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Showing posts from March, 2019

The Twelve Sons of Jacob

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Another throwback video. Jeremiah (the boy on the left) is twice as tall now. Almost literally. The Twelve Sons of Jacob Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.  Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin, These are the sons of Jacob.

Not our typical trip to Canton

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Mom didn't get to go to the Ranger game with us on Thursday, but she and I went to Canton (First Monday Trade Days) today with a purpose in mind.  Usually, we go looking for craft supplies, and we did get a few things while we were there, but we went looking for plants. More specifically hanging baskets. I bought a couple last year, so we wanted to get more this time. I bought 8. She bought four and potted plant.  You cannot find a better deal. They were only $6 or $7 each and looked better than anywhere else you can buy.  After we parked, we went specifically to one location. We loaded up the wagon Mom brought and had to go right back to the car with a load. We moved the car to another location, loaded up and went back to the car. Then we went back up towards where we started and bought something I was looking for to make patterns. Then, back to the car. By the time we got home, we couldn't walk.  A cold front came through this weekend,

Rangers Opening Day 2019

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Dad and I made it out to Opening Day for the Texas Rangers yesterday. (I've only missed a few for various reasons since 1999.) We had great seats among all the Chicago Cubs fans. The man in front of us was from Chicago, the guys next to Dad were from Chicago. It makes me wonder how some of these people were able to get tickets when I could only buy two at a time when the people next to us had three. We had to leave Mom at home. The gates weren't supposed to open until noon, but we got there a little bit before and got in. That may have been three hours before game time, but at least we didn't have to stand for two hours to get in like people who arrived later. The Rangers lost, but I was so happy to take a real day off for the first time in I don't know when. Like a non-holiday, actual day off. (That sick day a few weeks ago sure didn't count.) I'm not sure when they open the new stadium next year if we will make it or not. Those ticket

Grit to push through the hard stuff of motherhood

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Part 2 of an Interview with Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy, Authors of Grit and Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms (Read part 1 of the interview here.) From firsthand experience, Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy, authors Grit and Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms (Harvest House Publishers), share about the rigors and joys of being a mom. Elbow deep in the grind of diapers, laundry and peanut butter sandwiches, moms may find themselves struggling in the day-to-day challenges of parenting. “Having grit is pushing through the hard stuff of motherhood with determination and laser-focus on the end goal of raising children who love and serve Jesus,” Kennedy explains. “Having grace means realizing that God offers you peace, rest and help in this season. Also, as you give yourself grace, you will find you have even more grace to give yourself and your kids from the One who is present in your life right now.” Grit and Grace is a refreshing collection

Fighting for Your Marriage While Separated

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Part 1 of an Interview with Linda Rooks, Author of Fighting for Your Marriage While Separated It is estimated that upwards of 80% of separated couples ultimately seek out a divorce. Despite the sobering statistics, it is possible to reconcile and build a stronger, lasting marriage. In Fighting for Your Marriage While Separated: A Practical Guide for the Brokenhearted (New Growth Press/February 25, 2019), Linda W. Rooks offers practical answers to readers’ questions, guiding them to a positive outcome for their marriage. As separation and divorce increasingly become what many feel to be the only solutions in many troubled marriages, Rooks encourages couples to continue to fight for restoration and healing. As a survivor of a broken marriage herself, Rooks understands that readers need specific, biblical, and practical help navigating their new, unwanted journey by faith. She and her husband, Marv, were married for over twenty years when then they faced a marriage crisis and

The sneeze that almost killed me

I'm on the couch again... I know I have been whining and complaining a lot about my sinus infection and bronchitis all month, but one little sneeze almost did me in yesterday. My ribs have been hurting from pulling a muscle coughing, especially suddenly in bed and shooting up to be able to breathe. Who knows, maybe I even cracked a rib. However, they had been better. Until this morning. I usually sneeze pretty hard and three or four times in a row. Not this morning. A single small sneeze almost killed me. It felt like I had been stabbed in the kidneys (or gall bladder or whatever other internal organ is on your left side) with a knife or a broken off rib or something. I was sitting at the time, so I had to stand up and try to catch my breath. OH THE PAIN! The initial sharp pain subsided, but I was practically in tears at a restaurant because it hurts to move. Because it's too painful to lay down, I'm back to sitting up, sleeping on the couch. Tonight will be nig

Puppet practice

I've been trying and trying to upload a video of puppet practice, but it will not upload to YouTube from my iPad. Two of my four weren't at practice on Sunday, but I had a good puppet voice going that was entertaining everyone that would have been good for a laugh, but alas, I can't get it to work. Maybe someday when I get a chance. With less than a month left until competition, I'm a bit nervous about how it's going to work out. I can't remember if I've mentioned (I think I've lost brain matter in blowing my nose the past few weeks), that I woke up one night thinking I needed to write a children's book based on how gross the 10 plagues were. I've never wanted to write a book before. I even sent the idea to editorial at New Growth Press. I'm very sure it won't go anywhere. There's the whole matter of the tenth one and making it not so terribly traumatic for children.

The 10 Plagues

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The Plague Song To the tune of “This Old Man” Then God sent, plague number one Turned the Nile into blood.  Chorus: All the people in Egypt were feeling pretty low;  Moses told Pharaoh “let them go!” Then God sent, plague number two Jumping frogs all over you. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number three Swarms of gnats from head to knee. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number four Filthy flies, need we say more? ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number five All the livestock up and died. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number six Boils and sores to make you feel sick. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number seven Hail and lightening down from heaven. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number eight Locust came and they sure ate. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number nine Total darkness all the time. ( Chorus) Then God sent, plague number ten Pharaoh’s son died so he gave in. All the people in Egypt were feeling pr

Giving our neighbors to the east some love

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Last weekend, I posted about making Oklahoma signs. This weekend, I worked on Louisiana ones. It's kind of like a whole other language, isn't it? ;)

Work, Cough, Softball, Repeat

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Photo from The Corsicana Daily Sun Work, Cough, Softball, Repeat. That's what life has been all week. I'm hoping to work on some crafts this weekend, but until then, this quick post. As for the picture above, I snagged it off Facebook. That's Peyton there in the front center.

Living Intentionally in an Unstable World

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Part 1 of an interview with Melissa Spoelstra, Author of Dare to Hope Looking at today’s world, hope usually isn’t the first word that comes to mind. We live in a polarizing world where everyone is taking sides over issues large and small, leaving us to wonder what the future may hold. On a personal front, marriages fail, bank accounts run low, friendships end, and the everyday demands of a fast-paced life get us down. However, what the world is experiencing today isn’t all that different than what the prophet Jeremiah experienced thousands of years ago, and as author Melissa Spoelstra shares in her new book, Dare to Hope: Living Intentionally in an Unstable World (Abingdon Press), God is calling out to His people with a message of hope—a message that intentional living is possible even in an uncertain world. Q: Several years ago, you wrote a Bible study based on the book of Jeremiah. What persuaded you to revisit Jeremiah and the subject of hope in your new book, Dare to

A Christ-Centered Approach to Preparing for Parenting

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Part 2 of an interview with Rob and Stephanie Green, Authors of  Tying Their Shoes Click here for part one of the interview. Through a gospel-centered approach to parenting,  Tying Their Shoes   by  Rob and Stephanie Green , lays the foundation for expecting parents to welcome a new addition into their home in light of the gospel. First-time soon-to-be parents and parents expecting an additional child will find Christ-centered hope, practical advice, and encouragement toward parental unity in this invaluable resource. The Greens know a baby brings many wonderful changes for both biological and adoptive parents. While other parenting resources exist to help expectant parents prepare for what’s around the corner, the Greens know the gospel is the best resource to ground couples in their relationships with the Lord, with each other, and with their children. Q: There’s a lot of fear-based “preparation” expectant parents can be tempted to cling to. While some advice

Cough, cough. Cough, cough.

I'm still coughing and my ribs still hurt. It's getting so old, but at least I'm able to go watch softball like tonight. Whatever is floating around that started this mess needs to blow on out!1

I didn't sign-up for this

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My kids in puppet practice yesterday didn't seem to be getting the point that they couldn't hold the puppets down low or to the side of their head. One wasn't quite getting the point that you need to move the puppets' mouth when talking. So, the three out of the four that were at the second part of practice yesterday had to march around the building with their arms raised, puppet mouths moving as they sang "The Lord's Army." One child remarked, "I didn't sign-up for this." My response, "You signed up for Miss Audra and puppets, and you never know what I'm going to make you do."

Deep and Wide... a throwback

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Since I've not been able to get new videos this month, I'm throwing back to two and a half years ago at the beginning of a school year when the kids claimed to be camera shy. It's backwards "Deep and Wide." Deep and Wide Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. Hmmm and wide. Hmmm and wide. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and wide. Hmmm and wide. Hmmm and wide. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and wide. Deep and hmmm. Deep and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing deep and hmmm. Deep and hmmm. Deep and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing deep and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and hmmm. Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain