I think the first time I noticed I was uncomfortable learning something new was when word processors came about. Up until that point I was young and hip and knew everything about everything and was pretty comfortable adapting to anything.  When GE gifted my department with word processors and user’s manuals it was the most difficult thing I ever had to figure out.  Anyone remember?  Yes I am older; those of you who are under thirty probably grew up teething on a smart phone lol and so you are wondering what Christmas tree I just fell off of.  I remember getting my first personal computer –that was a hoot, I never used that thing to ½ its potential even after I got on the internet and not too long after came cell phones. Now I work from home online all day every day from a laptop and a cell phone! Last year I took the plunge and got my first smart phone. After looking at the blackberries and knowing for sure that I was incapable of grasping the technology, I cheated and I got the IPhone --totally easy!

 A few years ago blogging became the rage, well I am still a little challenged but willing to overcomeJ Since I work for The Old Schoolhouse® who owns THIS blog site, you’d figure I’d get this blogging thing down wouldn’t you, lol?  I’m working on it…My newest learning curve is called Social networking—this includes blogging but extends to Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and alike…I want to learn these for a variety of reasons.  As a sales person these are very important tools but I also enjoy the interaction so I think once I get hang of these they will be fun too. So far the best resource I’ve found for learning to Twitter is going to be www.TwitterMoms.com  .  They all seem pretty willing to help over there.  The forums are fun and fast paced….go check them out...

Are any of you Twitter geniuses that can help me get started?  I am courious; how many of you all have a twitter address? 

Here is my Twitter address http://twitter.com/MariAlmon and you can find me over on Facebook and my Linked In profile is at http://www.linkedin.com/in/marialmon

HELP WANTED:

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is looking for  telephone sales representatives to work from home selling print and web advertisements.  Here is this job description http://tinyurl.ynmjze  

We will train the right person. Send inquires with resume or work history to Mari Almon, Senior Advertising Services at Candidates@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com

PRODUCT REVIEW:

THE AMAZING COLLECTION BIBLE STUDY

Big Dream Ministries

http://www.theamazingcollection.com   

Are you looking for a great Bible study to use with friends or on your own or with your teenage children?  Look no further!  I’ve done them all but this one is just a little different.  The Amazing Collection developed by Big Dream Ministries is a book by book and the all way through the Bible study in 3 years.  It’s broken into “mini studies” usually 5 to 7 books at a time so it’s perfect for small groups. This also makes the study affordable.    It’s easy enough for a beginner to use and challenging enough for the seasoned Bible student.  Written by women for women, it’s a natural to use in small groups or with family.  You don’t have to be the teacher but in a small group setting you will need someone to be the facilitator. The Video/DVD will do all the hard work.  The video/DVD accompaniment is the GLUE for the whole study.  While watching it you will experience the historical context of each book through a gifted Bible teacher allowing you insight that is often lost in independent book studies. While watching the DVD you’ll will have an outline to fill in so it’s easy to keep up.  There are personal testimonies and beautiful music included each week.  The DVD also does a good job of building on the previous book and refers to the book you are studying in context with the whole Bible. After viewing the DVD, the discussion will basically start itself but there are suggested discussion questions for each section.  Basically, you study a book a week this is what makes this a very unique program.  I use this with a small group of women in my neighborhood. The women participating look forward to coming each week. Some are seasoned in bible study and we have a couple ladies who have never studied it before. Since each of book stands on it’s own I’ve been able to add new members each week.  There is review built into the series on the DVD’s and in the book and discussion time so participants don’t have to feel intimidated if they have to miss a week.  Another unique thing about this study is that the author recognized that we women are BUSY.  In each week’s study workbook you are offered a choice of how deep you want to go.  You can do the “short read assignment’ which will allow you to complete all the assigned work and participate in the discussion or a “long read assignment’ which is reading the whole book. So you never have to say there’s no time again.  This is a FLEXIBLE study.  I am enjoying it and I’m learning a lot.  My neighbors are all developing deep and meaningful relationships through this study.  Go visit Big Dream Ministries online and start your own study of God’s amazing Word!  http://www.theamazingcollection.com

Mari Almon

Marietta, Georgia

1/06

We’ve gotten some of the responses back from all those auditions.  Mostly positive but one declined her. She was offered at scholarship at one at one school.  It’s strange you never can quite figure out what they are looking for.  When you get the response letters it’s sort of like you applied for college.  The big envelopes are really good and the little envelopes are really sad.  Well, then there are the LITTLE, but THICK envelopes that can go either way.   She got one those—those LITTLE, THICK ones from Joffrey Ballet School.  She thought about it’s “LITTLE and THICK” quality out loud while she examined it for more hints before she opened it.  She really never dreamed she be accepted there. It wasn’t even on her radar.   If you think of real professional quality there’s Juilliard and there’s Joffrey—they are the ones. I’m sure somebody’s going to disagree with that but please, let me have my moment here J Anyway, just when you think God can’t do any better there He goes again!  She’s in!  She was selected for their highest level. That really blew her away!  She’ll be there for 8 weeks from the middle of June until the middle of August.  They don’t offer housing at Joffrey-- you are on your own--so it’s a little scary.  I’m hoping all of you New Yorker’s are going to help us find our way and tell us all the in and outs.    I’m originally from upstate New York but I’ve been told many times and know it’s true -that’s just not the same.  Calling all New Yorkers from the city……Tell me ALL I need to know pleaseJ  Blessings,

Mari

I’ve have been so busy since the beginning of December I haven’t had time to blog.  I’m finally taking a deep breath and looking at my blog and I’m feeling a little embarrassed that I’ve got this beautiful blog and I haven’t done very much with it.   It’s really been crazy. Since the beginning of December I’ve set up a neighborhood watch program for my 117 home neighborhood which wasn’t a small deal.  Survived being the supportive mom for 21 performances of the Nutcracker Suite and now since the middle of January we’ve been deep in ballet summer program auditions.

 For those of you who have a budding ballerina –you know the auditions are the hardest part. Some are perfect and others cause tears for days. It’s a huge roller coaster of emotions.  Always trying to improve and then PROVE it in a short period of time with 100 others dancers who are all trying to out do you !  She’s always done her own research for the auditions.  She chooses the ones with the technique she’s looking for.   As a matter of fact, I haven’t chased this at all- it’s all her.  She’s done several auditions each year – targeting professional ballet companies that were really good.  She’s gotten accepted some of the time—and gotten rejected too.  That’s the way it goes……  These auditions are great exposure to what the major companies are requiring for just a small fee. We haven’t done the dance camps that she’s been accepted to --she’s just stayed with her regular dance program and done their summer intensives. She dances here at the Georgia Ballet and is in their student ensemble (their pre-pro division) and she also dances with the professional company.  She’s starting on her 16^th year of dance and practices constantly.  Right now including rehearsal time for Sleeping Beauty, she’s dancing about 25 hours a week in point her shoes. 

Her dream-her GOD DREAM is to be a “missionary ballerina”. She coined the phase-our missions department at church just loves it.   She wants to share Christ with people using her dance.  Her vision is to be in a professional company so that she may live Christ and share Christ with those who might not have an opportunity to hear another way. She has a great testimony of God’s consistent faithfulness.  She recently turned 18 and is seriously looking for a professional company.  So this year all these response letters are “for real”. God is so good!

Blessings!

Mari

How fun!  I'm just learning my way around so the 7 people I chose--it's really excuse to get to know you better.  I had to ask my daughter what getting tagged meant........here you go!

7 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

Achieve God’s will for my life

See ALL my grandchildren (I don’t have ANY yet)

Help my children achieve their dreams

Build a house at the beach

Watch the Aurora Borealis  (Northern Lights)

Go on a real storm-chasing trip

Do my best to help abolish the IRS

7 Things I Cannot Do

Sit and watch TV for hours

Compromise when I know what’s right

Give up

Take no for an answer

Be patient

Whistle

Swim

7 Things That Attracted Me To My Hubby

7 Things That Attracted Me To My Hubby

He is a great listener

He loves to study the Bible

He has a fantastic laugh

His Kind and Gentle Spirit

He has a deep sense of what’s right and wrong

He’s a deep thinker and is rarely wrong

I don’t know anyone more loyal

7 Things I Say Most Often

It’s gonna be a great day!

I love you

Are you sure?

SHHHHHHHHHH your too loud!

No wrestling in the in the house

Don’t slam the door

I wonder why……..

7 Books I Love

The Bible

The Fair Tax Book

The Dream Giver

Possibility Thinking

How to Talk To A Liberal If You Must

Hinds Feet on High Places

The 5 Love languages

7 Movies I'd Watch Over and Over...

The Borne Identity

Borne Supremacy

The Matrix 1,2,3

Miracle on 34^th Street

Pay It Forward

7 People I Want to Join

abounding joy

creech7s

susanspann

notquitejuneclever

ejoyce,ink

patriciawhunter

buckeyeblog

I had used this recipe for several years during my huge Christmas cookie baking sessions.  I thought they were wonderful! I don't know-I dropped this recipe from my cookie list a few years ago-I guess I just forgot to put this on the list one year and then forgot them.  I  recently the recipe in a magazine and plan to make them again…….

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cream of tarter

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup dried cranberries

Filling:

2/3 cup cutter, softened

2 ¾  cups confectioners’ sugar

¼ cup milk

1 ¼  teaspoons grated lemon peel

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine the flour, cream of tarter, peel and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in cranberries.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.  Roll into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  Combine filling ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth.  Spread on the bottom of half the cookies; top with remaining cookies to form a sandwich.  ENJOY!

If you are blog challenged like me or just want something a little different click over to Graphic Heaven and talk to Kris Price.  She works on a lot of people's blogs around here and she's really talented. :) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/GraphicHeaven

Telling everyone I speak to  “Merry Christmas” because it IS!

Seeing even the grumpiest old fogies with renewed hope and anticipation and joy as they are reminded once more about the “old old story” of a babe in a manger. 

Watching older adults acting like children againJ

All the holiday lights- which cause me GREAT JOY and remind me that JESUS is the light of the world and HE charged us with being salt and light in this world.

SNOW….I don’t know why…it just completes the picture  J

The Music….why can’t we sing Christmas Carols all year long?

I really get in to the giving thing…..stalking the person (in a good sort of way) to find out the perfect gift and all seeing their pleasure---seeing them use the gift and so on…..Christmas is really all about giving….God gave His only Son so that we’d be saved…..

THE FELLOWSHIP of believers all year long  because of not because of the Christmas gifts but HIS gift – HIS SON  not because of the trees but because HE died on a tree to give us life. Not because of the getting gifts but because HE gave himself as an offering so that we could have life…

GOD is so GOOD ! 

Mari Quite Contrary