Thank You

If you served or if you know someone that served please remember to say....THANK YOU!

The Cat In The Hat Comes Back ~ A Sunday School Lesson

Today in Sunday School I had the lesson.  I had the wonderful help of a great friend (Thanks Wendy) in putting this one together.  We started the lesson by watching these videos of "The Cat In The Hat Comes Back"




Book is continued here:



Here is the lesson that was found to go with it:

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

As the Apostle Paul is making an appeal to the church in Corinth for a generous offering to help the church in Macedonia, he is all of a sudden struck again by the thought of the unmatched generosity of God toward us. Verse 15 is an outburst. An exclamation.

The word “unspeakable” literally means “unexpounded”. Paul is not saying that what God has done for us shouldn’t or can’t be talked about, or that it is impossible to ever put into words. He is saying that the fullness of what God has given us in the sacrifice of Jesus has never been fully elaborated on. There is so much to what God has accomplished in His plan of redemption, that the riches of it keep on appearing; keep on unfolding.

I used to love to read The Cat in the Hat Comes Back to our kids at bedtime. You remember that story by Dr. Seuss?  The cat returns to visit Sally and her brother, and this time he has under his hat Little Cat A. In turn, Little Cat A removes his hat to reveal Little Cat B, who in turn reveals C, and so on down to the microscopic Little Cat Z, who turns out to be the key to the whole plot.  Or if you don’t know that story, maybe sometime you played that old trick of putting a small but precious gift inside lots of different size boxes for a loved one to surprise them? Every time they open a box, there’s another one inside it.

If all we had received in the gospel was salvation from our sins, that in itself is a staggering and priceless gift. God would deserve our thanksgiving continuously and forever for that alone. But listen to Romans 8:32 …“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

This verse is saying that the hats just keep on coming! Unwrap one box, and there’s another and another.
In giving us His Son, God has given us the inexhaustible answer. Our total supply for our total need for all of time.

A true story is told of a millionaire who had a portrait of his beloved son painted before the son went to war. He was tragically killed in battle, and shortly afterward, the heartbroken millionaire died.
His will stated that all his riches were to be auctioned, specifying that the painting must sell first.
Many showed up at the auction, where a mass of the rich man’s wealth was displayed. When the painting was held up for sale, there were no bids made. It was an unknown painting by an unknown painter of the rich man’s uncelebrated son, so sadly, there was little interest.  After a few moments, a butler who worked for the man remembered how much the millionaire loved his son, decided to bid for it, and purchased the portrait for a very low price.  Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise the auctioneer brought down his gavel and declared the auction closed. The rich man’s will had secretly specified that the person who cared enough to purchase the painting of his beloved son was also to be given all the riches of his will.

This is precisely what God has done through the gospel. He who accepts the beloved Son of God also receives all the riches of His will, the gift of eternal life and pleasures for evermore. They become joint heirs with the Son (Romans 8:16-17).

Today, speak to yourself and stir up your own soul to praise God, like the Psalmist did in Psalm 103,
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)

Unconscious Mutterings

It's that time of the week. Head on over to see more Unconscious Mutterings!

1. Fresh air :: Ahhhh
2. Bodyguard :: Protection
3. Wedding :: Vows
4. Remind :: Me
5. Wicked :: Want to see!!!
6. Crawling :: Baby
7. Gasoline :: Expensive
8. Anyone :: Somebody
9. Dancing :: Would like to
10. Wall :: Door

PhotoHunter - Memorial

This week at PhotoHunt the theme is Memorial.  I don't have a picture of a memorial so I am using a picture from last years 4th of July parade.  For all of those that have served...THANK YOU!

Spring Reading Thing 2010 - Update

I've actually gotten a couple more books read and with a longer weekend coming up I'll get a chance to read a bit more.  Not to mention that next Friday school will finally be done for the year!  That means just a little bit more reading time too!  

Here is my list as of now.  Spring Reading Things ends on June 20th so I still have time to get a few more books read.

1. Donut Days by Lara Zielin ~ DONE
2. E Is for Ethics by Ian James Corlett ~ DONE
3. Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently
 by John C Maxwell ~ DONE
4. The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman ~ DONE
5. Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff ~ DONE

6. Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursla Vernon - DONE 

7. Remember Me?: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella - DONE

8. Celia's Puppies: The Denver Cereal Vol 2 ~ DONE 

9. Spiced: A Pastry Chef's True Stories of Trails by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and What Really Goes on in the Kitchen by Dalia Jurgensen - Currently Reading (review and giveaway coming up!)

10. Little House in the Ozarks: The Rediscovered Writings (Laura Ingalls Wilder Family Series) edited by Stephen W Hines ~ Currently Reading

11. The Revolutionary Paul Revere by Joel Miller ~ DONE
12. Little House on the Prairie (Little House, No 2) by Laura Ingalls Wilder ~ Currently Reading
13.Masterpiece by Elise Broach
14. Living Dead in Dallas  by Charlaine Harris ~ DONE

15. My Thirteenth Season by Kristi Roberts ~ DONE
16. Three Good Deeds by Vivian Vande Velde ~ DONE

Are you participating?  Do you want to? Just click on the button above! It's a lot of fun and I find myself reading more and more during these challenges. You can join at any time too so don't let the dates hold you back. If you don't have your own blog it shouldn't deter you from participating...leave your list here in my comments! I'd love to see what you are reading.

Biggest Loser FINAL

We had our final weigh in (or should I say weight out) last Tuesday and I have good news!  During the 10 workouts up at the church along with my own workouts and eating better I have lost 7 pounds!  Now I also started taking better care of myself two weeks prior after going to the doctor.  Since I knew how much I weighed there I decided that I would head on back over there to find out my total.  It's.....check this out......just five weeks work.....12 pounds!  I'm just so excited!  I'm keeping it up too.  I can't wait to see where this takes me.

Wordful Wednesday & Wordless Wednesday - Socks

I can't wait to knit some more socks!  They are just sooooo comfy!

Happiness Project - Zoo

What makes me happy?  Taking my son to the zoo!  This is on our list of things we really want to do this summer.  This picture was taken last summer.

Check out more Happiness Project photos by clicking the button below.

Quench your thirst without compromise. Get the FREE samples.

I've just signed up to get this great free sample and thought I would share it with you.  I'll try (and I do say try) to share more of these with you as I stumble across them.

Taste for yourself how easy it is to turn good 'ole water into a naturally sweetened, low-calorie drink with FREE samples of Crystal light Pure Fitness flavor packets, exclusively from Vocalpoint. www.vocalpoint.com/purefitness

Unconscious Mutterings

It's that time of the week. Head on over to see more Unconscious Mutterings!

1. Cream :: Ice Cream
2. Be with you :: Always
3. Pancakes :: YUM!
4. Believe :: in
5. 45 :: 46
6. Eat :: your veggies
7. Background :: music
8. Pane :: Window Pane
9. Aim :: Shoot
10. Collapse :: Fall

Camera Critters - Starfish

I've decided to participate in Camera Critters this week.  Its a meme which is all about photos of animals/critters.  I take a lot of those!  The starfish below was at the Fort Worth Zoo.  We took my parents there last summer and had a great time.  This little guy was crawling along the glass but had just started to fall over.  Loved watching them!  Remember that if you'd like to see the picture bigger just click on it!  If you'd like to participate just click on the icon above!  Make sure to come back soon as I'll be posting some awesome giveaways this coming week!  You don't want to miss these!

Biggest Loser Update

Last night we had a great workout!  We technically have 2 more workouts to go but only 1 more before we weigh out.  I have to admit that I am starting to wonder if I've lost any at all.  I know I've lost some because of how some of my clothes are fitting loser.  But there are times I wonder if it's all in my head.  If anything I know that I'm doing more than I have ever done as far!  I'm exercising at the very least an hour every day, eating right and drinking very little if any caffeine and I am drinking TONS of water!  That last one was easier than I thought.

Thursday 13 ~ Summer

Joining in with Thursday 13 this week.  This time I thought I would list 13 things I would like to do or will do this summer.

1. Go to Hawaiian Falls and enjoy the sun and water.  Yes, I'll wear protection.  Always do.
2. Read!  I would like to read a ton of books this summer!
3. Take care of our flower garden up front.  I can't wait until they all start blooming!
4. Take care of our veggie garden.  Well it's not quite a garden as it's a container garden.  
5. REST!
6. I'm in the chorus of "My Fair Lady" so that will be taking up some time this summer...and it is always a lot of fun to do!
7. Spending time with the family doing day trips.  We always have so much fun doing these.
8. Go to the library weekly.
9. Organize the garage further.
10. Go to some more baseball games.
11. Go to the zoo.
12. Knit.
13. Craft in general!

Share with me what  you're going to do or would like to do this summer!

Wordless Wednesday - Frog in the Lilly Pond

Happiness Project - Flowers

Flowers in the garden make me happy.  These are last years flowers and I can't wait to see them again this year.  It will be soon!  Check out more happiness photos by clicking the button below.  Let me know what makes you happy?

Pending Surgery

Don't have much to post today but wanted to share with you some news about Sam.  Sam will be having surgery this summer.  We don't have a date yet but we have seen the doctor, a surgeon and he had an ultra sound today.  Seeing that all written down makes it seem really bad but it really isn't.  Sam has undescended testes.  The ultrasound today put our minds at ease.  During his last doctors appointment with the surgeon he could barely feel one of them and thought that he might not even have a second.  We are relieved to report that he does have two!  I think Sam was happy about it too.  He asked me the other day if he only had one would he get a fake one for the other.  Gotta love kids!  Sam may be embarrassed that I am posting this here but if you were sitting right here with him he'd tell you.  So I don't feel too bad about writing it down.  As we know more I'll post more.

To All The Golf Balls In My Life

My mom forwarded this to me today.  I've seen it before and I thought that I would share it with all of you today.  Have a great week!

The Mayonnaise  Jar 

When  things in your life seem almost too much to handle, 

When 24  hours in a day is not enough;

remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of  coffee.

A professor stood  before his philosophy  class

and  had some items in front of him. 

When the class began, wordlessly,  

he  picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar

and start to fill it with  golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.  

The professor then picked up a box of  pebbles and  poured

it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. 

He then asked the students again 

if the jar was full. They agreed it was. 

The professor next  picked up a box of sand

and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else 

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded

With an unanimous  'yes.' 

The professor then produced  two cups of coffee from under the  table

and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively

filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed. 

'Now,' said the  professor, as the laughter subsided,

'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.  

The  golf balls are the important things - Family,

children, health, friends, and favorite passions 

Things  that if everything else was lost

and  only they remained, your life would still be full.

The  pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. 

The  sand is everything else -- 

The small stuff. 

'If you put the sand into the jar  first,' he continued,

'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf  balls.

The same goes for life.  

If you spend all your time and energy  on the small stuff,

You will never have room for the things that  are

important to you.  

So...  

Pay attention  to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children. 

Take time to get medical checkups. 

Take your partner out to dinner. 

There will always be time

to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --  

The things that really  matter. 

Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand  

and inquired what the coffee represented. 

The  professor smiled.  

'I'm glad you asked'.  

It just goes to show you that  no  matter how full your life may seem,

there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend..'

Please share this with other "Golf Balls"   

I  just did......

PhotoHunter - Half

First off...don't know what was up this week with Blogger and my blog but for some reason it took until today to get my posts from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to show up.

Now on to PhotoHunt!  This week's theme is:  Half.  Okay...what can I do with that?  I have looked and looked and looked through my photo archives and only came up with one picture.  It's not even a good one at that.  But it is half.  Awhile back Sam was looking at the moon through the telescope.  It was half of a moon and he wanted to know if I could take a picture of it through the telescope.  We found out that I don't really have the right equipment for that but this is what we ended up with.  Here is the moon through the telescope.

Winner - Celia's Puppies

The winner of a copy of Celia's Puppies: The Denver Cereal Vol 2 is Jenna!  She will have 48 hours to get her information to me.  If not I'll choose another winner.

Biggest Loser Update

Biggest Loser update...I've been doing this challenge for a week and a half now and I am really loving working out!  I love that since I've started with this challenge that not only am I losing weight but I have more energy, I'm finally sleeping better, I actually want to workout and the pain from working out  goes away much quicker than it did in the beginning.  Our church is also offering a yoga class on Monday nights (for FREE) and I am hoping to go to some of those too.  On the days that I don't have the Biggest Loser workouts I'm at least walking.  I've found some workout shows on TV that I'm recording and doing here at home.  Oh...and I've actually started running at the end of my walks.  I'm so happy that I decided to do this.

Wordful Wednesday & Wordless Wednesday - Fountain

This is a fountain at the Botanical Gardens in Ft Worth, TX.  It's so peaceful there and looking back at this picture makes me feel that way all over again.  Of course my friend, Rachel, and I took all of our boys out there with us so it may not have been as peaceful as we would have liked it to be but at least we all had fun that day.

Happiness Project - Books

For this weeks Happiness Project I have chosen BOOKS!  Books make me very happy.  I love to curl up with a good book.  I've read 5 of these books and hope to read the others this summer.  What makes you happy?  I'd love to know!  To see more about "The Happiness Project" just click on the icon above.

Spring Reading Thing 2010 - Update

It's been 7 weeks since the Spring Reading Thing of 2010 started and I have to admit that since I last posted an update (2 weeks ago) I haven't done as much reading as I wish I had.  Below you'll see my list updated.


1. Donut Days by Lara Zielin ~ DONE
2. E Is for Ethics by Ian James Corlett ~ DONE
3. Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently
 by John C Maxwell ~ DONE
4. The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman ~ DONE
5. Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff ~ DONE
6. Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursla Vernon - DONE 
7. Remember Me?: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella - DONE
8. Celia's Puppies: The Denver Cereal Vol 2 ~ DONE and there is a current GIVEAWAY going on!
9. Spiced: A Pastry Chef's True Stories of Trails by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and What Really Goes on in the Kitchen by Dalia Jurgensen - Currently Reading (review and giveaway coming up!)
10. Little House in the Ozarks: The Rediscovered Writings (Laura Ingalls Wilder Family Series) edited by Stephen W Hines ~ Currently Reading
11. The Revolutionary Paul Revere by Joel Miller ~ DONE
12. Little House on the Prairie (Little House, No 2) by Laura Ingalls Wilder ~ Currently Reading
13.Masterpiece by Elise Broach
14. Living Dead in Dallas  by Charlaine Harris ~ DONE

I took some books off of the list so now my list is shorter but I did pick up some books at the library today.  I just don't have them nearby so I'll add them later.  The end of this reading challenge is June 20th and I'm really enjoying the challenge.  I usually read more during these reading challenges than any other time of the year.  I'd like to see that change though to where I read like this year round.

Are you participating?  Do you want to? Just click on the button above! It's a lot of fun and I find myself reading more and more during these challenges. You can join at any time too so don't let the dates hold you back. If you don't have your own blog it shouldn't deter you from participating...leave your list here in my comments! I'd love to see what you are reading.

It's Either Her or Me - WINNER

The winner of a copy of "It's Either Her or Me" is Rachel of The Science of Music.  She will have 48 hours to get her information to me.  If not I'll choose another winner.

PhotoHunter - Mother

This weeks theme over at PhotoHunter is - Mother/Mom. I know that it hasn't been that long since I've posted this picture on my blog but it was the first one that came to mind once I saw the theme. This was the very fist time I held my son Sam. He was 3 months old at the time we met and I knew at that moment that I was a mother.  I love you Sam!  I'm so happy that I'm your mom.  I couldn't have asked for more in a son.

Game

RANGERS WON!  


What a game we watched tonight.  I'm afraid for the time when we go to one of their games and they lose.  You see every time we have gone they have won.  Which for us has been just fantastic.  But Sam has yet to go and see them lose.  Oh and the fireworks were beautiful!  Love going to the game on Firework Fridays!  Tickets are only $10 and parking is $5.  What a steal.  Now it's late and I'm going to bed.  

Biggest Loser Update

Andy and I made it through our weigh-in and our very first hour long workout.  There are 80 contestants and we are divided into 3 teams.  Our workout included walking/running/jogging 1 mile, sprints, stair work, jogging backwards, weight work with our arms including squats, push-ups, sit-ups/crunches and of course there was our warm-up and cool down.  Yesterday morning I woke up feeling really great.  I went to tap class which was an hour long and a really good workout in itself.  Last night I took Sam on my walk and our route is 1.5 miles.  Once I got the the last half mile I decided that I would jog some.  I did a VERY SLOW job but I ended up jogging the whole last half mile!  Let me tell you...I can feel it today!  We go again to the Biggest Loser workout tonight and Andy and I plan to do our walk tomorrow morning as we are going to the Rangers game tomorrow night.  Not only is it a game but since it is Friday night it is Fireworks!  I did some shopping today so that we don't purchase a whole lot of "crap" to eat.  We're trying to do this right in every area of our lives.  

The Revolutionary Paul Revere - Book Review

Product Description
"Quick in the saddle and fast out of town." Watch one of America's most remarkable heroes come alive through fast-paced prose and gripping storytelling.

The Revolutionary Paul Revere starts at a gallop and never slows down. Follow Revere's adventure-filled life from childhood through the French and Indian War; from the prerevolutionary economic disasters through the incendiary tax fights and riots; from military occupation of Boston through Revere's part in the Boston Massacre trial; from his role in the Boston Tea Party through his early service as express rider for the Massachusetts patriots; from the tragic death of his first wife through the whimsical pursuit of a new love; from his role as waterfront spy through his famous midnight ride; from his participation in the worst American naval disaster before Pearl Harbor through his eventual vindication.

Learn about Revere's life in the Freemasons and the secret political clubs of Boston. Discover his role in Massachusetts' ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Get the inside picture of his business dealings, and see how he transformed himself from poor artisan to wealthy industrialist, making everything from kettles to cannons. Revere's life story is the quintessential American story.

My Review

The book is a quick and easy read that follows the life of Paul Revere from the immigration of his father, Apollos, in 1716 to Revere’s death in 1818. Miller highlights every day events in Revere’s life that propelled him into the limelight. For example, his work as a goldsmith granted him access to key people in his community which led to his joining the influential brotherhood ~ the masons.

I don't always enjoy reading biographies because usually they are fact filled and boring. Sorry but that's how I feel. I was surprised when I read this book because it was more like a novel than a biography! It was refreshing and informative to read and kept my interest to where I didn't want to put it down. The book has 22 relatively short chapters, each with a one word title followed by a heading that briefly summarizes the chapter’s emphasis.

I was very much surprised with the captivating story of Paul Revere.  From humble beginnings, he worked hard to improve his standings and eventually attained recognition and success. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a gripping account of life in colonial Boston.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Purchase the book

Wordful Wednesday & Wordless Wednesday - Ladies

These ladies are from my Sunday School class.  We were up at the hospital visiting our friend Wendy.  This was December 2008 if I remember correctly. She was up there going through chemo.  In fact she is still going through chemo.  I love these ladies with all of my heart!  This was also the night that we decided to start our monthly ladies night out and to meet at each others houses to share food, fellowship and play BUNKO.  

If you would like to see more Wordless photos head on over to Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom, Live and Love...Out Loud, and J. Leigh Designz. Now if you're like me and sometimes you can't stay wordless head on over to see some Wordful Wednesday photos at Seven Clown Circus.


Also...take a moment to enter the two book giveaways that I have going on.  One of them ends tomorrow!  You can find them both linked here:  CURRENT GIVEAWAYS.  And if you love entering contests check out Gorton's giveaway!

Gorton's Mother's Day Fish Taco Fiesta!

Soon I will be hosting a giveaway here on my blog in partnership with Gorton's but before I get to do that I would like to introduce you to a contest that they are having. Read all about it below:

Mother’s Day Fish Taco Fiesta

At Gorton’s we are celebrating two holidays - Cinco de Mayo & Mother’s Day – with one great promotion!

Enter to win! Every day between May 3rd and May 10th, we are giving away a daily Gorton’s Fish Taco Night Pack including 4 Taco Topping Bowls and a FREE Gorton’s Product.

2 Great Grand Prizes!

Fiesta Prize! On May 5, we’ll draw one winner for a Fiestaware dishes for four ($100 Value)

Siesta Prize! On May 10, we’ll draw a Restful, Relaxing Spa gift Certificate ($100 Value)

Just click the below button to enter!  GOOD LUCK!