The Porch Light: 2008

The Porch Light copyright by Revka (2006-2010). All rights reserved.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours: Have a merry Christmas!

I don't know about you, but I feel like I have lived this past month in fast forward, and I can't seem to figure out where the time has gone. It is during the insanity and bustle of "Christmas" that I tend to lose focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas. Will you join us in making a point to remember that we are celebrating Jesus' birth?

This year, we are once again going to have our children pick out something they can give to Jesus. From past experience, this should be interesting. :)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Children at Christmas

We (meaning Mr. Incredible) took some pictures of the kids dressed up and sitting in front of our tree yesterday. Despite dying batteries and moving children, we ended up with some good photos.

Pookie Bear - she's getting to be so grown up

Miss Muffet - she marches to her own beat

Baby Bear - little mischief maker

Buddy Bear - sweet baby but still all boy

The 3 girls

All the kids

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Baby's First Year

The first year of your baby's life can be the hardest, happiest, scariest and best year you get to experience with your child. You are going to experience so many emotions during the baby’s first year! Luckily there are baby books about every aspect of baby’s first year, and reading several books while pregnant as well as during baby’s first year will make you more comfortable around your little one.

Everyone is always concerned with the next milestone that their new baby is going to reach and if he or she is doing things at the same pace of their peers. In fact, many new moms focus so much on what everyone says their child should be doing that they seem to lose focus on what the child is doing.

Then years later, you may look back and wonder what happened to that cute, cuddly baby you once had. While you were looking ahead, he or she was growing up and before you knew it that magical first year of their life was gone. It starts out kind of stressful, with the new parents not knowing what to expect next; from sleepless nights, colic, and spitting up to growth spurts, there is never a dull moment or a time to relax.

Before you know it those first few months are gone and your baby is sitting up, crawling and finally walking. He or she is talking or trying to and eating real food. The best advice I got when I brought my babies home was to slow down, to stop looking ahead of what comes next and to enjoy what the baby was going through at this time. You can never go back and get these moments again. So, instead of looking to what your child should be doing, could be doing or what is next, live in what is now and keep a record of it, for you and for your child. And enjoy motherhood!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Thank You, Jan!

Jan, a sweet blogging friend, read my last post and immediately contacted me to let me know about Windows Live Writer. Using this program, I don't have to stress over resizing photos before posting them. Which should mean that you will see more photos, starting now. :)

Here are a few from our family trip back in October.

Buddy Bear in his car seat at the putt-putt place

All the kids at the next-to-last hole. They had a blast. Me? I stink at putt-putt, and I'm competitive. So not so much.

What a face! It was a sunny day at the zoo. More zoo pics later...

This is at Hendrick MotorSports, Dale Jr.'s new home. Told ya Daddy is startin' him out right! Pookie and Miss Muffet expected to meet Dale Jr. and kept asking when we were going to see him. They were a bit disappointed that didn't happen.

So there you have it - evidence that Windows Live Writer works for me. Thanks again, Jan! :)

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Perfection Is a Paralyzing Goal

At least for me.

See, it's one reason why this poor blog has been neglected. (The other reason is that I am staying insanely busy, but that's another story.) I have a lot of pictures I want to post, but in order to put them up I have to download them from the camera, pick out the ones I want, resize them, and then upload them into a blog post. In my mind, that's a huge task that I need plenty of time to do.

I kept putting off posting because I was focused on putting up the perfect post with lovely family pictures. Well, ya know what? I'm not waiting for perfection! If I do, you will probably never hear from me again!

So here I am - imperfect me. But at least I'm here. It makes me think of one of my favorite quotes:

"God doesn't expect you to be perfect, just progressing."

How about you? Is striving for perfection holding you back from doing something?

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving to One and to All

Thank you - my family, friends, and visitors - for the support, encouragement, and pleasure you have brought to my life this year. I thank God for each and every one of you.

I'm thankful for so many things, including the following:

salvation
my husband of 9 years
my children
food on our table and a roof over our head
many relatives
an excellent church
blogging friends
real-life friends :)
positive business growth
Mr. Incredible's good job
health
freedom, though that is slipping away

What are you thankful for today?

Monday, November 10, 2008

A Full Week

The first week of November is crazy for my family. In a stretch of 7 days, we have 2 anniversaries and 3 birthdays to celebrate, and none of them fall on the same day!

My sister and brother-in-law celebrated their 5th anniversary. (Already?!) Papa and Mama celebrated their 57th. It seems like just yesterday they celebrated their 50th.

My father had his 65th birthday. Pookie Bear turned 6, and Mr. Incredible turned 32.

Here's a photo of Mr. Incredible, Pookie Bear, and Buddy Bear that I took last night. (The guys were intent on watching NASCAR.)

Of course we had to have a party for Pookie Bear. We invited family and a few friends. Nearly everyone came, and there were kids everywhere! When we invite just family, there are 11 children. With the friends we invited, there were 18 kids ranging from 4 months (Buddy Bear) to 11 years old. They had a blast playing outside.

Because Pookie Bear chose Scooby Doo for her party theme, I decided to give the kids a little mystery to solve. I hid their party favors around the house and gave them their loot bags and one clue to get them started. They had fun and did finally find everything.

I got a kick out of watching them trying to figure out what each clue meant. I had to tell them several times that I had not hidden anything in any of the bedrooms or bathrooms. *smile*

I owe Mr. Incredible big time. He did most of the cleaning for the party, including on Friday - his birthday. I ended up spending all my time before the party sorting through the eleventy-one bags of clothes we had been given for the kids. Unfortunately, the gift of clothing, which was much appreciated, coincided with the semi-annual changing of the seasonal clothing. I spent two straight days working on nothing but clothes all day.

In the end, I was able to send clothes home with four different families that came to the party. I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed us to share our abundance with others.

Since I do owe Mr. Incredible a real birthday celebration, I'd like to surprise him with something special on his next day off in a couple of weeks. We did go out to eat for his birthday, and I bought him two more Dale Jr. cars, so I want to come up with something else. Too bad I'm terrible at stuff like this!

Any ideas?

Monday, October 27, 2008

Buddy Bear Pics - Finally!

I have been promising new photos of Buddy Bear forever. I finally downloaded them from my camera. Enjoy!

1 month old - I love sleeping babies!

2 months old - on his changing table (still need to post pics of his room)

3 months old - sleeping again

4 months old - love the dimple!

We went on a mini-vacation last week, and I'll post some pics from that soon. Have a great day!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Blog Tour: Love Starts with Elle

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity for providing a free review copy of this book. No other compensation was received for this review. The opinions contained herein are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Back in May, I reviewed Sweet Caroline, also by Rachel Hauck. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was more than pleased to be asked to review Love Starts with Elle, which tells the story of Elle Garvey who was a minor character in Sweet Caroline.

This book captured my interest from the very beginning. Elle is the perfect heroine - spunky and sweet at the same time. She faces heartache with courage and grace and consequently learns the most important lesson of all: being a Christian is more than just being an acquaintance of Christ's.

It wasn't just Elle who captured my attention, however. All the characters in this story live and breathe. They are not some fluff figures created just to fill space. Their strengths and weaknesses are the same as mine, which enabled me to connect emotionally with the story. I wanted to see Elle respond in a certain way; I despised Jeremiah for his self-centered actions; I cheered for Heath because I saw into his heart. In short, I escaped into a make-believe world that was nearly as real as the reality in which I live.

If you can't tell, I highly recommend this book. Inside its covers, you will find an enjoyable story that also contains important life lessons. If you would like to read what other bloggers thought of this book, please visit the blog tour post for the complete schedule with links. If you'd like a chance to win your own copy, just leave a comment at that post.

Buy the book: available at Amazon.com

About the book:
Elle's living the dream -but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?

About Rachel:
Rachel Hauck is the author of ten, going on eleven novels, and has recently become an "acclaimed" author. (Yeah, funny how that happened. Some dude found her lottery stub stuck to the bottom of his shoe and tried to "acclaim" her. But her husband refused to pay out.)

Since then, she's gone on to become a best selling author of Sweet Caroline.

Living in central Florida with her husband of sixteen and a half years, one sweet little dog and one ornery cat, Rachel is a graduate of Ohio State University and a huge Buckeye football fan. One day she hopes to stand on the sidelines next to Coach Tressel as a famed, acclaimed best selling OSU alumni, beloved for her work in literature and letters. (She's written at least a couple hundred letters in her life time.)

Her current release, Love Starts With Elle (July 2008, Thomas Nelson) is set in the South Carolina lowcountry, and earned 4.5 Stars and Top Pick from Romantic Times Book Club.

Look for her next release next spring, The Sweet By and By, the first book in the Born To Fly series with award winning country artist, Sara Evans.

Of the writing journey, Rachel says, "I'm humbled by the amazing things God is doing in my life. I love what I do, and am so privileged to work with Thomas Nelson fiction and am excited to see what God has in store for all of His authors and writers. Just keep praying and writing!"

You can visit her blog and website at http://www.rachelhauck.com.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

I'm Still Around

It has been so long since I last posted that I thought I'd better let you know I'm still here and am okay. I have 11 orders I'm working on, and of course there's the usual mom/wife stuff to do, too.

I promise (Jennifer!) that my next post will have new pictures of Buddy Bear. He is such a sweet and happy baby. And of course I think he is absolutely adorable! :)

How have you been doing?

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Book Tour: The SOS for PMS

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity for providing a free review copy of this book. No other compensation was received for this review. The opinions contained herein are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

When I was invited to review this book, I didn't immediately accept the offer. I wasn't too sure I wanted to wade through some dull, text-like book. I'm sure glad I reconsidered!

You hear it all the time: men joking about wives and girlfriends' moodiness, and women wryly complaining about their symptoms. But for many women, PMS is no laughing matter. If you are one of the many, many women who suffers from PMS, I highly recommend your reading Mary Byers' book, The S.O.S. for PMS.

This is not the dull, put-you-to-sleep book I was dreading. Mrs. Byers' honesty about her own battle with PMS and her wry sense of humor keep this from being a "heavy" book. She opens each chapter with a short scene from a fictional character's life which illustrates topics that will be discussed in the following pages. The ongoing fictional story helped keep me interested, and I love the humor Mrs. Byers injects into this sub-story.

More than an intriguing fictional story, The S.O.S. for PMS offers "Practical Help and Relief for Moms." Mrs. Byers discusses specific PMS symptoms and their causes, includes charts to help you figure out what you can expect from your body, offers advice about what foods impact PMS (both positively and negatively), and gives helpful tips for getting others to help you through your difficult times.

While I highly recommend this book, you may wish to read an excerpt. Links to additional reviews can be found at the blog tour post. Leave a comment at that post to be entered to win one of 4 copies Mrs. Byers is giving away.

About Mary: Mary Byers is a professional speaker and writer whose passion for transforming lives is evident in every project she takes on. In her first book with Harvest House Publishers, The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family, Byers teaches women how to take care of themselves so that they can nurture a happy, healthy family. The mother of two lively children, she offers down-to-earth suggestions, spiritual truths, and real-life advice on how to juggle family responsibilities while creating a balanced life through supportive friendships, stress-relieving laughter, regular exercise, rejuvenating solitude, and an intimate relationship with the Lord. The founder of Word Works, Byers graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Telecommunications. She is also a Certified Association Executive. Byers and her husband, Stuart, reside in Illinois with their two children. To learn more about Mary visit her website at www.marybyers.com.

A Word from the Author:
"It’s my hope that this book will bring help, hope and healing to moms who suffer from PMS. It’s been a source of despair in my own life but things are looking up now that I’ve developed my own coping plan. Those I interviewed for this book shared intimately about their own battles and I believe their stories, along with that of Callie’s (the main character in the book) will convince other women that it is possible to change their current response to PMS and encourage them to start today.”

About the Book:
The SOS for PMS:
Practical Help and Relief for Moms

In her latest book, Mary explores an often frustrating topic, the symptoms of PMS, and offers practical advice and encouragement for mothers. Readers will find comfort in the stories shared by other moms, realizing that they are not alone in their struggles with PMS.

With this book, you will find suggestions designed to inspire healthier lifestyles, relationships, and daily choices for all women.

Gather any group of moms together and the topic of frustrating PMS symptoms rises up in conversation along with the guilt and concern about its effects on family members.

Now Mary Byers, author of The Mother Load, offers mothers encouragement, help, and camaraderie as she shares:

~women's stories-the good, bad, and the hopeful

~overlooked symptoms and how to manage them

~foods and activities to avoid or indulge in

God's first aid for stress, depression, and anxiety a call for help-how husbands can come to the aid of their wives.

This gathering of useful advice and shared experiences will comfort readers who have ever felt alone in their PMS plight and will inspire healthier lifestyles, relationships, and daily choices for all women.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Layne's funeral went well with both laughter and tears. I heard there were over 300 people in attendance, and Mr. Incredible and I saw people we hadn't seen in nearly a decade.

Layne was one of 5 brothers, and every single one of them is/was a preacher. Sharon has two brothers, and one is a preacher. So Layne chose to have two brothers from each side of the family speak during the memorial service and told them that they only had 5 minutes to speak. He said that the people attending the service could thank him in Heaven. I had to chuckle when Layne's oldest brother told us he had said that, but they didn't stick to the 5-minute limit too well. *smile*

Laughter and tears characterized the service. Layne was a fun-loving, mischievous boy who grew up into a fun-loving and mischievous man. His brothers and brothers-in-law recounted several funny stories of Layne's mischief-making. Everyone had to laugh.

The tears came several times for me: when his family members sang, when letters to his wife and children were read, and when I saw Sharon's incredible control break briefly.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to go, and I was honored to be able to play for the congregational singing and one special. I was amazed at how at home I felt even after nearly 3 years away.

Whether we are given 1 year or 100 years, life is short and passes by all too quickly. But this life isn't all there is. Each one of us has a soul that lives somewhere forever - either in Heaven or in hell. Knowing that Layne had trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior, I know that I will see him again in Heaven. That is a comforting fact. However, I'd hate to not see you in Heaven.

If you haven't trusted Christ as your Savior, I urge you to do so before you reach your last day here on earth. I'd be more than happy to tell you how to be saved. Just contact me if you have any questions.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Layne's Funeral Details

It's hard to believe this picture of Layne, Sharon, Jason, and Krista is about 5 years old. It sure does being back memories!

Sharon has posted the funeral details at her blog, including information about Layne's memorial fund. I've been asked to play the piano at the funeral, and I count it an honor to do so. Please pray that God would use me and the service as He sees fit.

There is a song that Layne sang at church several times that is fitting for his family now. I leave you with its words.

God on the Mountain

1. Life is easy when you're up on the mountain,
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known;
But then things change and you're down in the valley;
Don't lose faith, child, you are never alone.

Chorus
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley,
When things go wrong, He'll make them right;
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times,
The God of the day is still God of the night.

2. We talk of faith when we're up on the mountain,
But the talk comes easy when life's at its best;
It's down in the valley of trials and temptations,
That's when faith is really put to the test.

Chorus
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley,
When things go wrong, He'll make them right;
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times,
The God of the day is still God of the night.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Until We Meet Again

I just received word that Layne Daniel went Home to be with his Savior about 8:30 p.m. - nearly 45 minutes ago. I know Sharon, Jason, and Krista are experiencing new depths of grief and loss, and my heart aches for and weeps with them.

Layne was our pastor for 6 years. He had played a big role in Mr. Incredible's life from the time he was a teenager, and he and his family have been wonderful friends to us and our family. We will miss him here on earth, but we are thankful that we know that we will see him again one day - in all probability sooner than we would think.

Funeral details have not yet been set, but we expect his wake to be held within a couple of days. I'll let you know. In the meantime, here's the link to his blog one more time in case you would like to leave your condolences there.

You Are in the Presence of Genius!

Your result for The Commonly Confused Words Test...
English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 100% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.
Take The Commonly Confused Words Test at HelloQuizzy

Aren't I just swell? *laugh*

Layne Daniel Is Nearly Home

I just stopped by Layne's blog to see if there were any updates. There have been two posted since I last wrote. Excerpt from the latest post:

Layne took a turn for the worse today. His fever began to go up along with his pulse rate. Both signs that it is almost time for the Lord to take him home. ... This night watch will be difficult but what joy awaits for Layne.

You can read the full update for yourself; however, it is the previous post that I highly recommend your reading.

...We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in July. I have had 20 wonderful years with Layne. His love shines out on every page. We have been so incredibly happy. 20 years just doesn’t seem long enough. I long for 20 more. ... Letting Layne go is the hardest thing the Lord has ever asked me to do. It’s so easy to think you have given God everything until He asks for the dearest thing of all. ... The coming loss is so great the grief is crushing. Only God’s grace lifts it from our hearts. In the face of such great grief though, there is still joy. ... Our road has been hard, the suffering has been long, our sorrow has been great; but, in the midst of it all we have had a loving, ever present, compassionate Heavenly Father. We know Him so much better now than we did a year and a half ago. We trust HIm more than we ever have because through it all He has never failed us. We love Him more because He has daily drawn us closer and closer to His heart. I have nothing but praise and thanksgiving to Him tonight. ...

Read the full post "Certain Victory"; you will be amazed and encouraged what God's grace can do for those going through such a trial.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Layne Daniel Significantly Worse

Sharon, Layne's wife, posted a new update at his blog this morning.

Layne’s condition changed significantly yesterday. ... I called the Hospice nurse and she came to check on him. The conclusion was that there has been another significant change in the tumor growth and swelling in the brain. ... The doctors and nurses believe Layne is quickly coming to the end of his long battle with this disease.

Read the full post

Time appears to be very short for Layne. Your continued prayers for him and his family are appreciated.

Get Cosy, Josey! Blog Tour

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity for providing a free review copy of this book. No other compensation was received for this review. The opinions contained herein are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

I love being a book reviewer because it means I get free books to read. And Get Cosy, Josey! is a fabulous book - fun, realistic, inspiring, and addictive!

I cannot tell you how in the world author Susan Warren managed to weave in themes about wifely submission, witnessing, and everyday married life without making this book "preachy" or dull, but she did! Perhaps one reason she was able to accomplish those tasks is because she wrote from her personal experiences as a missionary in Siberia.

The story begins with the heroine of the story, Josey, agreeing to her adventurous husband's plea to move to Siberia to minister to the people there. Josey is a very real person - we are privy to her innermost thoughts, good and bad, and therefore can relate to and empathize with her struggles with finding her place, being kind and gracious, submitting to her husband, and adapting to a very harsh living environment. But Josey is in no way a depressing, sanctimonious, or wet-blanket character. She meets challenges with good humor and a steady determination to give her best as a Christian, wife, mother, and missionary.

Even though Josey did not want to move to Siberia, she did so out of submission to her husband. Throughout the book, she struggles to figure out what misconceptions regarding submission have shaped her attitudes and what true submission is.

In and out of scrapes, Josey will have you alternately laughing and crying as you tag along for her journey to Siberia. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this book!

Here's the official blurb and info:

Visit Susan’s blog tour post to read what other bloggers thought of this book.

Get Cozy, Josey by Susan May Warren: How do you get cozy when your new "home" is a frozen tundra? Josey's dreams of small-town Minnesota bliss melt away when her hubby's relocated to a Siberian village. No indoor plumbing...or junk food! But this feisty former missionary knows how to multitask: juggling toddler twins, empowering local housewives, spreading God's word - no worries, Josey. It's finding time alone with the man of her dreams that will take some real work!

About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

Links:

Buy book here: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1028342&item_no=86268

Read first chapter: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/c1_CozyJosey.html

Susan’s website: http://susanmaywarren.com

Susan’s blog: http://susanmaywarren.typepad.com/scribbles/

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Saluting Our Heroes

May we never forget what happened on this date in 2001. May we always ~~be thankful for~~ remember (I am so sorry I accidentally wrote what I later scratched out! I put it in the wrong place.) those who died during the unprovoked attacks and always be thankful for the men and women who volunteered their time and strength to search for victims and to cleanup debris.

My friend Dana's husband, Joe, is one such volunteer, and she wrote a moving tribute to Joe and his service after 9/11. (Note: While this particular post is family friendly, I must attach a language advisory to the rest of her blog.)

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Layne Daniel Update at His Blog

I checked this morning, and there is a new update from Sharon, his wife. Please take the time to read it and, if you feel so inclined, to leave a nice comment.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Thoughful Tuesday

I haven't posted a Thoughtful Tuesday in over a year, but I really like this series. Besides, I came across something today that just cried out for a Thoughtful Tuesday post.

"We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of the Sahara. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton."
- Robert Dawkins in Unweaving the Rainbow

The man is talking about the endless DNA variations possible, but his words instantly made me think of aborted lives.

Monday, September 08, 2008

We're Fine/Please Pray for Layne Daniel and His Family

Thank you to all who prayed and expressed concern for us as Hanna went by. Praise the Lord she gave us a pretty uneventful time, although we did lose power from 11:15 a.m.to 12:30p.m due to a tree falling across some lines. It's rather nice to be able to just pick up the phone and tell Mr. Incredible we don't have power rather than having to call the power company's hot line. :)

Mr. Incredible worked for fifteen hours on Saturday and then worked 10 hours on Sunday. He's rather tired, but I can't wait to see his check! *laughing*

I haven't mentioned our former pastor, Layne Daniel, in quite a while. Unfortunately, he had some major complications since the last time I posted an update: blood clots in his leg and lungs, a stroke, an infection at the site where he had a port inserted for his chemo, and several seizures. Due to those complications, he was not able to receive his antibody treatments for some time.

During that time, the cancer reappeared in his brain and started to grow larger. Layne has grown weaker, and if my information is correct, the decision was made about two weeks ago to bring him home to be with his family for his remaining days.

Those days appear to be very short now, and we keep dreading the call that will tell us that he has gone Home to be with his Savior. We dread the call not for him, but for us and for his wife and two children. We do understand that he is really suffering, and it would be a mercy for him to go home, but we selfishly would like to hang onto him.

Pray for him and his family as they walk this valley. I'll let you know when I hear any news.

It might be an encouragement to him and his family if you were to leave a comment at his blog. It hasn't been updated since August 15 when he ended up in the hospital for the last time, but I believe they still check it.

Thanks, my friends!

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Hanna Update

Mr. Incredible did go to work early this morning and is not yet back. I really don't expect him back any time soon.

The good news is that our house hasn't even lost power, and the worst part of the storm is passed. In fact, my relatives who live an hour and a half northwest of us ended up getting more of the storm than we did. My in-laws just told me they have gotten over 5 inches of rain. Even that is good, because our state has been behind on rainfall the whole year, and this storm will certainly help with that problem.

All in all, we are happy to have gotten off easy. Mr. Incredible might have some tales to tell when he comes home, but I rest in blissful ignorance at this point in time.

Thanks for you concern and your prayers. :)

Friday, September 05, 2008

Coming Closer

I'm sitting here working (yes, I know it's after midnight [my settings must be off because it's nearly 1:00 a.m. as I type this, but the post shows almost midnight]), and the wind is definitely picking up. We had three rain bands come through today, but I haven't heard much rain lately. That may just be because I've been engrossed in my work, though.

Because Hanna slowed down a bit today, she is expected to come through our area in a few hours, probably between 6 a.m. and noon. Mr. Incredible has to be at work at 6 this morning - right when the weather is supposed to be at its worst.

Thanks to those who have said they will be praying for us. We appreciate it.

Oh, and home school has gone well the past three days. We picked up some really neat free math manipulative sets today. They were offered through our local FreeCycle board and had to be picked up today. It was pouring buckets when the kids and I got to the place. But the supplies were totally worth it. :)

I'm off to bed. Have a good night!

Giveaway and Sale at RS Designs

We have put all of our pre-made blog designs on sale for 25% off during the month of September.

Also, we are giving away the winner's choice of a personalized Zudi and Vi baby blanket from GiggleBug Boutique. Entering the contest is as easy as leaving a comment at the giveaway post. The blankets are both lovely and unique, and even if you don't have a need for a baby blanket yourself, they would make a great gift. Entries are being accepted until 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2008, so hurry over to put your name in the hat.

Hanna Homing In

The tracks from the last 24 hours continue to show that she will most likely come through our state slightly to the west of us. If she moves to the right, she could come directly over us. Even if she doesn't come directly over us, we will most likely be hit pretty hard. Because of the way these storms rotate, the east side of the storm is typically the side that gets the brunt of the storm.

Mr. Incredible is a lineman for the local power company and does not expect to come home today until late tonight, if at all. He already knows he will be working all day tomorrow, and depending on how severe the damage is, he may be working on Sunday, too. Pray for him and his co-workers to be kept in safety and to be able to restore power quickly.

We didn't have any tropical storms or hurricanes affect us last year. With Ike and Josephine coming behind Hanna, this year is shaping up to be quite different.

Please pray that damage will be minimal for us and for everyone else in Hanna's path. I'll let you know as soon as I can how we fared.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Back to School

all images courtesy of Fotosearch Stock Photography

Yesterday didn't go at all the way I had planned, but it turned out to be okay anyway.

I had a new piano student scheduled to come sometime in the afternoon. Since she lives an hour away from me, we had agreed that she would stop in for a lesson on her way back from a nearby town. I spent much of the morning finishing the cleaning I had started the day before but hadn't finished. The house was in better shape than it had been in a while. Great!

We took a break for lunch. I intended to have school after lunch, and the girls were very excited about it. Then I got a phone call from my student saying that she was finished in town and was on her way to my house. The town is 30-45 minutes from my house, depending on where you are in the town. Okay, school will wait.

Only... an hour and a half later, I am still waiting for my student to arrive. It turns out she got some bad directions from two people in the town. It was 3:00 when she finally found my house, and it was 4:15 when she left.

I had the foresight to put supper's entree in the crockpot in the morning. Shortly after the piano lesson, I decided to go ahead and put the butter beans on to cook. (Around here, lima beans are called butter beans.) From a frozen state, they take a good 45 minutes to cook completely, and I wanted to have supper ready around 5:30 for a change.

I received a call and was talking to my friend. All of a sudden, I smelled burned butter beans - not a pleasant aroma. Oh, no! Turns out the water had boiled down quite a bit and the butter beans on the bottom had burned pretty badly. I threw out the beans and put some more on to boil.

By this time, I knew Mr. Incredible would be getting home at any time, so the girls and I proceeded to pick up their messes in the living room. (He doesn't like coming home to a messy living room.) At least the house looked nice again!

Mr. Incredible arrived home, and supper was ready when he got out of the shower. We ate, and then it was finally time for school - at 8 p.m.! *rueful grin* School was rather backward from start to finish. The girls helped me hang some old posters and visual aids and the new ones we had purchased for this year. As we hung the items, we went over them together, providing a good review. We ended the session by saying our pledges, singing the national anthem, and having family prayers.

Whew! What a way to start the school year! :) At least the girls did enjoy it, and, surprisingly, I actually didn't get too stressed out yesterday, even though nothing went as planned.

Today, I have to go to town to stock up in preparation for Hurricane Hannah which appears to be headed our way on Friday or Saturday. Yippee skippee.

How have you been doing?

Monday, September 01, 2008

Frumpy No More! (It's All About Me)

I hope you have all had a good labor day. Mine has lived up to its name. *laugh*

Though that sounded funny, it wasn't a joke. I've had a productive day around the house today - finally got Buddy Bear's room cleaned and all his gifts put away (now I can show you photos of his cute room!), folded and put away multiple boxes of girl clothing, and got all the dishes washed (no small feat, let me assure you).

I really didn't have a choice. We begin school again tomorrow (still have to clean the school room tomorrow morning), and I have a new piano student starting tomorrow. And here I thought my life was busy already...

About the title. I am so happy to be able to say that! Since Mr. Incredible likes long hair, I let my hair grow. I also took the advice of some of my girl friends to let my bangs grow out. What a mistake! I started having to braid my hair at night just to keep it from being a horrifically tangled mess in the morning, and without bangs, my face looked fatter, and my forehead and nose were even more prominent, as you shall see.

Mr. Incredible kindly suggested that I cut my hair on our anniversary trip. I was relieved he suggested it, because I would never have felt like I deserved to spend the money on myself. But I hated how I looked.

The stylist was nice and did a good job cutting my hair. Here are before and after pics. I look less happy after the cut because I still wasn't quite happy with the way I looked.

I wasn't entirely happy with my new look because I still didn't have the bangs to cover my forehead like I wanted. So a couple of days ago, I cut them myself. Here's the end result.

Much better, no? I finally feel confident and happy with my appearance once again. I took the pictures myself, too. They are actually reflections of me in our bathroom vanity mirror. *laugh*

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I know I've been gone for over a week now, but we had a blast! We celebrated our 9th anniversary last Thursday by dropping the kids off with relatives and heading up to Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Viriginia for a much-needed getaway for just Mr. Incredible and me.

We had soooo much fun! I don't have pics of us riding the roller coasters (awesome!), but I do have some of us playing putt-putt golf on Friday. I'll share pics and tell you more about it later.

If you'd like to see what else has been occupying my time, visit Danajill Designs, Sweetcheeks Scrapbooks (nearly finished), and Sparkle and Charm Boutique (in progress now). I also completed 4 smaller projects this past week; no wonder I've been scarce here!

I hope you have been doing well.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Going for the Gold

Michael Phelps' feat is astonishing: 8 gold medals and 7 world records in 8 Olympic events. The whole world applauds what he has accomplished, and it is right that his achievement be recognized.

However, his noteworthy achievement did not happen by chance. He didn't decide one morning a month or two ago that he was going to compete in the Olympics and try to win 8 gold medals. No, his achievement is the result of years of unnoticed sacrifice and determined dedication.

We Christians, too, are going for the gold. Our gold, however, is not a temporary award we will receive here on earth. It is the eternal reward we will receive in heaven. We will not receive applause for our sacrifices and dedication here on earth. On the contrary, people may laugh at us and think we are crazy because of what we sacrifice and the dedication we exhibit in our life as a Christian.

"Why can't you [fill in the blank]?" people may question. "There's nothing wrong with it."

They may be right; there may be nothing wrong with the activity in question. But if it doesn't help us in the right direction, it is something that should be sacrificed if we wish to reach our final goal - "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord."

Not only am I going for the gold in my Christian life, but I am also striving for excellence in my roles as a woman, wife, and mother. I don't have time for myself? That's okay. My family needs me, and I am going for the gold. People wonder why I stay at home or home school my children? Those are sacrifices Mr. Incredible and I have chosen to make so that we can give our children what we deem best for them.

There are many other areas where I have chosen to go for the gold, and in many of those areas I need to recommit myself to sacrificing what is holding me back from reaching those goals.

How about you? Are you going for the gold?

Monday, August 18, 2008

I Am Thankful

for all four of my children ...
but especially for my "responsible 5 year old" (Pookie Bear)
for a door left open
for happy endings

Be careful when you wonder how someone could do something - you never know when you will be the one to have done that! All's well that ends well...

Monday, August 11, 2008

Pics from Baby Bear's B-day Party

I'm sorry that I have not posted much the past two weeks. I am absolutely swamped with design work, which is a good thing, but I have not had time for anything else. I don't even want to tell you how many hours I have spent on the computer some days; let's just say I pity my poor kids, and I'm trying really hard to do better this week. :(

Baby Bear's birthday was actually two weeks ago, but her party was a week before this past Saturday. Nearly all of our immediate families came; the only exception was Mr. Incredible's brother and family, and their absence could have been due to the fact that I only informed them of the party the day before the event. (rolling eyes) I didn't intentionally forget to invite them, but I still feel bad. Sarah and Joe hung out with us until 7, which was really nice since he shipped out the next day.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos. Baby Bear chose Genie from Aladdin for her cake. Is there an unwritten law that requires my girls to choose characters that are at least 10 years old?! I was happy with how it turned out, though.

I'm 3!

It didn't look like that; I smudged out her name for posting here.

So how have you been doing?

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Buddy Bear

I can't believe that Buddy Bear is already 6 weeks old! I also can't believe people's generosity in giving us baby items for him. Two friends at church have given us enough infant boy clothes to outfit Buddy Bear through at least size 12 months. Another friend gave us a Graco playpen (the Fold and Go Care Center Lite). And diapers! I am optimistically hoping that we have enough diapers to last his first six months. We certainly thank the Lord for His provision.

Buddy Bear is a good baby, but he is vocal. When I had recovered enough to return to church after having Buddy, I had planned to keep him in the service with us for at least a couple of months. (You know how many germs and viruses float around a church nursery!) Unfortunately, that plan lasted all of two services. Both times, I ended up having to take him out at the beginning of the message because he kept grunting loudly, and I could not get him quiet.

Tonight, one of the nursery workers told me that he is one of the noisiest babies she had seen (this lady has 6 kids of her own!), and after my mother kept the kids overnight Thursday (THANKS, MOM!), she told me that she ended up holding him during the night because he wouldn't get quiet any other way and kept waking her up. I am only now starting to be able to tune out his non-vital grunting during the night.

He loves to eat. I'm going to post a nearly newborn photo of him first and then put up photos from today so you can see the difference. Enjoy looking at my handsome little man. :)

Newborn cuteness

Almost smiling

Doesn't look all that comfortable, does he? Though I love the outfit!

Am I really supposed to be awake?

You're funny, Mama! (I love his dimpled cheek.)

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

I'm Giving Away Two $60 Prizes at RS Designs

If you would like a free custom blog design, you'll be happy to learn that over at RS Designs, I am giving away two prizes ($60 RS Designs' credit) good toward any purchase of $60 or more. One prize will go to the commenter whose number is chosen by random.org, and the other prize will go to a newsletter subscriber, who will also be chosen using random.org.

To be entered for both prizes, leave a comment at the giveaway post and then subscribe to our newsletter if you have not already done so. Newsletter subscribers not only receive blog updates by e-mail but also receive monthly subscriber-only discounts and incentives.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Congrats, Newlyweds!

It doesn't seem possible that my baby sister, who turned 20 at the end of June, is old enough to be married, but apparently she is. She and her boyfriend surprised us by getting married on July 14. He's a Marine and is headed out for his second Iraq tour - can't remember if he leaves this week or next. He'll be gone for a year, and they will have only had two weeks of marriage together. I think that's a bummer.

Welcome to the family, Joe. I hope you two have a long and happy life together.

Fruit Defines the Tree

illustration courtesy of fotosearch.com

Ever since Pookie was born, I have prayed that while my children were young, they would understand and accept God's gift of salvation. Yet because of my own road to salvation, I was/am very afraid of pushing my children into making a false profession of faith. So I have continued to pray and have talked with the children as they have had questions or as a situation has led to an opening.

Over the past year or so, Pookie has asked more and more questions relating to life after death and salvation. I have tried to answer her questions as clearly as possible, yet I could tell by her responses and additional questions that she still didn't "get it." I refrained from asking her if she would like to get saved, merely telling her that anyone who does not ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins will go to hell when he dies. A couple of times she proudly told me that she had asked God to forgive her for her sins, but my questions to her revealed that she was still confused as to why she needed to do that and what happens when someone ask to be saved.

This year, our church had Vacation Bible School from July 7-11. All three girls went and had a fabulous time. On Thursday night, we were riding home when Pookie complained to me that she hadn't raised her hand to be saved. I told her that she could raise her hand the next night if she wanted. As it turns out, she did just that.

When I picked the girls up on Friday night, Pookie's teacher told me that she had gotten saved. I thought that was great but didn't get too excited because I figured she was probably still confused. I didn't say anything to her about it, but she brought it up on her own and told me that she had asked God to forgive her of her sins and to save her. I told her that I was happy, but I was determined to adopt a "wait and see" attitude.

On Wednesday, I talked to the helper who had led her to the Lord and asked what had happened. She said that Pookie had raised her hand, surprising the helper who thought that Pookie was already saved. The helper asked Pookie why she was raising her hand, and Pookie replied that she wanted to ask God to save her. The helper took Pookie through some Scriptures, and Pookie seemed to understand and know all about it. She did pray and asked God for salvation.

I noticed that after Pookie's profession of salvation, her evening prayers were drastically different. Instead of just thanking God for the day and for the fun she had playing with her sisters, she prayed for God to help her sisters and baby brother to ask Him to save them so our whole family could be in Heaven. The whole spirit of her prayers was different.

Yesterday, we were at a park. Pookie told me that she needed to tell our neighbors about God and how to be saved so that they could go to heaven. I told her that was a good idea. Then she told me that we needed to tell everyone at the park about God so they could be saved. Again, I told her that was a good idea. Then, she picked out a girl about her age, went up to her, and talked to her for several minutes about God. How convicting! Here I, her mother, was - too afraid of people's reactions to open my mouth, and she blithely skips up to another child and shares the Gospel to the best of her ability.

Tonight, her Junior Church teacher told me that her prayer request for last Sunday was to thank God that she had gotten saved and to pray that she would live for Him. This little tree is already bearing fruit. None of the things she has done or said have been at our urging but instead have come from a tender heart that loves God. Oh, that my heart would be tender as this little child's!

Please pray for Pookie that she would continue to grow in Christ, and pray for Mr. Incredible and me that we would be the examples that we need to be for her and that we would be able to give her the discipling that she needs.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Bittersweet Changes Ahead

After nearly 3 years, it is odd in some ways to be starting over with a new baby - once again I am becoming intimately familiar with teeny, tiny clothes, interrupted sleep, constant feedings, infant supplies, and an overstuffed diaper bag. I look into my barn and see items reserved for days ahead: an Exersaucer, larger car seats, big kid toys, high chairs, and more.

I know that Buddy Bear is probably the next-to-last child I will have. I look forward to the changes that are sure to come in the days ahead, but I find myself wanting to hang onto these moments now. I look at him cuddled close to me as I nurse him and realize with a bittersweet pang that all too soon we will be separated during meals by high chairs and booster seats. Sooner or later, he won't want me to hold him close as often but will instead face the big world with his own brand of brave independence.

In other ways, I do look forward to the changes that lie ahead. I look forward to the time when he wears big boy underwear and doesn't have accidents. I look forward to the time when he can walk and run and play with his sisters. I look forward to the time when he is finished with the high chairs and booster seats and can feed himself while sitting in a regular chair at the table. I look forward to the time when he can speak clearly enough to tell me that he loves me.

While the changes that lie ahead are bittersweet for me, I would rather have the changes come than not, because that means that Buddy Bear is growing and developing as he should.

What has been the hardest change for you as your children have grown?

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Go BIG Network

While starting RS Designs actually required very little capital (I already had the tools I needed to create designs and only had to purchase small image credit packages), starting a business usually requires a rather significant financial investment. If you are an entrepreneur, you know that business funding comes from your own pocket unless you can find a person or people (you could call these people Angel Investors) who are willing to invest in your idea.

On the flip side, what if you have money that you wish to invest in a small business? How do you find a small business that has a viable plan in place that promises a positive return on your investment?

That is where the Go Big Network comes in.

The Go BIG Network is an on-line marketplace that connects the startup and small business community. The company allows startup companies, investors, advisors, job seekers and service providers to post requests for help on-line and have those requests routed to other members of the Network who can help them.

I took a look at Go Big Network earlier this week and so much liked what I saw that I went ahead and set up my free account. Here is what I found:

If you need venture capital or have money you want to invest, you can advertise your need or become an Angel Investor in the Funding section.
If you need help with you business plan, advertise your need at the Business Plans section.
If you would like to work for a startup or need to fill an open position in your business, you want to visit the Job section.
Web Design projects may be advertised and found in the Website section.
The Blog section features helpful articles contributed by select bloggers.

I plan to check Go Big Network often for design jobs and for people needing advice that I have to give.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Fun Cleaning Ideas for Kids

You all know that my girls can and have created some monster messes. Of course, when it is time to clean up those messes, more often than not, the girls are nowhere to be found. I want them to learn to take responsibility for cleaning up the messes they make.

I am encouraged by the fact that they do enjoy helping me clean and wash the laundry. I don't know if I told you before, but Pookie and Miss Muffet even loaded up the washer, added the detergent and additives, and turned it on all by themselves one day. What a surprise!

Because I do want my girls to know how to clean, I was excited to come across these fun tips from THE MAIDS® Home Services. I thought you might find them useful, too. (If you have any fun cleaning ideas of your own, please share them in the comments of this post.)

Don’t expect kids to use adult tools to clean, instead create supplies that are kid-friendly. Use an ice-cream pail for mopping chores or shorten an old mop handle or broom to make it kid-sized.
Fill a squirt gun from a solution of a gallon of water and a drop of dish soap. Let kids squirt windows and mirrors and wipe dry with paper towels. Leaves glass clean and streak free!
Cover kids’ hands and arms with dad’s old athletic socks then squirt the socks until lightly damp with a safe solution of vinegar and water. Send them off to dust around the house.
Got a pile of blocks or action figures strewn on the floor? Scoop up toys in a few swoops using a kid-sized leaf rake to form a pile for easy pick-up.
Make cleaning a game; give young kids grill tongs and challenge them to pick up toys and put them in a toy box or bin only using the utensils. Keep score and see who wins!
Don’t forget the fun music to help your kids get a groove on as they boogie around the house cleaning.

About THE MAIDS Home Services:
THE MAIDS Home Services, founded in 1979, is the most trusted name in home services due to their consistent quality service and premium products which meet or exceed customers’ expectations. THE MAIDS promises to deliver a cleaner, healthier, happier and more comfortable home…guaranteed because “Nobody Outcleans The Maids.” Rated as the fastest-growing residential cleaning franchise in Entrepreneur magazine for the past four years, THE MAIDS is one of the oldest and largest residential cleaning franchisers in the United States and Canada, serving over 40 states and four provinces in North America. For more information, visit THE MAIDS Home Services’ web site at www.maids.com or call 1-800-THE-MAIDS, “Nobody Outcleans The Maids.”

Friday, July 11, 2008

Comments Are Working Again

I apologize to those of you who have wished to comment the past couple of days and haven't been able to. I was trying out Blogger's new inline comment form feature (it's still in draft) but did not realize that a particular customization in my template meant that people could leave comments but those comments would not be able to be viewed. I only became aware of that fact after Dana asked me about it. Of course, I immediately reverted to the old comment form and forgot about the problem, thinking I had fixed it, until...

Good ol' Dana kindly let me know that now she couldn't leave any comment. Long story short - I had forgotten to change one particular setting. Wouldn't you know! I've fixed that setting, tested the comments, and now everything really does work. Thanks, Dana!

Feel free to leave comments about my brilliance ... *smile*

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Pookie Bear and Buddy Bear

All of the girls love their new brother, but Buddy Bear is someone very special to Pookie Bear. Before I was even expecting him, she told her Sunday School teacher that she was going to have a new baby brother. Of course, when the teacher mentioned something to me about it, I was quite surprised and informed her that I didn't know anything about a new baby. *laugh*

When I found out that I was expecting a baby, Pookie was, naturally, convinced it was a boy. And she was right. When he was born, she shyly but happily informed us that she had prayed to God for him. And she had. In fact, last night, one of her VBS teachers told me that one night when she was in their FrontLine Club earlier this year, she prayed that God would help her baby brother to come out in 6 days. (At that point, I was maybe three months along.) Her teachers had the hardest time not laughing while she was praying, and I laughed when they told me about it, but the point is that Pookie has longed for and prayed for her brother for quite some time now.

Since he has been born, she has begged to be allowed to hold him just about every time I put him down. She carries him around (she's supposed to have adult supervision when she does that), tries to play with him, talks to him, and just loves him to pieces. She even changed his diaper all by herself yesterday.

She told me he needed a diaper change, and then a couple of minutes later hollered to tell me that she had changed it. I rushed into his room to find her struggling to fasten the new diaper securely. She proudly told me that she had remembered everything I always did: she had opened his diaper, placed a washcloth over him (I'm slightly paranoid about being sprayed), used wipes to clean the p**p off his bottom, removed the old diaper, applied A&D ointment, and put on the new diaper. I told her I was impressed.

You know what is slightly scary? Pookie is already setting aside things for the baby sister that she says is coming next. Wish me well! *laugh*

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Miss Muffet's Self-Portrait

I absolutely love this photo. Miss Muffet took it herself - placed the camera on the floor, lay down in front of it, and pressed the button. Although I sometimes get aggravated when the girls want to play with the camera or our other nice grown-up toys, I love seeing what happens because of their lack of inhibitions. (Remember Pookie's use of my image editing program?)

Monday, July 07, 2008

The Girls Adore Him

This photo was completely their idea, and poor Buddy Bear gets more "play time" with his sisters than he knows what to do with. I put him in his crib with his room's door shut this afternoon just so he could get some uninterrupted sleep. Now I know how my mother felt when my baby sister was born and we older children were 12, 10, 8, and 7. She said we never let my sister sleep. *laugh*

Funky Monkey Snacks

While I was in the hospital having Buddy Bear, a package of Funky Monkey Snacks was delivered to my home. What a nice surprise that was when I got home! Although these snacks have been around since 2002, I had not heard of them before, but I liked them very much. Unlike many fruit snacks, these snacks contain only freeze dried real fruit - no added sugar, artificial colors, flavor, or preservatives. These snacks are all natural and are totally gluten free, which means that they would be a great choice for people who have gluten sensitivities.

Funky Monkey Snacks come in 4 varieties:

Bananamom (banana and cinnamon) - this one is my absolute favorite; the banana and cinnamon pair well together, creating a sweet taste with the perfect amount of spice to it.
Purple Funk (banana and acai) - this one is pretty good, too, and the acai is supposed to be very good for you.
Javalime (pineapple and lime juice) - this one is not bad, but I like sweet stuff more than tangy/sour snacks.
Carnaval Mix (banana, pineapple, apple, papaya, and raisins) - I didn't care for this mix at all, but you might like it. *smile*

If you are interested in trying these snacks for yourself, they are available at some grocery stores, such as Whole Foods Market and Winn Dixie, or you can order them online at Amazon.com.

Friday, July 04, 2008

Happy 4th of July!

I thank God that I am a citizen of the United States of America. I thank God for the freedoms we still enjoy, even though those freedoms are being stripped from us at an ever increasing pace. I thank God for the patriots who had the courage and strength of conviction to proclaim their independence from England.

God bless America - happy 4th of July, everyone!

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Handmade Cards and Where I Blog

Dana (language advisory if you follow the link) has become a good blogging friend. She used to work as a graphic artist and was even commissioned to redesign the Pillsbury Dough Boy about 15 years ago. Nowadays, she creates beautiful handmade cards. She sent me two for Buddy Bear's birth - one baby card and one handmade Wisdom booklet which contains a parable about being prepared for life's storms. I love both that card and the booklet- thank you, Dana!

Awhile ago, Dana also tagged me to show where I blog. Here is my computer area in my piano room (so called because of the baby grand piano in the room and also because that is where I give piano lessons). The picture on the wall is actually a puzzle Mr. Incredible and I put together. I can't remember if it is 750 or 1,000 pieces.

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