Pockets of Time

Blizzard

2009-12-09T15:01:00.007-06:00

A snowstorm dumped over a foot of snow last night, with a few more inches on the way. We awoke to a snowy deck, with the white stuff covering our chairs, table, and grill.
Our backyard bushes looked like works of art shaped into hands.
After finishing some of their schoolwork, the boys bundled up and headed outdoors to shake the snow off the bushes.
They had a fun time getting the bushes to look green again.
Our bushes have grown a lot since we got them several years ago. We plowed our driveway once and are waiting for the street plow to come through before turning on the snow blower again. Good thing our neighbor had some extra gas, to fuel our snow blower for the storm ahead.

Usborne Books eShow

2009-12-03T20:53:00.001-06:00

You are invited to an Usborne Books eShow to explore the world of Usborne Books. A child's interest in reading and learning is stimulated by the lavish illustrations and informative content. There are over 1300 bright, colorful and fun titles covering activities, puzzles and a wide range of subjects for children of all ages.

Usborne Books - the books kids love to read!

Hosted by: Lisa
Place: www.ubah.com/HOS164772
When: Today thru 12/12/2009 11:59:00 PM

Everyone is welcome, so invite a friend to shop online this holiday season.

It's a rewarding experience when a child opens a book and discovers the magic of reading.

Tackle It Tuesday - Christmas Photo Edited

2009-11-16T20:39:00.005-06:00

After sending our original family Christmas photo to Tracy to edit, we received the edited version from her (you can view it here or on my family blog). We had a choice of red or blue background for the Christmas card and chose red (view it here).

Are you doing a photo Christmas card this year?

For more Tackle It Tuesdays, please visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Word-filled Wednesday - Fathers

2009-11-10T16:59:00.010-06:00

Children’s children are the crown of old men;

and the glory of children are their fathers.

~ Proverbs 17:6

I thought of this verse, as my father’s birthday is today. This photo was taken a couple Christmases ago. Happy Birthday, Dad!

To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Lori at www.allyouhavetogive.com.

Same Kind of Different as Me

2009-11-08T21:33:00.003-06:00

I finished reading the amazing true story of a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together. Same Kind of Different as Me is a heartwarming tale of two men, one rich and another poor, and how their lives intertwine because of a woman called by God to serve in a homeless mission. The story is well-written, humorous, touching, and inspiring. The two men alternate telling their tales, a chapter or two at a time.

We meet a dirt-poor sharecropper named Denver who worked the land by picking cotton for ‘the Man’ but earned no money. In his 20s, Denver hopped a train which led him to Fort Worth, Texas, where he lived on the streets, a step up from where he began.

We also meet Ron, an international art dealer with humble beginnings, married to Deborah, a woman who would lead him to a homeless shelter and encourage him to befriend a homeless man she saw in her dream.

Through its language and imagery, Same Kind of Different as Me has the flavor of To Kill a Mockingbird. This book explores the themes of true friendship, being different, suffering, and homelessness. In fishing terms, some people practice “catch and release.” This term can be applied to friendship as well. While some friendships are “catch and release,” others are forever. This book is a story of faith, courage, fear, and forgiveness.

Deborah was an incredible woman of faith, from the way she handled her husband’s infidelity to her treatment of the homeless. What was Deborah afraid of? Not the homeless, but that she’d miss her calling in life. Are you afraid of missing your calling, of wasting your life? How can we combat this fear, which can keep us from fulfilling our purpose in life? Are we willing to take that risk to reach out to others, to make a difference in their lives, to show them the way of eternal life?

This book had me in tears, as the two men finally meet and as Deborah faced the biggest challenge of her life—cancer. The cancer was not only a physical battle, but a spiritual journey for Deborah and those who prayed for her day and night.

Deborah’s legacy lives on in the lives of those she touched—her family, friends, and the homeless she befriended and served so faithfully. Can we care about people the way Deborah did?

I’m looking forward to reading more of Ron and Denver’s story in their follow-up book, What Difference Do It Make? Let’s make a difference in our world today.

Show & Tell - Lego Tank

2009-11-05T20:58:00.009-06:00

For this week's Show & Tell, I'm displaying a Lego tank built by our 12-year-old son. He fashioned the Lego tank after the M109A6 Paladins he read about in a library book. The tank contains two guns: a machine gunner on top and a huge howitzer cannon at the front.
Inside the tank is the cockpit, with the gunner sitting in the back. The mini-figure on the right controls the radar, while the figure on the left fires the cannon.
Below deck, these two mini-figures load the howitzer cannon. Also below deck, two large gray engines power the tank.

For more Show & Tell, please visit Cindy at My Romantic Home.

Word-filled Wednesday - Mother & Son

2009-11-03T22:00:00.004-06:00

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature—only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos & a Bible verse!

For I was my father's son,

tender and only beloved

in the sight of my mother.

~ Proverbs 4:3

Our 9-year-old son gave me this Lego mini-figure and said it was Mom. I love the words in this verse, how a son is tender and beloved in the sight of his mother. Mine truly are! To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Penny's blog.

Tackle It Tuesday - Family Christmas Photo

2009-11-02T20:37:00.003-06:00

After church on Sunday, we attempted our annual family Christmas photo. We took several shots using our tripod and camera timer, and found one to send to Tracy to edit for a holiday card. I had won a giveaway on Tracy’s blog where I can have this service performed free. We decided on the photo where we looked the happiest, rather than a traditional one as in years past. To see pictures from our self-photo shoot, please visit my family blog.

I’m also writing at Heart of the Matter today about Life Science coming to life.

What are you tackling today?

For more Tackle It Tuesdays, please visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Word-filled Wednesday - Tower

2009-10-27T22:35:00.004-05:00

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature—only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos & a Bible verse!

And they said,

Go to, let us build us a city and a tower,

whose top may reach unto heaven;

and let us make us a name,

lest we be scattered abroad

upon the face of the whole earth.

~ Genesis 11:4

This past Sunday, our 9-year-old son built this tower out of Lincoln Logs at my parents' home. He asked me to take pictures and include a verse for Word-filled Wednesday on the tower of Babel. To see more weekend pictures, please visit my family blog. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Susan here.

Word-filled Wednesday - Cakes

2009-10-20T14:36:00.004-05:00

And the people went about,

and gathered it, and ground it in mills,

or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans,

and made cakes of it: and the taste of it

was as the taste of fresh oil.

~ Numbers 11:8

A friend made this beautiful chocolate cake for another friend's birthday a couple weeks ago. When looking for a verse on cake, I was surprised to find so many to choose from. More birthday party photos can be seen in previous posts and on my family blog.

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature—only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos & a Bible verse!

To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Christy at Critty Joy.

Word-filled Wednesday - Laughter

2009-10-13T19:38:00.004-05:00

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature—only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos & a Bible verse!

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with singing:

then said they among the heathen,

The LORD hath done great things for them.

~ Psalm 126:2

We enjoyed laughter and singing at our dear friend's birthday party last Friday. To view more party pictures, please visit my previous post. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Lori at www.allyouhavetogive.com.

Surprise Party

2009-10-10T19:19:00.008-05:00

Our good friend Tricia celebrated a milestone birthday yesterday with 50 family members and close friends. Her husband Kevin surprised her by planning this party behind her back. While Kevin whisked Tricia away for an hour, guests arrived at their home with a lasagna dinner from the Olive Garden, an amazing homemade cake, and wood for the bonfire. Several children helped blow up balloons and decorate the house for the happy occasion. When Kevin and Trish arrived at home, she chatted with her parents for a bit before realizing a crowd awaited her in the living room. She was very surprised!
Our friend Lynnette made a stunning chocolate cake, complete with truffles and lace frosting on top. Friends came from far and near to celebrate with Tricia and her family.
She received lots of fun cards and gifts, making light of the inevitable process of aging.
Now she's caught up with me as we head into a new decade together.

Happy Birthday, Trish!

Word-filled Wednesday - Friends

2009-10-07T08:47:00.006-05:00

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature—only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos & a Bible verse!

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:

and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

~ Proverbs 18:24

We enjoyed a ladies night out yesterday to celebrate our friend Tricia's birthday. God has blessed us with a great group of friends! To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Penny at PennyRaine.com.

Caramel French Toast

2009-09-27T09:26:00.002-05:00

I first tried this delicious caramel French toast at a baby shower and asked my friend April for the recipe. She's allowed me to share it with you. The French toast is wonderful warm from the oven and later reheated as leftovers.

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
12 slices bread
1 1/2 cups milk
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
nutmeg

In saucepan, bring butter, brown sugar and corn syrup to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened. Pour caramel mixture into greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Place six slices of bread over caramel mix; top with remaining bread (for a double layer of bread).

In a large bowl combine milk, eggs, vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Pour over bread. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Uncover and bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes until knife comes out clean. Enjoy!

Tackle It Tuesday - Usborne Show

2009-09-22T21:31:00.006-05:00

I hosted an Usborne Books show last Thursday and tackled cleaning the house and setting up for the show beforehand. We used the available table space to display Usborne's learning palette and wrap-ups in addition to their wonderful books and kits.

Our 9-year-old son set up the books on our coffee table. We enjoyed having friends over for a book party. There's still time to shop online or book a show. I try to host one "demonstration" party a year and look forward to attending more shows booked from mine.

What are you tackling today?

For more Tackle It Tuesdays, please visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Word-filled Wednesday - Children

2009-09-15T21:50:00.004-05:00

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
~ Psalm 127:3

Attending a baby shower this past Saturday, this verse came to mind. Children truly are a blessing from the Lord.

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature—only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos & a Bible verse!

To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Critty Joy.

Word-filled Wednesday - Free

2009-09-08T22:14:00.003-05:00

If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed.
~ John 8:36

While visiting the zoo this past weekend, we spotted a white peacock walking freely in the park next to the zoo. Apparently some animals escaped the zoo a week before, with a monkey still missing. This peacock seemed to enjoy its freedom, which made me think of the above verse. To see more zoo photos, please visit my family blog. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit All You Have To Give.

Tackle It Tuesday - Supply Drawer

2009-09-07T15:17:00.008-05:00

While our 12-year-old worked on his math paper last week, I decided to tackle my school supply drawer while I waited. The above photo shows an "in progress" picture of the plastic drawer. I'm not sure how I accumulated 100 balloons and 1000 rubber bands or why.
Above is another "in progress" picture of the stuff I emptied out of the drawer and placed on our dining room table. After finding pencils, glue sticks, and tons of tape, I realized I didn't need to buy any more school supplies this year.
After emptying out the drawer, I wiped it down to get the dead bugs out.
Afterward, I placed all the supplies back in the drawer in an organized fashion so that I can find things when I need them. What are you tackling today? For more Tackle It Tuesdays, please visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tackle It Tuesday - Usborne Party!

2009-08-29T17:37:00.007-05:00

It’s been a couple years since I hosted an Usborne Books show in my home, so when a new friend told me I could earn $110 of free books for hosting a $350 show in September, I jumped at the chance. Our boys have loved Usborne Books since we discovered them a few years ago. The colorful illustrations and interesting content draw them in. Since we started school on August 17^th, they’ve been reading our Usborne Books voraciously and looking for more.

So I booked a show for September 17^th and also have an eShow going at the same time. The eShow is nice for out-of-town guests who can shop online and have the books delivered to their door. The home show is great for perusing the books and then deciding what your kids will love.

So far I have advertised the show via Facebook, our homeschool group’s classifieds, and email. I also made an invite list and a wish list from the newest catalog. I’ll be deciding on food for the special event and then sending reminders out as the party draws nearer.

What are you tackling today?

For more Tackle It Tuesdays, please visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Word-filled Wednesday - Wind

2009-08-25T22:16:00.006-05:00

He sendeth out his word,

and melteth them:

he causeth his wind to blow,

and the waters flow.

~ Psalm 147:18

We found this field of wind mills fascinating on our way to camp this August and thought of this interesting verse on wind. To see more camping photos, please visit my family blog. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Susan at Forever His.

The Pob

2009-08-20T17:08:00.006-05:00

In my second visit to the salon this year, I decided to get a pob or assymetrical bob. Though I've had this cut before, I decided to go shorter in the back that I normally do.
My hairdresser has been styling lots of pobs these days and says it's her favorite cut. I think it's become my favorite too.
Here's a couple more pictures from day 2. It never looks the same as when you walk out of the salon, but I think I look more like "mom" now.
I'm also writing about "The Perfectionist" at Heart of the Matter today. Please visit me there!

Word-filled Wednesday - City

2009-08-18T21:32:00.006-05:00

And the city had no need of the sun,

neither of the moon, to shine in it:

for the glory of God did lighten it,

and the Lamb is the light thereof.

~ Revelation 21:23

In our visit to Chicago a couple weeks ago, we had this breath-taking view of the city from our hotel window. Later I read this verse in Revelation and realized how amazing it will be to see the city where the Lamb is the light. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Critty Joy.

Word-filled Wednesday - Iron

2009-08-11T11:19:00.005-05:00

Iron sharpeneth iron;
so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
~ Proverbs 27:17

On Saturday we gathered with friends for a cookout and games. It's a blessing to have Christian friends who can sharpen one another spiritually, as iron sharpens iron. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit Lori at All You Have to Give.

Word-filled Wednesday - Heavens

2009-08-04T22:32:00.004-05:00

The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
~ Psalm 19:1

The view from the Skydeck of the Willis (Sears) Tower can inspire awe. How much more do the heavens declare the glory of God.

To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit pennyraine.com.

Word-filled Wednesday - Tower

2009-07-28T22:43:00.005-05:00

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower,

whose top may reach unto heaven;

and let us make us a name,

lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower,

which the children of men builded.

~ Genesis 11:4-5

Since the beginning of time, people have attempted to build a tower whose top would reach to the heavens. While viewing the Willis (Sears) Tower this past Saturday, these thoughts came to mind.

To see more Chicago pictures, please visit my previous post or my family blog. To find more Word-filled Wednesdays, please visit The 160 Acre Woods.