For my Crackpot friends. :o)

This story was part of my Bible Study lesson on Thursday. I had to share it...enjoy!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a
pole, which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from
the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only
one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own
imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been
made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the
woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in
my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side
of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have
always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the
path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I
have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to
grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each
have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good
in them.

So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell
the flowers on your side of the path!

Psalms Sunday #16

1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."

3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. [b]

4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.


When I am waiting for answers, when my heart is heavy, when illness abounds, I have hope. For there is a God who knew about me, who planned my life, my path, in the beginning..when He made all creation. He knows what lies ahead for me. So, why should I worry, when He is in control. My loving God, my Father, my Wonderful Counselor, my God who heals, my God who sees, my God who provides, My living God, my Shepherd, My Lord of Peace.
I am joyful because He is in my life.

My Personality/Temperament

So, the gals came over tonight and we quilted. I got my borders sewn on, so all that's left is my backing and batting. YAY, almost done. During the course of the evening, Kristin told me that I had a phlegmatic personality. After she left, I looked it up and was flattered, but deep down I knew that wasn't me. It was more of who I try to be, but it wasn't me. I took a personality test...and here's what I got..I completely agree.

I am Sanguine/melancholy..but more sanguine

Here are the strengths of a sanguine...
Strengths of a Sanguine
The Extrovert | The Talker | The Optimist
The Sanguine's Emotions
Appealing personality (Why, thank you)
Talkative, Storyteller
Life of the Party
Good sense of humor
Memory for color
Physically holds on to listener
Emotional and demonstrative
Enthusiastic and expressive
Cheerful and bubbling over
Curious
Good on stage
Wide-eyed and innocent
Lives in the present
Changeable disposition
Sincere at heart
Always a child

The Sanguine As A Parent
Makes Home Fun
Is liked by children's friends
Turns disaster into humor
Is the circus master

The Sanguine At Work
Volunteers for Jobs
thinks up new activities
Looks great on the Surface
Creative and colorful
Has energy and enthusiasm
Starts in a flashy way
Inspires others to join
charms others to work

The Sanguine As a Friend
Makes friends easily
Loves People
Thrives on compliments
Seems exciting
envied by others
Doesn't hold grudges
apologizes quickly
Prevents dull moments
Likes spontaneous activities


And here's my weaknesess...
The Sanguine's Emotions
Compulsive talker
Exaggerates and elaborates
Dwells on trivia
Can't remember names***(me,me,me)
Scares others off
Too happy for some
Has restless energy
Egotistical
Blusters and complains***(Yep, that's me)
Naive, gets taken in
Has loud voice and laugh**(I agree)
Controlled by circumstances (can be, yes)
Gets angry easily
Seems phony to some
Never Grows Up

The Sanguine As A Parent
Keeps home in a frenzy
Forgets children's appointments (THIS I DON'T DO)
disorganized
Doesn't listen to the whole story

The Sanguine At Work
Would rather talk ***(YEP, YEP, YEP)
forgets obligations
Doesn't follow through (DON'T AGREE, I FOLLOW THROUGH)
Confidence fades fast
Undisciplined
Priorities out of order
Decides by feelings (VERY MUCH SO)
Easily distracted
Wastes time talking

The Sanguine As a Friend
Hates to be alone (mmmmm sometimes)
Needs to be center stage
Wants to be popular
Looks for credit
dominates conversations (sometimes)
Interrupts and doesn't listen
answers for others
Fickle and forgetful
Makes excuses
Repeats stories


Oh here I am sewing away tonight..


Here's Tiff and Kristin finishing Kristin's quilt. It came out sooo pretty!


And here's the miss earlier today...living up to her shirt..
She was mad at me because she didn't want me to take her picture.

Some of the zoo

I'll fill you in on more about it later...but for now........
Oh and Tiff has pics too..I haven't seen them yet!

I'm in Love, or Maybe Lust.

So, I am taking my day care kiddos to the zoo tomorrow. I had reserved a minivan, since I can't fit 5 car seats in my blazer, and since I am going with Tiff, she had planned on driving my baby boy in her van.

So I went tonight to pick up my reserved rental to find that they didn't have any vans left, even though I called this morning to double check that they did in fact have my vehicle, I just had a feeling.

So, they then told me that they had a Ford Escape that was comparable. I went to that vehicle and it was the same size as a blazer, which I already have. That definitely wasn't going to work.

So, I voided that rental and went over to Budget. I was thankfully at the airport, since it is the closest rental car area by me. So I had every rental car company right there at my disposal. So Budget had 5 different types of minivans. I told her that I would just take the Caravan, since that was what I was going to get at Enterprise, because I knew it could hold the five car seats. She said..."FIVE CAR SEATS?!?!?!? I'll tell you what, I'll give you a Suburban for the same price. It will be roomier."

(I just realized I have started each paragraph with the word so...I do that a lot.)

So Anyway, I went to my Suburban and WOW! I am in love. It is an '07. It has leather seats and it even has a DVD player. The kids will love that tomorrow. It's gorgeous....and it looks and smells so clean. I told my hubby that we should skip town. Ya know, change the plates and make a run for it, grand theft auto style. LOL. I guess driving the pretty Suburban will be my reward for taking 6 kids, 4 and under, to the zoo.

Thankful Thursday

Of course, most of you readers know how much Africa is on my heart. Tonight I watched American Idol and they did a whole special called Idol Gives Back, to raise money for all sorts of charities in the U.S. and in Africa. Each time they showed a video about Africa, whether it was focusing on Aids, malaria, orphans or schooling, I bawled. I bawled like a baby.
So tonight I am thankful.....

I am thankful for American Idol doing what they are doing for the poor and oppressed in the U.S. and for the suffering in Africa. They know what a huge fan base their show has, and the money they raise will REALLY change things!!!

I am thankful that I sat in a nice, warm home, clothed and fed...holding my sleeping, healthy baby boy in my arms while I watched American Idol's special.

I am thankful that God has put Africa on my heart. I know that I will go there someday and spread some sunshine and I can't wait.

I am thankful that so many people are coming together to help.

I am thankful for each and every thing I have....for my house, my shoes, my bed, my furniture, my bathrooms, my car, my phone, my huge backyard, my heater, my safe neighborhood, my shelves of books, my Bible sitting next to me that I am free to read, my fridge and pantries filled with food, the money in my purse, my healthy family, FOR each and every medication in my house!!!!!!!!!!!! I have so much when so many have so little.

Why????

How can you watch this and not shed a tear...or a thousand???

Why?

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I know I haven't written since Monday..honestly, I didn't have a whole lot to write about. Yesterday there was a bad storm and we lost our internet connection most of the day. It came back in the evening, just in time for me to get my assignment for my class in on time.
Today, our phone doesn't work. I think hubby may have to call Qwest from work tomorrow. He may have today, who knows. I can't chat with him until he comes home.
So I was fiddling online at Children's Place, making little outfits. Here are ones I made for the mister.
Outfit 1

Outfit 2

I am not buying them or anything. I was just goofing around. But he would look handsome in them. I may buy one outfit for each kiddo, because my friend, Mandy, informed me of a code for 15% off. So, we'll see.

I have to run for now. I just wanted to post a little something, so those of you prone to worrying...wouldn't...ahem..GG...ahem. ;o)

Not Ready Yet

Well, it's Monday morning. All of my day care kiddos are gathered around the table eating breakfast and getting angry at each other for calling each other yaks. Yes, really.....they keep calling each other yaks. And then whining for the other person to stop calling them that. And all I want to do is crawl back into bed. I am not ready for it to be morning just yet. And I am not ready to have 5 kids in my kitchen whining about yaks.
Usually Mondays go well. I am ready to tackle the day. Usually Tuesdays are the hard days. But there is something about today...I just have a feeling it will be tough. So Tiff, pray for me okay? And when the kiddos sit to watch their morning movie, I think I am going to spend some time with God and that will help me tremendously.

The weekend was good. I was horribly tired yesterday. I slept all afternoon, it seemed. Apparently I needed it. On Saturday, I went to this awesome hair cutting place out here designed for kids with a huge, and I mean HUGE play area. They also cut and color mom's hair as well while the kids play. So I got a much needed highlight and also a little bit different style then I am used to getting. It's growing on me. But I am not used to it just yet. I have some bangs...not across my forhead bangs...but on the side a bit. Kinda like...Reese in this picture...



The miss got her hair cut too and it looks really cute. I'll try to post a picture of the both of us at some point this week. Well, I have to run for now and tame the wild beasts.

Psalms Sunday #15

Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

These are characteristics of one with a pure heart....of one who tries hard to do what is right and to live their life according to God's will. And although walls may crumble all around them and the rain may come pouring down, because of their love, becuase of their faith....they may be stirred, but never SHAKEN!

This Psalm reminds me of a wall hanging I have up near my front door.

It states:

Home Rules

Always be honest
Proverbs 12:22

Count your blessings
Psalms 34:1-4

Bear each other's burdens
Galations 6:2

Forgive and forget
Micha 7:18

Be kind and tenderhearted
Ephesians 4:32

Comfort one another
1 Thessalonians 4:18

Keep your promises
Romans 4:21

Be supportive of one another
Acts 20:35

Be true to each other
Revelations 15:3

Treat each other like you treat your friends
Deuteronomy 15:11

but most important
Love One Another
deeply from the heart
1 Peter 1:22


In other words, be like Jesus. Pray each morning to be filled by the Spirit so that you can radiate its fruit. Try your hardest to have a pure heart.

Anyway

You can spend your whole life buildin'
Somethin' from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

(Chorus)
God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
When I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway
You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
And in a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

(Repeat Chorus)

You can pour your soul out singin'
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yeah sing it anyway

I sing
I dream
I love anyway
-Martina Mcbride

You Know....

You know your car is dirty when every time you drive by a gas station with a car wash your three year old yells out.."look mommy, car wash! Go wash the car, mommy. It's dirty. Look at my window, it's dirty. You need to wash it! The car needs bubbles, mommy"

I've Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

Well, as part of our Chicka Chicka Boom Boom week, today the day care kiddos looked at a coconut. I bought two coconuts at Super Target that claimed to be easy open. MMMHHHMMM. And today at snack time, I took out the coconuts. First I passed one around and let the kids feel the outside of it. They told me what it looked like, felt like and sounded like. Then I used a corkscrew and a knife to punch holes in the eyes of the coconut so that I could drain out the water. I was going to have them taste the water, but I knew from experience that it tastes pretty gross. So, I spared them. Then, I worked on opening the coconut. I ended up having to bang it on my kitchen floor pretty hard, because hitting it with the blunt end of a knife wasn't doing the trick. They were surprised by how it looked on the inside. I let them know that the white stuff was coconut meat. One little boy told me he didn't want to try it because he didn't like meat. I had to tell him that it was a lot different than the meat we usually eat.

I then had to work on removing the meat from the shell and to also peel away all of the brown exterior off from the meat. My only problem was, I couldn't find my peeler. Maybe I don't have one. I attempted to cut it off with a knife and ended up slicing my thumb instead. Thankfully I bought shredded coconut too. Since I was unable to chop up the coconut meat correctly to blend it up and make coconut milk, I improvised and simmered shredded coconut and water in a pan.

Meanwhile, I gave each child a hand full of shredded coconut to taste and play with. Only the 14 month old liked eating eat. She gobbled it down pretty quickly. Everyone else decided that it was pretty yucky. But they sure did like to play with it and sprinkle it all around. I also took some shredded coconut and baked it in the oven to toast it. Once that was finished, we all tasted it and agreed that it was mighty yummy.

We then began making a German Chocolate Cake to eat after nap time today.

I was able to make a little bit of improvised coconut milk and it was very sweet. The kids loved it.

I found a neat recipe for Haupia, a coconut pudding usually served at luaus, and I hope to make it tonight for them to try tomorrow. I need to use the coconut meat currently sitting in my fridge to make the coconut milk, which is the main ingredient in the pudding.

So hopefully I am able to do that tonight without losing a finger in the process.

Here's the miss playing with the coconut shell and wearing it as a hat.

It's a sad....sad day....

It's a sad, sad day when you pull your dishwasher safe coffee pot out of the dishwasher in a zombie like state, anticipating that warm, comforting and caffeinated drink to find your coffee pot looking like this.....



But hallelujah.....Two days later and I now have a new coffee pot from Target..and funny it was $5.00 less than my entire coffee maker was. What a rip off. But tomorrow morning will be grand.

Oh, and since I have my camera out, here's a picture of the mister eating rice. He loves rice!!! And yes, he does have some scratches on his forehead. He does that while sleeping.

Smiles For Sophie

Please pray for this little girl. I read her story and just bawled. Let's all pray for her and her family. Thank you!

God of all Creation

Okay, so I don't have much time. It took me an hour to get the day care kids for a nap, and now my little mister, who went to sleep two hours before everyone else did, is awake. So, I can't make a cool post like I originally discussed below for Psalms Sunday.
So, I am going to direct you to some places
Creation Evidence

An article about Michael Behe's book, Darwin's Black Box



I found this tidbit of information Here
God's amazing creation, the coconut!


The world's rarest gem, the coconut pearl! Coconut pearls are found in one in a million coconuts. The picture you see above is the famous Maharaja coconut pearl still attached to the coconut shell. It's price? Because of it's size, it is priceless. But before you buy a bunch of coconuts to try and find one. It would take 80 years to break open one million coconuts, if you took 15 minutes for each one in an 8 hour work day.

It takes 9 months for a coconut tree to filter one liter (35oz) of water. But the results are 100% purified water that's inside of the coconut shell.

Coconut water is identical to human blood plasma and can be used as such during surgery if needed. How can a plant make something as complicated as human blood plasma and still fit into evolution theory?

Besides being highly nutritious, young coconuts have also been exceedingly revered as having medicinal qualities for heart, liver and kidney disorders. Plasma makes up 55% of human blood, and coconut water is identical to human blood plasma, which makes it the universal donor. By drinking coconuts we give ourselves an instant blood transfusion. In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Coconut water is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man. It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. However, coconut water contains less sodium, more potassium, more magnesium and has added medicinal benefits.

Coconut water contains most minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, sulphur and chlorides. It also contains both ascorbic acid and B vitamins. It is high in amino acids and even contains small amounts of protein. The percentage of arginine, alanine, cystine and serene in the protein of coconut water is higher than those in cow's milk.

Maybe we evolved from a coconut?

This was from that same site mentioned above...

God's creation, the amazing fire fly!

There are more than 200 species of fireflies around the world. Almost everyone has seen these small insects flying about or sitting in the grass. On dark summer nights they can be seen flashing their lights like ships far out at sea. As they flash, they are communicating very specific messages to one another.

The light created by fireflies is called cold light because it is produced without creating any heat. To make a flash, the firefly must make and mix a chemical called luciferin with oxygen and an enzyme called luciferase. This mixture is combined with a catalyst to create the flashes of light. The result is a method of producing light that is far more efficient than any source of light in your home. A relatively tiny amount of energy creates a generous amount of light.

Fireflies do not make light so they can read a book. Their flashes are used for finding a mate. Fireflies are able to read the light signals of other fireflies. These signals may contain several messages. Some flashes can tell a firefly whether the sender is one of his species. Light flashes are used to identify whether the sender is a male or female. If it's a female, the flashes can identify whether she has already mated.

This is another example of the unlimited creativity and extravagance of our Creator God. The same beauty of the firefly that creates wonder in the child should also fill us with wonder at the limitless imagination of God.

Fireflies may help light the way to new medical break-throughs. The gentle glow of a firefly on a summer evening is produced by the chemical luciferase. The firefly has a gene with the code that makes this chemical. When that gene is added to the genetic information of other plants or animals, the cells begin to glow harmlessly. Researchers have been using the firefly gene to test their ability to add genetic information to a cell.

When human heart arteries become clogged, a medicine called TPA is among the treatments doctors use. TPA is a natural clot-dissolving protein that helps prevent heart attacks. The problem is, without a continuous supply of TPA, the artery may reclog. It would help if the artery could make its own TPA 24 hours a day.

Since TPA is a natural protein for which there is a genetic code, researchers wanted to know if genetic information could be added to artery cells. To find out, they injected dogs with the genetic code for luciferase. If genetic information could be added to the cells through this method, they would actually see the results in the glowing tissue. Tissue samples taken three days later did, in fact, have the distinctive glow of the firefly proving that the method works. They warn that several years of research lie ahead before artery cells may be able to dissolve their own clots.

This gene splicing is also being added to other things. Such as tobacco leafs which glow in the dark after the firefly genes are added.

There are also certain species of fireflies that can flash in unison! Until this was observed, only humans had this ability to do something in unison. It takes about an hour of flashing then they become in unison, flashing their light once per second.

Okay, that's all I have time for today!

Sorry I didn't post

Oh all of you, yesterday flew by..I was busy and tired and ended up crashing last night due to a headache. I don't know if I'll get a chance to finish my Psalms Sunday post. I might just have to give you links to the sites that have to do with creation, Intelligent design and the book, Darwin's Black Box.

So, I'll work on that later today if I get a chance. I have a new day care kiddo today, another three-year old. And he likes electronics and getting into things...so I may be a bit busier this week with him.

I am sure he'll get used to the routine around here soon though. I am a little worried about nap time. Because having one extra kid changes where they sleep. So, I am changing things around today for all of the kids for nap time. So I hope they fall asleep!!!!!

Psalms Sunday #14

Psalm 14
For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool [a] says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven
on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.

3 All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

4 Will evildoers never learn—
those who devour my people as men eat bread
and who do not call on the LORD ?

5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.

6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.
The King James version of this scripture says, ’only a fool says in his heart, there is no God…

Okay folks, so here's the deal.....I am working on a post for this. There are so many avenues one could go down in talking about this Psalm. There is so much proof of God's existence, so much evidence of Christ's existence and so many stories on how God works in the lives of His believers every second of every day.
When I read this Psalm, I remembered back to a book I read in Biology class when I attended Huntington University. We read, Darwin's Black Box by Michael Behe. It was phenomenal. I am working on a post that discusses some of the evidence talked about within the pages of the book. I am also going to direct you toward stories of miracles as well.

So, stay tuned. I will post it later tonight. But for now, here is the Mister Linky for all you Psalms Sunday participants.

The Miss' Day

We dubbed yesterday the Miss' day, because she had such a special Saturday. In the morning we took her to a free children's hands on festival where she got to go to different booths and make crafts and play games.

She had so much fun. As we were leaving, we noticed a playground adjacent to the community center where the event was held, so we went down to it and played around for a bit. She had so much fun. And it was her first time swinging on a swing all by herself....where she pumped her legs. She kept saying, straight, bend, straight, bend. It was cute.



We found a huge boulder of a snowball in the playground. It was one of the only reminders left that it had snowed all day Friday. She tried to push it and it was stinking cute.



Last night, the miss went to her father daughter dance at the nearby army base. It was for all armed services. And WOW, did she have herself a wonderful time. Here she is before leaving for her dance.


Hubby said that she danced alllllll night long and never gave him a break. She was twirling, running all around and loved doing the chicken dance song. At one point hubby went to ask someone about the memory DVD that would be available to all families who attended, and the miss kept hollering that she wanted to go and dance. She was all smiles when she got home. There was a studio taking pictures at the dance, BUT hubby and little miss never got to have one taken because the lines were always sooo long and the miss wasn't about to stand in a line when there was a dance floor calling her name.
But we will get a memory DVD of the event in a couple of weeks. So, hopefully we'll be able to see her on there.

On Friday night, I went over to Tiff's and got my quilt top sewn together. So all I have left to do are my borders and backing. I think it will be done in just a couple more days and then I can start on a Tinkerbell quilt for the miss. I also bought a sewing machine yesterday and I love it. LOVE IT!!!!!!
Anyway, here is the quilt top, but please remember it IS NOT DONE YET. Once the borders are on, it will look finished, obviously.

My goal was to finish it last night, but unfortunately, the mister didn't let me anywhere near the sewing machine. Oh well. It will be done soon.

A Dream is a Wish...

Me and the little miss singing one of her favorite Disney songs.






Happy Birthday G.G.

An AI Post

So, I posted this on my Myspace blog..and thought I'd post it here for you as well.
So, some of you have asked me what happened to my weekly idol posts. As some of you know, I love the show and even contemplated auditioning for it once. Anyway, the truth of the matter is, I don't have any desire to watch it this season...and that was actually before I ever saw the contestants. I think once the top 12 made it, I watched it one night, just to make sure I wasn't missing anything...and I was in shock at how bad most everyone was. I liked Gina, Blake, Melinda, Lakisha and Jordin, but wasn't really impressed by anyone. Since then I have only watched it one other time...and that was to see Gwen perform.

But, I watched the performances on youtube just now to humor some of you. And really and truly, these people are lucky to be on this season, because quite frankly, there is no competition. Yes, Melinda, Jordin, Lakisha and Blake are good...but I don't think any of them would be in the top 3 had they been in any other season. They wouldn't have made it.

So here are my thoughts on last night's performances....oh and I don't think I watched anyone's performance all the way through, because that would be torture. I maybe watched 45 seconds of each performance.

Melinda - She's cute...she's a sweet girl and she has a pretty voice. She had great stage presence, but it was still boring to me.

Jordin - She was good. She is a talented young girl. But the song was too slow and she looked like she was trying too hard to sing. She wasn't into it. She should have been having fun on the stage.

Lakisha- Again, another gal with a good voice. But it's nothing spetacular to me. And with the song she was singing, she should have been doing a salsa dance on stage. It was a bit boring to me.

Blake- I really like this guy's moves...really. He has that Justin Timberlake dancing style about him. I thought he did a good job. I do like his voice.

Chris- I don't like him at all. I didn't watch much of him, to be honest. He was boring and off-key. How is it that he is still in it and Gina isn't?????

Haley- Or better yet, how is it that this girl is still here? All she did was sing.."Oh--yeah" the entire time. And my goodness...the outfit!!! I think she thinks that her appearance is her only hope right now. Kinda sad.

Phil - He really has a gorgeous tone...but he needs training. He was off a lot and again another boring performance.

And last and least...Sanjaya- Nobody understands the mystery of Sanjaya and how on earth he even made it to the top 24...let alone top 8. He picked a GORGEOUS SONG and had no emotion...no tone and no pitch. I loved watching Jennifer Lopez sing some of it with him though before his performance. What she sang of the song was beautiful. That song has just too much meaning to be sung by Sanjaya.

And once again I have realized why it is that I am not watching idol this season. Honestly, I think K-Fed would have had a shot for the top 3 if he was a contestant this season!

Bobby's Video Journal Entry 1

To learn more about this particular post, please read the post below it.


Description: Video Diary Journal 1 March 06, 2007 For the month of March, Bobby Bailey will be traveling with a small group to the remotest part of Northern Uganda to live among the hundreds of thousands that are internally displaced. They will be staying for two weeks in a camp and living as they live, eating what they eat, and trying to survive for a short time with people who have been enduring an emergency crisis for ten years now. Here is his first entry...
Displace Me: Bobby Journal Entry #1

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Invisible Children

Well, the screening that I helped set up was last night. And it was a small turnout, but it still was great. There were lots of questions afterwards and everyone who went stayed until the end, was very interested and longed to get involved even more. So that was AWESOME!!!

I learned a bunch too. The film was made several years ago. Since that time, peace for the most part has come to Gulu. The LRA does still exist and child abductions still happen, but things are much better.

Invisible Children has helped to put up a school in the region. And they currently have around 500 or so students. It is a high school. They have an application process for both the students and the mentors. Each student has a mentor who is in charge of using the child's school funds for classes, helping the child through school, and working with the family members as well.

And future schools to be built in the area have been asked to model the program set in place by Invisible Children.

Right now, the biggest need in the area is with the displaced camps. Most everyone was placed into camps. And it wasn't like they had buildings set up or anything. It was basically empty space and they were in charge of making their own shelter. There are millions living within these camps in unsanitary conditions. They don't have clean water and they don't have enough food. The World Food Program, in charge right now of bringing them food, has recently cut the amount of food they bring in half. Everyone in the camps are dying at a rate of 2,000 per week. they should be allowed to go home!!!!!!!!

So, on April 28th, Invisible Children is putting together an event called, Displace Me. In 15 cities across the U.S., people will gather for 24 hours. Everyone will bring with them a sealed box of saltines, a sealed bottle of water and cardboard to make a shelter with. The food and water will be handed off to someone in charge upon entrance. And during the 24 hour period, crackers and water will be handed out. This event will give somewhat of an idea as to what it is like to live in a displaced camp.

And during the 24 hour period, there will be events and media where those involved write letters to governors, congress..and so forth explaining what they are doing and asking the US to help those in the displaced camps.

Last year, Invisible children spearheaded a Global Night Commute campaign that was a bit similar where all over the U.S., people commuted for the night to a park..slept outside in groups and got the word out to the White House that there was a problem with the child soldiers in Northern Uganda. Because of that event, those who formed Invisible Children got to talk to members of the White House and the word got out there in the media.

Invisible Children is hoping for even more incredible results with the Displace Me event. Their goal is to have 10,000 people in each city. That would mean a total of 150,000 people displacing themselves for the weekend. That would definitely get the word out within the media.

There is a holocaust happening in Northern Uganda, it's been going on now for 20 years, and today we can do something to help it and to change it.

Here is a video explaining more about Displace Me
World Tour 2007: Displace Me Cities V.2

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This is the site for Invisible Children

And here I am with the Invisible Children Mountain West Road Team who has been on tour since January showing the film.



think about taking part in Displace Me. You will have an opportunity to be a part of something sooo incredible and soooo important!!!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

So, my day care kids are learning this week the sound that CH makes. And I am actually going to do CH for two weeks, because I found two books that I want to use with this lesson. The first book is Chicken Soup With Rice, which actually talks about the months. So, I can also incorporate lessons about the months into it as well. And on Friday, we will make chicken soup with rice.

Then next week, most of our lessons will revolve around the book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. And since the book talks about all of the letters, it will give me an opportunity to review each individual letter.

So, when I was looking for projects for them to do with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, I found an amazing site and had to share it with you folks with young kids.
It is Virtual Vine's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom unit and it's free. And you won't believe the number of activities and ideas. So, check it out! I know, Mandy, you bought the book a few months ago. I think you'll enjoy the site.

I May Be Praying Every Second Today

So, early this morning, my little miss got angry because she wasn't getting her way. And when it first started, she began talking while gritting her teeth. She then was squeezing her fists together and tensing up her whole body. She finally looked at me and with much anger, informed me that she hated me. I felt bad seeing her display her anger in that way, because it is learned behavior. I tense up, I shout some times and I grit my teeth when I am angry. I don't want my child having an ulcer by the age of ten. So, I am going to end this TODAY!

After sitting in her room for a few minutes for telling me that she hated me, I explained to her what it means when we say that we hate people. I also told her that mommy doesn't do a good job controlling her anger sometimes and that I want to be loving and gentle and that she should be too. I told her that it is okay to be angry, but acting mean when we are angry isn't okay. And then we prayed. We prayed for God to help us to be patient, loving and gentle. I told her that anytime she is angry, she should pray for God to help her to be gentle and that I would do the same thing.

A few minutes later, we were both angry again. She was angry because she wanted to play and I wanted her to sit down for lunch. I was angry because she was fighting me. So, I grabbed her hands and we prayed. And I am going to continue to pray each time I am angry. And hoepfully, soon, my new example will wipe away the older, meaner example.

Presto

Now this is cool. It's the Presto, a cool new service that delivers emails, photos and other content to people who don’t use a computer. I know that my grandmother in Massachusetts would love for me to send her this. I keep promising that I'll send her pictures of the family, but I am horrible at mailing things out. And guess who is giving it away???? Yep, 5 Minutes For Mom. So, hurry on over and enter to win. The contest ends today!!!

Marriage Monday

So I found a new monday Meme over at Fruit In Season and it's all about marriage. This week's topic is nagging. Yep, a wife's nagging. And because of that, I felt that this was a great week for me to start. Because, folks, I am a nagger and I am not proud of it. Although I feel I am improving in the nagging arena, I know I do it...A LOT...TOO MUCH!

A few years ago, I read Stormie OMartain's book, The Power of a Praying Wife. That was the first time I really truly felt convicted in the area of my nagging.
She starts out her book by making it clear that we, as wives, need to look at our own hearts and pray for ourselves to change, before focusing on the things that we would like for our husbands to change about themselves. She also stresses the importance of being quiet and praying.

Stormie OMartain paraphrases a Biblical verse by stating, "There is a time to speak and a time not to speak, and happy is the man whose wife can discern between the two."

What I learned from Stormie, is that...although I feel at times that my ideas, opinions and ways to go about them are wonderful(even when that really isn't the case), they aren't perfect. Only God's ways are perfect. And when I may want to address my hubby with something, suggest something, or demand something, if I would just shoosh and pray, God may put it onto my heart in a different way. He may show me that it really isn't a need right now. He may show me a different way to go about approaching my husband. Or, he may just ask me to continue to pray about it and wait on His timing.

The times when I nag the most, it's all about me.....me, me, me and what I want or need at that particular moment. It's selfish and it usually comes across in that way and all it does is bring about defensiveness or anger. I need to be careful about how I speak, when I speak and why I speak.

"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." (Proverbs 29:11)

I like Esther's example. She didn't go to the king and in a rude way (although it would really be out of love)let him know that he is silly to believe such lies and that he needs to realize the ways in which his friends are conspiring against him. Instead she went to God. She prayed, she fasted and she followed God on the matter. She waited on His timing. As God prepared the king's heart, Esther prayed and then ministered to her husband with love. And just as He did for Esther, God will give us the words to say and show us when to say them. His words, His timing and His approach are perfect.

So, I know that I need to quit nagging my hubby for every little thing....especially when those things are so minuscule...like how I feel that he doesn't change a diaper the correct way. When really it's fine. He just doesn't change it MY way!!!

I know I'd hate for someone to constantly be on my case for every little thing. I nag myself enough as it is. So, why do I do it to someone else...especially someone who I care about and love so much?

So, I need to change. I need to ask God to continue to point out to me my nagging errors. And I need to ask for Him daily, to shut my mouth when I don't need to be speaking!

A White Easter

So, it's a white Easter for us today. here are some pictures. Unfortunately we didn't take any Easter pics today of the family. I only have one of me and the miss.

Here is the frozen tree in our front yard and then the picture after that is a picture from today's paper that I liked.

My Quilt Block

So, I went over to Tiff's tonight to work on the mister's quilt. I got there about 9:00 and spent about 4 hours sewing away. Tiff was a sweetheart and cut for me to help it all go quicker.

And again, I had a crazy driving experience. It had been misting and raining all afternoon and the temperature dropped substantially this evening, so the roads were pretty slick. I was driving about 35 in a 50 and a car behind me went into the middle lane to pass me I suppose. He then started kind of swerving into my lane...I thought maybe he was drunk...but then all of a sudden, his car went crazy. He went from swerving in his lane..to gliding across the entire street...almost into the median. Then he headed back over toward me and his car started to spin. His back end almost whipped the front of my car.

He continued to slide and spin and I slowly put on my brakes. I didn't want to slam them, because I knew the roads were slick. As I pressed on them, they made that crunching sound they make when you are driving on cold roads and for a few seconds I was afraid that I wouldn't stop in time. But I did. He was a lot less than a car length ahead of me. In fact he was pretty darn close to me. I stopped just as he whipped his back end one last time before he turned around again and ended up on the side of the road. As I stepped on my brakes, I watched the cars behind me too...hoping that their vehicles would stop and not hit me. But boy was it scary.

When I started driving again, I was hyperventilating. I was breathing so hard and fast. But I made it to Tiff's safe and sound...and a little shooken up. Ya know, when I got in my car at home, before heading out, I was nudged to pray. And I did. I prayed to make it to Tiff's safely! I had the mister in the car with me as well...so I am so thankful that we were kept safe.

Anyway, we got all of the quilt blocks done...YAY! So, now we have to sew all nine of them together..add a couple of borders...the batting and the backing and we'll be done. Here's a pic of me sewing (I am definitely getting the hang of it).


And here is one of the quilt blocks.


I just found this article in the city paper: I was driving on Powers tonight.

Glassy roads send cars sliding, killing 1 driver
April 7, 2007 - 1:01AM

A driver died Friday night after being thrown from her Jeep when it hit a guardrail and rolled as freezing drizzle suddenly iced over roads when night fell.

The crash was among dozens throughout the region, where drivers, struggling to get home safely, reported that vehicles too numerous to count had slid off roads.

From about 5:30 p.m. through 9 p.m., police officers answered calls about rollovers and other crashes without stop.

Interstate 25, Academy and Powers boulevards and East Platte Avenue became “sheets of ice,” rescuers reported on their radios as they tried to clear damaged vehicles through the night.

Police did not release the name of the woman who was killed. She was driving east in the
5700 block of East Platte Avenue about 5:30 p.m. when her Jeep Wrangler swerved off the road and struck the median guardrail, police reported.

The Jeep rolled once, and the woman, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown out, police said. She was taken to Memorial Hospital, where she died at 7:15 p.m.

Road crews on city and state roads tried to keep up with requests for sand and de-icer. Bridges and overpasses were particularly slippery, according to reports.
“What happened to summer?” one plow driver asked over his radio.

The day hit its high temperature of 33 degrees about 10 a.m., but the temperature dropped below freezing an hour later. The National Weather Service reported freezing drizzle at the airport about 4 p.m., when the temperature had dropped to 24 degrees.

The forecast calls for cold, periodic snow, freezing drizzle and rain today and early Sunday.

“Hopefully, this system won’t slow down and make it a bad day all Sunday,” weather service forecaster Pamela Evenson said.

Reports of crashes started pouring in soon after 5 p.m., and police announced about 5:30 they would respond only to accidents with injuries or those involving alcohol or drugs.

The city’s streets division sent out 25 trucks just after 6 p.m. to spread anti-skid material and salt, chiefly on roads in northeastern parts of the city, said Peg Richardson, an operations manager.

Kid's Easter Crafts / Coloring Sheets

Cross coloring sheet with a bunny and chick on it and references to Jesus dying on the cross.

Cute coloring sheet with lambs and a cross

Empty tomb with lamb project


Make your own resurrection eggs

Egg carton cross

The Angel Rolled the Stone Away craft

Resurrection Crescent Rolls

Resurrection Cookies

1 cup pecan halves
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

2.Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

3. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

4. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read PS. 34:8 and John 3:16.

5. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.

6. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

7. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

8. On Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection day Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

Sent in by Christina Coffey

I found this at Danielle's Place

Little Update

Well, the week has been going well. My class has been pretty easy, to be honest. I am almost done with all of my reading. I am just waiting to receive one of my textbooks via UPS. It should be here today. I am actually ahead of the game, which is nice. I was posting assignments on Monday that were due Tuesday. And I am almost done with the rest of the week's assignments. My professor is a really nice gal and so far it's all going well. I am not learning much in terms of coding and stuff in this class. This class focuses more on designing for the user.

Any ol' way....on Friday night, I went over to my friend's house to work on the skirt for sewing seeds. What an event that was. I learned what not to do...and how to change a needle on a machine..since they kept breaking over and over again. I bought two different types of fabric and we started with my favorite one. But, we cut the pattern out wrong. So, we moved on to the next fabric. We were both tired...and a bit out of it...ya know..the...I've been drained by munchkins all day syndrome....so we decided to get some caffeine. But, it didn't help. We worked on the same skirt for 4 hours. We blame it on the machine that we had borrowed...it was hard to use and like I said the needles kept breaking. But, I did get to use it and sew. Honestly, it's not that hard. It's just using the patterns that is a bit difficult. By 1:00 A.M., we called it a night and my friend finished the skirt for me the next morning. So, I don't really feel like I can take much credit for it...but here it is...


Oh, and you know that quilt I started back in November for the little mister? Well, I never got around to working on it. Tiff and I worked on cutting the strips the other night and now we are ready to sew it. So, it should be done soon...and after finishing the quilt, I should definitely be used to using a sewing machine. I went to Joanne's last night and bought fabric to make a quilt for the little miss. I found really cute tinkerbell fabric that will make up the backing and one of the borders....and I picked out the fabric for the two other borders as well as my 3 dark colors. I still need 3 more colors and then I can start on hers. I think she'll like it.

On Monday night, I went to an Invisible Children screening at my old church. I showed up early and talked to the Invisible Children team to ask them if I could pass out flyers to people as they left to let them know about next week's screening...the one I set up. My hope was that the folks leaving the film on Monday night would be itching to tell others about it..and would send them to my screening. I sure hope there will be a good turnout. It's soon soon soon...April 9th. :o)

Oh, I have to run.....the kiddos are done with craft time and we are going to head on downstairs to play. But real quick...here's the mister Monday night...

Birthday Meme

So, My miss Tiffany wants to make sure I don't forget to blog and she tagged me with a little birthday meme. Here are the rules:

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your Birthday Month and day only.
2. List 3 Events that occurred that day.
3. List 2 important Birth days.
4. List 1 Death.
5. List a Holiday or Observance. (if any)
6. Tag 5 other bloggers.


My birthday is December 21 -

Three events that occured on my birthday (Pretty cool ones if I do say so myself)

1620 - Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

1937 - The film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles.

1968 - Project Apollo: Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, is launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At 2h:50m:37s Mission elapsed time (MES), the crew performs the first ever manned Trans Lunar Injection and become the first humans to leave the Earth's gravity field.

2 Birthdays

1966 - Kiefer Sutherland, British-born Canadian actor
1948 - Samuel L. Jackson, American actor

1 Death
1940 - F. Scott Fitzgerald, American writer (b. 1896)

Holiday or Observance
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice, sometimes known as Yule, occurs on or very close to this date. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the first official day of Winter.


Now to tag you.... I tag my last five commenters with blogs...

1. Jen
2. Laurel Wreath
3. Janean
4. Barbara H
5. Rebekah

Have fun~

Happy Birthday Papa

This is from your great-granddaughter.

Wanna Win?

Wanna win a new Dyson slim vacuum??? Of course you do. Head on over to 5 Minutes For Mom and enter!!!

Psalms Sunday #13

So sorry this is late. It was a busy day.



Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

I admit it, I have times where little miss faithful, little miss optimistic and little miss believer becomes heavy and down-laden. I get so self-focused, so caught up in silly emotions that I feel I could cry at the drop of a hat. And usually at those times, I distance myself from God, which only makes it worse.

I love in verse 3 where it says, "give light to my eyes." In the New King James version, it says, "enlighten my eyes." I think that that is something I should pray daily, especially during moments when I am caught up in a swirl of emotions and feeling maybe angered or depressed. Sometimes, when we sit and evaluate our feelings during those times, we realize that we are creating a false reality. And if we have God enlighten our eyes....if we see things the way they truly are, we will soon realize that things really are good. Our mood will change and we will be filled with fruit (joy, peace....). So, ask God to give light to your eyes and trust in His unfailing love.

"His love is amazing, steady and unchanging. His love makes us sing."




Since next Sunday is Easter, we will not have a Psalms Sunday next week. Have a blessed week and a wonderful Easter. I'll see you in 2 weeks for Psalm 14.

Boy, I am tired this morning. I am not ready to be up just yet and would love to curl back into bed. Tiffany's three kids are here for the weekend. Honestly, it's gone pretty well. But it is a lot of kids. With her three and my two. Plus between all of them, I have a 9 month old, 13 month old, 2 year old, and two three year olds. They played outside yesterday for quite awhile and had so much fun. And I sat out there with them and got some of my reading assignment done, so that was nice. Dinner went well. They loved that I got pizza for them. Then they played for a bit, I popped in Peter Pan, and then it was time for bed. The getting ready for bed part of last night was CRAZY. Thankfully it didn't last long, but I felt like I was running a marathon. Three of them wanted to use the potty at the same time. Everyone was tired and cranky. And when I tried to help one off the potty, the 14 month old was trying to climb up the stairs. But I did finally get them all to bed. My three year old and Tiff's three year old shared a room. I had mine fall asleep downstairs first and put her in her room after she was dead asleep. But at Two A.M. they woke up and realized that they were sharing a room. They began chatting and playing. At 4 A.M., I was still hearing chit chatting. so they were separated. My little girl woke up at 7:00 and woke up the others. So, my day has officially started, but I'm not quite ready for it yet. So, once I wake up, I'll come on here and do my Psalms Sunday.