This (click here) is as far as I have progressed after spending SEVERAL HOURS (in between making chips and dip/cheesy enchiladas/sour cream pound cake) uploading, deleting, and constantly changing the layout. Please be sure to click on the tabs and do some exploring. Suggestions welcome!!!!!!!

Mr. John’s Corner:

Me: I’m done.

Mr. John: Done with what???

Me: Spending time in THIS kitchen.

Mr. John: You spent more time in there today than you do in a week!

‘Nuff said.

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Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Now is the time his bones are being formed; his blood is being made;his mind is being developed. To him we cannot say tomorrow. His name is today. Gabriela Mistral

One of the most surprising things I learned about myself when I became a mother, is how much I love children. Not just my own, but other people’s children. I find great comfort in my daughter’s friends, in my friends’ children and in the child that asks “Mrs. B, if my Dad doesn’t show up can I go with you?”. I love a car full of kids, yelling “She touched me, make her stop!” or “He won’t let me play his Gameboy, it’s my turn!!”. Many adults will get frustrated and annoyed by such clamor. I feel blessed.

In 1996 Hilary Clinton wrote the book “It Takes a Village…And Other Lessons Children Teach Us”. The opening paragraph of this book states “Children are not rugged individualists. They depend on the adults they know and on thousands more who make decisions every day that affect their well-being.” The premise of the book being that, it takes a village to raise a child. Every day I encounter children that are not mine, that I don’t know, that need me to one of those thousands. Oh, if they only realized how much I need them.

They are God’s gift to me. When I bring my daughter to soccer games, I don’t have time to complain about being the snack mom for the zillionth time in a row…I am too busy enjoying, watching children play and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise. When I take my daughter to the movies with her friends and they want, soda, popcorn AND candy…I don’t have time to complain aobut the cost…I am so happy that they can all be together and act like the kids they are. When we go to the pool in town, I don’t have time to complain about the hot sun…I am too busy watching children teach each other to dive, to swim, to play Marco Polo. God has placed many children in my life because He knew.

He knew I needed to have a childhood. He knew I needed to see and experience what running free in the park is all about, what sharing an ice cream cone with a best friend is like. How laughing at nonsensical stuff is not stupid. It is a magical moment.

In the busyness of your week, stop and look and listen. Breathe in the essence of your village. It is the ordinary pleasures that make an extraordinary day.

Embrace what God has given you and don’t say tomorrow… for the child only understand today.

This post was previously posted on July 1, 2006 on my blog The Whippoorwill Chronicles.

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Robin from Around the Island has a fun summer photo meme ~ Summer Stock Sunday. Today she posted about swimming and I thought I would do the same since Miss Sam spent most of yesterday swimming.

Samantha’s Corner:

Mom: It’s 1:00 pm ~ time to get up.

Sam: Ugh…

Mom: I don’t care ~ it’s time to get up.

Sam: Mom listen.

Mom: I can’t, I have things to do.

Sam: Mom listen….I got up early yesterday….I got a lot of exercise….and I didn’t get to bed until 4:00 am….PLEASE…let me sleep.

Sucker Mom: Okay…BUT….you are going to bed at 2:00 am….do you understand???? DO YOU UNDERSTAND??????

Sam: Okay…Okay….just please let me sleep.

Okay ~ so how many of you think Miss Sam will call it a night at 2:00 am?????????? ( I know BAD MOM ~ BAD MOM)

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I uncovered three of my old diaries when I took those old ‘memory’ boxes down from the attic. Here is my entry for today…forty years ago. My age??????? Okay. Okay. I was fourteen when I wrote this:

June 24, 1969

Dear Diary,

This morning Ma, I and Deb went uptown and got a pattern.

Joann and I walked to school. We picked a rose up at Dean Junior College.

Played “coffee pot” in gym. BORING

Mom made the dress!

So does anyone know what “coffee pot” is???????

Joann?????????

How about this entry….is it even a tad bit more exciting????

September 25, 1969

Dear Diary,

The dress code has been abolished. Hallelujah! Keith says he’ll wear frilly shirts.

English was alright. Jim and I got in trouble in Geometry for talking.

Jackson thinks he’s a hot ticket.

Flavio kept “looking’ in study. He was all dressed up for his class pictures. What a doll!

Tony almost skipped computer programming.

Hmmmm…perhaps I was just a “regular” teen after all! How many boys’ names did I mention?????

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The weather in my neck of the woods… a cool 97 degrees with a storm and a heat advisory in the afternoon

One of my simple pleasures… reading my bible first thing in the morning. I am reading the book of Acts for the second time then I will be finished with the New Testament. I am excited about moving on to the Old Testament.

I am thankful….that it is officially summer. I LOVE summer!

From the kitchen… last night we enjoyed(FINALLY) a homemade meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob and Mr. John’s favorite cake ~ Sour Cream Pound Cake.

On the menu for tonight… leftovers, I teach tonight.

New recipe I tried this week…

Meatloaf

Ingredients:

2 1/4 lbs ground beef

1/4 lbs ground pork

1 pkg beefy onion soup mix

1 cup bread crumbs

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup ketchup

2 cups grated cheese

2/3 cup milk

Topping:

ketchup ( I would prefer BBQ but my family doesn’t like BBQ)

Prepare a 9 x 13 pan by lining it with foil. Mix all ingredients well and shape into loaf. Place on baking pan and make an indentation along the top of the loaf. Cover meatloaf completely with topping. Bake at 350 for 60 - 90 minutes.

I am working on… continuing to transcribe letters from WWII. 

From the learning rooms… a little math and a little science with a lot of reading.

I am going to… considering signing up with Ancestry and working on our family genealogy with Miss Sam.

I am reading… Roots by Alex Haley. It is such a compelling read. I cannot put it down ~ which doesn’t allow for much getting done around here.

In my bedside basket waiting to be read… Queen by Alex Haley ~ Thanks Vic Grace for the recommendation!

On my TV…

The Closer

So You Think You Can Dance

Mental

I am hoping… that this IS NOT the last season for MONK!!!

Around the house.. laundry…what else???????
Favorite Blog Post from the past week… that would be If I’d Known Then What I Know Now by Miss Kris at A Shelter From The Storm.

On my To-Do list for the week:

1. Read
2. Scrapbook
3. Transcribe letters
4. Work with Miss Sam on her Cosplay
5. Think about cleaning the house

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Lessons learned the past few weeks… I learned a valuable lesson from my husband this week regarding the investing of emotions unconditionally.

Devotional/Scripture Readings/Key Verses…

Acts 1:21-25

The apostles had to choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot. They outlined specific criteria for making the choice. After finalists were chosen, the apostles prayed, asking God to guide the selection process. This gives us a good example of how to proceed when we are making important decisions.Set up criteria consistent with the Bible, examine the alternatives, and pray for wisdom and gidance to reach a wise decision.

Taken from The Life Application Study Bible

What’s your Daybook look like?????

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Miss Sam has tagged me with this meme:

 Eight Things About Me That Nobody Knows

1. I have been muddin’ in the back woods of Georgia: and no, I wasn’t one bit afraid that it was two in the morning and we couldn’t see where we were going.
2. I have been out fishing in the middle of the night with no moon: holding a gun (not a fishing rod) in case the water moccasins decided to join us in the boat.
3. I really enjoyed Basic Training: what could be more fun than running through the woods at night dodging “enemy fire” and then being timed to see how fast you could put on your gas mask while in a gas chamber. Fun I tell you, fun.
4. My very best girl friend rented a red convertible for my birthday one year and we drove to my favorite city Charleston: a lot can be said about a city that has a “Rainbow Row“.
5. I love dressing up for Halloween: I do a great Cher imitation ~ hey that would be a great post ~ photos of all my alter egos ~ remind me to do that.
6. I dumped my first roommate in college the first week of school: after all, how could a roommate tell a mother that her daughter “hasn’t come home yet” from the day before. Did she not know there were certain rules to be followed as a roommate…jeez.
7. I don’t like sappy movies: we just watched Nights in Rodanthe…I HATED it…hated it I tell you.
8. I didn’t drive a car for six months: I mean if you ended up in the parking lot of an auto parts store not knowing how you got there…you would be a little apprehensive about getting back behind the wheel…wouldn’t you? WOULDN’T you????

Tag you’re it!!! I would love to learn more about ALL of you!!! Feel free to participate and let me know in the comments that you have posted them ~ or share one thing about you that no one knows in the comment section!!!

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So this morning I went about my usual summer routine.

Get up. Let the dogs out. Make coffee. Read a chapter from my Bible. Let the dogs in. Check my blog for new comments left overnight.

This is what I love about blogging…how one simple comment leads to many wonderful discoveries:

• Reconnecting with bloggers who “knew you when”. Such is the case of Sherry from Going Goofy. I have always enjoyed Sherry’s honesty and sense of humor but somehow we got disconnected (probably from my constantly changing blog formats/names). What a treasure/pleasure it was to click on over to her place today and read about her “being one fry short of a happy meal”. Needless to say I enjoyed my morning giggle as I thought about recent moments where I too was “one fry short”.
• Being able to relate wholeheartedly with posts written by other bloggers. Just like the one that Sherry wrote. It made me feel as though I am not alone with the search to locate parts of my mind that have gone MIA. This inspired me to write a post of similar experiences and I set off to find some Google images of being “one fry short” to bring interest to my post.
• Finding an image to “beautify” my post and discovering a book I want to read by someone who lives just a short distance away. While searching for my “one fry short” image I found a book titled: One Fry Short: A Journey Toward Self Discovery and Emotional Success by Tim Passmore.
  • Product Description (from Amazon)
    Are you a fry short? Some have been described as being “one fry short of a happy meal.” This is a common phrase used for those who are a little “off.” Dr. Tim Passmore knows what this means through personally experiencing the stress of unhealthy emotions. He has struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Bipolar Type II Disorder since childhood. His journey has taken him through formal training in psychology, counseling, and treatment by medical professionals. The most significant influences in addressing his issues have come through his study of God’s Word and finding value through his personal relationship with Christ. Join him as he helps you discover who you are and influences you as you travel down the road which can lead to emotional success. Dr. Tim Passmore is pastor of Woodland - The Community Church in Bradenton, Florida.

This is what I love about blogging:

• an old friend stopped by to say hello and in the process of reconnecting I found an awesome book to add to my “to be read” pile. How cool is that.

Go and say hello to a blogging friend you haven’t “talked” with in awhile. You never know what wonderful events will follow.

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