Happy Halloween!!

Quote of the day:

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"
- Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz)

Favorite Link Friday - 10/29/05

Okay, so technically this isn't a favorite website, but do you just love this show or what?????

http://www.nbc.com/Three_Wishes/

Look what we did!

Thinking out loud here...

This week is Red Ribbon Week at school....a national anti-drug campaign that encourages kids that they are "too cool to do drugs." My first thought was "Hello!!!!!! Do kindergarteners even KNOW what drugs are?" Samuel brought home a paper he was supposed to fill in telling what HIS "anti-drug" is....something that he likes to do instead of doing drugs. Give me a break!!!!!! The child didn't even know what drugs were until you told him. I knew I needed to help him with it, but honestly I didn't even want to say the word in front of him. But sure enough, when I said that we don't do drugs because they're bad and they make us sick, he very assuredly agreed. And THEN, Grace pipes up and says "And if we see them on the ground we DON'T pick them up!" Oyyyyyy!!!!!!!

Now I have nothing against anti-drug campaigns, but MY GOODNESS, do we have to bring it up quite this soon? It just makes me a little sad that we have to take away a little of their innocense to protect them. We have to introduce them to the "bad thing" in order to protect them from it. I'm sure there is some kind of study out there to support the idea of starting these programs at such a young age, but it really is such a shame that we have to.

Okay, I'll quit ranting now. And by the way, the thing Samuel was most excited about was that EVERYONE was supposed to wear red today in support of Red Ribbon Week.

So true!

Favorite Link Friday - 10/21/05

Over the last week or so I've actually been able to work on a hobby of mine...scrapbooking. BUT, I've been trying something new. I found out about paper bag albums and so I decided to try making one. Well, it turned out kind of cute so now I've decided to make one for each of the boy's teachers for Christmas. It's really fun and addicting. So much so that I've told myself that I can't work on the albums again until I finish Samuel's Halloween costume. (That's a whole other story....and I don't want to give anything away. Stay tuned!)

But anyways....In case you haven't seen a paper bag album, for today's favorite link here's a site that has instructions.

http://www.pagesoftheheart.net/artman/publish/article_1053.shtml

Do you have days like this?

"Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed. She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution &age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought."

Here I am

For those of you who read regularly (and I thank you!)....sorry that I've been MIA. I haven't felt like I've had much to share lately and quite honestly, I'm just plain ol' tired!!!

I hate to write about my "woes" because I know there are so many people out there, some who might be reading this (?), that are in far more difficult situations than me...so I won't. I will say that being a Mom is the greatest job on earth, but some days are just heart-breaking. I draw strength from knowing that my Lord knows what I can handle and that if I hold onto His hand each day and let Him lead, He will give me strength to get through each moment. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. I hope that gives you encouragement today!

Favorite Link Friday - 10/7/05

Happy Friday!

Here are the websites of two of my favorite artists. Hopefully on this Friday you have time to sit back and enjoy a little art and inspiration.

http://www.sandyclough.com/frameset.htm

http://www.maryengelbreit.com/CuteScoop/CuteScoop.htm

Have a great weekend!!

Kid funnies

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kirsten, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. -- Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9

And the #1 Favorite is.....

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

(Thanks for the laugh Tina!)

Verse of the day

Here's a great verse to remember as you start a new week. This is especially good for moms of small children.

Galations 6:9
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. "

Here's what this verse says in "The Message":

"So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit."

We have one of Steve Green's Hide 'Em In Your Heart CDs. It is full of catchy Scripture songs for kids. (I highly recommend it by the way) One of the songs is based on this verse. Here's a link if you want to listen to a snippet.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=CD36521-7&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW#curr

Have a great day!!