This “vacation” I’ve been lousy with many normal vacation things. I had good intentions to have the kids send postcards…totally forgot. I brought along school reading books and math facts…totally forgot.
I do have awesome stories about the Blissdom Conference. I do have a big list of improvements for this site and Simple Vlogging Tips.
I did get a video for my friend. She doesn’t have a blog – she’d rather take pictures than write – but she reads MckMama and other great blogs [like this one 
]. She rallied our church to pray for Stellan. She kept us updated and activated the prayer chain at crucial times. She has never had the chance to meet MckMama, but I did since MckMama was one of the keynote speakers at Blissdom. Continue reading →
Posted in: Blogging.
Tagged: blissdom · friends · prayer
First I have to say that I’m not finished with this book. I know that for a good review I’m supposed to have it finished and let it sit for a bit before I review it. I’m 3/4 of the way through and typing fast so that I can go back to reading. Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand was a great diversion in the truck as we traveled the highways through Ohio; from the first page I was captivated.
I have read all of Deanne Gist’s books because the story lines are so interesting. Most of the stories just rated a “it was okay” when I passed them on. [A Bride in the Bargain was an exception - loved that one.] I’ve never read anything by J. Mark Bertrand, but I’m loving the pairing of the two styles [romance and suspense] in Beguiled. Continue reading →
Posted in: Books.
Tagged: Book Review · Deeanne Gist · J Mark Bertrand
There’s lots of tips I can think of for vacationing with small children, but this is the one that has helped us the most.
Try to stay on their normal schedule.
If you try to get them to bed, get them up, and feed them at their normal times it helps things go better. It gives them a point of reference and normalcy when everything around them is different. Continue reading →
Posted in: Activities/Hobbies.
Tagged: vacation
I’ve heard it said it all depends
Upon your point of view,
The happiness you get from life,
And how things look to you.
And the longer that I’m living,
I’ve really come to see,
That this is just as true a fact,
As anything could be.
If you always look for sorrow,
Then you’ll have it seven-fold,
If you go in search of rainbows,
You will find a pot of gold.
If you have no time for dreaming,
The days are dark and grey,
But with a little bit of hope,
Your troubles slip away.
Don’t waste your time in sighing,
When the world is full of song,
Don’t live among the shadows,
That is not where you belong.
Lift your face and feel the sunlight,
Smell the flowers in teh wood,
And be grateful you are living,
…And know that God is good.
by Grace E. Easley
Posted in: Sunday Poems.
Tagged: Grace E Easley
Unfortunately I have not been able to read this book so I can’t give you my spectacular critique. [ha-ha] I can tell you that it has a slow start, but maybe it just feels so slow because my life is going so fast right now. I can also tell you that it’s starting to pick up, that it’s full of book quotes and references [which I love], and that I picked it because I had read her previous book about Getaway Girl Paige.
Here’s the info on Becca By The Book by Laura Jenson Walker. Continue reading →
Posted in: Books.
Tagged: Book Review · Laura Jenson Walker
My husband gently reminded me of a fact that I often forget: What good is it to get extra things for the children if I lose the time spent with them? The time to teach, train, and love them.
A lot of ladies talk about balance. How to balance our lives. How to get everything done. How to organize. How to clean. While I agree that all those things are good I use a different word. I think we should prioritize.
A mentor of mine said, “What you focus on will grow.” She was referring to online business, but I think it can apply to my children also. 
Remember - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World.
Posted in: Mommy Stuff.
This year all the Blissdom conference attendees are getting a package from the sponsors before the conference. I think it’s a great idea! ConAgra Foods sent us what you see in the pictures. Thank you ConAgra! I had no idea all those brands were from the same company.
It was a cheddar popcorn from Redenbacher’s and it was gone in less than 45 minutes.
For more pictures visit the Wordless Wednesday main site or 5 Minutes for Mom.
Posted in: Daily Life.
Tagged: ConAgra · popcorn · Redenbachers · Wordless Wednesday
We have a crate for our puppy and it certainly gives me peace of mind when we are away from home. The peace, however, stops when we are driving in the driveway as all three children start asking to be the one to let Thunder out. Actually, I had to work on them only starting when we got to the driveway. It was at the point that as soon as the dog was in the crate they started asking to let him out – and we hadn’t even left the house yet!
For a while I tried to make sure that they rotated, but I got tired of trying to remember who did it last time and all that baloney. Besides, that turned into a whole session of arguing about who really did it last time, and the time before while the poor dog is sitting in the cage waiting for them to decide who let him out last time! Continue reading →
Posted in: Kid stuff.
Tagged: dog · puppy
My niece – my eldest sister’s 11 year old – is a finalist in the 5 Minutes for Mom Yoplait Drawing Contest! Isn’t that exciting!?
Since she is a finalist she needs lots of votes. Would you please help? Go to this page and vote for number 12. Scroll down past the pictures for the poll. Make sure you check number 12 titled “From Weak to Strong.” You don’t have to register, give your name, or do anything but a few clicks of your mouse.
They have homeschooled my niece since kindergarten and this would be a tremendous blessing to them if they win the $1000. So please go vote for number 12 and tell your friends! Thank you so much! My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, my brother-in-law thanks you, my niece thanks you…
Posted in: Activities/Hobbies.
Tagged: contest
I seek in prayerful words, dear friend,
My heart’s true wish to send you,
That you may know that, far or near,
My loving thoughts attend you.
I cannot find a truer word,
Nor better to address you;
Nor song, nor poem have I heard
Is sweeter than God bless you!
God bless you! So I’ve wished you all
Of brightness life possesses;
For can there any joy at all
Be yours unless God blesses?
God bless you! So I breathe a charm
Lest grief’s dark night oppress you,
For how can sorrow bring you harm
If ’tis God’s way to bless you?
And so, “through all thy days
May shadows touch thee never-”
But this alone – God bless thee-
Then art thou safe forever.
Author Unknown
Posted in: Sunday Poems.
