET AND I
GAVE EACH ONE OF THEM A
$20 BILL, AND SAID, I AM
PRAYING FOR YOU AND DON'T
COME BACK HERE.
AND WE FIND OUT THERE IS
SUCH JOY IN THOSE LITTLE
THINGS, AND IN OUR NEW
KIND OF NORMAL WE ACCOUNT
HOPE, AND WE HAVE FOUND
ENCOURAGEMENT AND EVEN
ADVENTURE, BECAUSE THIS
LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS
AND WE ARE INVESTING IN
THE KINGDOM THAT GOES WAY
BEYOND OUR EARTHLY LIVES.
>>AND THIS WAS NOT GOD'S
PLAN
>>AND HE WILL NOT WASTE
IT.
>>AND HE ABSOLUTELY, WILL
NOT WASTE IT, AND CAN YOU
TELL THAT A CHRISTMASTIME?
AND THERE ARE MORE
MINISTRIES INVOLVED AND
ANGEL TREE IS SUCH A
WONDERFUL MINISTRY.
AND YOUR MINISTRY, SPEAK
UP FOR HOPE, IS REALLY
TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE
FAMILIES, AND HOW ARE YOU
DOING THAT?
AND WHAT KIND OF MECHANISM
DO YOU USE TO REALLY TOUCH
THE INDIVIDUAL LIVES?
>>AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE
DO IS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
GATHER GAMES, AND
SOMETIMES IT IS AN
ORGANIZATION, AND COLORING
BOOKS, AND CRAYONS, AND
FIND A PRISON CLOSEST TO
YOU, AND SEND THEM TO THE
CHAPLAIN WHO WILL THEN
DISTRIBUTE THEM IN THE
VISITATION PARK.
>>AND THAT IS JUST THE
NAME OF THE AREA WHERE YOU
VISIT YOUR LOVED ONE.
>>AND THEY'RE GIVING THE
GIFT OF THE FAMILY?
>>AND THEY ARE JUST HAVING
THE GAMES IN THERE, AND A
FAMILY CAN PLAY THEM WHEN
THEY ARE THEREFORE
VISITATION.
BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES AND
SO MANY TIMES THERE IS
NOTHING FOR THE KIDS TO
DO, OR FOR THE COUPLE TO
DO, AS YOU GO INTO SEE
YOUR LOVED ONE.
AND YOU JUST SIT AND TALK.
AND YOU CAN EAT OUT OF THE
VENDING MACHINE LIKE THAT,
AND HAVE SOME GAMES, AND
SOME CARD GAMES, AND PLAY
SCRABBLE, IT JUST MAKES
IT, A LITTLE MORE LIKE
NORMAL
>>AND MORE LIKE PLAYING
GAMES AROUND THE KITCHEN
TABLE, AND TO BRING SOME
FUN AND A CONNECTION AMONG
THE FAMILIES.
AND THEN TO SPEAK UP FOR
HOPE, WHAT HAS BEEN SO
ENCOURAGING TO US, AND
PEOPLE WILL WRITE TO US
AND ONE FAMILY SAID, WE
WOULD LIKE TO BECOME
INVOLVED IN HELPING ONE
INMATE THAT YOUR SON WOULD
RECOMMEND, WHO NEVER HAS A
VISITOR.
AND THIS FAMILY, THEY NOW
VISIT ONE OF OUR SON'S
BEST FRIENDS, TWICE A
MONTH, AND THEY PUT MONEY
IN HIS ACCOUNT, SO HE CAN
BUY DEODORANT, AND POSTAGE
STAMPS AND HE CAN HAVE
SOME VENDING MONEY.
AND YOU CANNOT BELIEVE THE
JOY THAT THIS HAS BROUGHT
TO THIS YOUNG MAN WHO HAS
ALCOHOLIC PARENTS, AND
NOBODY THEY CAME TO VISIT
HIM FOR YEARS.
AND WHEN A MAN IS YOUNG,
HE TEAMED AND 19 AND 20,
AT THE TIME THEY ARE
GETTING A LIFE SENTENCE,
AND THE FAMILY TURNS THEIR
BACK, AND FOR THEM TO HAVE
A CHRISTIAN FAMILY WHO
STARTS IN INVESTING IN
LETTING THEM, IS A TOTALLY
LIFE TRANSFORMING THING.
>>AND IT ABSOLUTELY WOULD
BE.
AND DO YOU DECORATE YOUR
HOUSE?
>>WE DO, I HAVE TO TELL
YOU EVERY TIME I GET THOSE
DECORATIONS OUT, I DON'T
WANT TO, I THINK, JASON
WON'T BE HERE, I AM NOT IN
THE MOOD, AND HE KNOWS I
DID A KICKING AND
SCREAMING.
>>AND EVERY YEAR WE GET
THEM OUT.
AND LIKE MOST HUSBANDS IT
IS A DIFFICULT ORDEAL TO
GO THROUGH.
AND ONCE THEY'RE UP IS
BEAUTIFUL.
>>AND THE FAMILY WAS
CALMING, AND WE HAD 15
HOUSEGUEST.
THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE SO BLESSED, TO
NOT ONLY HAVE
GRANDPARENTS, BUT AUNTS
AND UNCLES AND COUSINS
THAT VISIT OUR SON
REGULARLY, AND WHEN I
HEARD THE JOYFUL SINGING
IN THE HOUSE, AND THE
LAUGHTER AND PEOPLE
PREPARING FOOD TOGETHER IN
THE KITCHEN, AND I HEARD
THEM AND THEY READ THE
CHRISTMAS STORY BEFORE WE
OPEN THE GIFTS, AND AS WE
HELD HANDS AND PRAYED,
ARTHELENE, I REALIZED THAT
WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE
A FAMILY THAT IS NOT LEFT
US ALONE, IN THE MIDDLE OF
OUR NEW KIND OF NORMAL.
AND THEY HAVE JOINED US IN
THIS AMAZING ADVENTURE OF
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF THE INMATES, AND
MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER
HELPED TO RESPOND TO THE
THOUSANDS OF LETTERS WE
GET FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE
HURTING, AND THAT IS A
PART OF SPEAK UP FOR HOPE
MINISTRY, AND THAT IS
EXCITING.
>>AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME,
I GUESS I WANT TO THANK
YOU TO EVERYBODY, AND THE
BODY OF CHRIST AND YOU DID
NOT WASTE THE SORROW.
AND GOD IS USING IT, AND
IT IS GOING TO BRING
ETERNAL REWARD AND AS
AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WE
NEED TO BE REMINDED OF
THAT.
AND LIVING OUR LIVES NOW,
AND IN THE LIGHT OF
ETERNITY.
AND THANK YOU, AND SINCE
YOU LIVE IN LAKELAND,
DON'T STAY AWAY SO LONG.
>>AND THANK YOU ARTHELENE.
>>THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ♪ MUSIC
>> ARTHELENE WOULD LIKE
YOU TO KEEP THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION HANDY, YOU MAY
CONTACT HOMEKEEPERS BY
WRITING P.O.
BOX 6922 CLEARWATER, FL
33758 OR YOU CAN GO TO
WWW.RIPPY.ORG.
AND REMEMBER WE ALWAYS
ENJOY HEARING FROM OUR
VIEWERS, AND WE THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>>I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN
LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE
OFFERING OF THE BOOK, A
NEW KIND OF NORMAL, BY
CAROL KENT, AND IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT, YOU
CAN HAVE THAT BY CALLING
1-800-229-0059, IF YOU USE
YOUR CREDIT CARD, AND IF
YOU WILL WRITE TO US, IT
IS BOX 6922 CLEARWATER,
FL 33758 AND $25 PLUS THE
SHIPPING AND HANDLING, I
CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH
HOW MUCH I THINK THIS BOOK
CAN HELP YOU, IF YOUR LIFE
IS A LIFE FACING A NEW
KIND OF NORMAL.
AND I THINK IT WILL HELP
YOU TO GET OVER SOME OF
THE MORE DIFFICULT TIMES,
I THINK CAROL IS A GREAT
AUTHOR, AND I HOPE YOU
WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
ARE YOU FACING A NEW KIND
OF NORMAL IN YOUR LIFE?
IF YOU ARE, NO DOUBT THIS
CHRISTMAS SEASON WILL TEND
TO ACCENTUATE THE EMOTIONS
THAT THE HOLIDAYS BRING,
WHETHER POSITIVE OR
NEGATIVE, AND IF THAT
DESCRIBES YOUR SITUATION I
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE
GOING THROUGH.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL
YOU ABOUT IT.
THE YEAR WAS 1977, AND THE
CHRISTMAS WAS ESPECIALLY
DIFFICULT FOR ME.
AS A FORMER MINISTER OF
MUSIC FOR A LARGE CHURCH,
I REMEMBER THE DIFFICULT
PLANNING SESSIONS REQUIRED
FOR THE PRODUCTION IS TO
BE PRESENTED AT THE CIVIC
AUDITORIUM FOR CHRISTMAS
AND EASTER EACH YEAR.
AND IT SEEMED THAT
INSPIRATION FOR THE
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM FLOATED
NONSTOP, WHILE IDEAS FOR
EASTER CAME TO A
SCREECHING HALT, I FINALLY
CAME TO THE CONCLUSION
THAT TO PORTRAY THE
POWERFUL RESURRECTION OF
THE LORD, IT WAS WAY
BEYOND MY LIMITED TALENT.
HOWEVER, I COULD EASILY
RELATE TO THE
INDESCRIBABLE JOY THAT
COMES WITH THE BIRTH OF A
BABY, AT THAT TIME MY
HUSBAND WAS THE PASTOR OF
THE CHURCH AND THE FOUNDER
OF A FLOURISHING CHRISTIAN
SCHOOL, OUR SON, THE FIRST
TRUMPETER, AND MY DAUGHTER
WAS A PROFESSIONAL
HARPIST, THEY ATTENDED THE
SCHOOL, AND OUR HOME IS
LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS
THE STREET FROM THE
MINISTRY COMPLEX, AND WE
HAD BUILT A SIMILARLY
IMPENETRABLE COCOON OF
PROTECTION AROUND OUR
HOME.
AND FAMILY.
AND MINISTRY.
IN MY MIND, OUR FUTURE WAS
SET, AND IT LOOKED GOOD.
HOWEVER THAT'S PROMISING
FUTURE WAS DESTROYED WHEN
UNRELENTING WINS OF THE
DESTRUCTION BLEW AGAINST
OUR MARRIAGE, AND
MINISTRY, I CLUNG TO THE
SPIRITUAL CHECKLIST I
ALWAYS COUNTED ON, BUT IT
WAS NOT WORKING.
MY FERVENT PRAYERS WERE
NOT ANSWERED ACCORDING TO
MY WILL.
OUR BROKEN AND BATTERED
LIVES WERE FURTHER
ANGUISHED BY THE UNTIMELY
DEATH OF MY HUSBAND.
AND IN MY HEART CHRISTMAS
DIED WITH HIM.
THE FIRST YEAR HE WAS GONE
WE WERE UNWILLING TO FACE
CHRISTMAS AT HOME, AND WE
ESCAPED TO A GATLINBURG
CABIN AND THAT SEEMED LIKE
A GOOD IDEA.
AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR,
AUTO PILOT TOOK OVER, AS I
GRUDGINGLY DUSTED OFF THE
DECORATIONS, IN AN EFFORT
TO CREATE A FESTIVE
ATMOSPHERE AFTER ALL, IT
WAS EXPECTED.
HOWEVER, THE THIRD HOLIDAY
SEASON FOLLOWING HIS
DEATH, CHRISTMAS JOINT
RETURN TO OUR FAMILY IN A
BIG WAY, WITH THE ARRIVAL
OF MY FIRST GRANDCHILD
ZACHARY.
AND CAROLS AGAIN FILLED
THE HOUSE, AND THE AROMA
OF MAKING COOKIES LURED
THE FAMILIES AND THE
FRIENDS INTO THE KITCHEN.
AND EAGER EYES OBSERVED
THE BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED
GIFTS WAITING FOR
CHRISTMAS MORNING, BUT
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING COULD
COMPARE WITH THE EUPHORIA
IN LIFE LIFE OF HOLDING
THAT A BABY.
AND IT ALMOST BECAME A
NECESSITY, TO CREATE A
WHOLE NEW SCHEDULE.
AND FOUR MORE
GRANDCHILDREN QUICKLY
FOLLOWED, AND A RECENT
YEARS FOR
GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, IT IS
ADDED TO THE EXCITEMENT.
AND IT IS SUCH FUN TO
RESUME SHOPPING FOR BABY
DOLLS, AND BATTERY-POWERED
TOYS, AND EACH NEW ONE,
HAS ENHANCED THE JOY THAT
SERVES TO CREATE THE MOST
WONDERFUL TIME OF THE
YEAR.
AND WHEN YOU REALLY THINK
ABOUT IT, IT IS NO MYSTERY
AT ALL, THAT ONE OF GOD'S
FERVENT DESIRE WAS TO
BRING HOPE AND JOY AND
LOVE TO TROUBLED LIVES, HE
CHOSE TO SEND A BABY.
AND THINK ABOUT IT, AND
PLEASE JOIN ME NEXT TIME
AND REMEMBERING THERE IS
NO HIGHER CALLING THAN
THAT OF THE HOME KEEPER.
GOD BLESS YOU.
>>IF YOU WOULD LIKE A
VIDEO COPY OF TODAY'S
HOMEKEEPERS PROGRAM, FOR
JUST $19.95, CALL
1-800-229-0059, FOR CREDIT
CARD ORDERS.
AND SEND A GIFT OF AT
LEAST $19.95 TO
HOMEKEEPERS P.O.
BOX 6922 CLEARWATER, FL
33758.
AND BE SURE TO NOTE THE
PROGRAM NUMBER WHICH
APPEED BY CTN
CLEARWATER.