Mom's Not Missing From This Picture! 1/52

Oh, this is a fun carnival that I found over at LeAnn's blog.

Forever in Blue Jeans hosts a weekly carnival where YOU and ME, aka Mom, post photos of our family where we are actually in the photo. I don't have many of me, but I just had to join in and find a couple. I am ALWAYS taking the photos. Well, what mom isn't right? I love it when I find one where I am actually in AND like. So do my kids! I know that I love to look back on old photos of my mom. I don't care what she is wearing or even notice anything but how she was loving on us. I am sure my kids want the same memories.

I'm not sure I can commit to doing this each week but it is a fun carnival to join in once in awhile and also a great reminder to get out from behind the camera and in the photo more often!

Okay, so here is my first photo with me in it. This is my favorite picture from last year with me and the kids other than the professional ones we had taken at Christmas. Hubby took it at the beach last Summer. I actually had it made into a black and white and have it framed in our living room. It is the only picture of myself that I like from the entire week long trip and I took over 300 photos. Is it just me or are we hard on ourselves?

I've Got That Friday Feeling

I just love Fridays. I love that sense of relief that comes with knowing that there is no bus to catch the next morning and no expectation to be anywhere before 9 am. For us anyway. At this season in our life we are not involved in any sports that require us to be out and about on Saturday morn.

Fridays actually end up being one of our busier days of the week. My daughter has 2 dance classes each Friday and we usually have something going on that night. If we don't we try to have a family movie night. That is one of the kids favorite things to do. Any great family movie recommendations?

I just love the feeling of Friday, though. That end of the week feeling. The weekend is here feeling. The pancakes and cartoons in the morning feeling. Love it.

This week was odd for me. I felt a little overwhelmed but really didn't have more to do than any other week. The added family member has definitely increased my stress level around the house. He's just a little puppy. How can they be so much work?

Anyway, it looks like the weekend is not too crazy. Since it is warming up a bit, I think we will most likely clean up the garage and finally paint B's room. Hopefully. I think I might have to get a certain husband on board, though. I am not sure those things were in his weekend plans until now.

So, Happy Friday! Any big plans for the weekend? How was your week? Why do you love Fridays? Or maybe you don't - do tell.

Gifted To Lead - Book Review

I recently finished and felt very encouraged by this book and wanted to pass it along to other women that might be in a leadership role at her church. It is a practical and inspiring book told from the voice of experience.

For me, Nancy Beach of Willow Creek, does a nice job confirming a call to lead in my church and why being a woman in leadership is unique.

If you lead a bible study, small group, women's ministry or any team at your church this is a must read.

From her book,

No mistake was made in heaven when God gave you the gift of leadership or teaching. Every gift you have—your instincts to lead and your passion to make
a difference— came from the hand of a loving Father who crafted you.

In this practical and inspiring book, Willow Creek Executive vice president and teaching pastor Nancy Beach speaks to women with God-given gifts of leading
and teaching. Sharing from her thirty-year journey in a local church, Nancy offers guidance on such issues as:

• Developing character
• Earning respect
• Finding your voice for leadership and teaching
• Managing work and personal life
• Forming an intentional support network

She also challenges church leaders to wrestle with the issue of women in leadership, and to be advocates for women as they seek to reach their full ministry potential.

Nancy desires that women will fully engage in the
dangerous and thrilling adventure of using their leadership
gifts to advance the kingdom of God. The path
won’t be easy . . . but God will never leave you alone.

What I Learned This Week - Puppy Love

I learned this week or shall I say that I remembered this week that puppies are a lot of work.

Puppies play a lot. Puppies eat a lot. Puppies go potty a lot - in the house.

Puppies sleep a lot.Puppies have scrunchy cute noses, big floppy paws, soft ears and round fat bellies.

I learned that my lap has room for another dog.

But more importantly that my heart has room
for another dog.

Meet Elmo. He is a sweet little boy. Very fun, playful but submissive and sooooo sweet. Oh, I already said sweet didn't I? He is sweet and so so cute.

He is actually part Chihuahua, part Dachshund and part Jack Russell. The dog can jump about a foot off the ground with all four feet. It's pretty funny actually. He is training pretty quickly which is a huge blessing.

We are having some issues adjusting with Buddy. My sweet 10 year old Maltese baby is not loving the new dog. Below is a picture of him hiding in his crate which happens several times a day. Elmo wants to play and pounces on Buddy. Buddy growls and runs away. It's not the friendship I hoped for. Hopefully, in time they will work it out. Buddy did let him lay in my lap with him but I think it was just because he was so tired from being chased all day.
Any new puppy tips? I'll take all ya' got! Especially the ones on how to encourage these little guys to get along.

For more lessons learned this week head on over to Musings of a Housewife.

You are not invisible in your car.

An open newsflash to all people driving.

You are not invisible in your cars.

Specifically to you, a fellow mom who works at my daughter's school sometimes.

I am really sorry that I was not moving fast enough for you this morning. I was in deep conversation with my 8 year old about her displeasure over missing the bus and having to be in carpool at all. I was also trying to consume my first cup of coffee for the morning and probably should not have even been legally driving.

Anyway, you seemed to be in a hurry and I was trying to be nice even though I had the right of way. You apparently were very upset with me. I hope your child had some earphones on or something. Mine got a huge kick out of your hand gestures.

I hope your day is much better. Really, I do. See ya' around school!

*********
Now before you go thinking I don't get upset while driving, let me assure you - I do. I hate that I do, but some days when I am in a hurry and the cars are not driving like I think they should I get upset. But I try to remember something that happened to me a long time ago. It usually fixes my attitude.

When I was in high school, I was driving to school one morning and this lady cut me off. I proceeded to yell something at her and make a not so nice hand gesture. I was a teenager after all.

So, in one of my classes later that day the teacher came up to me and whispered in my ear that she was really sorry about the traffic incident that morning. Apparently, she was the woman that cut me off. Nothing like needing to improve your algebra grade and giving your teacher the bird instead.

So, the lesson - you just never know.

Souper Saturday - Italian Sausage Soup

Very easy recipe today. I'm getting a new puppy in minutes! :)

Italian Sausage Soup w/ Tortellini

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 c chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 c sliced carrots
½ tablespoon basil
½ tsp oregano
5 c beef broth
½ c water
½ c red wine
4 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded & chopped (I used 1 can stewed tomatoes)
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1½ c chopped zucchini
8 oz. tortellini, cooked
3 tablespoons parsley


1. In a Dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove and drain.
2. Sauté onions & garlic in sausage drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce, sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

2. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add tortellini during the last 10 minutes. Sprinkle w/ Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.

Note - I would almost add another can of broth as I don't think the recipe makes enough sauce.

Chic Critique Contributor - yes me!

I'm posting over at Chic Critique today, talking about how to clean your make-up brushes.

It's important stuff, y'all. If you spend a bunch of money on the right tools you want them to last AND it is good for your skin. So, go check it out - there is even a video link.

As a matter of fact, I will be posting there twice a month! Isn't that exciting? Seriously, Jo-Lynne is pretty much my blogging hero and I am honored to be a contributor one of her sites.

Okay, so go Here to check it out.

Finally Friday

Thank Goodness it's Friday. That's all I can say about this week.

Let's see...
Monday I woke up with the most annoying sinus infection. It got worse before it finally got better. This morning was the first that I actually felt like I was not talking inside a tin can.

It just made me very spacey.

Okay, more spacey than usual.

I forgot a scheduled time to be in my daughter's classroom to teach this month's character trait. It was integrity.

So what does it say about my integrity to not be somewhere when I say I'm going to be there? I even confirmed the appointment with the teacher that morning. Yeah, nice.

Then, I forgot to make red playdough for my son's preschool class. Not as big of a deal, but all I could imagine is the kids in his class sitting there with cookie cutters and no red playdough saying,

"Teacher, I would love to make a fire truck - where's the red?"

"Oh, I want to make a heart - no red."

Not. Getting. The Mother of the Year Award. Not this week anyway.

I had lots of meetings and blog work on top of my normal duties of being mommy and wife. All things I really enjoy but it just made for a busy busy week.

Oh, being a wife this week?

Well, let's just say that some days being married is easier than others. This week it was not so easy. I am afraid I did not handle a situation so gracefully yesterday with my husband. I'm not even sure there was a graceful way to handle it.

We are back on track today, but ugh ugh ugh. I hate trouble in paradise.
HATE. IT.
He's my partner, ya know? When we are not good my life just seems to be off kilter.

I know that conflict in marriage happens. Heck, we were on a panel for a pre-marital class earlier in the week to talk about that very thing. After 12 years of marriage we apparently are qualified to talk to engaged couples about how to handle conflict. Well, I can tell you this for sure...I can tell you how not to handle it.

I do love getting to the other side. I love to see the growth and how God blesses a marriage that finds a way to get through the crap that life inevitably brings. It's just not always easy.

So, if you saw my post in the morning yesterday and then saw it was gone a little while later - that's why. I wanted to vent and then remembered to vent it to God instead of you. You've heard that saying, "Go to the throne before the phone?" Well, I need one for going to God before the blog.

Anyway, the weekend is looking good. My sinus infection is almost gone. Hubby and I are back on track. I apologized profusely to each teacher. We get our new puppy tomorrow!!! We have a party tonight and another tomorrow. Aaahhhhhh - love the weekend.

I hope your weekend is beautiful!

Remember Souper Saturday tomorrow. Come back to link up to your favorite soup or casserole.


For more Friday fun hop on over to Aloha Friday at An Island Life. I'm joining in on the fun!

So tell me, Why are you are glad that it's FINALLY FRIDAY?!?

Last Souper Saturday Until Fall

As February comes to a close it marks the end of Winter for some of us North Carolinians. Yes, Carolinian is word. Anyway, I thought it would only be fitting that Souper Saturday took a hiatus until next Fall. Not many people eat soup as it gets warmer. Maybe I'll come up with some kind of salad carnival. Sounds like a good time, eh?

So, this Saturday will be the last Souper Saturday until October!
Get that most favorite soup (or even casserole) recipe out to link up.

This Saturday.
Souper Saturday.
Post your favorite soup or casserole.
Don't miss it.

They May Not Beep But They Sure are Fun

I recently read a press release from Scholastic, Inc. about the toys that kids were asking for during the holidays. Scholastic has a pretty good pulse on what kids want based on what they are buying and reading through book orders and fairs...

Read the complete post that I wrote today - here at Triangle TRACKs.

Signed your friendly TrendTRACKer,

Valentine Fallout - Wordless Wednesday

I think we are all set on chocolates. Not a bad thing.
For more Wordless Wednesday head over to 5 Minutes for Mom.

I Learned This Week that We All CAN Make a Difference

I meant to post this last week but my computer was acting all wonky and I just did not have the patience to deal with it that day. But it still works for this week!

What I learned last week is that we...as in you and me...we CAN make a difference in our communities.


I am pretty much an optimist. I see the glass half-full, give people the benefit of the doubt, see a job where there is no job, money where there doesn't seem to be any coming in, hope in the face of darkness. To me, there is almost always a ray of light to bring someone through a tough time.

I know that not everyone has this hope. I have seen first hand, many people that are beaten down by the experiences in their life. Some even in my own family. As a matter of fact, it is a miracle that I didn't follow that path.

This weekend I saw a community that most likely has a few people in it like that. They simply have lost hope.

People seemingly at the end of their rope and just taking each day to survive.

This community was about 10 miles from my house. The crazy thing is that tucked in between the McMansion subdivisions on the way are a half dozen or so of these communities. My neighbors.

Each month at my church we have what we call Bumper Crop and each month a different set of volunteers handles the job. It is a big job. This month it was my small group.

Okay, so what is a small group? It's just a group of people that come together to do life with one another, study the bible and eat food. Lots of eating. We've been together for a little over 2 years right now and they are a great group of people to be with. Here they are. Don't we look so lovely in those vests?

Anyway, back to the job of Bumper Crop. First of all, let me say - the privilege of Bumper Crop.

First thing we do is collect a little over 1,800 paper bags from our local grocery stores - EACH MONTH.

We attach a flyer telling what Bumper Crop is and then place these bags with the flyer on all of the cars in our parking lots at church for all 4 services.

The flyer asks each person to take that bag home or to the grocery store and fill it with food, paper products, toiletries and essentials. Then bring the food back the following weekend and place it at the bumper of their car, hence the name.

We then collect the food and take it to a different community in need EACH MONTH.

This month we collected over 400 bags of food. Just look at this photo my friend, Chris took. You can check her photo blog out at Dreams Are Free. She takes some great pictures. She took all of these photos actually! Be sure to click over there to read her take on the whole experience.

So, we delivered this food to our neighbors. We worked together with them in a fire line to unload the food into an empty trailer to be distributed later to those that need it. Then we all held hands - neighbors - and prayed together.

Y'all, I am telling you, I had to choke back tears. I'm not telling you this to brag or to show how righteous I am. (I'm not) It's just that I can't really even describe to you what I felt. It was both compassion and love and thankfulness and inspiration all churning inside my heart and soul. I think the tears were the combination of all of this wanting to explode right out of me.

My neighbors. Your neighbors. We each CAN make a difference by giving a little bit of hope and and just Loving One Another.

For more lessons learned this week head over to Musings of a Housewife.

New Dog

Well, I finally caved.

My family started telling me at Christmas time that they wanted another dog. It seems they think our dog, Buddy, is very attached to me and they want a dog that is more playful with them.

This is true. He follows me everywhere. When I sit he gets in my lap. When he wants to play fetch he brings his little rubber soccer ball to me and if one of the kids throws it he will walk away. He just will not engage with them. He is as sweet as he can be and will snuggle with any one of them (if I am not available) but it is true - he is my dog.

I am perfectly happy, settled and in love with my little guy. Seriously - look at this face.

At first they wanted a lab or lab mix. Then my son saw Hotel for Dogs and wanted a Siberian Husky. Can you say shedding? And BIG. Bigger everything! From the crates, beds and food to what happens to the food as it deposited in my yard.

My Buddy is 6 pounds, people! He does not shed one bit and is as soft as a rabbit. His droppings are about the size of a rabbits, too.

I only have to walk him around the block to wear him out. Although, he is not trained at all and runs at full speed the whole time.

You hear me, don't you?

Since we all know who will be taking care of this new dog, right?

But. It happened. I caved because this family of mine? They begged.

Buddy is also almost 11 years old and they say a puppy will often bring new life into an older dog. If it extends his life just one month, it will be worth it to me. Have I mentioned how much I love that dog?

So, anyway we've searched and searched.
After looking at hundreds of pictures of sweet doggy faces we finally decided that a second dog would be a good idea.

Okay, just a side note here: Please spay or neuter your dog if you have not done so. Although, I know all of you have. Holy smokes there are a lot of dogs out there that don't have forever homes. It breaks my heart. Oh, and the puppy mills - don't even get me started. This recent one in NC is enough to rip your heart right out. Sometimes, human beings can just be downright mean. Coming down off my soapbox now.

Anyway, we found this little guy and have applied for him. Once we pass the application and the home visit he will be ours. I think he will be perfectly manageable for us and is so cute!!! I really do think he will be fun for the kids and is said to be a bit submissive so my Buddy will still rule the roost around here.

We are trying to think of new names. He is called Elmo now but is only 2 months old, so I think we could still name him something different. The kids have come up with Rocky and Moose, too. We were thinking something totally opposite of his size. Any ideas?

Janel Needs....

Got this idea from LeAnn who got it from Tess. It looked like fun blog fodder and so I am playing along. The object is to go to Google and search your name with "needs" at the end.

For example - you google "Janel Needs". Then you blog about the first 10 things that pop up on the google search that "you need" and comment on each of them. So here it goes.....

The search items are in grey and my responses are in black. My name was spelled wrong in some but it was fun to do and not one of these google searches is actually me.

1. Janel needs him - I need Him, no doubt. Don't want to go anywhere without Him.

2. Janel needs to get him neutered before he goes there - not even sure how to respond to this one. Buddy is neutered. Could be a sign of things to come since we are looking at dogs.

3. Janelle won't get back into the hot tub. Danielle tells Will that it's because Janelle needs Will's undivided attention. - Not sure who Danielle and Will are and why they are spelling my name wrong but I could always use a good hot tub.

4. Janel needs a family that will provide a very structured environment, positive reinforcement and lots of love and commitment. - AMEN!!!! Especially lots of love.

5. i don't think janelle needs to be rescued - You got that right! Well, except by Him.

6. Janelle Needs Your Help - It takes a village - I'll always take the help.

7. Janel needs a ride to the wedding - no weddings in my future.

8. Janel needs to be coached a different way than other kids need to be coached - this is probably so true - it often takes me awhile to "get" something!

9. Janelle would need a warm safe home that is securely hers - Couldn't have said it better. I love my home. It's warm, safe, secure.

10. Janel: I am a wife and mother of two delightful children ... I need a nap - Yes, yes, yes!!!!

That was fun. There are some crazy girls out there that share my name and it seems like there are a lot of dogs that need rescued out there named Janel or Janelle. hmmm.

Sunday Word - He does answer

I sought the Lord and he answered me.

Psalm 34:4

Linked Up

Some great links from the week.

Dear Stay At Home Working Mom from Stephanie at Adventures In Babywearing - hits right at home, indeed.

Mighty Helpful Links - Blogging Basics 101, I know a link to more links - but they are mighty helpful.

$50 giveaway at Such the Spot - she wrote a great essay called Finding Me that was nominated for an award. It's good stuff!

Leave a comment at Party Planning Professor and a 25 cent donation will be given to research Autism. She is trying to raise $100 which means 400 comments. Go help her out.

The most helpful link for me this week was DLTK Growing Together so I could EASILY make bingo cards for my son's preschool Valentine party. Very cool site.

Check out my friend's nephew making this Dunk at the Duke/UNC managers game. Very cool!

Getting it together: Priorities at Take Root and Write - great post that inspired me this week to let a commitment go.

Blissdom '09 Recap and Links at Musings of a Housewife. Lots of good blogger info.

My favorite line this week (maybe because of how much I can relate) is from Jo-Lynne in her post Because it's Friday the 13th of course...

"And then reality called —DING-A-LING! Hello! YOU STILL HAVE TO PICK UP YOUR DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL!"

Happy Linking and Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Should I Be Worried?

When I picked Bubby up from preschool the other day his teacher whispered something he said to me.

She told me that he said to another kid while they were play fighting, "I'm gonna kill you."

Ouch.

So I apologized and ASSURED her that we do not kill anything at all at our home. I even went so far to explain how we relocated the mouse we recently found in our garage to the field next to our house. And how when we had squirrels in our house, we called someone to get them out and relocate those to far far away place.

Spiders, ladybugs, moths - all get a second chance outside for us.

Oh, yeah there was that snake...but it was a copperhead and it really freaked me out. It was necessary to kill that thing.

We don't even own a gun.
We wouldn't even know what to do with one.
We don't hunt. Not that I think it is a bad thing, we just don't do it.
We don't really even talk about where our meat comes from.

By this time carpool in front of me is way gone and she is just staring at me. "Okay, we'll talk about it - thank you! "

So, I did lay down the law a bit more this week. I had a little chat with Bubby that we cannot say that to people and we need to treat them with love. He told me he was just pretending and playing like they were a bad guy. I responded that I understood this but we definitely did not need to say it in school and so on and so forth. You get my drift.

Then I scanned the shows he watches a little more carefully and have limited his TV viewing even more. The video games are now off limits until Dad gets home and then only for a short time. (Even the E for Everyone rated ones have some fighting in them which bugs me a little bit.)

Really it hasn't been so hard this week because it has been so warm outside.

Anyway, I am so glad we have this under control now.

So, do you think I should be worried to find this by our front door?

It's a toy.

(Just as a little FYI here - his Grandmother bought him that gun. Yes, I am sooo blaming you for this, Mom. ;) As a matter of fact, she buys him any plastic gun, knife, ninja sword that he wants. It looks like we are training for the special forces in the playroom.)


So, should I be worried? Really? For real? Boys will be boys? Or place some more limits?

Priorities

Yesterday morning, an email popped in my inbox. It was an email encouraging the ladies in my book club for their continued commitment to the group. Long story short - show up or get out. Just in much nicer words.

At first, I will be honest and tell you that I was a little put off. I really don't like to think of myself as uncommitted to anything much less something as seemingly simple as a book club filled with amazing women from my neighborhood.

I decided to close the email and ponder on it for the day. I dropped my kids off for school, went to the gym, sat in the steam room and prayed about it. I love that steam room - can I just say that now? What an amazing perk in my life. Thank you hubby for providing such a nice lifestyle that I can sit in a steam room a couple times a week and just clear my head.

Digressing, yes.
Anyway, on the way to the gym I was on my cell phone. At the gym I saw at least 3 people I knew and ended up having a pretty great but lengthy conversation with one. Left the gym to pick up my son, picked up lunch and we met my mom in the park. Of course all while taking phone calls on my cell. At the park, I saw 2 friends. More talking.

Then home to answer emails and do some work. I'm not really positive if this has much to do with this post except that it seems I am in constant motion. That I ALWAYS have something to do. Which is why I love the steam room - nothing to do but sit.
As I walked in my room and noticed my unmade bed from that morning, I also noticed that on my nightstand are 3 books all with bookmarks in the MIDDLE of the books. Not one finished.

And this does not even include the bible study I am doing right now which actually is caught up for the week.

It occurred to me then that I was OVER-COMMITTED.

Oh, why why why do I think I can do everything?
The simple fact is that I can't. Well,maybe I can but not well. I needed to once again prioritize.

I say once again because I just went through this in the Fall. But as this new year started I committed to more. The pitfalls of my personality, I guess. It's not that I feel guilty and take on too much. It's that I really WANT to be a part of...well...everything!

So, I had to let the book club go. I will miss my time with these ladies and all the great books.

I suppose it would be a good idea to start with finishing the ones from the last two months first.

I woke up this morning and found this post from a Twitter friend. It was a great reminder of why I made a good decision to let something go. It's all about --Priorities. It was a great confirmation of the decision I made yesterday. (If you read it you will see that my book club had become the shells - the pretty things that fill your life but aren't really priorities)

My life is full of wonderful friends and family. It is full of activities that need to be priorities - first and foremost serving God and taking care of my family. While it is sad to let something go that I enjoyed, I know now I was not giving it my all, was not making it a priority and was letting my book club friends down.

So, I'm just thinking that being a grown up is hard to do some days. How about you? How do you keep the stuff in your life prioritized?

Random Monday Thoughts

Well, the weekend brought many interesting things.

Jesus Nazareth wants to be my friend on Facebook. Seriously. What is up with that? Crazy people out there. The crazier thing - he has lots of friends on Facebook. Things that make me go hmmmmm.

I washed my car and left the one of the windows open. I wasn't really intending to clean the inside so much, but it's clean now!

My small group at church took 400 bags of groceries to a local community that needed it. That was incredibly rewarding. I have way more I want to write about that later - with photos. It was way cool. Way cool.

My daughter informed me that all she needs to party is some music, dancing and her girls. M'kay, then - she's 8.

My son informed me he is not marrying the girl we thought because she is marrying someone else. He thinks he might marry this girl from preschool with long dark hair who wears boots all the time.

Any workout I did last week was pretty much canceled out by the quart of Marble Slab ice cream I ate this weekend. I loved every bite.

Speaking of work outs. I am headed outside for a walk in this beautiful NC, 70 degree weather. Love it! Getting back to exercise is really interfering with my blogging.

Have a fantastic day everyone!

Go Red for Women

Today is the American Heart Association's wear red day - for women.

Did you know that heart disease is the #1 killer for women in the US?

It traditionally has not gotten the attention as other diseases that affect women. It is also mainly associated as a man's disease but women are more likely to die from severe heart attacks than men for several reasons.

My grandmother and grandfather both passed away from heart disease after numerous bypass surgeries and my father had his first bypass surgery before he was 40.

I have to admit that while I know these facts, I often do not eat and exercise like I should. As I approach 40, though I find myself feeling a lot more tired lately and just not feeling so hot. So, I am really trying to make more of an effort to eat healthier and get back into an exercise routine.

How about you? Any heart disease stories in your family? Any steps you want to pass on that are heart healthy?

Here are some ways you can start. Reduce Your Risk.

Prayer Now, Please

Hello dear readers. All 5 of you. Oh, I'm just kidding - I know there are like 8 or so.

Anyway, if you are the praying type, would you please say a prayer today?

Our Senior Pastor, worship director and a team from church are in the Central African Republic. This is an area that our church as taken a very special interest in through ICDI.

In 2008, our church raised funds to dig 10 wells which provide enough clean water for 5,000 people. (Read more about how clean water can change lives HERE.) Not to mention, sponsoring hundreds of orphans so they can have homes, food and an education.

So, this year in addition to more funds for wells, a company in which a church member is involved has donated three very powerful generators. They will provide much needed power to the orphan care center, radio station, offices of ICDI and the base camp for the drillers.

The generators have been stuck in a container in port for months. Very frustrating.

They need these generators to be released and delivered to them TODAY. That is one of the main reasons they are on this trip so that they can get them all set up. So, they just need lots of prayer.

Here is the link to their blog.
Thanks a Bunch!

Off The Hinges

This is B's bedroom door.

Off the hinges.

Leaning against the wall in the hallway.

She slammed it - Again.

Hubby just had enough of that.

So, off it went.

Her response was even worse. Whew, that girl has a temper. Hmmm, no idea where she gets that. So, she lost it for another day because of the temper tantrum.

She said, "This is something you would do to a teenager, not an 8 year old!"

Let's hope we don't have to do it again.

Something tells me we might.

How Many Have Your Name?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Bird Brains - What I Learned This Week

I came home about a month ago to find this sweet girl just sitting on my deck right outside the glass door from my house. She is a female Cardinal and we get a ton of them in our back yard. They are so fun to watch.

The feathers stuck on the door told me she must have been in mid-flight to the inside of my house before she realized it was not a clear landing but glass.

So, I called the wildlife center because I just could not leave her there and let some neighborhood cat have her for lunch.

This is what they told me to do. It was news to me. It might be to you also. Useful information anyway.

Get a box.
Get a towel.
Pick the bird up and place it in the box.
Close the box.
Place the box with bird in a dark place like a closet for about 15 minutes.
Take the box outside and open it.
If the bird is okay, she will fly away.

AND. SHE. DID. JUST. THAT.

Apparently, when they hit their little bird heads, their little bird brains get a bit shaken up and they become very disoriented. They just need a little while to get back on track. Just a little rest.

So, there you go.

For more great lessons learned this week, hop on over to Musings of a Housewife.