Music the Moves Me - Merry Christmas!

This one isn't so much for the music, though that's pretty...the rest is indeed a silly concept, yet one that moved me all the same.

I guess just putting them in a modern perspective.


Another song that takes their perspective (or Mary's at least)...and one of my favoite Christmas songs ever...Breath of Heaven.


And, my husband's favorite Christmas song (same theme).

Rosetta Stone Giveaway

Want to learn a new language?  I do!  And I want my kids to, too!  So that's why I'm entering the giveaway below:

***
Now is the perfect time to give your child the gift of possibilities for the holidays with Rosetta Stone Homeschool — and you can WIN a Level 1 Homeschool program, language of your choice (valued at $249)!

Right now Rosetta Stone is having a special Holiday promotion on our Homeschool Edition program and we’d like you to help spread the word! Everyone can save up to $150 on Rosetta Stone Homeschool by visiting our website at http://www.RosettaStone.com/hsw1110.

By helping us spread the word you can win a Rosetta Stone Homeschool Edition Level 1 program, language of your choice, valued at $249.

This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever!

Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.

To win this program, copy these paragraphs (between the asterisks ***) and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR post about this contest on your facebook page. Then go to the original page at

http://www.othersuchhappenings.com/2010/12/rosetta-stone-giveaway-yay.html

and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post, and good luck!

***

Aloha Friday

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday! Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

So, here's my question...

How do you connect with friends and family that are far away during the holiday?

Please leave your answer in a comment below.  And, if you have a blog and would like to post your own question you can leave your link at An Island Life.

Aloha Friday - Road Trips

Road Trips Are Forever by Science Will Prevail

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday! Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

Ten Talents, one of my favorite blogs, recently had a a wonderful post you might find useful if you are taking a long road trip this holiday. It's full of tips for driving long distances with a baby...inspired by driving 42 hours (21 hours each way) with their young daughter.

She even had advice specifically for driving through Texas.

"Bring some sort of music-playing device if you EVER plan to drive through Texas, especially if you're going to be driving through from 2 to 4 a.m. Mariachi music might be your style, but when it's your only option, you really wish you would have thought to bring along your iPod."

So true, oh, so true!

So, what's your best advice when taking long road trips (with or without children)?

Please leave your answer in a comment below.  And, if you have a blog and would like to post your own question you can leave your link at An Island Life.

Aloha Friday/2 Question Thursday

((Beach Snowman Gifts by RedRider08)

Week before last we had 80 degree weather here, and a friend of mine was complaining that it didn't feel like the right time of year with the weather being so warm.  I have to say, though, I like getting a little summer in the middle of Winter. There's so few times the weather is that nice here in Texas, I'll take it when I can get it!

Of course, Christmas is a little different. It's kinda nice to have it FEEL like Christmas. Snow is the best Christmas present, but it's a little unrealistic to hope for that two years in a row (places all over Texas had a white Christmas for the first time in a decade or so last year).  But a nice chill on Christmas is welcome!

So, here's a couple questions for you about winter weather  (and yeah, I realize these don't apply much to California and other warm weather states...unless you live in the mountains like I did) ...

• Do you (or would you) enjoy an 80 degree break in the winter weather? 
• Would you be disappointed if it was warm on Christmas?

Thanks!  If you have a blog and would like to post your own questions you can leave your link on the appropriate day at the linkys at 2 Questions Thursday and Aloha Friday.

Metamorphosis Monday - My Backyard Experiment

As some of you who follow my blog know, this last year I did a little experiment with my backyard. After finding out I had some Mexican Evening Primrose growing wild there, I decided to hold off on mowing until I found out what else was in my yard. It was exciting!  Through May, June and July I discovered all sorts of pretty wildflowers.  Then in September, when it seemed like all the wildflowers were done for and my yard was a tangle of not so pretty weeds, I went ahead mowed one side, leaving only some tall tufted grass that I liked. Then, the very next day the un-mowed side burst into pink flowers!

That doesn't show the pink flowers very well...but it does show how overgrown it had gotten.  That was in September.

Well, about two weeks ago I mowed and now it looks like this...

I left a clump of that tufted grass I like, along with my basil (from my overrun garden that was in the center of that jungle) and a few adjacent wild plants that I thought made a pretty little gathering together.  The pink flowers had stopped blooming, but the plant they had been on is there in that clump too, so I know I'll get it next year.  I was really quite happy about how it turned out!

Souvenir Saturday - Texas Turkey

Thanksgiving is coming up, so how about some good Ole' Texas Turkey!

Texas Turkey by artmuvz_animals

Hmmm...not exactly type of Texas Turkey you were thinking of?

Ok, what about this?

Turkey, TX City Limits Sign by city_limits

That's still not it?

OK, here we go...

The Texas Outfitters "Rio GrandeTurkey" by thetexasoutfitters
See other t-shirts designed online at zazzle

There, that's Texas Turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving!

California and Texas Giveaways Ending Soon!

Found Some Giveaways Especially for Texans and Californians!

California

Verten Media Photo Session - So Cal Residents (Ends 11/14 - Only 2 People Entered So Far!)

Texas

HEB Buddy Prize Pack (Ends 11/14)
Christmas Tree - Central Texas/Austin (Ends 11/19)

Souvenir Saturday - Autumn Colors

For this week's Souvenir Saturday how about some fall color!

Texas thanksgiving wishes foliage border by studioportosabbia
Learn how to sell my artwork on zazzle.

California autumn leaves thanksgiving by studioportosabbia
View other Studio Cards

Aloha Friday

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday! Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

This week I've been having some fun tracking down songs related to Texas and California. I'm putting together a list here. So my question for you today is...

Do you know of any California or Texas songs? What's your fave (or a few of your faves)?

Please leave your answer in a comment below.  And, if you have a blog and would like to post your own question you can leave your link at An Island Life.

Baffling Buttons

These buttons baffle me...

(Button by PoliticalGenius)

HUH?  I Texas TX?  I don't even understand what that means.

by jimhartley

OK, I've heard of Ya'll and Fix'n but never We'e.   Sounds like something someone might say on a roller coaster at 6 flags...or maybe something you pull over to do after driving miles and miles through the miles and miles. 

Though, I will say the "Miles and miles of miles" is hilarious (and absolutely true--as anyone knows who has ever driven from Dallas to California.  It really sinks in when you get to to El Paso and realize you're only half way there.)


If you'ld like to see some less baffling Texas (and California) buttons I featured recently...click here. 

Stupid Texas Song

Here's a great You-Tube video I found of the Austin Lounge Lizard's Stupid Texas Song!

Read the Lyrics/Get the Chords Here

Click here to find more Texifornian music!

And find more country music at the Country version of ...

This Weeks Finds

I decided to post my weekly Texas and California blogging finds (and the occassional Texifornian one).  This is actually for the past two weeks, since I didn't get it up earlier.  Oops.  Anyways, found some wonderful posts and photography.

TEXIFORNIA
I met a new Texifornian this week.   (She says shes doesn't really count the Texan part...but generally refers to herself as an exile.  I can relate to that.)  She has FOUR blogs--all of them excellent, but the one I thought had the most "Texifornian" appeal was her blog Owl's Farm:  "the Farm consists a series of musings, mostly about place: topophilia, utopia, dystopia, geography, landscape, and home." 


TEXAS
A little rain yesterday and the puddles were mirrors is a beautiful poetic description of fall in Texas, and then followed that by another beautiful description of East Texas: somerset life: in which i tell the the world about east texas.

And here's my favorite Texas Sky Watch Post:

• Terrel Daily Photos
• From the Heart of Texas 

CALIFORNIA
There were OH SO MANY Californian Sky Watch Pictures to love these last two weeks.   Here are my favorites in no particular order.

• Live, Love, Give!
• Uberrhund (gotta love the caption!)
• Way Out West 
• Murrieta365
• The Sky is Big in Pasadena 
• Desert Southwest
• The Glamourous Life (neat old Art Deco Theater)

Souvenir Saturday - Buttons

Yes, yes...I haven't done a Souvenir Saturday in forever. Thought I'd share some fun Texas and California flair I found on Etsy and Zazzle. I found the button above at Pumpkin Bear. It's her homage to Texas, where she went to college and says she got into mucho mischief.

I found the button's below at Parsnip and Pear. They have nifty map buttons for various California and Texas cites.

And here's some of my favorites from Zazzle....

Texas Vintage Travel Poster by TheVintageVamp

I really liked this Texas button.  It's actually a Vintage drawing SMOOSHED,
which I would have never known if I hadn't explored TheVintageVamp and found
the original.  I think the resized button above came out with a fun
cartoonish look, in stead of looking distorted.

And now for some California buttons...

So•Cal Life - Distressed by AmericanVeritas


Just love it!

California Roots by California_Roots

And here's one I could wear to brag on my
Calfiornia upbringing. 

Do you have a California or Texas product you'ld like to see featured here? Leave a comment with a link below and I'll consider it for a future Souvenir Saturday.

Sky Watch Friday

Sky Watch Friday

Two Questions Thursday - Aloha Friday

My kids had fun carving the jack-o-lantern above.  It came out pretty scary looking.  But even scarier than that is what happens after halloween...EVERY year.

Well, at least to us.  Everyone else in the world might not get sick the week after halloween, but I can't remember a Halloween we haven't gotten sick.  Even on my second son's first halloween, three days after he was born, his older brother got chicken pox!  This year one child is coughing, and the other seems fine except that he threw up last night....and that wasn't from eating too much Halloween Candy, cause I've only let them eat a few every day.

So, here's my questions for Aloha Friday and 2 Question Thursday:

1. Do your kids often get sick after Halloween.
2. Anyone know a great way to clean up vomit?  I have my methods, but if someone has a good way of "sterilizing" the area, I'd like to know.  

If you have a blog and would like to post your own questions you can leave your link on the appropriate day at the linkys at 2 Questions Thursday and An Island Life

Thoughts Following This Election

My husband and I try to research and vote in as many of races for "minor" state and local offices as we can--offices like State Board of Education, Comptroller, and Railroad Commissioner (an office which in Texas has nothing to do with railroads and lots to do with regulating the oil industry).  We know these offices can affect our lives as much as the "more important" positions like Governor and Senator, and we know that less people vote on them, so we figure our votes count even more on these than on the "big" races.

What's frustrating to me this election is realizing how many of these "minor"  offices are decided by people who vote straight party line, when most of those offices don't even have anything to do with what a lot of those people voted straight party line about.  For instance, I'm Pro-Life, so that means I often vote Republican.  But when it comes to things like Agricultural Commissioner or Railroad Commissioner, their duties don't include anything that would affect that issue. 

My husband and I are watching several of these "minor" races and noticing that in our state the Republican candidates are winning by almost exactly the same margin on all of these lesser known positions (and that's not true for the more well known offices like Governor and Senator).  It makes me wonder if most of the democrats in these positions are loosing solely because of party line votes from people who, in general, don't even know what the office does or what the candidates stand for (a lot of them at least).  Most of the people who don't vote party line just don't vote on these.

It saddens me to think that because of party line voting some qualified and capable candidates who are running for the right reasons might loose to candidates who are corrupt, inexperienced, misguided, or who are just seeking this position as a stepping stone to another "more important" one.


So, my challenge to you for the NEXT election is this:

1. Don't vote straight party line!  At very least if you don't know anything about an elected position and whether the republican or democratic (or green, libertarian, etc) qualities you care about are important in that position, don't vote on that particular race.
2. Do some research on at least one elected position you know nothing about, and next election, do research on the candidates, and vote on the race for that election.

Read more about the affects of Straight-Ticket Voting:
In November, Straight Ticket Votes Decide Winner (Texas)

Still Researching Your Vote?

I am! And boy do I wish I hadn't waited this long. Election day sort of slipped up on me. I thought I had a couple more weeks to go and, YIKES, election day is tomorrow.

As I find useful articles and sources, I'll be posting them here, mostly be focusing on Texas (since that's where I'm voting).

Find Your Disctrict

List of Texas Candidates

This lists statewide candidates, and on the right you'll see links 

to find U.S. Congressional candidates, and Texas House and Senate Candidates.

Candidate Research
Here are some sites that check candidates statements to see if they're true.  It's important to at least skim the explanations of why they think something said was true or false, though.  For instance, they marked Chet Edward's statement Edwards makes a case that he’s steadfastly opposed efforts to impose gun controls. However, none of his cited measures would "take away" anyone’s weapons. It’s overblown claims like this that keep the Truth-O-Meter in business.

Project Vote Smart

On the Issues

Free Voters Guide
NOTE:  This resource can be helpful for positions like Governor and State Board of Education, though realize it asks some candidates questions that have nothing to do with their jobs. For example, The Railroad Commissioner, and Commissioner of Texas Land Use of Texas and Agricultural Commissioner's jobs have NOTHING to do with most of the questions they were asked. They have no say over abortion, Divorce Reform, etc. And its too bad that they weren't asked any questions about the environment or economy because they do have a lot to do with that.

Check Truthfulness of Candidates Statements
These sites check whether statements made by politicians are true or false.  Be careful to at least skim the explanation why, because it can reveal important details that shed light on the candidate.  For instance, Chet Edwards was marked "false" on his claim to "say no to Washington liberals who want to steal our guns" not because he didn't actively oppose gun legislation (he did) but because they thought that legislation didn't actually threaten to "take away" guns. 

Politifact - Texas

Politifact National 

(has some articles on California but not a whole section)

Fact Check.org

Forums 

Topix Forum by State

Articles and Info on Specific Candidates and Races

TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSIONER  - Yes, you should care about this!
The Railroad Commissioner heads the The Railroad Commission of Texas, which no longer has ANYTHING to do with railroads, but regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining industries. So, if you care about what happened in the Gulf, you should care about this.

CANDIDATES FOR RAILROAD COMMISSIONER
David Porter (Republican)
Jeff Weems (Democratic)
Art Browning (Green Party)
Roger Gary (Libertarian)

ARTICLES:
Did Jeff Weems Lawyer for BP and Enron, and Big Oil?
Summary:   Yes, but it was mainly litigating royalty disputes..


TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER
If you care about conservation, preservation, land use, energy, and surprizingly, Veterans (yeah...it's someone related in there), this is a position you should research.

Land Commissioner Debates


TEXAS GOVENOR

Debates:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
Perry didn't attend,  but I really suggest hearing this.  It really gives a good idea of what the other candidates stand for.





Find Your Polling Place
Google has made finding your polling place so simple.  Just type "Find Polling Place" into google.  A few lines down you'll see a text box where you can enter your address and google will map your polling place for you.  Yeah google!


Please share any articles on any Texas or California election subject you found helpful.  Thanks!

Blog Party at My Other Blog! You're Invited!

Hi! I'm having a blog party at Scribbleprints (one of my other blogs) to celebrate reaching 100 followers!  That's my shop blog, where I share about all the cool funny and artsy things I'm designing and selling through CafePress and Zazzle.   I hope you'll all stop by.  I have games and giveaways and free coloring pages!  

The giveaways are pretty easy to win too, since there aren't a lot of people entered (some of the giveaways NO ONE has entered).  Here's a few of the fun "party favors" you can win...

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE PARTY

$60 - $90 Flights From Texas to California and Vice Versus - I'm Going!

Southwestern has a special deal on flights that you can order TODAY until 11:59 Pacific Time (that's California time, so until 1:59 out here in Texas) from Texas to California and California to Texas as low as $60 to $90. Those are one way flights, but if you buy one there and one back it's still a lot less then round tickets are elsewhere right now. The dates available Dec 1 - 15 and Jan 4 - Feb 16.

I've booked my flight and am taking a trip to see my dad in California in January! Very excited! Wish I had thought to post this earlier for you all...cause I know I have some homesick readers out here who could use something like this.

Grackle Season Sky Watch

Well, it seems like grackle season has arrived.  I went to Stuffmart the other day and the noise was deafening.  There were whole sections of the parking lot covered with these birds.   They had taken over several of the shopping cart depositories and I felt bad for the cars that had dared to park nearby.

The picture below was taken over a month ago...I'm thought they were grackles at the time, but now I'm not actually sure.  They seem smaller in hind-sight, but they might be larger than the picture makes them seem, since they were up high.

This post is participating in
Sky Watch Friday

Grackle Season

The first place I heard of "grackle season" was The Yankee Chick's Guide to Texas.  In it there is a hilarious section where the author, Sophia Dembling,  describes the "other" seasons of Texas, inlcuding Grackle Season.  Now, when I first read this I had never heard the word "Grackle" before, but when she descibed the countless hourds of black birds that descend on shopping malls across Texas, I knew exactly what she was talking about. 

That makes this all the more funny....

Yeah, every time I talk about grackles I have to share that cause it still cracks me up.  I found that button several years ago on CafePress and loved it so much I bought 10 (OK, they didn't sell them individually...just in packs of 10...and I figured I'd find someone to give these to!). Seeing how the grackle population seems to be strong enough to take over a small Texas city, I'm assuming that's meant to be a joke--but you never know! Either way it's hilarious.

So, this all leads in to my questions for today.  I gather Texas isn't the only state with a "Grackle Season", so...

1. Are the grackles hoarding in your area?  If not, when do they usually pass through (if they do).
2. Where do you live? (What State, or country/territory if you're outside the US).

Please leave your answer in the comments.  Thanks

Have a question or two you'ld like to ask on your own blog? The following two memes are a great place to share it.


Two Questions Thursday: Ask any two questions on your blog and answer other's questions! The linky for this meme is pictoral, so you can share a picture from your post.

Aloha Friday: This meme is like Two Questions, only with one simple question and a text linky. It's a fun easy blog to post on a Friday.

HEB Giveaway and Review

HEB is giving away gift cards and a chance to win a trip to Orlando. You can enter here every day now through November 1.

OK, now, since we're on the subject of HEB...do you want to know why I love the HEB in my town?

• They have shopping carts with TWO kids seats (a real nice feature when you have kids born 19 months apart).
• The balloons they give to kids have staved off tantrums and allowed for a peaceful shopping trip (though I do wish they had something other than candy weighing it down).
• They always offer to walk you out to your car and help load your groceries (which was SO NICE when I was pregnant).
• The HEB store brand stuff tastes really good--seriously, I like some items, like their bread and jam, better than name brand.
• 4 bobillas for a $1!  (Bobillas are these sub sanwhich like fresh baked rolls).
• Free samples everywhere!

HEB TIPS

• HEB usually does cost a little more on brand name pre-packaged goods and meats than Walmart (even with HEB points factored in), but produce is often the same or less (it fluctuates - sometimes more, sometimes less).  
• Those little yellow coupons really do save you a lot if both items are things you want or need.
• If you get a manufacturers coupon for a free item, use it at HEB and you a can get HEB points that earn you HEB bucks to spend at HEB.
• HEB gas is often cheaper than at other places, plus you get HEB points.
• If you buy HEB baby clothes, buy at least a size larger than you need because they tend to shrink drastically.
• Did I mention their store brand packaged food items taste really good? 

OK, just so you know...HEB didn't give me anything to write this.  I just saw the giveaway on another blog decided to pass it on.  That one sentence looked kinda lonely and I really do love HEB so I thought I'd post a little review while I was at it.  

Win a Texas/California Shower Curtain

Izola has shower curtains with both Texas and California maps on them...as well as a lot of other maps, and other artsy and quirky things.  And there seems to be a lot of giveaways going on for them, so I thought I'd hunt some down for ya'll (we're pretty happy with our shower curtains, but if we weren't, these would be pretty cool to have).  Here's the California one:

Here's the blogs I know of giving these away, and when they end. 

Hope's Cafe (9/24)

Familylicious Reviews (9/29)

Heavenly Savings (10/6)

And So Ends the Backyard Experiment...or maybe not! (An Aloha Friday/2 Question/Foliage Follow-up)

Today I'm combining Aloha Friday with Two Questions Thursday and Foliage Follow-up.  Aloha Friday is where I ask a question for you to answer in the comments and 2 Question Thursday is the same except with 2 questions (you'll find the questions towards the bottom of this post).  Foliage Friday is where you show off your garden foliage.  This is my first time participating, and the only thing I'm showing off is that most of this "foliage" is now GONE.

Remember this flower from Garden Bloom Day yesterday?

Well, it's "foliage" isn't so cute.

 A big scratchy tangle of brambles is what that is!

And it's taken over my back yard!

That and these tall WHO KNOWS WHAT things you see there.  

Here's a better picture from earlier this year,
when they were starting to bloom...

They look about the same before, during, and after blooming,
actually.  They're taller than me! 

Here's an up close picture...the blooms has faded.

Now you're probably asking, how did I let things go so much
that I have 7 foot tall weeds.  Well, I was curious...
what would I find if I left my back yard un-mowed 

this summer?  I called it my Backyard Experiment.

And it started out beautifully! Through May, June and July I
discovered one gorgeous wildflower after another.
Then August hit, the wildflowers dried up, and my
backyard became unbearable.

Half of it is still as you see above, but here's the other half now:

 I mowed it all, except for two tall wild grasses which had these whispy
ends, sort of like a pampas only not so large.

Looks kinda plain but better than the jungle that was there.
As the weather cools hopefully I'll be more motivated
to add some more flowers and foliage.

___________UPDATE___________

BUT WAIT!
THE WILDFLOWER DISCOVERIES AREN'T OVER!

After posting this late last night, I spend a quiet morning inside and
this afternoon looked out my window to find THIS...

 A sea of whispy pink beauties covering the unmowed half of my backyard!
THESE WERE NOT THERE YESTERDAY!!!

 Wow...what an amazing surprise!  It nearly took my breath away when I saw them.
  And just when I was complaining that all the wildflowers were gone!
I think I'm gonna have to do some "strategic" mowing
when I get to that, cause I don't want to loose those!

(OK, I know this was supposed to be FOLIAGE follow-up,
but I couldn't not share those with you!)
 ______________________



OK, and now for my Aloha Friday question:

See all those weeds and wildflowers up there?  What are they?
If anyone knows I would love it if you would tell me!
These grow wild in central Texas.  Thanks!

No clue?  Here's a second question:

What's the longest you've ever let your lawn go un-mowed
and what did you discover?

 _______________

UPDATES ON FIRST QUESTION:
Thanks to the blogger from Rock Rose for helping me identify the pink flowers...
Garardia, Agalinis purpurea.

---

Shared on Throwback Thursday

Garden Bloom Day - My Backyard Experiment

Well, August took it's tole on my garden. Not much blooming, and not much could have pulled me out there to plant anything else. Here's one of the survivors...

That one I actually planted.

This next one is a weed. 

No, not a wildflower...a weed

As some of you may remember, this summer I did 

an experiment in my yard, called "don't mow and see what grows."

(OK, I mowed the front yard, but not the back). 

  Through May, June and July I discovered one beautiful wildflower after another.

And then August hit. The only thing blooming in my yard, other than 

the flowers above and my basil bush, were these...

 Ah, doesn't it look pretty and daisy-like?

UNTIL you see what it grows on

...this bramble of a bush that was taking over my yard!

It was time to mow!

I've only gotten half the yard done.  

I'll show the comparison pictures tomorrow for Foliage Follow-up Day.

(Update:  Click on Foliage Follow-up link above
to see more blooms that weren't there when I posted this.) 

Garden Bloom Day

A Prayer on 9/11

I would like to repost something that an online friend shared with me after the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  This was not a forward (although, with her permission I forwarded it to many), but a story she told about her own young son and his response to the events. 

Jonah's Prayer 

_________ 

Trying to explain today's tragedies to my 6 year old son, I said, "Jonah, we need to pray to Jesus, because bad people have crashed airplanes into big buildings, and lots of people have had one of their family members die today."


Jonah said, "O.k. Mommy" and he folded his hands, then on his own initiative, he began to pray outloud. He prayed a prayer that both surprised me and humbled me.

Jonah said, "Dear Jesus, show those bad men your goodness. Blast the devil from their hearts Jesus, and blast it full of your goodness."

I was shocked. I had not asked Jonah to pray for the "bad men", in fact, it had not even crossed my mind to pray for the terrorists behind these awful events.

Just a few weeks ago in Children's Church, Jonah's memory verse had been "Love your enemy". Jonah had been very impressed by this particular verse, because he talked about it with me and his Daddy, and his prayer today proved that he took that verse to heart.

Today God used my son to show me that we are truly to be "as little children", and to put our trust in Him, our Father. In such a fearful time, He is the only one we can turn to who can bring comfort and healing to our hearts, and to the hearts of those grieving.

Only God can bring change to a heart, and God desires that we pray FOR ALL who have been effected by todays tragedies, the innocent hearts, as well as the guilty hearts.

___________

This was the summer that...

School has started, and  summer is over...but what a fun one!

This was the summer that...
We had vbs in Egypt (living history style)
My oldest lost his two front teeth.
My middle child learned to ride on two wheels.
My youngest learned to say a gazzilion new words, and rejected his high chair.
I started a garden.
Our backyard got overgrown (in spite of the garden).
We got our first kiddy pool.
Our youngest discovered SPRINKLERS!


I'd love if you would tell me about your summer!   In the comments, please share your own...

This was the summer that....

(This post has been shared on Throwback Thursday)

Sky Watch Friday - Competing Skies

The sky had so many personalities the other night...

To the east the sky was a frothy pink confection that 

looked like it should have winged unicorns flying through it.

And to the west...

The sky like kindling ablaze against the black shadows of leaves and houses.

So much beauty!

See other beautiful skies at...
Sky Watch Friday
(The featured photo is of grackles this week...
I'll have my own to share next week.) 

Sky Watch Friday

Sky Watch Friday

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Antique Buttons

Several weeks I shared a story that involved the button collection I had as a child. Several of you asked if I still had it. Yes, I do...but most of them are somewhere in my dad's house where I grew up. However, three of the originals that started the collections are sewn to an unfinished vest hanging in my closet. The vest is no longer a style I would wear, but I keep it for the pretty pattern...and of course, the buttons.

The picture shows them a little larger then they are.  They are only about the size of a penny, each.  Aren't they cool?  I found them as a child in a large box of buttons in a shop called "The Sea" in San Pedro, California.  They were only 25 cents so I picked out these and a couple others I liked which weren't quite as intricate as these.  I've always thought they looked Victorian and wondered if they were really that old.  I should take them to an antique shop and find out.  Either way, they're lovely.


This post is linked in at Mosaic Monday and Mosaic Tuesday, where you can find a lot of other great mosaics.  It's also linked in at 2nd Time Around and ...






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