These two are just too adorable and make me grin like a fool every time they are on.

The Meme Come Back

Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom has resurrected good old fashioned blogging in the way of a meme.  Something that was very popular when we first started blogging way back when.  I miss those days of "friendship" blogging.  Memes were fun and nice way to get to know other bloggers and it "introduced" bloggers to each other as they got tagged and answered.  Bring the meme, I say.

I'll tag Barbara at Stray Thoughts, Karen at Over the Backyard Fence, Anne at Nikkipolani and Faith at Gold in the Clouds and anybody else who wants to join in.  Just let me know in the comments you've done it so I can come and take a peek at your answers.  Here's Sandra's housekeeping meme:

Aprons - Y/N If Y what does your favorite look like?
I do like aprons mainly because I tend to always get my shirts splattered with something as I cook.  My favorites are the bib kind.  This question reminds me of a funny thing that happened in dayhome.  One of the dayhome kids said I wore my "bathing" suit all the time.   Mortified at what he might be telling his parents, I thought what on earth?  I don't even wear my bathing suit when I'm working in the summer and we take the pool out.  Upon further questioning and examination, I realized one little word was lost in translation.  Here I present to you my "baking" suit (circa 2008)...

Baking - Favorite thing to bake?
I am so not a baker!  But I have to say my two favorite things to bake is Apple Crisp (I know that's a bit of a cheat) and Double Brownies (dark on bottom, blonde on top).  I know I can't go wrong with those two.

Clothesline - Y/N
I grew up with my mom hanging everything out on the clothesline and it is a smell that has stayed with me even to this day.  Love it.  I used to have a clothesline and used it for certain items but we finally took it down when it became a hazard for the dayhome kids.  In this business, everything is looked at as a potential for an accident and the line ran too close to my swingset/climber and there was no where else either one could go so down it came.  

Donuts - Have you ever made them?
Nope

Everyday - One homemaking thing you do everyday?
Is cooking a homemaking thing?  Then I say cooking and along with cooking....dishes and kitchen cleaning!

Freezer - Do you have a separate deep freeze?
Yes!  Don't know how I'd be without one now that I've had one most of my whole married life.

Garbage Disposal - Y/N
Yes, love it.

Handbook - What is your favorite homemaking resource?
the good old internet

Ironing - Love it or hate it?
Hate with a capital H

Junk drawer- Y/N - Where is it?
Oh the junk drawer.  I have a stationary type junk drawer in the kitchen and a regular junk drawer also in the kitchen

Kitchen - Color and decorating scheme?
My walls are a bit of a boring beige but I had to find a color that went with my darker cupboards that have sort of a reddish background tone and I don't like grey so I was a bit limited.  But color comes in on my valences and patio door blinds with a color called nutmeg which is actually a bit like a burnt orange.  Love it.

Love - What is your favorite part of homemaking?
My favorite part of homemaking is definitely the cooking.  Love cooking for my family and seeing and hearing them enjoying something new I've tried or their pleasure at having a favorite placed before them at dinner.  I find it very satisfying and uplifting.

Mop - Y/N
I go between a mop, a refillable Swiffer type of mop and just getting right down on my hands and knees.  Depending on my time and how dirty the kitchen floor might be.

Nylons - Wash by hand or in washing machine?
I don't wear a whole lot of dresses anymore but I do wear nylons in the winter when I do and then it's handwash.

Oven - Do you use the window to check on things or do you open the door?
Definitely a door opener.

Pizza - What do you put on yours?
I don't make homemade pizza but I enjoy pizzas that have green peppers, black olives, feta cheese added to them and then after they are cooked, sliced fresh tomatoes and just letting the heat of the pizza warm the tomatoes through.  I also like adding hot banana peppers to a Hawaiian pizza.  But in all truth, I love just about any kind of pizza without anchovies or Italian sausage that has caraway.

Quiet - What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
There's quiet moments in the day?  Not usually with running a dayhome.  But we do have a supposed quiet time where I do like to grab a hot cup of coffee and read a little bit.

Recipe Card Box - Y/N
No.  I don't like them.  The cards are too small.  

Style of house
My house is a bunalow on a basement on a bit of a higher basement though I'm assuming Sandra means decorating style.  Is mish mash a style?  I always struggle with this because I like too many things.  But in general  I'm a bit eclectic (because of said liking too many styles) with definitely a cozy look.  I love woods and tend to more of a traditional, not modern, style.

Tablecloth and napkins - Y/N
I would love a tablecloth and use them for special occasions but for the most part hubby hates having a tablecloth on the table so I only pull them out when I'm having a big dinner with company.

Under the kitchen sink - Organized or toxic wasteland?
Definitely more on the organized side.  I have to be because of having a dayhome. Cannot have any cleaners or such under there.

Vacuum -  How many times per week? 
At least a couple times a week, sometimes more depending on how much we're in the living room with the dayhome.  The kitchen gets a daily sweeping if the vacuum doesn't come out.

Wash - How many loads per week?
I don't even know.  I just shove a load in when  (a)  I have enough for a load or (b) I'm running out of whatever it is I need to wear.  The kids do their own laundry now so it has considerably lessened my laundry load.

X's - Do you make a daily to do list and check it off as you do things?
I'm the to do list queen.  I love seeing chores getting crossed off and have been known to add a chore I just did that didn't happen to be written down just so I can see that item crossed off.  Gotta validate all that hidden work somehow.

Yard - Y/N - Who does what?
Hubby does the majority of outside work but the flower beds are my responsibility.

Zzz's - What is the last homemaking task you do for the day before you go to bed?
Sometimes hand-washing the plastics so that we don't have to wake up to a sink filled with them, but mostly I do a really quick straightening of living room pillows, folding blankets that might have been used, tidying the coffee table.

Only 5 Left!

For the hard to buy for person on your list?
For the person who has everything?

Only $39.99!

For 2 boxes of 10 each.

Individually wrapped...




...Twinkies!

Seriously?

I am so wishing I would have bought a ton of those babies before the big closure announcement so I could sell them to those going through Twinkie withdrawl.   Like this guy, who bought up every Twinkie in downtown Norfolk.

photo from International Business Times

 I'd be rolling in the dough, so to speak, right now.  Two bucks a Twinkie.  Yikes.  Better hurry guys, there are only 5 left!

This guy better hope no Twinkie addict knows his last name or address.

Now this guy has the right idea as they are predicting snow here tomorrow.

Question Answered Pt. 2

Keeping on with the questions you asked me on this post!

4W asked me: What has been your most grand adventure to date?
See, you have many questions so far!
Hungarian food? Got any good recipes? (I'll trade you some of my Bachi's Polish recipes :0)

My grandest adventure to date. Wow, that is sort of a hard question. I sometimes think my life is really, really boring with not a whole lot of adventure going on. LOL. To me I guess, it sort of depends on how one defines adventure. I sort of think every part of life is a bit of an adventure. Becoming a Christian has definitely been an adventure as I've walked territory I definitely never thought I'd walk. I've done things I never thought I'd do and I've changed in ways I never thought possible. Marriage is an adventure. And I hope it continues to be. Having children was an adventure I totally loved and having teenagers is an adventure that continuously pops up things I never thought of. LOL. But if you define adventure as going somewhere and doing something then I suppose my grandest adventure has been the Hawaii trip I took with my hubby. I loved every second of it. I did things like swim with fish and have them eat of my hands. Hike in the most beautiful place I never thought I'd see and I was actually a beach bum by a gorgeous ocean for a few days. Being an inland girl all my life that was something totally new.

Gianna asked: Who is your all time favorite author for fiction and non fiction? My kind of question Gianna! I love to read and love books. I love lots of different authors. I tend to go in waves. When I find an author I like I end up reading most of their books almost back to back, putting them on hold at the library. Different types of stories appeal to me at different times in my life. Some of my favorite fiction authors are Angela Hunt, Susan Meissner, and a new one to me this year, Sandra Dallas. But if I have to name an all time favorite I think it would be Francine Rivers. Everyone of her stories have really spoken to me or touched me in some way that left me pondering them for a long time after, my favorite being Redeeming Love. And I know you didn't ask but my all time favorite fiction novel of all time is Ribbon of Years by Robin Lee Hatcher. I have read it over and over and never get tired of the story.

My favorite non-fiction author is a little harder to name. I don't do so well with non-fiction. I start them with great gusto and lose interest not even half way through. But if I have to name one from books I have finished it would be a toss up between Max Lucado and Charles Swindoll.

More questions answered on another day. :v)

Questions Answered

Last week I asked you all to ask me whatever you liked (as long as it was family friendly :) ) and that I would do my best to answer some questions you wanted to know. You guys asked some great ones. So today I'm going to tackle a couple of them. They might not appear in the same order as some will require more detailed of an answer.

For now the very first one comes from my Canadian west coast blogging buddy Michelle. She asked:

Did you grow up in Canada? Or Hungary? I was born and raised in Canada in the same city I live in today. I've never moved away, not even for school. All my relatives however, are in Hungary except for one Aunt who lives in Australia but has disconnected herself from the family. I have only ever visited Hungary once in my life when I was 10 years old and it's the only time I've ever seen my Grandparents. With the exception of 2 of my uncles who visited here, that is the only time I have ever met my extended family. I do talk to one of those uncles at Christmas time on the phone, though, so that's really nice. My parents came to Canada in the '56 Revolution. Both my parents had to learn English and because my Dad worked outside the home he learned faster than my Mom and so my primary language growing up was Hungarian. In fact I was put into kindergarten a year earlier, unheard of at that time, no such thing as pre-schools back then, so I could learn more English as I went through Kindergarten twice. Mom and Dad found a kindergarten willing to take me on. And the rest is history, I haven't stopped talking since.


Karen, my long lost twin, asked:

Well, let's see. I know what your favorite ice cream is, what your wedding dress looked like and what kind of books you like to read:)

What was your favorite vacation of all time? My favorite vacation of all time is a toss up. I have not been on a lot of "huge" vacations in my life but "huge" also doesn't necessarily make for favorite. But I have to say that my favorite vacation has been when I was 10 and we went "home" to Hungary. I was finally able meet all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I experienced life in the big city, Budapest, and life in a little town, Tiszafured. The hospitality, the culture, the food and oh, the beautiful architecture and country is forever marked in my heart. It was quite the experience for a 10 year old. I have many, many memories of it and treasure them all. I've been secretly yearning to go back ever since.

The next one comes from my good blogging buddy, Faith:

oh wow....well...I'd love to know where you'd like to visit if you could go anywhere in the world, and why would you choose that place? also, have you ever traveled "down here" in the USA and if so, where? and if not, what state most intrigues you or which state would you most like to visit and why?

Well that is a loaded question, Faith, because I've always had the desire to travel. Unfortunately, so far, I haven't fulfilled a whole lot of that in my life. So my bucket list of travel is quite extensive. LOL.

Other than the going back to Hungary trip, one of my life time travel desires has been to see my own country. I love Canada and think the variety in the different provinces is amazing and beautiful. Unfortunately, there too, I haven't seen a whole lot. I would love to visit every single province. But my absolute first stop would be Prince Edward Island, where my blogging buddy Kathy lives. I've wanted to go there and Nova Scotia since I was in elementary school. I am determined to fulfill that dream in my lifetime! But for now, I visit vicariously through Kathie's beautiful blog.

My next choice would be a trip to Ireland. I would love to go on one of those trips where you get to stay in a different castle every few days and really get to see the whole country and the great towns that make up Ireland.

Another thing on my bucket list would be to take a Mediterranean cruise. The kind that makes all the stops and lets you go explore the countries. My heart yearns for this. I have all these grand illusions of what a romantic, beautiful trip that would be. And I'd get to see a whole bunch of countries and experience a whole bunch of cultures all wrapped up in one awesome trip. If I couldn't talk my hubby into getting on a boat, then I'd love to do the whole European tour thing. I'd visit every single tourist thing to experience all the history and architecture, which is incredible, and then I'd just go into the countryside and see the "real" country and visit with people who live it and really get to experience their culture outside of the touristy stuff. But I'd have to win the lottery for either of these ones. And seeing as I don't play the lottery the chances of it happening are quite slim.

As far as visiting my U.S. neighbor, I have been to Hawaii, another favorite vacation. And I've been into Montana and Idaho. My memories of vacation in Cour de Alene are of a very beautiful little resort town. I'd love to visit all over the States too. The Grand Canyon has always drawn me. I'd love to drive the Oregon Trail. And Faith's love of the Adirondack's makes me want to go hiking there with her. A trip back to Hawaii I'd never refuse. I loved Hawaii. I'd move there if I could. I wonder if they need a good dayhome there? Although I have to admit I would totally miss my mountains. And four seasons. So maybe just a nice little vacation home there would be good. :v)

Whew, now I'm totally wanting a great vacation! LOL. More Questions Answered to come another day. This is actually turning out to be fun. I don't know what I was so scared of.

Questions, Questions

Why is it that June always seems to be such a busy month. Somehow in the winding down of a school year, there is the turning up of activity and busyness. The studying for exams on the part of my high schoolers, 3 birthdays within a week in my dayhome and those kids coming and going and changing for the summer, all which involve special activities. All of it brings an exhaustion at the end of the day that hits me like a ton of bricks and my motivation to think of things to blog about was seen packing it's bags about a week ago. So I'm going to do something that I've always been afraid to do. And that would be...

drumroll, please...

I'm going to let you ask me whatever you would like. What has been burning in your mind to know? And I'll do my best to answer. But, please be kind. And keep it to what would be appropriate for a family friendly blog.
And now I'm shaking in my boots that I actually did this. Mind you, I might not get one question. So then, I would really have nothing to worry about. Alrighty then.

What Kind of Book Am I?

Saw this over at Barbara's and tucked it away for one of those day's when I didn't have a thought in my head to write about. Well, today's one of them days. LOL. For once it turned out pretty darn close and realistic fiction just happens to be my favorite genre too. So there ya go. Fascinating stuff here at Living To Tell.

You Are Realistic Fiction

You are an outgoing person and very interested in others. You have many relationships that are important to you. You are always willing to lend an ear to a friend with a problem. And you're even pretty good at giving advice! Some may accuse you of loving drama, but you just seem to find yourself in the middle of it. You are a true people person. You find the lives of others to be fascinating. You're up for hearing anyone's life story.

What Kind of Book Are You?

So tell me in the comments, what kind of book did you turn out to be and what is your favorite genre of book?

Talent and Dialing Fingers We Got

Well last year the winner of Canadian Idol was a Southern Albertan fella and last night the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada was...

Tara Jean Popowich. Yup, a Southern Albertan dancer! Congratulations Tara!

Here is one of the most powerful dances from the season danced by the top 2: Tara Jean a contemporary dancer and the only time she got to represent her genre, and Vincent, a ballroom dancer who was also incredible.



And for a more fun number, Tara Jean dancing "House" with Everrett, a tap dancer, the fourth place finisher. And for just a small tidbit of info, "House" style of dance has only ever been done on the So You Think You Can Dance Canada stage. Apparently it's very, very hard. Yeah, I'm exhausted watching it.



It was a great season of dance and fun to watch another local area young person come into their own!

Now that's different!

You Pick the Title

So the big excitement in the house last night was the American Idol finale. Quite an exciting show they put on. Hubby and I were commenting about wondering how much those people paid to get into that show with all those big names performing. It was so much fun watching the top 13 get to sing with all these huge music greats. The music was great, but the Idol awards, Blech. I could have done without revisiting Tatiana or Norman and Bikini Girl. That is one part of the show they can totally scrap in my opinion.

What struck me through the whole show is the seemingly genuine friendship that the top 2, Kris and Adam, seem have developed. It was really refreshing to watch. As was Kris' total shock and tonguetiedness ( I just invented a word, let's go with it) when he was announced the winner. I think he truly thought he didn't have a chance against Adam.

So why did Kris win was the topic of conversation amongst us last night. Several thoughts came up. First of all, let me say, I thought both final 2 were very, very talented. Just in very different ways. Adam's talent is way more obvious and in your face, while Kris' was much more subtle. That said, why didn't Adam, the obvious judges' and producers' favorite, win? Well this little Canadaian, who picked Kris from the top 32 but having to watch from the sidelines and not be able to vote, is gonna go out on a limb and tell you what I observed from the sidelines.

First, Adam was incredibly talented but incredibly polarizing. Either you liked his style or you didn't. He was very interesting to watch and you couldn't wait to see what he would do week to week with his theatrics even if you didn't like the screeming, but that is exactly the point. Would the general viewing audience of American Idol actually buy his CD, and listen without the visual effects, to his style of music. The majority of American Idol viewers, I'll bet, are not your hard core rockers.

Second, I think the judges and producer's blatant, constant endorsement and near worship of Adam actually backfired on him. I think it galvanized voters to vote for the more mainstream music style of first Danny and then Kris. This was American Idol after all, and their music is supposed to go onto mainstream radio, not a rock station. And it brought out the underdog factor. We all like to get behind the underdog, well, most of us anyway. Well, ok, me. I like to get behind the underdog.

Third, Adam came into the competition already with mega stage and professional experience. I mean the guy performed a main role with Val Kilmer in The Ten Commandments, the Musical. (Who knew Val Kilmer could sing, BTW, but that is a whole other post!) He was already the comsumate professional with great work ethic and know how, with his name well known in certain circles. Kris was totally the inexperienced guy next door who had a good voice and a desire to sing, who didn't even know if he could be the next American Idol when asked by the judges. And isn't the point of American Idol to find that unknown gem out there , the one hiding on that farm, or working behind the grocery store till, not necessarily the one who's already in the business in one form or another?

We watched Kris grow and get better and better each week. There is something inspirational about watching the underdog listen to the judges critiques and put them into practice and come into his own as an artist and performer. The judges didn't really critique Adam, they just fell all over themselves each week praising him, except when Simon would mention theatrics, but even then, he was never really critiqued. It didn't grab you and want to cheer him on and become his fan. He didn't grow on you. You were either a fan from the beginning or not.

Fourth, there was the Danny factor. When Danny got out, the question was who would get his votes. It only made sense that Danny's fans would back the guy who's style was more like Danny, which of course, was Kris. And with only 1 million votes out of 88 million separating Kris and Adam at the final three point those votes obviously went to Kris.


Fifth, there was something appealing to the general population about Kris' humbleness, in spite of the fact that Simon told him to cut out the humbleness, even in the face of Simon's disparaging comments the last few weeks and his telling the audience to make sure and get voting for Adam and even in the face of Paula and Kara's outright worship of Adam. Don't get me wrong I thought Adam was actually a very humble person too considering all the "can do no wrong praise" but he did have a very professional confidence in himself and his talents, whereas I don't think Kris really knew how good he actually is.

Sixth, never discount the tweenie vote, with their hundred mile an hour texting talents.

Congrats to both the final 2. I'm happy that Kris won. This will be life changing for him and his cute little wifey. I hope American Idol backs & promotes him well even if he wasn't their choice for the winner. I know I'll be buying his CD. Adam will, no doubt about it, get a big recording contract and go on to huge international fame, I'm sure. All he really needed was the exposure and for big recording execs to see him. In fact, it was probably better for Adam to not win as now he is free to do exactly what kind of recordings he wants without being tied to an American Idol contract and putting out what they deem would make the most money for them.

And that my friends is my post for my "Why Kris Won" or "Why Adam Lost" or "About American Idol by a Canadian" or "I haven't a clue what else to post about today so hey, why not post about American Idol" post. You can go ahead and pick your favorite title.

I've now done a first, writing about American Idol. What could be next? LOL.

Jeremy Camp

I am excited to let you guys know about the new Jeremy Camp CD "Speaking Louder Than Before" that is out in stores now. While this CD will be enjoyed by any age group, I am definitely not youth and I love it, Jeremy has aimed it directly at the youth of today. "Speaking Louder" is not about turning up the volume literally but about being a light and witness and speaking truth.

Jeremy Camp
Husband. Father. Artist.

Husband. Even when Jeremy’s message became painfully personal when losing his first wife to cancer just months after their wedding, he boldly wore the mantle of comforter, soothing the pain of others by sharing his story, listening patiently to theirs, and providing them with songs that expressed what they were feeling when their grief left them unable to speak. It was that life-altering tragedy that inspired his early career. He was blessed a second time with wife Adrienne, who is such a strong supporter of Jeremy’s ministry and story. Jeremy is a great example of a husband devoting to his family.

Father. Adrienne and Jeremy have two little girls: Isabella, who just turned 4, and Arianne, who’s 2. Being a dad who is greatly involved with his daughters’ lives, Jeremy and Adrienne have chosen to have him gone on the road no more than a week at a time. He shares, “My priority is my family – the girls are at such a crucial age that I just want to pour into them even more – but I also know what I’m called to do.’”

Artist. Jeremy Camp’s thoughtful lyrics and booming voice have earned him legions of fans and accolades including 16 No. 1 songs, five Dove Awards, three ASCAP Songwriter of the Year wins and an American Music Award nomination. Camp continues to reach the masses with his music. Radio remains a strong supporter of Camp's music as his recent project Beyond Measure produced six back-to-back No. 1 hits, "Tonight” (CHR), “What It Means” (AC) and “Give You Glory," which was named the No. 2 AC Song of the Year on the R&R charts. In 2007, Camp was also voted Best Male Artist in the ChristianMusicToday.com Reader's Poll as well as named the No. 2 Artist of the Year on the R&R charts.

Speaking Louder Than Before. “At this point, I have a more clear-cut purpose and vision of what I’m meant to do. I’m more purposeful in what I’m sharing.” Speaking Louder isn’t so much about Camp turning up the volume as it is finding greater clarity in what God’s called him to do. And while he continues to grow and mature as an artist and a man, it only makes sense that this rocker with a preacher’s heart would use his platform to proclaim – louder than ever – the message he knows today’s kids need to hear. Speaking Louder’s songs will resonate with people of any age, but Camp’s message this time around is directed squarely at youth. “I see the hurt, the lack of direction, in this new generation,” the former youth leader says. “I always had a passion for youth, but this album is really aimed at them.”

You can listen to tracks from the CD at Jeremy's webpage.

Speaking Louder Than Before is available in stores now. It would make a great stocking stuffer for your youth or your youthful self. :v)

Available at iTunes and Amazon

Water Play

My sister in law sent me this. Is this not the coolest thing? A water fountain in a Japenese Mall. But not just any water fountain. How smart was someone to come up with co-ordinating this art piece? Make sure to watch the whole thing. It gets better and better.

Bet You Can't Quote Just One!

It's all Shalee's fault. She had to ask. First she stole the idea from Chilihead. She made a post out of quoting her favorite quotes. But she didn't stop there. Oh, no. She then went and asked us to tell her what our favorite quote was. Oh, no. I love quotes. I adore a good quote. I collect quotes. In their very own cute little "quote" journal. And we all know the trouble I have answering something like that with just one or two short and sweet answers as evidenced by some of my plural answers in memes. So short of making like the good old days and hijacking her comment section, I thought I'd just steal her stolen post. So thanks to you, my friend Shalee, a whole post on some of my favorite quotes.

"It says something about our times that we rarely use the word sinful, except to describe a really good dessert" -William D. Ferrell

"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, or ethnic background, is that we all believe we are above average drivers" -Dave Barry

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" -William Morris

"One kind word can warm 3 winter months" -Japenese Proverb

"I have learned to hold all things loosely, so that God will not have to pry them out of my hands" -Corrie Ten Boom

"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters" -Mother Theresa

"Rum is a vile drink that turns even the most respectful men into complete scroundrels" -Elizabeth (Pirates of the Caribbean I)

"We have become so engrossed in the work of the Lord that we have forgotten the Lord of the work" -A.W. Tozer

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say 'I used everything you gave me'" - Erma Bombeck

"Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die" - Author Unknown

"Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow'" - Author Unknown

"I think I can, I think I can" -the Little Engine that Could

"I love you not only for who you are, but for what I am when I am with you" - Roy Croft

I have tons more but I'll have to quit there. So I'll do the same as Shalee and ask "What is your favorite quote?" Bet you can't pick just one (or two or three).

Unless you don't live in the States or Canada, have cable tv or are fasting television, you probably knew that American Idol had their Idol Gives Back night last night where with the use of many famous idividuals they raise money for various charities in the U.S. and Africa. It's a very touching evening. Of course the big grande finale song is with the remaining contestants. Pick my jaw up off the floor as out of all the heart-tugging songs in the history of the world about compassion or giving, this is the song the producers chose to do:





Brought tears to my eyes. I thought is was lovely and the Lord got lifted at the end of a very popular, watched show. First thing hubby said when I showed him was "They're trying to raise money and will use what they can." I thought maybe one of the producers must be a believer because that is a full out worship song and they took a risk that might cause them some fall out.

Anyway, I thought it was a beautiful end to a night of being asked to step outside ourselves and care about others, that they would end it with a song that glorifies the Lord, the One who cares for people most of all.

What Think Ye?

Disney World Restaurant Bans Children.

I found this article interesting in the wake of last summer when a certain restaurant in the big city close to us banned children under a certain age. The said restaurant was getting considerable complaints from patrons about certain other patrons letting their children run around treating the restaurant like a MacDonald's or Burger King. This particular restaurant decided to cater to the majority of their patrons who happened to be adults by giving them a place where they could go to relax without a Burger King type of atmosphere. This restaurant just for your info, is a chain type of restaurant but of the "classier" kind, but not fine dining, located downtown in the business district where a lot of business people partake of it. They cited that if patrons with the younger children still wanted to go to this particular restaurant, that there were several of them scattered throughout the city. Some in the city stood and applauded them and they gained much business, but other's cryed foul and were highly offended and took it to the news and complained to city hall. The restaurant manager stuck to his guns.

After reading the News article link and the above paragraph, what do you think? Should restaurants have the right to cater to patrons only above a certain age, whether they are fine dining or not, or should they have to open thier doors to everyone regardless of age and behavior to the consternation of the majority of thier patrons. Is it discrimination to cater to a certain crowd? Would you be offended if you walked up to a restaurant only to see a sign or be informed that that your children had to be a certain age? What say you?

Just For You

Just in case, you were totally bored and are all done your baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping and cleaning, and are all caught up on your favorite blogs, I give to you a fun game to play. But unlike the Free-Rice game Linda directed us to (which is a totally cool game which you must go check out), where you actually earn rice to be donated to a third world country and increase your vocabulary, this will only test your reaction time. And not only that, but it will cause you to keep doing it over and over and over because you'll not want to stay a Sluggish Snail or Ambling Armadillo, you'll want to move all the way up to Turbo-charged Cheetah. And you'll want to do it right away. So you'll keep trying. And trying. Oh, so I've heard. Ahem.

Christmas Traditions

Isn't this hoar frost just gorgeous? This is what I woke up to this morning. Now this together with this and now this going on today in blogland, well I'm just ready for the Christmas season!

Christmas tradition is something that is really important to me. There is just something about families doing a few things each and every year that they look forward to that solidifies the thought of connectedness and "We are a family" in my heart and mind. I remember traditions from my own childhood and loved every one of them and now as the grownup with my own family we have made some new ones with our own children. And they look forward to them each and every year. Here's a few:

*We always put up the tree on the first weekend of December. That kicks off the holiday decorating in our home. The kids each have their own box of decorations they put on the tree themselves. It is their special decorations. They have recieved one each year in their stockings since the year they were born and they will take their own decorations with them when they fly out of the nest, so to speak. I always try to choose something that suits them or that I know they will like.

*Starting December 1st, we read from our Christmas story book each day. It's a huge board book that opens up into a bunch of tiny books each dated for one day from the 1 to the 25th. It tells every aspect of the Christmas story from Mary, to the shepards, to the wise men, culminating in the birth of Jesus, which is of course the 25th book and the biggest. We read for the corresponding day and then that book is hung on the tree from a gold thread like a decoration. Some years its on the big tree and sometimes we've had a 2 ft. tree just for this Christmas story. I wrote about this book here.

*On Christmas Eve, we always open our stockings after we've come home from whereever we've been visiting that night or after our company has gone home if we're hosting. This is where the special Christmas ornament is. We always start with one of the kids reading aloud the Christmas story.When the kids were little no Christmas presents came out for our personal family until late Christmas Eve, after the kids have gone to bed. There would be no presents under the tree and then they'd wake up Christmas morning with the presents there. Now that they are teens they just stay up to darn late and I don't feel like hauling presents up from hiding places at 1 and 2 in the morning. So now the presents come up Christmas Eve morning before they all wake up. Besides, now that they are older it's too fun to watch them trying to figure out whose is whose and drive each other crazy. That is explained in the next tradition.

*Each child's presents are wrapped in their own type of paper and none are labeled. (I totally change the kid's wrapping each year so they have no clue). For each child I have a chunk of their own wrapping paper that I've cut into a bazillion tiny pieces and put into an envelope with their name on it. Before I go to bed on Christmas Eve, I hide it somewhere in the living room, sometimes in the tree, sometimes on the fireplace or where ever else I think it will take them a few minutes to find. I try to pick different places each year! Come Christmas morning, while the coffee is perking and hot chocolate being made, they have to find their envelope and open it and figure out which wrapping paper belongs to them. Once they figure it out they can have at it. Dave and I just sit back and enjoy it, with the kids occasionally bringing us one of ours to open.

*Christmas morning is doubly hectic as it is also Tia's birthday! We've asked if she'd like the actual celebrating on another day that would totally be devoted to her, but she always refuses. She likes that she has the same day to celebrate as Jesus! We've also asked if the kids would rather open all the gifts on Christmas Eve but they want to stick with the tradition that was started before the youngest decided she was ready to make a showing on Christmas Day.
So once all the mayhem of the Christmas presents is over, it's time to celebrate the second birthday party of the day. Believe it or not, then we move to the kitchen where it is decorated with birthday balloons, tablecloth and birthday presents. Tia gets to do the birthday thing.

*When paper and bows are semi-cleaned up we usually enjoy some kind of breakfast like french toast or pancakes together. Then we usually gather and watch either "The Scrooge"(or it might be named "A Christmas Carol") with Patrick Stewart or "It's A Wonderful Life" with James Stewart, this one in black and white of course. (I just noticed my 2 favorite Christmas movies have actors with the same last name. Strange.) Although last year "Christmas with the Kranks's" also made it in there as did "Elf".Christmas afternoon we all gather wherever the dinner is held that year and enjoy the company of family over great food. We always have the turkey complete with stuffing and all the extras. We in Canada are ready for turkey by Christmas as our Thanksgiving is in October. And of course, it's tradition that I bring the birthday cake wherever we are going for the dinner!

So there you go. I love traditions. It makes looking forward to the holiday special. What do you do? Link up at My Quiet Corner so that we can read your lovely stories of a beautiful time of year!

Something for Mom, Something for the Kids

Remember that Reverse Works for Me Wednesday? Well I had a dilemma about air freshners that day. I can't stand the chemical after smell of all aerosal air freshners, but sometimes a girl just needs/wants the room to smell nice. A lot of you suggested yummy smelling candles, and I love a really nice smelling candle. Right now I have Yankee Farmhouse Apple in my kitchen. Yummy! But during the day with 6 little ones running around I can't be burning candles. So I still had a bit of a dilemma.

Until last week when I found this:

What is that contraption, you ask? It's a reed diffuser. The jar holds beautiful smelling oil and you place the reeds inside. The reeds do their thing and soak up the oil and as the air moves around the reeds it diffuses a lovely smell that is not overwhelming but there in the background. No chemical smell, no fuss, no muss, just luscious fragrance. It lasts forever and looks cool. I just have to have it out of reach so it doesn't get dumped. This one is grapefruit vanilla. I've also got SweetPea and White Lily. Aaaah. Luscious I tell you.

And I just found out that Shannon will be hosting another Reverse WFMW tomorrow. So get your questions ready!

In keeping with celebrating fall, my favorite time of year, I would be remiss if I didn't do some kind of craft with all those leaves that my back yard collects.

So we made our own picture of fall trees. So easy and fun to do.

You need: a large sheet of construction paper, brown tempra paint, white glue, q-tips or craft paintbrushes, lots of leaves that are not yet crunchy and dry.

To make the trunk and branches of the tree, paint the child's hand, palm side, and arm right up to their elbow with the brown paint.

Have them spread their little fingers as wide as they can and then lay their arm onto the construction paper to make the print. You might have to help the smaller ones so they don't squiggle and smear it on the paper otherwise you get a very smeared tree.

This must now dry before you can go on. So now is when we went out and played in the leaves and collected for the rest of the picture. I took the colored leaves right off the trees because they were still fresh and not dried out and crumbly. Pinch off the stems.

When the paint is dry, give the child the leaves, and a small container with white glue and let them "paint" glue on the back of the leaves and glue on their "tree" and falling on the ground.

This is a great time to talk about fall and what happens to the leaves, colors, back and front. Small children will need to have it explained that the fingers of their hands are the branches of the tree and the arm is the trunk. It's very interesting to note how each child interprets it. Some will just glue leaves all over the place willy, nilly while others will be quite particular about keeping all the leaves on the top of the tree while others will make very particular lines of leaves falling to the bottom.

You can finish it off with some cotton ball clouds.

I'm Having a Craving

Updated to add:

***And updated again (I really need to get some sleep!!)

I just thought I'd add that I'd love to acknowledge Jen for giving me this beautiful award this week. It has deep meaning as written by the creator of the award:

Women like “the mother who smiles daily, her heartaching for the her child who is ill. The mother who has encouraged and held her child in his/her dieing moments. The woman who has struggled, clawing her way up the mountain to gain freedom from personal problems; drugs, alcoholism, mental health issues, illness, overcoming disabilities; to name a few. Any and every woman who has escaped or lives in a life of domestic violence; holding herself strong on the outside, yet withered on the inside. The woman who teaches, provides childcare, doctors, nurses or in anyway touches the lives of others children; knowing she cannot have a child of her own as her heart desires.”


While I do take care of other's children I do have three of my own and felt very undeserving of this special award. But as is God's way He uses other's to encourage us when we do feel very unworthy. So thank you Jen, I really need encouragement and a boost and I appreciate all you said to me in the email. You're a doll.

And I would really like to pass this on to three women who have really been WonderWoman in my eyes as I've come to know them in the last year. Overcoming incredible obstacles with their children's health, they have built a strong faith and have been able to share that with us and I truly think they are WonderWoman moms and WonderWoman of Faith.

Momrn2 at My Quiet Corner (who incidentally is also celebrating over 500 posts today)

and

Annie at My Life as Annie

***And for heaven's sake I meant to add Beck at Frog and Toad are Still Friends (but my sleep deprived brain dropped the ball).

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You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

I had about 4 hours sleep last night, hence, the brilliant, challenging, observant post today. And no it's not because of all the partying in yesterday's post. But anyway, coincidentally chocolate chip cookies really are my all time favorite and between Beck's post about losing the recipe for the best chocolate chip cookies ever and this little thingy I am now into a major craving with no chocolate chips in the house or in sight. *Sigh* Story of my life.

Have a great weekend everyone.

P.S. If you haven't delurked for the party go to yesterday's post and introduce yourself. C'mon don't be shy.