Fruitful Words

My daughter sculpted a caveman tattoo kit from clay for a History Channel program about tattooing.

The program airs July 14th, 9 pm Eastern on the History Channel. Anybody have cable that can tape this for me?

Go here to see more views.

I’m one proud mama.

Sista said I could show her pictures from our hot air balloon flight in Napa, CA. If you haven’t read about the trip yet, go here. You’ll read about my 11 observations.

Aren’t we up so high? 1000 feet was our highest flight. Amazingly my son saw a deer from up there. The white tail gave him away. He also spotted a rabbit!

Can you believe that we flew over this gorgeous country? Initially there was a bit of fog - which flowed along underneath us.

What a huge shadow. We are coming in for our landing . . . . and for our champagne breakfast. There were lots of food choices so that even my daughter was able to get filled up.

This trip doesn’t compare to the one taken by the Professor in The 21 Balloons book. But I am quite content with the lack of adventure. Plus, how cool to make the memories with my kiddos and sista. How fun to be able to cross off something from my 51 Things To-Do list.

I’ve been reading the answers people have been leaving to this meme. It’s causing me to think some more; AND the opportunity to investigate blogs outside my norm.

Since I’m the curious sort, I investigated to see how far back this meme goes. Looks like about 11 generations. Heidi (who lives in the Netherlands) is the first person mentioned. Heidi has 2 blogs and I wasn’t able to find the original post. Her blogs are as follows: Celebrate the Seasons, Needle Necessities. She is also part of a group blog titled Creative Home Life.

1. Heidi from the Netherlands tagged Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses. Rhondi’s answer is . . . Laughed, cried, worked, played, loved, prayed. Rhondi tagged Deb of Posted From Home.
2. Deb’s six words are: Live Life With a grateful heart. Deb of Posted From Home tagged Tara from Days Missed on a Hammock.
3. Tara’s philosophy is . . . Make Lemonade Out of Life’s Lemons. Tara from Days Missed on a Hammock tagged Oliver Rain.
4. Oliver Rain’s answer is . . . Everything Works Out in the End. Oliver Rain tagged My Cakies.
5. My Cakies lives by the following philosophy . . . Enjoy God & Make Him Known. (Side note Look here for a beautiful felt crown for a princess. Can you tell I’m a princess at heart?) My Cakies tagged Jenny at Babyfingers.
6. Jenny’s answer is . . . Exit your comfort zone everyday. Jenny from Babyfingers tagged Julie at the Knotted Apron Strings.
7. Julie’s contribution is “Do the Math . . . Count Your Blessings.” Julie at Knotted Apron Strings tagged Theresa from Knitting Non Pareil.
8. Theresa’s answer is . . . Learn to love who you are. Theresa from Knitting NonPareil tagged Theresa from Stitches of Grace.
9. Theresa’s 6 words philosophy is . . . . Seek first the kingdom of God. Theresa from Stitches of Grace tagged me. My answer is Joyful Hope. Patient Affliction. Faithful Prayer. So far none of those I’ve tagged have responded.
10. Theresa also tagged Amy from Journaling Back to Joy. Her 3 people have answered. Teresa, The Virginia Queen Bee’s Answer: When I am weak, then I am strong. Perri’s, My Life in Bits & Pieces wrote: God’s in control, I’m at peace. Michelle at Happy Mom 777 also said: Seek first the Kingdom of God.

This was fun researching. So many wonderful projects, photos, thoughts and recipes to look at. Have a looksee and tell me what struck your eye. Either on the blogs or about the 6 word summaries.

Also let me know if we can go back further than Heidi. Thanks.

1. Of course the ones on my blogroll: These are family and friends and it’s a great way to “see” what’s on their mind. Any one of them is a GOOD read.

2. Widow’s Quest - Anna is “learning how to redefine and rediscover life” as a widow. Although I’m not a widow, I benefit greatly from many of her posts that deal with grief, healing and moving on.

3. Scribbit - Michelle, born in and still living in Alaska, writes daily entries about “favorite recipes, reviews, crafts and giveaways mixed with stories of life in the Last Frontier.” She also has time to be a mother to 4. Besides the previous, I like to read this blog because I lived in Anchorage for a year or so when I was in elementary school.

4. LifeHack - This blog features “hacks, tips and tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increas[ing] productivity and organizing.” Today’s post shares how to have a more effective weekly review. Since I want to review my days three times a week, as part of my 51 things to do this year, I find this article to be most helpful.

5. See Through Faith - Lorna (in Finalnd) is journaling her walk with God as a mother, wife, woman and seminary student. Since I’m an older seminary student as well, I find her blog interesting and encouraging.

6. Tammy’s Recipes - This is more than a food blog -although there are lots of good recipes, with reviews and pictures. Take a look and tell me why you like this site.

7. Unclutterer - Blog about getting and staying organized. There are several other good blogs on this topic as well. Someday I’ll do a roundup of them.

8. Like Merchant Ships - Blog about being a well-rounded woman, wife and mother with posts on a myriad of topics that are helpful, encouraging and interesting to even me a divorced, empty-nester who is finishing her masters.

9. A Creative Journal - Posts with lots of creative journal ideas - for those who like to do that sort of thing. I used to journal a lot and I miss it. While I don’t journal that much any more, I at least think about the journal idea generators.

10. The Simple Dollar - “Financial talk for the rest of us” - many tips on how to manage finances and save some money. Reading this site has given me some useful ideas to incorporate into my financial life.

11. Free Rice - This vocabulary-building game helps me with this aspect of English and do a good deed. For each word I get right, 20 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program to the poor. I confess that I sometimes do this while having dictionary.com open.

12. Positive Psychology News Daily - Because I like to read research-based articles about “the Science of happiness and positive psychology.” Read this one about Positive Abnormality: Be a Genius by Discovering your Specialty, Uniqueness and Meaning. Leave a comment on what you think. I think these types of articles are thought-provoking, helpful, and fun to read.

13. Cordova Neighborhood Church - This site lets you know what the latest sermon series is - you can access this through an mp3 tab; gives info on the Youth, Big Kids Club and Socks and Gloves ministry. Go here for the Calendar. There’s also info about What we Believe, the Staff and more.

These are some of the sites I check on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Where do you spend your time?

For more Thursday 13 posts, go here.

A WINNER - SISTA

My talented Sista won a photo contest (photo-a-go-go) that KFBK hosts every week. Go here and look under WEEK ENDING FEB 29. In this photo gallery it is picture 16 out of 28. Or you can go here to see it as well. She won a slew of prizes! OK - only 3. But isn’t that awesome? Go to her site and leave her a congrats.

A PASSER - LORI

Lori took her nursing test Saturday morning. She ended up doing the short on-line test - the computer decides. This means she did REALLY well and so didn’t have to answer more questions. OR she did really BADLY and there’s no hope of passing, even with getting all the rest right. Well of course, SHE PASSED. Lori’s permanent license will be arriving in a few weeks. You can go here and leave some congrats.

Check out Bootstrapper’s list of 100 Tiny Tips to Improve Your Mood. These tips fall into 7 categories:

1. Recreation
2. Exercise
3. Food
4. Mental Power
5. Social Aids
6. On the Outside
7. Environment: I am especially interested in this one since I recently wrote about it here. Bootstrapper added things I hadn’t thought of. Do you have any more environment tips?

This site has many, many other helpful lists. These are comprehensive tips. No need to buy a book. Read these posts and apply the tips that make sense to you. Maybe even form a support group and use the lists as the action items.

Here are some of the posts that strike my fancy. Maybe some of you would like to join me as I go through one of the first 3? Don’t need wedding help yet.

• 100 Posts to Organize Your Life - Tips for the work life, home office, home, family, personal life, finances and health/fitness. Good stuff here.
• 101 Little Hacks to Help You Get Your Work Finished More Quickly - I especially like the general computing tips of shortcut keys, makes me look smart as well as fast.
• 50 Online Resources for Decluttering Your Life - Clutter be gone! I went through 3 boxes of books last night and am getting rid of 2 boxes today.
• Bride to-be’s Toolbox of 100 Online Tools and Resources - One of these years I’ll have the privilege of being the mother-of-the bride. So I’m reading this to get ideas ahead of time about having an affordable wedding.

Hat tip to The Happiness Project for introducing me to Bootstrapper.

I am blessed to have a sister who is also my friend.

Today is her birthday.  We had . . .

• Ice cream waffles for breakfast!
• A song from Em to her mom  about L.O.V.E  - “L is the way you look at Me.” She also gave “mom” a “Mom” pen.
• Kay was very creative in her wrapping of some delish smelling lotion.
• Es decorated a mug - which will get used a lot.
• DH’s themed present will set the mood for much-needed relaxing.
• This time I gave my sista the pressie I bought her. (I kept the last one for myself.)

I am very proud of my sister in her growth as a woman, mom, sister, wife and friend. I look forward to many more years of relationship!

If you’d like to surprise her, click here and leave a birthday greeting.

It’s His compassion.

“Jesus intercedes in prayer on my behalf because of His compassion too.”

God knows that sometimes I am like  a restless, wandering, selfish sheep. I get myself into mud-holes, on the wrong side of the fence, or topple over and need help getting back into the pasture. And don’t you imagine that sheep feels grateful for the help?

I woke up as a thankful sheep today because yesterday I found the 24 news/journal/magazine articles. They were in my safe place, but I couldn’t remember where that was.  :-)  So after much prayer and procrastination, I purposed to look and look until I found them. Which I did!

I had looked last week and did not find them!

I have to turn in a reaction paper (for each one) this week. As the days passed with no articles in hand, I was feeling more and more like I was in a mud-hole, on the wrong side of the fence and upside down. It was totally my fault for losing them. I called myself all sorts of names like “baaaad, messy, thoughtless sheep.” 

So why should God help me out? Why would He?

Because He’s compassionate!

How have you experienced God’s compassion this week?

(Okay, there are really more reasons why God answers prayer. I just had to clear that up.)

The History channel website has lost of interesting bits and pieces. For instance, I just learned that the ancient Roman cohorts were the world’s finest police force. There is further info about ancient Rome, the 7 Wonders of the World, Underwater Cities, and more. History is soooo interesting.

Here are some Achievement quotes I like from ThinkExist.com:  

 The Props portion of this entry is exciting - at least to me. My dear daughter (dd) is negogiating with the History Channel about making props for a segment (series?) dealing with cavemen. Wouldn’t that be a cool job for an art major at the University of Art Academy in SF? I am so proud of her.  :-)  I’ll let you know how this works out. 

Sunday nights I attend a hospitality group with (9-1 adults and scads of kids. This 4 week small group, led by John & Shula, will help us to understand and then to better implement hospiality in our own spheres of influence.

We start out with a potluck dinner and lots of talking.

• John then leads in a lecture/discussion on some aspect of hospitality.
• The evening progresses to dessert, coffee, and more talk.
• Sometimes we have homework assignments to fulfill during the week.
• When we get to the lecture/discussion portion of the evening, the kiddos and a babysitter go to another room and have some fun more suited to their ages.

I am attending this group for 4 reasons . . .

1.  To get me back into the entertaining/hospitality mode . . . .  In July of 2006 I felt like hospitality had taken a backseat far too long. Read here for more. Despite some valiant attempts (here, here and here) I didn’t get past the writing stage. John & Shula are great examples of showing hospitality. Nothing like learning this from the “masters.”
2. To eat a meal with people . . . .  As a single I eat most of my meals alone. The exceptions are my evening seminary classes and when my nieces/sista invite me over.
3. To get to know others better .. . . You can’t get to know others on Sunday mornings at church  - too much going on.
4. To observe group communication for a paper I have to write . . . . This observation has made me sensitive to what is working well in this group. And there is plenty.

Eventual Outcome of Group

The typical Dinners for 6 has been suggested. But an even better idea was suggested.

Form a Sunday hospitality group - Couples, singles and families would sign up (maybe once a quarter) to invite others to share the Sunday afternoon meal with them after Church. This could be at a restaurant, park or at the host’s home. Really the ideas are endless.

We are just at the beginning stages of brainstorming and it is exciting. It is also exciting to “work” with John, Shula and their kids in this hospitality experiment at CNC.

 What do you think? Any ideas? Suggestions? What’s worked at your church?