Our First Gift

February 27, 2010 Leave a Comment

When I woke this morning still snuggling under the flannel sheets, a smile slowly crept onto my face as I pondered the day to come.  “This was the day,” I said quietly as my strong yet sweet husband slumbered next to me.

This was the day, fourteen years ago, that began a new chapter in God’s Great Book of Life.  The chapter that God has laid out for our dear, sweet daughter Catz.  For today is her 14th birthday!

Reflecting on these years the memories are like wispy clouds amid bright sunshine…her birth and adjusting to being a new mommy…her sweetness as a two-year-old when she held her newborn brother…dancing with her daddy at a friend’s wedding…her giggle and sharp wit…the bond between she and I that has grown beautiful and strong just like her.

Amid the laughter and singing that is inevitable on such a special day as this is remembrance.  Scattered amongst the pile of wrapping paper and ribbon is thankfulness.  And hidden between the last crumbs and frosting on the party plates is hope.

Because out of the ashes of a devastating miscarriage, hope was reborn.  Where once there was grief and loss instead emerged the beautiful blessing of a sweet baby girl, resulting in prayers of thankfulness.  And in the everyday snapshots that a mother mentally captures and stores away over these many years are also carried remembrance of the precious, perfect gift she was given. 

One of the many ways God is awesome, don’t you think?

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Praying for Snow

January 8, 2010 Leave a Comment

I know, I know.  Just yesterday I was lauding the fact that here, in Florida, we have been without snow while almost the rest of the nation has been inundated with the stuff.

I have always been content that Florida has remained as God has intended this state to be. Snow-free.

So it might be a surprise to anyone reading this that I now want snow.  Here.  At my house.

{{A surprise to everyone but you, Honey, since you know how often I change my mind. Wink, wink.}}

In fact, I’m so eagar for snow that I’m praying for it.  This is a surprise to me since snow has never been on my prayer list or shown up in my prayer journal.  Not once. 

But as the local weather forecasters have been dangling the idea of snow over my head for a few days now, I am very hopeful — prayerful — that the frozen precipitation will actually arrive at my house this weekend.

Notice that I said “arrive at my house“.  I know full well that any snowflakes in these-here-parts will melt as soon as they hit the ground, if not sooner. C’mon, I was born but not yesterday.

I also have previous experience with Florisnow — my own favorite new label for silly snowflakes that try to fall in the Sunshine state.  When I was a little cutie all of 8-years-old and living in South Florida, we were surprised with a mere shimmering of Florida snow in January.

I was home with the chicken pox and my mom called me to come outside.  As my dad was getting ready to leave for work, we caught sight of little Flori-flakes {hee hee} melting as they landed on his coat.  It was neato!  I’ll never forget that moment.

And so I’d love to share a moment like that with my chicklets and hubby.  We’ll see what God has planned.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  Even snow in Florida.

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52 Hearts: Love the Rewards

May 18, 2011 Leave a Comment

So how have you been doing with encouraging some of the 52 people on your list?  My 52 Hearts link-up has been absent for a few weeks {due to end-of-school tests}, but I’ve been working on my list and adding folks to it as well.

One such addition happened at the grocery store the other day.  As Catz and I stood in the laundry soap/cleaning products aisle flipping through coupons, there she was.  A tiny, frail, elderly woman pushed her shopping cart slowly down the aisle right past us.  She appeared to be looking up at the top shelves, which were entirely too high for her small frame to reach, searching for something.  She was just precious and my heart went out to her, so I approached her from behind with “Can I help you find something?”  She slowly turned to face me saying “yes” as she faced me and met my gaze.
“Do you know if they sell Sno-Blo?” she asked.  “Let me check,” I told her.  Having seen this product before I turned immediately, found it on one of the lower shelves she had passed, and brought it to where she was standing.  She took it in her beautifully wrinkled hand as she beamed at me, and sounding completely relieved she explained that she was worried the store no longer carried this item.  We continued our conversation a bit more, and as she smiled and said “Thank you, dear,” and turned to leave I put my hand on her back and said “I hope you enjoy your day.”
It was that easy.  It didn’t take long to show this sweet woman some kindness, though I would have loved it if she had stayed to talk longer. {She was a gem!} But that’s all it takes to encourage someone else.  It costs nothing, yet the payback is priceless!
Feel free to link up below to your specific post’s url and share how you’ve been an encouragement lately.  One little note: I’ll be moving the 52 Hearts link-up over to Wednesdays for now.  Hope your week is full of encouragement, too!

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Menu Plan Monday – December 15th

December 16, 2008 2 Comments

This week on MPM is a little bit of everything — old favorites, newbies, and “no cooking” nights! We’ve been going wild making tons of cookies so check back in the next day or two for those recipes — and photos! Hope your season is bright!

Monday — Ranch Chicken (never made it last week)

Tuesday — Foolproof Standing Rib Roast (first time for this)

Wednesday — Pizza & leftovers (Spider X loves leftovers with a passion. I love pizza even more.)

Thursday — Dinner out (Macaroni Grill, I hope! Love their bread and alfredo sauce!)

Friday — Minestrone

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Shutterfly Photobook Giveaway!

March 21, 2011 1 Comment
After almost 16 years of marriage, kids, and travel I have collected an extensive amount of photos from our old non-digital-camera-days.  Boxes of pictures exist amongst clothes, shoes, and cat hiding places in my closet.   Some of those pix have been scanned, but you know how that goes.  I would need a few months, non-stop, to go through them all!  No, really…I would.  Show me something colorful or ancestral and you’ve lost me.  Just call me distracted.
My daughter, Catz, is just like me.  She loves anything related to our family tree.  Therefore, she and I are always the ones going through photos.  With all the help, why haven’t I finished?  Well, we just don’t get very far. Here’s a little example of a recent scanning session, just me and her…

Me: (with all seriousness and such) Okay, let’s try to get through this box in less than an hour. (looking through photos…sidetracked!) Oh, look at this…it’s you and Pink Dolly when you were a year old!

Catz: (smiling and looking at photo) Yeah, I remember her.  I took her everywhere.

Me: You were so cute! (fawning over picture)

Catz: Hello, I’m still cute. (still smiling but cocking an eyebrow)

Me: Yes, you are!  (still looking at first photo with a dreamy look)

Catz: (picking up the next two pictures and opening the scanner) Okay, how ’bout I put the pictures in the scanner and you type in the notes…

Me: (laughing while gently taking photos from her hand) Wait, I just want to look at them for a minute.

Catz: (reaching to get photos back and laughing as I hold them out of reach) Uh, Mommy? Your version of “minute” is waay longer than mine.  And didn’t you say we could watch “Emma” if we finished this box by 2:00?  It’s the BBC version, y’know.

Me: Oh, right!  Okay, here. (handing her the photos)

Catz: (about to place photos in scanner…sidetracked!) Oh my goodness, I remember that dress!  But where was this taken?  And who is that standing over there? And…

And that, my friends, is how it goes around here.  I get distracted, Catz gets distracted, and before you know it we’ve touched almost every photo in the box. But few have been scanned.  And we are so exhausted from our trip down memory lane that it’s all we can do to collapse in front of the tv with a Jane Austen dvd.  BBC version, thankyouverymuch.

So the welcome addition years ago of a digital camera and an external hard drive {TechDaddy is a genius} has made for fast photo saving and using.  I may never make time for elaborate scrapbooking because, let’s face it, I’m too easily squirreled by shiny things.  But I have discovered how to share my family’s photos in a beautiful, fun, and super-easy way through photobooks.

Shutterfly was my first foray into photobooks when I made two different books last Christmas, one each for my mom and my mom-in-love.  The process could not have been simpler with easy uploading of pictures and tons of page backgrounds and layouts.  I loved it, and more importantly, both moms loved their photobooks!

And there are sooo many different ways to use photobooks.  Catz recently made one all about our visits to Disney World last year.  Do you see it in the photo up top? It’s gorgeous!  She and I are going to make a baking photobook for Christmas and I’ll be making a recipe book for her hope chest.  And as soon as I get more photos of our Compassion kids, I’ll be putting together a photobook of them.

Right now Shutterfly is offering 20% off their photobooks.  But I have an even sweeter deal…

Shutterfly is letting me offer five, 8 x 8, hard cover photobooks to friends…for FREE!  That’s a $29.99 value for FREE!  Would you like one?  A few restrictions apply, so let me tell you the scoop.  To be eligible for this giveaway you need to be a new photobook user with Shutterfly. {If you’re brand new OR if you’ve already used Shutterfly for other products that’s fine.} The winners will also be responsible for taxes and shipping on their photobooks.

So here’s how to enter. You can get a maximum of three entries:
1. Leave me a comment saying what kind of photobook you’d like to make.
2. Tweet about this giveaway and then let me know in a separate comment box with your twitter handle.  Here’s an example: Stop by @LilbearMe to win a free @Shutterfly #photobook http://bit.ly/eoQ5fe
3. Become a Follower of my blog {in the footer} and leave a comment letting me know.  If you’re already a Follower {You rock!} just let me know in the comments.

If you make all three entries be sure to leave three separate comments.  Deadline to enter is March 22nd, 2011 at 11:59pm EST {that’s Florida-time, folks}. The winners will be announced Wednesday, March 23rd.  Hope you win!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity by Shutterfly to share 5 free photobooks with 5 friends. I am not receiving any payment, though Shutterfly did offer me free shipping on my next photobook {full price for me}.  The opinions in this post are all my own.

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52 hearts: Encouragement takes Bravery

May 25, 2011 3 Comments

“Encourage” is a strange word.  By itself, it looks positive and happy and everything-is-right-with-the-world perfect.  It looks like a pat on the back, sounds like a “way to go!”, and feels like a warm hug.  It seems easy on paper, especially when you’re talking about people you know.  How difficult is it for me to encourage my husband, kids, siblings, or mom?  Not hard at all.  But stepping outside our own little worlds to lift someone else up can sometimes {or often} be very daunting for most people.

I think the most obvious roadblock to people encouraging one another comes from our fear of rejection.  “That lady looks like she needs to hear something nice. But what if she gets aggravated and thinks I’m being nosy? I’d better leave her alone.” So what does it take to put ourselves out there and say something nice to a stranger?  To hold a hand or give a hug?  With no worry of being rejected?
Bravery.  To put it plainly, a body needs to be brave to step forward, make a move, do something right and positive and good.  Being brave means you’re willing to take a chance and say something even though you really aren’t certain of the outcome.  But what you say or do could be so powerful that it rocks someone’s world in such a way as to give them hope.  It could change their life.  And it most definitely will change yours.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11
Because all this bravery and encouragement comes with an added benefit.  When you see someone’s eyes light up at your words or catch them biting their lip as their eyes fill with tears from the simple gesture of putting your hand on their back, you’ll feel it in your own heart, too.  And you will be a better person for it.
But encouragement comes in more ways than spoken words and hugs.  It comes from gestures that show we care…that say “You’re awesome!” and “I love you.”  And that’s what we get to do through Compassion International.  For the scores of children living in extreme poverty in this world we get to say “I care about you and will be here to encourage you.”  Sponsoring a child through Compassion is more than just giving some money every month.  You get to be that child’s cheerleader, encouraging them through circumstances that most people cannot even fathom.  You get to write your child letters, send him photos, pray for her, and be a light in their world.

 

Save Children

In a few days Compassion will be sending a team of bloggers to the Philippines to share what they witness in that poverty-stricken land.  Though these messengers will get to encourage children and parents alike, this will be a lesson in bravery as well.  These women and this man will be taking a chance and wearing their hearts on their sleeves.  They will see and hear stories that may take their breath away.  They will probably feel heartbreak and shed tears by the bucket.  But they will be better people for it.
So now it’s your turn.  Is this your day to make a move?  Are you willing to be brave and encourage another?  I know you can do it!

{Please be sure to pray for and follow the Compassion bloggers through their daily posts and at Twitter.}

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Homeschool: The Transitional Year

August 26, 2011 1 Comment
Another homeschooling year has started and already this year is looking different even though we haven’t added in all of our subjects.  After taking off completely for 3 weeks, we began the new year on July 11th nice and slow.  A couple of subjects to start with {math and Spanish} got us on the right track, and each week we’ve been adding in 1-2 more.  This year will be one of transition as MrC explores 8th grade, his last year before high school, while his sister, Catz, continues on in 10th grade with a tougher schedule.  Balancing the two will be a feat.  

8th Grade

In my book, this is the year of more independence in school for MrC to prepare for the rigors of high school.  It’s not that the upper grades are impossibly difficult; they are just more demanding.

* math ->  Pre-Algebra & Algebra 1  {TeachingTextbooks} He’ll be finishing up pre-algebra and starting algebra 1 partway through the year.
* foreign language  ->  Spanish 2- Latin America  {RosettaStone} 
* grammar review  ->  Daily Grams 8   {EasyGrammar} 
* vocabulary ->  Wordly Wise 3000 – Book 8{EPS} 
* science  ->  Exploring Creation with Physical Science   {Apologia}
* geography  ->  Trail Guide to US Geography   {GeographyMatters}
* spelling  -> 500 commonly misspelled wordlist{Sonlight, Core 100}
* writing  ->  Student Writing Intensive B  {IEW}
* history  ->  American History, Core 100  {Sonlight} 
* drawing -> Drawing 1a{DonnaYoung.org} basics in drawing
* computers: graphic design -> Adobe Illustrator CS3 Design Essentials, DVD  {Total Training} 
* music theory -> Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory  {AlfredPublishing Company}
* music appreciation ->  Music & Moments with the Masters{CornerstoneCurriculum}

10th Grade

Since this is Catz’s second year in high school, I pretty much have a handle on where we should be about now.  The only difference is a heavier load this year than she has had previously.
* math  ->  Geometry  {TeachingTextbooks}
* foreign language  ->  Spanish 2 - Latin America  {RosettaStone}
* science  ->  Exploring Creation with Chemistry   {Apologia}
* geography  ->  Trail Guide to US Geography   {GeographyMatters}
* spelling  ->  500 commonly misspelled wordlist {Sonlight}
* writing  ->  Student Writing Intensive C  {IEW}
* literary analysis  -> TBD
* history  ->  American History, Core 100  {Sonlight} and 20th Century History, Core 300 {Sonlight} We’re going to fit both in this year by eliminating some reading selections I find unnecessary.
* drawing  ->  Draw Today  {Art Skills / Foundations in Art}
* computers: creative photography ->  Adobe Photoshop CS3 Design Essentials, DVD {TotalTraining}
* music theory -> Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory  {AlfredPublishing Company}
* music appreciation ->  Music & Moments with the Masters {CornerstoneCurriculum}
*voice -> private lessons

As with all areas of life, some things may be put on hold for a few months and other items may be added, but this is basically our list for the year.  Are you homeschooling this year?  What subjects are you excited about?  Whatever schooling options you choose for your children, I hope your year is blessed!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click those links and make a purchase, I might make a few pennies. If you do, thanks!

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Get the Most from Shopping: Shopkick

November 23, 2011 Leave a Comment

Have you heard of Shopkick?  It’s a super cool app available for iPhones and Androids.  The premise is to earn kicks, or points, when you walk into certain stores while the app is running on your phone.  Each “kick” is worth a certain number of points depending on which activity you are sent to do: scans; instant surprises; and walk-ins.

Here’s how each one works.

Let’s say you’re going to shop at Target so you turn on the Shopkick app on your phone.  You can switch it on at home or wait until you’re in the parking lot, just be sure to drag the screen down for an update of local shops (though it seems to do that automatically sometimes).  Right away you can see if there are any kick opportunities with the shops listed.

For this example, let’s look at how to collect kicks instantly using the picture above:

#1 – Click on the row for SuperTarget.

#2 – By clicking on the Target row, you can see that you can earn kicks by two ways.

#3 – First, by clicking on the “Instant Surprises” row you can find and touch the surprise to reveal either a point or a bubble to burst.

#4 – Pop the bubble to reveal a piece to a collection. When you’ve collected all 3 pieces, you get bonus points.

The second way, in the picture example above, to earn kicks is by scanning certain products with your phone (remember, either iPhone or Android). They list the products, you find them in the store (like a scavenger hunt!), then you scan the barcode or QR code {whichever the app directs}, and you collect kicks.

Another way to earn kicks is called “walk-in”, where you simply walk into the store with the app on and collect points.  After I finished shopping at Target the other day I strode next door to Old Navy where I walked in, stood at the entrance for a few seconds while the app located me and showed my points I collected, then turned around and walked back out. Simple as pie.

And the final way that I know of to earn points is by using the audio feature in the app to “listen” to tv commercials on the WB network from certain stores.  The two that I saw were for Macy’s and Best Buy and were listed at 100 points each.  I skipped this option, though, since you had to do it during two specific shows on a specific night.  And let’s face it, I wasn’t about to watch tv shows I don’t normally view just to score some points (especially these two particular programs – eww).

Otherwise, it’s very easy to earn points.

Oh, wait. Have I mentioned what you can earn from all of these kicks?  Along with Target, you can also earn gift cards from Best Buy, Restaurant.com, Macy’s, Old Navy, Toys R Us, and many more. You can also earn gift cards for gas for your car, which is awesome.

When I first read about Shopkick (from Jenny at Southern Savers – thanks, Jenny!) and downloaded the app I was skeptical.  But in 4 days I’ve earned over 1200 kicks, which qualifies me for a $5 Target giftcard!  This may seem to some like small change, but when you think about how few days it took me to get that many points, and how I can earn much more the longer I use the app, the Shopkick app is so worth it.

While I can see how it’s possible to spend my time looking for kicks instead of many other things I should be doing, I’ve made it a rule to only use the app when I’m out and about.

Shopkick Special!

Sometimes the walk-ins are doubled or there’s a special deal attached.  To celebrate the upcoming shopping chaos known as Black Friday (at the end of this week, in case you forgot), Shopkick has a special deal.  If you get the app for yourself and then invite 5 friends and they download the free app, they will each automatically earn 100 kicks for themselves, and you will earn 100 kicks for each friend who joins.  That’s 500 kicks for you alone! Plus, by them joining now, you will unlock the “2X VIP Pass” which will allow you to get double walk-in kicks on Black Friday.

And if you’re thinking “I’m out here in the boonies…I don’t live anywhere near those large stores, so I’ll never be able to use this app,” guess again.  As I drove along the other day with my kids, and Catz kept refreshing the app as we drove to different parts of town (on actual errands), we discovered stores we didn’t even know existed.  Instant kicks for veterinary clinics, dry cleaners, and even a tree cutting service popped up on the app.  It’s a great advertising tool for businesses, small and large, so the possibility for Shopkicks in your area is pretty high.

Besides, the app is free!  From now until Thanksgiving if you click here to get Shopkick, you can download the app and earn 100 kicks immediately (and I will earn 100 kicks as well – thanks!!).  Then, you can go to the 2X VIP Pass header in the app and invite 5 of your own friends to begin earning more kicks.  They make it very easy by giving you options to invite folks via Twitter, email, text message (SMS), and Facebook.  You can also take your link and include it in a post (like I did here).

And what a perfect time to begin using Shopkick!  With all of the driving around your town you’ll be doing – Christmas shopping, visiting friends, Christmas play/choir rehearsals, looking at Christmas light displays – you’ll be sure to gather up kicks just as quick as a squirrel storing up nuts.

Note: You are welcome to download the app directly from iTunes {for iPhone} or Market {for Android}, but you won’t get the 100 immediate kicks as this is a special offer through Shopkick and it’s current subscribers.  If you do go through my personal link to get the Shopkick app and your 100 kicks, I thank you and hope you enjoy this fun and money-making app!

I’d also love to know how you like it, so please let me know how it’s going for you!

P.S. If you click the link after Thanksgiving you can still download the app and receive 50 kicks (and I’ll receive 50 as well). Have fun!

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The Cutest Contest

November 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

Tiny Prints logoHave you been snapping lots of photos lately?  I hope so because Tiny Prints has got a deal for you.  Right now they’re holding the Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest where you could win $1,000, a $500 Tiny Prints gift certificate, and be featured in their 2012 marketing campaign.  The contest has been going on since October, so you have just a few days left to submit your photo by the entry deadline of November 21st.

All you have to do is go to either their Facebook page or the Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest page which will take you to the entry page where you’ll fill out your information and upload your winning photo.  You’ll be able to choose a card to showcase your photo and your entry will be viewable in the Tiny Prints gallery.

Prizes will be awarded for:

  • Cutest Baby (0-2 years old)
  • Cutest Kid (3-10 years old)
  • Cutest Family
  • Cutest Couple
  • Cutest Pet

Community voting will be from Nov. 22- 30, and voting on finalists will be from Dec. 5 – 16.

For official rules, click here.

And if you decide to enter, please let me know so we can all come out to vote and cheer you on!

 

Disclosure: For blogging about the Tiny Prints Talent Search I will be compensated in the form of receiving 25 free personalized thank you notes.  See my full Disclosure policy here.

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Filed Under: photography

Praying for my Son when He’s gone

September 3, 2011 Leave a Comment

Last night was a first.  As I left my son at the middle school lock-in at my church, I thought about how many times I had walked away from him. Not walking down the hall or simply walking into another room.  I pondered about walking away from his dependence.

Sure, TechDaddy and I had left MrC overnight before with family. When he was little, he and his sister had stayed with one of my sister’s and her crew while hubby and I enjoyed an anniversary cruise.  But this was different.

In a nutshell, after almost five years of going to the same church, we are now getting involved in the youth ministry {both middle and high school}.  So when this lock-in popped up, MrC said yes purely for the opportunity to meet new friends.

So last night rolls around and my hubby and I bring our boy.  Staying to help with dinner setup and clean up for about 50 kids {pizza!}, TechDaddy and I hung around for a couple of hours.  {Don’t worry, we were in adult-mode but totally staying clear of our son.  You know, the “free-space from parents” mode.}

Then, after the kids had moved on to another activity and we had cleaned up, TechDaddy and I began our walk to the door.  Me, being a total mom, slipped over to MrC who was resting from a game of beachball volleyball.  After v e r y   q u i e t l y exchanging some “I love you”s and slipping him a buck for candy, I joined TD by the door.

And then I walked away from my son.

I didn’t feel it until later, after we got home and were spending time with Catz.  But the emptiness was thick. In my home his absence was real and heavy.  No jokes or funny quips abounded.  The sound of MrC jumping onto the stair landings was missing. And in my heart the ache was visceral.

Then this morning I woke with the reminder that my son is not in my home.  And while the rest of my family slept, I walked upstairs to his room, curled up on his bed, and prayed.

My prayers covered his heart, like the ones I spoke to Papa days and weeks and months and years before today. Prayers that begged for protection, both physical and emotional.  Prayers requesting my boy be happy and safe in his new environment.  Prayers that God would guide my son through every step and stage of his life.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.    Jeremiah 29:11

But my prayers also covered me.  That my Father would shore up my heart against the ache that comes when learning to give way to my boy’s growing independence.  The ache that hurts longer and deeper than those birth pains from over 13 years ago.

My boy is home now, happily snacking and laughing with the rest of us as we watch a movie all huddled up on one couch. And though I feel a twinge of what is to come as I continue to hand over more and more independence, I feel content in knowing that my Father’s hand is guiding my precious son and that all of my prayers are heard and stored away in the heart of the One who loves my boy more than I ever could.

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