Living for God

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Locks of Love

My daughter loved her long hair. However, last week she decided to say good-bye to her hair for a good cause. She's donating her hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from hair loss from medical reasons. I cut over a foot of her hair out.

My pretty girl looks quite radiant with her new hairdo, doesn't she? :)

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Murdering Rampage: A Homeschooler Refuses to Stand by and Do Nothing

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This post (my entry for Blog Tip Challenge of the Month on the HSB Company Porch) will remain on the top for a while. Please scroll down to read my most recent entries. Thanks!

Murdering Rampage:

A Homeschooler Refuses to Stand by and Do Nothing

According to statistics, abortion (the killing of innocent, defenseless babies) mercilessly takes away the lives of 1.5 million babies each year; 4,000 babies every day; 1 baby every 20 seconds; approximately 40 million babies since 1973; and that's just here in America. While this murdering rampage is going on, many people are rallying for it to continue because they want to exercise their right to choose what is convenient to them and to get rid of an unwanted "obstacle" in their lives. Some people do not agree but yet do nothing to help stop this rampage.

However, other people including many homeschoolers refuse to just stand by and do nothing. Alyssa, a 14 year old homeschooler in Oregon, is one such example. She has a strong conviction and passion for saving the innocent and defending the defenseless. Since she was 5 years old, she has been participating in Steps for Life, a two-mile walkathon which is an annual fund-raising event for Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC). The Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater Portland is a Christian organization that helps women and teens who face unplanned pregnancy. They help meet their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, enabling them to CHOOSE LIFE. They have six centers throughout the Portland area, and have ministered to over 110,000 women and teens since 1984. They provide free services such as counseling, ultrasound, adoption info., maternity & baby clothes, parenting classes, spiritual encouragement, etc.

On May 10th, many pro-life supporters are expected to take part in Steps for Life at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Oregon. Alyssa urges us all to support this great cause, either by being a Steps for Life walker, making pledges/sponsoring a walker, or praying. She has a website that you can visit if you would like to make pledges and be a part of this attempt to save as many babies' lives as possible.

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Flat Smiley's First Trip

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Our Flat Smiley has recently arrived home safely from his first trip. At the end of last month, he went to visit the Neill family in Griffin, Georgia. On the Resurrection Day, they took him to enjoy a family feast and an Easter egg hunt. The family graciously introduced him to some of their favorite local attractions such as Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.5 mile race track), Stone Mountain (which has a carving of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson), and the Georgia Aquarium (the world's largest aquarium featuring more animals than any other aquarium in more than 8 million gallons of water). The family also took him to Chuck-E-Cheese and Toys-R-Us. It was a sweet treat for Flat Smiley to visit Marble Slab Creamery; he brought home a napkin from there :). Flat Smiley had tons of fun with the Neill family during their spring break vacation. They took him to Edisto Island in South Carolina. He collected some sand and seashells to bring home. On their way back home, they stopped by Paula Deen's store and restaurant called Lady and Sons in Savannah and then Bass Pro Shop. We thoroughly enjoyed reading the journal that the family recorded about their adventures with our Flat Smiley. We are so thankful to the Neill family for their hospitality and kindness. Flat Smiley's first trip was truly memorable and filled with smiles !

Here's the proof :):

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Monday, March 31, 2008

Our Homeschooling Journey

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Sisterlisa is hosting a monthly "Share Your Faith Carnival." The first one is a homeschooling edition. She asked readers to share their testimony about how God led them to decide to homeschool. We have been homeschooling our kids for about 9 years now....more accurately over 14 years now :). Let me explain...

Our oldest daughter will turn 15 this July. We have taught our kids the things of the Lord since birth (we sang to them songs about God and read to them Bible stories, etc.) My husband and I are very protective parents :)....wanting to protect our kids from the things of the world. We first heard (before we had kids) about "homeschooling" from my husband's aunt who homeschooled her 2 girls (using ABeka). Those girls were sweet and well-behaved. We were impressed to say the least :). Another incident was when we visited a church, a topic of "homeschooling" somehow came up and we were very interested. I have always loved to read to my kids and books are ever present in our home. I also took my daughter to "Story Time" at our local library almost every week when she was little. On one occasion, I noticed a meeting of homeschoolers in a room at the library. I was curious and asked someone there if I could watch what they were doing. They invited my daughter and me into the room. They were having some presentation given by homeschooled kids. I was hooked :). I became a part of their group even though my daughter was just three. Then when she turned five, we had to make a decision about school. I was pregnant with our second child. At the time, we lived really close to an elementary school and we had heard so many good things about a Kindergarten teacher there who's a Christian. We decided to give it a try (besides, it was only a half-day kindergarten). I walked my daughter to her school and went to pick her up every school day and went on field trips with her. She had a wonderful experience. At the end of her kindergarten year, we moved to another nearby city. Just prior to that, we had an opportunity to get to know a homeschool family at the church we were attending. The Lord used the mom from that family to encourage me tremendously. She showed me what kinds of books/curriculum they used and let me borrow some books about homeschooling. My husband and I talked and prayed about "homeschooling". Finally, we decided to give it a try.

Umm...it didn't start out so well because my daughter is very strong-willed and a perfectionist. However, we've kept trusting the Lord for strength and guidance, trying hard not to lean on our own understanding :). Then when she was in second grade, we moved back to our old location (close to her kindergarten school). My second child was about 2 years old and he was a high-maintenance toddler (requiring lots of attention). My husband and I discussed and prayed about whether to put our daughter in that same school in the middle of her second grade. We felt that "being homeschooled" was a privilege; if she was not appreciating it and was not cooperative, then she needed to go to school. We gave her a "3 strikes and you're out" deal. She blew it :(. We kept our word and put her in school. I (and my son in stroller) walked her to school, walked to school to eat lunch with her, and walked to pick her up after school. In her class, she was way more advanced (academically)than the other kids; her teacher had to find extra stuff (worksheets, projects) to keep her occupied in class. I personally witnessed many horrible mouths and attitudes of young, elementary students in the cafeteria during lunch hour. My daughter often had a stomach ache because she felt rushed in the morning to get ready for school. Then there was a boy who kept bothering my daughter during music class. My daughter told his teacher (he was from a different class) but she didn't do anything about it. When I confronted the teacher about this, she said, "He's usually a good kid." I couldn't believe my ears. She defended him, instead of my daughter (the victim). That same boy was then very rude and disrespectful to me outside the school when we were walking home. My husband and I pulled our daughter out of that school the next day! One of the best decisions we've ever made :)!

Since then we have been homeschooling our kids (the two boys have never been to school). Our daughter learned her lesson and has been thankful for "being homeschooled" ever since. The Lord has greatly blessed her and helped her use her strong will for His glory. She has blossomed into a beautiful, Godly young lady. Our homeschooling journey has been through some bumpy roads; however, we enjoy traveling along experiencing all kinds of adventures and collecting all kinds of precious memories. Best of all, we have the Best Navigator (God) and the best map/GPS (the Bible). We are truly thankful to the Lord for giving us the opportunity to homeschool our kids. I listed many benefits/reasons when I shared a piece of my mind on why I homeschool. In summary, by God's grace...we're Christ-centered, Bible-based, mission-minded, family-bonding, character-building, & life-long learning homeschoolers. We cherish our togetherness; we enjoy learning and growing together as the Lord leads us.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:4-6

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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Growing in grace

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"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter3:18

My 14 year old daughter, Alyssa, is a great example of that verse :). She wholeheartedly loves the Lord and desires to please & honor Him. She is living a life of faith and is passionate about reaching the unreached with the Gospel. Alyssa has recently joined a team of wonderful Godly ladies as a contributor at Growing in Grace (free online magazine for girls). You can read her article here.

(Big thanks to Susan Marlow and her son Ryan for making this graphic button for Alyssa!)

Alyssa is also hosting "Entertainment without Electronics" Challenge on her blog. Please check it out. You may want your children to participate in this cool challenge (causing creativity to come out) :). Please help spread the word, too. Thanks!

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Friday, February 15, 2008

A Place to Live, Laugh, Love, Learn Together

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Tiany and her husband have recently started a fabulous website designed especially for the homeschool mom community. It's called "The Homeschool Lounge."

Please spread the news about this exciting website where homeschool moms can hang out safely :). Tiany is also hosting a giveaway. Those who post about The Homeschool Lounge on their blogs or websites will be entered into a drawing for two $25 Amazon gift cards. I look forward to making new friends and seeing old friends over there.

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Monday, February 11, 2008

Quirky Things about Me

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Michelle at Heart of the Prairie tagged me for the "Six Quirky Things about Me" meme; she thought it would be a good complement to my list of favorite things. Well, I like #7 better than #6 so I'm going to list Seven Quirky Things about Me (actually, my favorite number is 12 but I don't want to overdo it because you may never come back here again after seeing how ~~strange~~ unique I am). Here they are:

1. I am allergic to hazelnuts. My allergic reaction includes rash and swelling. Once my swelling got so bad that my husband had to saw (using a little saw) a gold ring off my finger. Thankfully, he left my finger intact...mission accomplished :).

2. I have never been afraid to go to the dentist. I even enjoy going to the dentist :). I like sitting in a comfy, reclining chair doing nothing except opening my mouth wide. I spend that time to pray and relax.

3. I love spicy food and I can have spicy food at any meal, including breakfast. Rice with curry is better than a bowl of cereal for sure :)!

4. I rub (play with) my nose when I'm in deep thought. I don't know why but maybe my nose knows :).

5. I have never had a driver's license. I just keep renewing my instruction permit. My children probably will get their driver's license before me. Oh well, I'll just gain more chauffeurs :).

6. I don't like bananas. I have never liked them and never will :). When I was little, my mom hid bananas with other food to get me to eat them but I always knew :).

7. I smile and laugh A LOT! (to the point of "too much" ) Seriously, this is no laughing matter! I have to consciously force myself to leave giggles out of my speech and to have a straight/stern face. Extremely difficult task for me!

Here are the rules of this tag (sorry...I'm not really following the exact rules :)):

~Link to the person that tagged you
~Post the rules on your blog
~Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
~Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
~Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

I don't like to tag people but I thought this might be fun to tag some people I know (my daughter, my friend, and her daughters). Please don't feel obligated to do it. For everybody else, if you're interested in this fun meme, please consider yourself tagged at your convenience (and at your own risk). I tagged the following wonderful quirky or not people:-

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Monday, December 31, 2007

Top Ten Highlights from 2007

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1. My husband got a new job with a new work schedule (getting every other Friday off).

2. We’ve been volunteering/serving with ISI (International Students, Inc.) and hosting game nights for the international students from a local university.

3. My brother finally received his green card and was able to come to America after waiting for over 10 years.

4. We had a fabulous 5 day vacation at Sunriver in Bend.

5. My husband and I celebrated our 16^th anniversary and our "Half-a-Billion Second" Anniversary!

6. My daughter won a Playstation 2 from mathmovesu.com, 2 $100 Barnes & Noble gift cards from Pixlit.net, and $10 gift certificate to the Old Schoolhouse Store & publication on their next year’s Father’s Day issue from a Tribute to My Dad writing contest.

7. My middle son won a Haiku contest.

8. My youngest son won 1^st prize (a sweater valued at $39.98) at a local Barnes & Noble’s guessing contest and 1^st prize ($25 Target gift card) on a coloring contest.

9. I was chosen as a feature blogger of the week here at HSB.

10. We started using cell phones and DSL.

We thank the Lord for another year full of blessings and grace. We're excitedly looking forward to a new year of living for God and serving Him. Have a blessed and refreshing year because of Him! One year closer to the Lord's coming :)!

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas Surprises

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We had a white Christmas! The snow was a very nice surprise. I don't know if my kids were more excited about the snow or about the presents :).

Another surprise is not so nice. I got Strep throat (just found out today). However, I am so thankful that I was well enough on Monday to have a wonderful Christmas Eve with my family and others at my mother-in-law's house. I kept feeling weaker and totally exhausted by the end of the day (started to have high fever). The Lord gave me enough strength to enjoy Christmas with my family at home yesterday with lots of bedrest in between. Today, my throat hurts so bad that I can hardly talk. Swallowing causes me excruciating pain. I got antibiotics now so I should be getting better soon. I am so glad that CHRISTmas is all about CHRIST. We can rejoice at our Savior's birth and His redemption even when unpleasant surprises may come our way.

Because of my extremely painful sorethroat, I have been mute most of the time today. That's a blessing in disguise :). I listen more and I take time to think more before I speak (actually write down on paper). My kids quickly learn to read Mom's mind and Mom's sign language :). They sweetly take care of me and pray for me. My daughter is such a big help. She has taken care of me and her brothers all day long. It was so precious to find her reading the Bible and a devotional book to her brothers on the couch. My husband has also been pampering me and taking care of everything for me. I am truly blessed!

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Saturday, December 15, 2007

The Christmas Post and the Christmas Love

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12/27/1947 "Christmas Rush"

Last night, we went to a nearby church to see "The Christmas Post," a musical comedy based on illustrations of Norman Rockwell, written by Deborah Craig-Claar and Robert Sterling. We enjoyed it. We had lots of laughs :). A friend and her boys were in the play and they did a great job. After the play, I picked up a free handout near the door that is thought-provoking. It is a Christmas version of the Love chapter:-

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on CHRIST, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss your loved one.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

After all, the CHRISTmas story is a love story: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) Because of God’s love for us...sinners, Jesus came... Jesus died...Jesus rose...and Jesus will return. A love story that never ends! The greatest redeeming love that the world would ever know! Let us all share His love with everyone this CHRISTmas and throughout the years.

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Friday, November 9, 2007

The mysterious case of the missing (not really) bookmark

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We went to our local library today to return some books and pick up the books that were being held for us. While we were checking out those books, a librarian handed me a brown envelope addressed to the library from Department of Environmental Quality. I was dumbfounded :); why was she giving it to me? I carefully opened the envelope and took out a flat item. To my astounding surprise, it was a bookmark that my daughter made when she was 4 1/2 years old!! She won the first prize at a bookmark design contest at the local library. At that time, the library produced many of her bookmarks to give out to patrons. We took several and laminated them. The one in the envelope was one of those we laminated because it had her name and age written on the back (my handwriting). I think we gave some to friends and relatives. Oh...I forgot to mention that there's a sticky note attached to the bookmark saying, "Found in a Spanish book 10/29/07. Thought you might like it." signed with initials. Who found this and who left it in that Spanish book? How and where did that person get the bookmark? Why did the finder send it to this library with that sticky note? Doesn't this make an interesting, suspenseful case? Any volunteer detectives? :)

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Announcement...Announcement!

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My 14 year old daughter has recently begun her blogworld adventure. Her username is LifeofFaith and her blog's name is One Nation Under God. Please welcome her and visit her blog when you get a chance. Below is an ad promoting her blog (one of her assignments from HomeschoolKidsWrite).

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Saturday, October 20, 2007

Pencil with a Purpose

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Pencil with a Purpose

Pick me...pick me, please! Yes! A 7 year old girl picked me and put me in a clear plastic box next to sweet-smelling candies and a beautiful rag doll. There are more things in this box: a box of crayons, a sharpener, Bible activity pad, a writing pad, bouncy balls, a yo-yo, a jump rope, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a purple comb, a washcloth with heart shapes all over it, several glittery hair clips, a pair of pink socks and a pair of white socks. Before the girl closed the lid, she placed an envelope addressed to Samaritan’s Purse, and a letter on top. Then her mom and she bowed their heads and prayed for the child who will receive this special gift.

I have to admit...it’s a little crowded in the box but I’m glad it’s a clear plastic box. I can look out and see the world while having a fantastic adventure. First stop was a local church which was one of 2,000 drop-off locations nationwide. I could see rows and stacks of all kinds of shoe boxes and plastic boxes. Christmas music was being played in the background. I felt festive all of a sudden. From there I traveled in a huge semi-truck to a regional processing center where boxes were inspected and prepared for shipment overseas. Volunteers cheerfully checked each box to make sure that there were no used or damaged items, war-related items, chocolate (which can melt), liquids or lotions (which can leak), breakable items, medications or vitamins (no-no items). A lady looked in my box and she smiled at me (wasn’t she sweet?) These volunteers also took out the envelopes with the donation ($7 for each box to help cover shipping and other project costs). Then they secured the boxes by using rubber bands. I was thankful for that because I didn’t want to risk falling out of the box and getting lost. Oh...what a nightmare that would be.

Ooh...my next stop was at an airport. I got to be on a plane for the first time. Millions of box gifts were loaded onto ships and planes and delivered to more than 90 countries. I wondered what country I would end up in. How exciting!!! I was so excited and bewildered that I didn’t realize we were in the sky for over 10 hours. Finally, the plane landed and boxes were transported to a rural orphanage by a pick-up truck and by a motor boat, respectively. People speak a different language here. They speak Thai. I’m in Thailand...can you believe it? Tons of children gathered in a small room. The room was filled with excitement and anticipation. How lovely those smiles were! The National Leadership Team explained about the Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse and told the kids that these gifts were packed by caring people from several parts of the world who wanted to share the love of Jesus with them. They introduced the children to God’s greatest Gift of all–Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Then the team members distributed boxes along with Gospel booklets written in their own language to the orphans who were beaming with joy.

I was anxious to see who would receive the box I was in. Then the moment came...when the box was handed to a long, black-haired 8 year old girl. She said, "Kawp Koon Kha" (thank-you in Thai). She quickly opened the lid and took out the items inside one by one. When she picked me up, she looked at the words on me: "Jesus is God’s Greatest Gift." She wanted to know what they meant so she asked one of the team’s staff. The man took the opportunity to share with her the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. She listened attentively. The man invited her to join in the children’s Bible study program after school. She said yes and was so happy (I could tell because she couldn't stop smiling). She also asked that same man to translate the letter she found in the box. She then sharpened me and started to write a letter to the girl who wrote her. She asked the man if he could translate her letter into English and send it for her. He assured her that he would. Now...do you understand why I’m a pencil with a purpose? What better purpose is there than to be used to share a message of God’s amazing love and to spread His joy? I know...my life is short but it has been well spent. Don’t you think? :)

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Note: The story above was written by me as an entry for the October Blog Tip Challenge of the Month. By the way, the 2007 national collection week for Operation Christmas Child boxes is November 12-19. And if you would like to read what I wrote last year about Operation Christmas Child, please click here.

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Thursday, October 18, 2007

Windy Day

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Today it was very windy here. How windy? Let me show you what happened on our deck :). We had a big umbrella open above our glass picnic table. This afternoon I heard a loud noise while I was upstairs. I came down and looked out the back sliding glass door and this is what I saw:

Yep, the glass was completely shattered and the umbrella was blown to the roof of our toolshed...all folded neatly :). Well, we had a windy day today. How was your day?

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Friday, August 31, 2007

Happy International Blog Day and the Winner is.....

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Thank you all who participated in my International Blog Day Giveaway! I had a great time reading about your favorite family activities and games. Thanks so much for taking the time to share. Our family also enjoys camping, hiking, travelling, and playing all sorts of sports. As I said before that we like playing games; we own approximately 70 board games and card games combined. I categorized some of our games as follows:-

Bible-related/Character-building Games

- Bibleopoly

- Bible Scattegories

- Bible Authors

- Character Clues

- Armor of God

- The New Teen Choices

- The Triple Challenge

Word/Vocabulary Games

- Super Scrabble

- Big Boggle

- Up Words

- Buzz Words

- Password

- Probe

- Perquackey

- Punch Line

- Balderdash Junior

Geography Games

- GeoSafari Game of the States

- Where in the World

- The All American Trivia Board Game

- Lewis & Clark Exploration Card Game

- Oregon Trivia Game

Math Games

- Smath

- Count Dino's Number Marathon

- Total It

Knowledge Games

- Brain Quest

- Brain-O-Matic

- Tri Bond

- Trivial Pursuit Genus IV

- Clever Endeavor

- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

- Buzztime Kids Trivia

Critical Thinking/Problem-Solving Games

- Mind Trap

- Visual Brain Storms

- Whatzit?

- Clue

- Chess

- Gobblets

- Cranium Cadoo

Ice Breaker/Getting to Know You Games

- Ungame

- Whoonu?

Do you know of other games that would fit in these categories? Please comment :).

And now...drum roll, please! I wrote the names on pieces of paper and put them in a cloth bag. Without looking, the name I randomly drew out was Kympossible. Congratulations, Kym!

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Share the Link Love Game

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I'm having fun playing games at the Scrapbooking Party. Today I have visited many people without leaving my home :). (My family and I did leave home sometime today to go to a book sale, some garage sales, and to get Chinese food.) I wasn't able to leave a comment at a few of these blogs. Sorry about that (I tried!) It's a pleasure to have met the following people/blogs:- Carolyn, Haley, Wendy, Rae, Karla, Carey, Jess, Terri, Summer, Lisa, Heidi, Jan, Lola, Tamara, Tasra, and Kim.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Scrapbooking Party

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Do you enjoy scrapbooking? Carolyn at Joyous Creations will be hosting a Scrapbooking Party on May 19th. You all (scrapbookers and non-scrapbookers) are invited!

I enjoy photography and scrapbooking a lot. But...so many photos...so little time! I have done pages here and there. Last year, I did manage to do a "Life of Faith" scrapbook as one of my daughter's 13th birthday gifts and an "Alphabet" scrapbook for my 5 year old son (meant to give him when he was 4 but didn't finish it until he turned 5 and already read so well).

Have fun scrapbooking and have fun at the party,

Amateur Scrapbooker

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Friday, May 4, 2007

Fifth Disease

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I had a fever and headache off and on for about 2 weeks. I also had joint pain. Finally, I went to see a doctor. She thought I had some kind of viral infection probably caused by parvovirus B19. I wasn't totally convinced because I haven't heard anything back from the blood test and urine test. Well, yesterday we noticed rash on my 5 yo son's cheeks and today it seemed worse. We googled to see what we could find out about this rash. Don't you just love google?:) We did find out that he and I had "Fifth Disease" or erythema infectiosum, which is caused by that virus mentioned by the doctor. It is said to be common in children ages 5-15, usually occurring in the late winter and early spring. We are so thankful that it's a mild illness that just goes away over a period of time.

According to KidsHealth, how this infection got its name is quite interesting. This infection was considered among the five classical rash-associated infections of childhood. The other four include measles, scarlet fever, rubella (German measles), and a rash-producing infection unknown to doctors today and is referred to as "fourth disease."

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Friday, May 4, 2007

Think about such things: Philippians 4:8

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"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Connie at wardssward kindly gave me the "Thinking Blogger Award." It's so sweet and thoughtful of her. I only hope and pray that I think God's thoughts and the mind of Christ is reflected on my blog. The rule of this award tag is for the recipient to give the award to 5 other bloggers who make him/her think. This is the difficult part; there are so many gems (great thinkers & writers) out there in the blogosphere. Besides, many of them already received this award. I'm not certain that the following bloggers haven't received the award yet. Anyway, I will do my duty :). Here are the 5 bloggers (among many others) who make me think :-

1. Lorrie at TEACHmagazine shares her experiences, wisdom, and insights in practical & encouraging ways.

2. JoJo at CommunicationFUNdamentals communicates her thoughts effectively, eloquently, and with humor.

3. Tia at sagerats boldly and wittily shares her thoughts and observations about various aspects of life.

4. Christina at HsKubes' Haven at Home gently draws people to God's Word and beautifully shares how it applies to everyday life.

5. Ally (Christina's oldest daughter) at Firmly Fixed on the Father (she had her old blog here at HSB) is blessed with God's wisdom and she has a passion for serving God at such a young age (14).

Now it's their turn to pass the torch...ummm I mean the award to other bloggers (only if they want to participate). Whew...my job is done. I don't have to think for a while .

(Note: I do not endorse the original source of this tag.)

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love You, Tomorrow...

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This past week since I learned of Heather, she has been occupying my thoughts and prayers. My heart aches for her and her family. Many times, throughout the days...all I can utter (silently) to God is, "Lord, please heal Heather!" I know the Lord is listening to my prayers (no matter how short) and others' prayers. Like many others, I want to be able to do more for Heather besides praying and leaving comments to encourage her. Well, BooMama is giving us that opportunity.

From BooMama: Many of you have asked how you can help Heather and her family, So on Wednesday, April 18, we’re going to have an opportunity to love on Heather and her family. Heather and her husband Mark will be leaving April 25th for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota - the number one neurosurgery hospital in the country. I’d love for us to give Heather and Mark a love offering before they leave for Minnesota, to be able to take care of some of their financial obligations so that they can focus on the most important aspect of their trip: getting the absolute best treatment for sweet Heather without worrying about how they’re going to pay for it. If you would like to help, please click here. Hope to see ya'll on the 18th!

April 18th is tomorrow which for some reasons...reminds me of the song from Annie, "Tomorrow." Perhaps the words in bold: tomorrow, dollar, and love will help you remember this important thing on the list to do for tomorrow :).

The sun'll come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun
Just thinking about tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow 'til there's none

When I'm stuck with a day that's gray and lonely
I stick out my chin and grin and say
The sun'll come out tomorrow
So you gotta hang on 'til tomorrow, come what may

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow
You're always a day away
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow
You're always a day away

It is so wonderful to see lots of brothers and sisters in Christ come together to show their love and support for Heather. Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry created a contest to encourage bloggers to spread the word about tomorrow. Please continue to pray fervently for Heather and her family. Thank you! "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10 Especially Heather!

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About Me

This is a place for me to relax a bit, recount my blessings, reflect on God's Word, record my thoughts, reassure others of God's love, receive others' insights, recall precious memories, relate what the Lord has done in my life & my family, rejoice at God's goodness & faithfulness, relish writing, recycle my poems, and refresh myself.