Singalullaby

Hi! The coffee is brewing, let's talk!

 

"Babies", the movie

Opening day, I'm there!

Tickle Me Pink

Tell a group of four- and five-year-olds to mix a few crayon colors.  
 Ask them to name their new shades.  
Delight in the pure joy of the moment.  
 Wish you had a liason at Crayola.

Blackberry Pie
Fireworks
Cotton Candy Swirl
Flower Garden
Rainbow 
Crayon Box
Chocolate Pudding

If you mixed a few, what color would you create?

Writing Prompt...Begin

Compose a list of familiar phrases, or phrases that have stayed in your mind for a long time--from songs, from poems, from conversation.  (from Language Is A Virus)

• somewhere over the rainbow
• happily ever after
• another one bites the dust
• play ball!
• dream it, do it
• love is a battlefield
• just say no
• zip it, lock it, put it in your pocket
• everything comes to those who wait
• never, never, never give up
• Bueller? Anyone?
• As you wish

I'm reading Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg.  The main character is a writer who finds herself without words to share.  A few minutes ago, I was overcome with the need to write something; a Google search produced many excellent sites for writing prompts and I clicked, copied, created.  

Share the first phrase that comes to your mind!

Between The End And The Beginning

Cosmo in hand, I've just placed a baked spaghetti in the oven.  "Call Of Duty" rages in the background, as does a squabble surrounding Mastermind.  So, first, let me say "Happy New Year!" to you!

I like New Year's Eve.  We've never gotten all decked out and celebrated in style, but we do have our own...mmHmm...traditions.  For the most part, we play games with the children, watch movies and crack open the sparkling cider at 11:59pm. Even without a fancy wardrobe, the moment glitters with its own kind of promise, another chance to put hope in action.

Before the fun begins, I'd like to look ahead to 2010 by sharing a few of the sites that I'm bookmarking as my categorized resolutions.

Family......Cooking more meals is my #1 goal in the coming year.  Thankfully, I found easy recipes at MomsWhoThink.  Tonight's creation is a new recipe for me and it smells delicious.

Spirit.....Evotional contains golden nuggets of wisdom, Jon at StuffChristiansLike  makes me smile/think/laugh/ponder, and I plan to camp out at Faith Imagined on a regular basis.  Music is vital to my spiritual growth; "It Is Well" by Kutless will take me through the winter.

Soul......I'll be taking my book addiction to the next level by participating in these challenges at BookJourney.  If you want to expand your knowledge of young adult literature and children's books, check out Jen Robinson's Book Page.  Her recommendations have enriched my teaching. Readergirlz is a unique site, promoting Operation TBA while showcasing authors and new YA Lit.

Body......The Amazing Adventures Of DietGirl is the most inspiring health memoir I've read. Shauna is honest about her journey and her blog is fun!    

Passion.....Teachers never stop learning.  We look for ideas to keep us fresh, to motivate our students and to make the learning process relevant.  Mrs. McGowan's 1st grade site is amazing.  If her school was anywhere near me, I'd volunteer to sit at her feet!  Mrs. Cassidy's blog is interactive and child-centered, making me wish I had a child in her class.

Self......Got a Blog? Make a book!  The Cutest Blog On The Block offers the opportunity to print your blog!  I'm not sure if they can operate with a Typepad blog, but the idea intrigues me (I love the paper trail.).  The site also offers many blog templates, designs and freebies, like the one that is blinking in this post!  SickerdoodleDesigns  introduced me to the world of digital scrapbooking--but, I have yet to actually do anything in this media.  Maybe 2010 will show that I've mastered a new hobby.

Happy New Year!!

My Ruby Red Slippers

The perfect gift for me, the girl who, as a new bride, walked down the aisle to "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"! 

Thank you, hubby, for giving me grace when I presented you with my own gift.

Zappos

Mom's Million Dollar Fudge

My gift to you:  the yummiest Christmas treat, ever! 

 Ingredients :   4 & 1/2 cups sugar, 1 stick butter, 1 can evaporated milk
 Melt these items over medium heat in a 3qt. pot.  Bring to a boil.  When the mixture  begins to boil, set a timer for 8 minutes.  Stir constantly! 

 More Ingredients:  12 oz. Hershey's chocolate bar (it really must be Hershey's), 12 oz. chocolate chips (vary the flavors for interesting fudge), 1pt. (I use 14 oz.) marshmallow creme

When the timer dings, remove the pot from burner.  Add the chocolate bar pieces, chocolate chips and marshmallow creme.  STIR.  The fudge will be creamy, sliding out of the pot.  (Grab a spoonful; warm and gooey, it is the best!)  Pour the fudge into glass dishes, prepared previously with a slick of butter (the stick paper works great in this case).  

This recipe will fill a 9x13 inch pan and an 8x8 inch pan.  To store, cover the dishes tightly.  Fudge may be cut before gift wrapping.

Yummy!

"Twitter" is the top word of 2009

According to the Global Language Monitor, Twitter snagged the #1 spot in a list of the top words in 2009.
The top fifteen words included Obama, H1N1 (no vowels...is that a word?), Stimulus, Healthcare, Unemployed, and Vampire.  Truly, a snapshot of our culture at the end of this decade.  

Hmm.  I voted for a different candidate, H1N1 hit 30% of our family, we didn't see any money from the stimulus, our healthcare costs are over $1000/month, one of us may soon be unemployed, and, *cringe*, I saw New Moon by myself and enjoyed every minute.  At first glance, I thought the list was far removed from my life, but I guess I was wrong.

Hindsight provides better adjectives and nouns, by which to remember my '09:  Wicked~the musical, competition trophies, sixteenth birthday, first job, baseball, tournaments, dance team, New York, family vacation, cousins, movies via books, teaching, friends & concerts, Psalms, songs, reconciliation, love...

What words describe your life experience in 2009?  

PS:  I Twitter, do you?!

Book Nook~ "Treasured..." by Leigh McLeroy

When I unwrapped "Treasured...Knowing God by the Things He Keeps", I knew this book was going to impact me on a personal level.  I tend to 'save' things in random boxes: my children's newborn clothes,  high school yearbooks (I need to prove to myself that I was once that thin!), letters from former students, books that have shaped my life.  These things are part of my story, my truth.  As I read "Treasured...", I was captivated by the way Ms. McLeroy wove her memories together with treasures from God's word.   She is a master story-teller, creating teachable moments from ordinary life.  "Treasured..." brought many things into focus for me while wrapping me in the warmth of God's love.  This book would be a wonderful gift!  I suggest pairing it with a cozy blanket, or a treasure box; the perfect present for the thoughtful reader.

Leigh McLeroy provided a Facebook link where you can share what is in your box of treasures! 

 This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Give Presence: Advent Conspiracy 2009

More Books To Give Away! Shadow Government & Wisdom Hunter

Winners will be chosen on Friday, November 6!

Due to H1N1 in our family, I was not able to provide a personal review.  If you'd like to be considered for these giveaways, in comments, note the book you'd like to receive.  Please provide an email where you can be reached.  

"Wisdom Hunter" Summary:

Propelled into a quest for the granddaughter no one wants him to find, Jason Faircloth discovers that knowing it all could cost him everything he has. A fast-paced suspense novel, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and why grace can mean the difference between life and death. 

Author Bio:

Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway andGermany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe . Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta , Georgia .

"Shadow Government" Summary:

Grant Jeffrey reveals biblical prophecies that describe Satan’s work at the end of the age, as the evil one installs the Antichrist as the world’s unrivaled leader. The Antichrist will use technology to record the beliefs and loyalties of every person alive, in order to force their allegiance upon penalty of death.  

Author Bio:

Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University . He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto .

 

 These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.