Addicted

It is official I am addicted to blogs and blogging. I love reading about other people's lives and also sharing my life with others. I can learn about people and their lives, as well as, share mine. It is an addiction, though harmless, that keeps me consumed with the computer.

I have discovered blogs on adoption, feminism, depressed moms, saving money, new beginnings, and every kind of religious and political blog you could imagine. I am so taken with the honesty of some people and the hidden agenda of others.

It is a bit like Alice in the Looking Glass. However, how honest are blogs. What is going on under the surface -- the inside that only you and God know -- that is not revealed.

I will never know many of the people in the blogs I read. What I do know is their lives help me live a little better.

Easy Egg Decorating

Use rubber bands to decorate Easter eggs. After hard-boiling the eggs, wrap rubber bands around them in any pattern, then dip in a container of dye. When the eggs dry, remove the bands. For additional colors, rewrap and repeat.

Thought of the Day - 4/11/09

Introspection can create a great deal of strength.

Thought of the Day - 4/10/09

The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.
~~ Denis Waitley ~~

Thought of the Day - 4/9/09

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold.

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
I wonder where my sorrows could be!
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
My child, they're all here with me.

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thursday Thirteen #11

All moms are busy moms, some busier than others, but we are all busy. How we find the time to blog always amazes me. But blog we must!

Why do we moms blog? There are hundreds of reasons, but here is a brief list:

1. We blog because we want family and friends around the world to get a snapshot of our daily lives.


2. We blog because we have stories to share.


3. We blog because we have pictures to show that we don't want to keep to ourselves.


4. We blog about extraordinary achievements, such as walking when we're told he may never walk or getting 100 points in Accelerated Reading in second grade when its usually not achieved until 3rd or 4th grade.


5. We blog about ordinary moments just to celebrate the importance of everyday life.


6. We blog because we have something to say or sometimes because we just need to vent.


7. We blog because we know our families are unique and because at the same time we need to know that we're not the only family in the world whose sweet children are sometimes disgusting or out of control.


8. We blog because we need advice.


9. We blog because we've found a way to do something that makes our lives easier and want to pass it on.


10. We blog because messy houses and wrinkled clothes are real and in this great crazy world, it's good to know we're all in this together, and that no matter what we do or say or feel, we can find reassurance that the kids will be okay as long as they are loved.


11. We blog to remember the good and to forget the bad.


12. We blog to feel connected. We want to prove that we, as mothers, all share the frustrations and upheavals, as well as the joys and delights of being a mother.


13. We blog because we know that we can learn from each other, and because any community -- even an Internet one -- is a positive thing.

To join the trend of Thursday Thirteen meme, go to Thursday Thirteen.

Works for Me Wednesday #15

Folding king size sheets is hard when you are only 5'1" tall and have troubles with your hands and shoulders, so I've been on a search for a simple, easy way to fold fitted sheets.

I found the answer. See the video below.




Join us as many share their tips and ideas at We Are THAT Family.

Be a Bread Artist

Decorate a slice of virtual bread for The Bread Art Project and $1 will be donated to food banks.

Check out my Art in the Toasting and get some serious facts about the food banks and the hungry in America.

Your participation in the Bread Art Project will help families in need. For every approved submission, the Grain Foods Foundation will donate $1 to Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S. That $1 will go much further than you'd think. In fact, Feeding America turns every dollar received into 10 pounds of grocery products for deserving men, women, and children. Since food banks are experiencing a 30% increase in demand since this time last year, there's never been a better time to support this important cause. With your help, we're on our way to providing 1 million pounds of groceries to hungry Americans.

Thought of the Day - 4/8/09

I Asked God

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said no. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said no. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said no. Patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted; it is learned.

I asked God to grant me happiness.
God said no. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said no. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said no. You must grow on your own. But, I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said no. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.
God said, Ahhh... finally you have the idea.

Thought of the Day - 4/7/09

The Christian principles of acceptance, charity, and helping those in need should not be revoked at the very moment that someone needs them most.

On Behalf of the Planet, We Thank You

Earth Hour 2009 was an amazing success.

Lights went out in 4,085 cities in 88 countries in what is being described as the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change in history.

Check out this amazing view of the world going dark at:
www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/earth_hour_2009.html

Thought of the Day - 4/6/09

Poverty cannot deprive us of many consolations. It cannot rob us of the affection we have for each other, or degrade us in our own opinion, of in that of any person, whose opinion we ought to value.
~~ Ann Radcliffe ~~

Make Me Laugh Monday - Blog vs. Food

Join me in the fun and giggles of making Mondays a better day by sharing some laughs. Add your link to your Make Me Laugh Monday post to Mr. Linky below. (All links not leading directly to your post will be deleted. All posts should be funny in some way. Yes, this is up to interpretation. Ideas include riddles, comic strips, jokes, silly graphics, funny lyrics, etc.)

Create Your Own 1001 Day Project

The Mission
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria
Tasks must be specific (i.e., no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e., represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past. The most common list-making is the simple goals of a New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Goal Setting Tips

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Unconscious Mutterings #5

Nina says, and I think . . .

Log :: fire, fireplace.
Plaything :: toys, kids, get organized, too much stuff.
Broom :: sweep, mop floor.
Heels :: No reason to wear them anymore. I don't go anywhere but doctor appointments.
Smoke in :: smoke out, no more smoking, I quit. I still crave a cigarette most days.
Guests :: I love company. Come visit me soon.
Attraction :: I believe in love at first sight. Most people don't know the difference between love and lust.
Shiny :: Bright Christmas ornaments.
Risked :: I used to love the strategy game of Risk. I haven't played it since my divorce eleven years ago.
Velvet :: Smooth, soft, luxurious.

Go see the mutterings and thoughts of others by going to Subliminal.

Thought of the Day - 4/5/09

The true and lasting source of our happiness comes from the joy that fills our hearts and overflows into the paths of those around us.