My Little Army of Difference Makers

My Thanksgiving break started with bell-ringing for the Salvation Army with eight middle school kids at a local grocery store.  When these Difference Makers planned it, some of them got really excited about the idea of taking their musical instruments along, so that they could play Christmas tunes, too! This scared me a little bit, since I had no idea how that would turn out. I decided to go with it, though, and felt better about it when the kids even set up a "rehearsal" session at school a couple of days before we went. Their band teacher was so thrilled with the idea that she stayed after school to help them figure out what they were going to do. I didn't hear them practice. I only knew that they were excited about it and were taking it seriously.

At the last minute, we got a new member (who happened to play the sleigh bells), so he joined our little "band," which also included three clarinets, one trombone, and a tuba. My heart was full, watching those kids bickering a little over what to play first and whatnot, and they finally settled in to a rhythm and played and played and played for almost two hours. Many people we know came to grocery shop and got the added bonus of a mini-concert; there were lots of smiles. If this video doesn't make you smile, you need resuscitation.

Our trombone player got restless now and then and went over to help ring bells. He was so cute; whenever anyone put money in the bucket, he chirped earnestly,

"You're really making a difference! Thank you!"

To be around such enthusiasm, such promise, such hope; it's such a privilege.

Weekly Winners

Weekly Winners is a weekly photo meme hosted by Lotus, of I am Lotus.


Thanksgiving at our house looked much like others, I'm sure.  

There was the gabbing in the kitchen...

(Mom and my sister, Mary, who incidentally brought the Pumpkin Dinner Rolls).

 Of course, there was also the sharing of electronics...

My mom played virtual checkers with grandson, Caden...

and was tickled by "Talking Tom."

 There was the overflow dining in the living room...

There were also a few other, non-traditional events...

...a special "birthday pie" for Caden....

 

(Kendall would probably appreciate my mentioning that despite the preceding two pics, 

she didn't eat any more than anyone else in the house!haha)

"Frosting" your own cake is fun!

Thankfully, everyone brought dishes to share. (As you can see, we had more than enough desserts!)

Here is my favorite photo of the night! You don't see this every night!

I'm thankful for a lot of things, but that last shot kind of takes the cake right now :)

Saturday Sampling, November 27, 2010

We've all got them; posts written a long time ago that maybe didn't get the play we'd have liked, posts that haven't lost their shines, even though they might need a little dusting.  The one I'm linking to tonight (from back when I first started blogging) leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I love having a forum in which to share it again.  Saturday Sampling is your chance to do the same for an old or new favorite post from your blog (or anyone else's).

Please, if you've never read the Saturday Sampling how-to post, click on the tab above before linking up. Also, here is the format to use when linking:

Name of Post (tags) by Blogger's Name, submitted by your name (if not your own post, add a star) See my examples below. [I will add stars to post recommended by more than one person.]

Enjoy!

Friday Fragments, Episode #122

Wow. 122 Episodes of Friday Fragments?! That's something like 600+ random thoughts I've unloaded in the past few years, and that's only on FRIDAYS!   Thanks for putting up with me through it all :)

***

At first, I was going to apologize for prematurely posting my Friday Fragments post, but then I decided that if I put it up now, I can allow anyone else to link up early, too, and not worry about getting to it on time tomorrow night. Here's hoping you have a lot to be thankful for today :)

***

As I draft this particular fragment (Wednesday night), I am suffering from horrible itching, due to my wearing a new shirt and track outfit (Hey, quit laughing!I might exercise again some day!) without washing it first. I will never, ever, ever do that again! I am covered with hives and am scratching more than a wool-underwear-wearing hemorrhoid sufferer! (Come on, antihistamine, kick in!!) 


(I have to credit Mr.4444 for that gem of a simile there; but, for the record, I'm pretty much just scratching my arms and legs.)

***

I'm starting to fear that some Chinese guy is trapped in a hostage situation somewhere in Blogland, and I, his apparent only means as escape, keep deleting his cries for help. Every single day, he uses Anonymous to post at least one comment (in Chinese or some other Asian language, I presume) on my Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Seeds recipe on Mrs.4444 Cooks. So far, I've resisted the urge to translate the gobbledygook, but what if?

***

We're prepping for a houseful on Thanksgiving, so I'm keeping this short. Thank you for being one of the many people I have to be grateful for in my life :)  Have a Happy Thanksgiving if you live in the U.S., and to you Canadian's out there, Happy Belated Thanksgiving! To the rest of you, come on over--There's going to be plenty to eat! :)

Bigfoot the Monster

Want a chance to win Fisher Price's new remote-control toy, Big Foot the Monster?  Check out the app at
Bigfoot Moods: "Enter The Bigfoot Moods Sweepstakes for your chance to win a Bigfoot the Monster toy."

They didn't have I'm Feeling "Itchy" or "Grateful," but Happy will do for now :)  Good luck!

Disclosure: Fisher Price has compensated me for helping them get the word out about this product and the sweepstakes.  

Mall Mob

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for music, singing, and flash mobs like this one, 

performed last week, at a mall somewhere. 

I love the Hallelujah Chorus, and this brought tears to my eyes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Human Body Acronyms (or Not)

We're studying "The Human Body" in 6th grade science these days, and let me tell you, it's very entertaining. We've learned all kinds of vocabulary, such as esophagus, sphincter, and colon. We've talked about digestion in the stomach, intestinal gas, and other "things" related to the tail-end of digestion.

Question Boy (as his Spanish teacher calls him) is a very insightful, inquisitive, freckle-faced lad who often daydreams and comes up with some very unique questions. Today was no exception. Following instruction on the word "feces," Question Boy asked quietly and sincerely,

"Mrs.4444, ya know how 'N.C.A.A.' stands for some basketball thing and how sometimes letters stand for stuff?"

"Yeah....."

"What does 'POOP' stand for?"

Quickly judging from my facial expression that he had probably taken a detour down Ridiculous Road, he added sheepishly, "Or does it not stand for anything?"

Unfortunately, I was unable to come up an appropriate comeback on the fly, nor have I come up with anything since.

Today (just in time for Thanksgiving) we will learn more about the word "anus."  I can hardly wait!"

Got That Christmas List Started?

Note: This is NOT a sponsored review or anything; I just really love this stuff and want to highly recommend it to you.

I know Christmas is a bit far out right now, but it'll be here before you know it, and I wanted to share a few finds with you so you can add them to your Christmas shopping list if you like.

First--A great children's picture book that teaches acceptance of your body: I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson. I still have our copy of it, which was read many, many times to Kendall, for whom I bought it years and years ago. I just thought of it today, when reading Eternal Lizdom's post (link in my sidebar). It starts out like this...

I have a best friend..

...and that best friend is ME!

I love this book and highly recommend it for anyone who wants to spread the idea of self acceptance, and more than that--celebration of self, even with our imperfections. You can buy it anywhere, I'm sure.

I am a self-professed lip-stuff freak; I always have a tube (or three) hanging around, and I've done a lot of searching for the kind that's just right--not too greasy, lasts long, smells nice, etc. While I'm not really into organic stuff, I did try Say Yes to Carrots (now that I think of it, I may have first been introduced to it at BlogHer 2009), and I love it. My favorite flavor is Mint (even though it's not really that minty). I really love the way it softens my lips and doesn't feel/taste all chemically.  Although I have a tube in my pocket right now, I would not highly recommend the "carrot" flavor. (Yes, they really do have a carrot flavor.) It's got an oddly- strong flavor to it.  Say Yes to Carrots goes for about $3 at Target.

For our Halloween party this year, we needed two crock pots, and since I only had one (cheap, falling apart, with a broken handle) I borrowed this one from my neighbor and fell in love. (Yes, really.)  It's digital, which is nice, but it also has a very cool locking lid with a rubber seal, which means that when I brought hot Spiced Apple Cider to work a few days later, it didn't slosh around. (What?! Yes, I did wait a few days to return it. I told you I fell in love!) The last thing that I totally loved about this crock pot is that it's got a Teflon-type interior (that lifts right out), so cleaning it was a breeze. Maybe you are the type to turn your nose up at kitchen appliances for Christmas, but I am not; I've put this baby on my list!

What about you? What's on your list? Got any recommendations?

Saturday Sampling, November 20, 2010

That MIL of mine, Grandma 4444 loves her Christmas shopping, so much so that she kept me out late tonight, so late that my unfinished post went up without me! Sorry about that. I'll make it up to you by sharing some of my all-time favorite posts found around the web this week :)  Please share yours, too!

Remember, one of your own posts (if you feel like it) and any number of those you'd recommend.  If you've never read the Saturday Sampling "rules," please click on the tab above :) Thanks!

Friday Fragments, Episode #121

Everyone knows how good it feels to de-clutter around the house. 

Friday Fragments, however, is the place to de-clutter the mind!

[Click on the tab above to learn more about Friday Fragments.]   

Thanks for joining me. Off we go!

***

Bathroom shelving, luggage, cookware that would make Paula Dean cry; these are just crumbs of what's available on the CSNStores website. I've received three different products from their more than 200 stores, and my experiences have been excellent, so I look forward to offering you a chance at your very own CSNStores gift certificate very soon. Stay tuned! [For my reviews, click here and here.]

***

An exchange between Kendall and me, at 6:30am, trying to get out of the house:

"Where is my Ipod? Where in the heck did I put it?"

"You should check your school bag; sometimes you're responsible without realizing it."

(She knows me so well.)

***

My Favorite Friday Fragmenter last week was Kathy, of Everyday Mommy. 

She has a preschooler daughter (I LOVE that age!)  Here little sweetheart said this one day...

"Mommy I don't want to die for a long time but when we do can we hold hands?"

She's obviously philosophizing about death, as many preschoolers are wont to do, 

since she also made this random (and totally nonsensical comment) to a grocery store clerk:

"We got these chips for my daddy. He's not dead yet so we bought him these."

Sooo precious. Kathy, the award is yours this week! Enjoy!

I truly look forward to catching up with all of you fragmenters this weekend. 

Leave a trail of breadcrumbs, will you?

Answered Prayers, Revisited

Two years ago, on October 27th, my best friend, Molly, lost her 17th year old son , Ryan, to an accidental heroin overdose. Molly is an outstanding (incredible, really) teacher of upper level high school students (she teaches Calculus, plus a heck of a lot more that's not in the official standards, but let me tell you, your child would be blessed to have her as a teacher.) Anyway, after about five weeks, Molly faced returning to school when it was the last thing she wanted to do. I was inspired. I'm posting this story again because I love her so much and because I simply feel helpless to do anything else today, Ryan's birthday.

***

Molly started back at school today. Yesterday, I spent a few hours with her and was comforted to learn that she was continuing to heal from her loss. She has been surrounding herself with family, shielding her heart and its raw wound from well-intended strangers and those who might unwittingly damage her already-paper-thin spirit. However, she knew that going back would be part of the healing process, too. She told me...

"Barb, I know I have to go back to school; I have to go on, but even though I know rationally that it's the right thing to do, I can't help feeling that I owe it to Ryan to curl up and die, to not go on without him. I just wish Ryan would communicate with me somehow. I know on an intellectual level that he is in God's loving presence and all that, but I don't feel it. I wish I knew that he is at peace now; that he would just contact me in some way and let me know that he really is okay. I need to know that he knows that I'm so proud of him for trying so hard to fight the addiction and that that I know his death was an accident."

She longed for a dream or for Ryan to send her some kind of message, so that she could find some peace.

Molly's friend and colleague, Kathy, had secured a sub for herself so that she could help Molly in her classes today. Molly had no concrete plan for how the day would go, other than that she wanted to "just talk" to her students, from her heart. Kathy would take over the teacher part when Molly was ready, as she knew she would not be prepared to tackle math on her first day back. Everything was ready....

A few days ago, Molly went to visit a priest in order to seek answers and the peace she so desperately needed. While waiting for him, she met Sister Caroline, who knew of her story and greeted her warmly upon hearing her name. She quickly asked Molly to wait a moment and left, coming back with a prayer shawl that had been made especially for her. When Molly shared some of what was in her heart, Sister Caroline said, "Molly, talk to Ryan. Ask him to help you. He is here with you, too."

So, Molly did. Sunday night, she prayed to God for strength and and comfort. She also asked Ryan to help her on Monday. She prepared her clothing for the next morning, still not feeling sure about her decision. She took out the many, many letters her students have written to her over these three weeks and read them. And, finally, she went to bed.

In the morning, Molly took a shower and readied for work, but did not feel good about going. In fact, she felt terrified, vulnerable. She thought she would throw up, didn't think she could go through with it, and even thought about calling Kathy to tell her she just wasn't ready. But she forced herself into the car and left.

Molly teaches three Calculus classes to students the same age as her Ryan. When she walked into her classroom, she didn't have it all planned; she just felt moved to pull up a stool and talk. She thanked the students for their letters and support. She shared something her son, Brandon, had said to her about his strength as he had accompanied his singing brother Austin on the piano at the funeral, tears streaming down his face. He said, "Mom, it's going to be hard, so incredibly hard, but no matter how much pain we're in, we have to keep playing; for ourselves, and for Ryan."

Molly talked about Ryan; how much she loved him, what he stood for, and how valiantly he had fought his addiction. She confronted the rumors she'd heard and set them straight. She talked about who Ryan was and how she wanted people to remember him.

She told me later,

"As I began to talk, I became filled with an incredible sense of tranquility and peace that I have never experienced in my life. It was spiritual, and the energy was so palpable, I could feel physical warmth enter my body, all the way to my fingertips. I stopped talking and asked the students,

'Do you feel that? Is it just me?'

They didn't indicate that they did, but it was so very real. It was such a beautiful feeling; almost like I was in a dream."

When she had finished talking, she walked to the back of the room, where Kathy was sitting (tears streaming down her face) and said,

"He's here. Ryan's here." Kathy nodded silently and hugged her friend.

Molly did not teach today (not math, anyway.) After her talk, Kathy taught the class, and students came to the back of the room to welcome their teacher back. A young man choked back tears as he told her, "Mrs. R, I admire you so much for being here. I'm just so proud of you." He was so moved that he could no longer speak. Other students offered condolences or cards or just thanked her for coming back.

Of her first day back, Molly said, "I just knew that I belonged there, Barb," she told me. "I'm not kidding myself; I know that there will be harder days ahead, but this one...this one was such a gift."

Thank you so much for your prayers...God has clearly been listening.

Mice Mirth

Saw this video and knew it was worth sharing. It will make you smile.



Another mouse video that came up is a blast from my past; the first time I saw it, it clicked for me--I had been singing the wrong words to this song. I'm embarrassed to say that, instead of "Where ya from?" I'd been singing, "Wear your bra!"  I know, I know; it's embarrassing, really.  I don't know how to explain it away. In case you're curious, here's the video that set me straight. It, too, will make you smile. (unless, of course, you can't stand even animated mice!)

The Shift

I'm on the technology committee for my school district, which, as most of you know, is not in Canada. That said, my district shares the philosophy referred to at the end of this video, which we watched in a committee meeting last week. Anyone with an interest in the education of 21st Century students should, as Dave always says, "Know this."

Your thoughts?

King Cooper's New Throne

 I recently received an offer to review a few CSNStores products, and I happily agreed, especially because Christmas is right around the corner! However, once I started shopping, I lost sight of presents for other people and settled instead on presents for me. What?! I needed some stuff, okay?!

Cooper has already ruined part of our carpet by sleeping on the same spot for nine years, and since it was time to toss out the raggedy blanket he slept on in our bedroom, I decided to choose The Majestic Pet Rectangular Pillow Dog Bed to review. As you can see, Cooper is very comfortable with his new "throne."

I'm not sure if he feels "Majestic," but he's certainly happy enough (what dog with his own bed isn't, really?) To be honest, the photo on the website looks a little ridiculous; no dog bed looks like that IRL, except for five minutes after it comes out of the package. When Cooper's new bed arrived, it looked pretty puffy. The photo above shows the bed after a week of use. As you can see, it's plenty puffy. What I cared about is that the cover is completely washable and simply zips off, which anyone with a shedding pet knows is important. The fact that Cooper liked it from the moment I unpacked it was also a bonus. (The first bed we ever bought him was the most expensive chew toy I've ever purchased. Granted, he was a puppy at the time, but still.)

I also received a kitchen timer for my holiday baking, as well as a blender. See my reviews for those here, on my Mrs.4444 Cooks blog.) Your chance to win your own CSN Stores gift certificate is drawing near!!

My experience with CSNStores has been great. Everything has been shipped right away and has arrived exactly when expected (and quickly). Free Shipping is offered with many of their items. I would recommend poking around on their 200+ stores for your holiday shopping.

Saturday Sampling, November 13, 2010

If you're looking for some really great blog posts or hoping to share a couple of your own, you've come to the right place! Saturday Sampling has so much to offer! It's my favorite post of the week these days :)

Please use the following format when linking up:


Title of Post (tags) by Author's Name, submitted by Your Name (if it's not your own post)

(Add one "*" to the front of the title if the post is one your are recommending from a blog other than your own, but please indicate that)  I will add more stars if posts are recommended more than once or if other people sing that post's praises in the comments. :)


Please link up only ONE of your own posts but any number of others.  For more information, please, please read the Saturday Sampling "Rules" by clicking on the tab above, please. THANKS!

Friday Fragments, Episode #120

It's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!

Let the fragging commence! 

[If you're new, Welcome!! Please read the FF specifics by clicking at the tab above. Thanks.] 

I survived strep throat this week. On my sick day today, while googling, I learned that historians now believe that Mozart died (age 35) of complications due to strep throat. On Tuesday night, I got a glimpse of what that might have been like; I had no idea how painful strep throat is, having never had it before. (You have no idea how often you swallow until you can't do it without excruciating pain.) I am very, very grateful for antibiotics and am feeling 100% better just 24 hours after my first dose.

 Kendall grabbed a banana for breakfast and ate it in the car on the way to school today. "You know what I really hate about high school? All of the sudden, bananas are dirty; you can't eat a banana in school without somebody making a sick comment."

Caution is always good for a laugh, isn't she?

I was behind in my Favorite Friday Fragmenter award, so I'm going back a week or two here for this one...

We need to finish on a positive note, so .... kudos to family dynamics that make us smile:

this morning's example was our 8 year old boy who said just as he left for school,

"Oh, I can't leave until I say good-bye!"

I smiled and held out my arms, but the boy turned the other way and walked toward the dog." 

Thanks, Caution. I hope you've built a closet for all of these awards!

To those fragmenters I missed last week, I hope to catch up soon! 

It's very easy to enter my What Think Ye of Christmas book giveaway. Take a couple of minutes to enter here. Giveaway ends Sunday.

My Favorite Post this week was my Difference Makers Magic post, which I plan to link up on Saturday Sampling (set to publish at 9pm central time Friday night.)  Have you checked SS out lately? There are so many great posts there. Link up your own or just enjoy the many offerings; it's a treat.

I found a very, very good book this week. It's called Socially Curious and Curiously Social, by Michelle Garcia-Winner and Pamela Crooke. This book is a must-read for any teen or young adult on the autism spectrum (or struggling to understand unwritten social rules).  Anyone who works with such young adults needs to read the book, as well.

Guess what? My brother's step-son just found out that the "new guy" he worked with recently was actually the CEO of the company he works for!  Yup, he will be on an upcoming Undercover Boss show!  (Their cover story was that they were doing a story on "green" companies; Rich works for a company that recycles waste products.)  I don't know many of the details except that the episode will be airing in January or February. Rich has a "larger-than-life" type personality, so I'm sure he will come off as quite a character on the show.

Remember how handsome Kenny Rogers was, back in the day?

Is anyone else as sad as I am that he completely ruined his good looks with plastic surgery?

   

Why, Kenny? Why?

Please take my mind off of Kenny's scary, scary eyes by leaving your FRIDAY FRAGMENTS post here, and don't be afraid to nominate some of the favorite frags you come across as you browse! :)

Difference Maker Magic

I want to share a story about the great fun I had one night last week with Difference Makers* students, whom I took to our local assisted living facility to hang out for a while with the residents. This was our first outing together as a group.

 

First, on a side note, I’ll have you know the kids I’m working with are fantastic.  They are a motley crew, in a way (mixed grades, mixed personalities and skills), but together, they are having a ball.  The best part is that in Difference Makers, they belong and are appreciated very much by their new friends.  Seriously, my heart is bursting here, and I just had to share. 

Anyway, when we arrived at the center, the some of the residents greeted us warmly, but some of them were a little slow to warm up (a couple of them kept to themselves and never did warm up). Some of the students played BINGO with a small group of residents

while another student took the iPad I had brought from school into the living area and invited a resident (I’ll call her Hattie) to play virtual checkers.  Hattie cheerfully agreed.

Hattie was confused at times, losing focus and staring out the window, asking random questions about things she saw outside, but she always came back and seemed to enjoy playing a game.  Another student joined in, and the kids were so sweet with her; she had some difficulty understanding how to play; she had a hard time tapping where she was supposed to, and she tapped on the screen kind of randomly. The kids just went with it and very patiently and kindly let her “beat” them, cheering for her when the game ended.

Following the checkers game, I showed Talking Tom** to Hattie. She naturally reached out to stroke Tom's face and was tickled by his response (He purred.)

As stated earlier, Hattie had some issues with her motor skills, and when she accidentally tapped (instead of rubbing) Tom’s head, his head snapped back dramatically, and Hattie busted out in laughter. Because Talking Tom also “listens” to you and repeats back what you say (with perfect clarity), Tom got up and soon laughed back at Helen. (Her facial expression was priceless.)

During the gaming, I bounced between rooms and tried to engage one faded flower in particular, who sat on the couch without talking much; she met my attempts at conversation with one-word answers and then just sat quietly. In the last ten minutes that we were there, I approached her again. Although she had not responded to my attempts to engage her, it was clear that she was interested in what was going on in the room, especially when Hattie began laughing.  I told her, “You should see this,” and gently placed the iPad in her hands.  It wasn’t long before she, too, was giggling!  

BINGO having ended, other residents approached curiously but kept a respectful distance.  I invited them to come over and see what was so funny, and soon, there were 2-3 ladies laughing at the same time (and laughing harder when Tom surprised them by laughing back at them); they were delighted!

“What is that?”  “Who made that?”  “Is that a real picture in the background?!” 

(Their questions were so cute.)

[I’m serious when I tell you that I am choked up right now, writing this; to have been there to experience that was a gift.] 

A staff member began videotaping our little group of giggling cat lovers.  In regard to the woman on the couch with me, she exclaimed, “I’ve never heard her laugh like that!” 

They’d never heard her laugh like that! 

 

Because of a handful of sweet middle school kids and an iPad, those folks got some color in their cheeks and some good, healthy belly-laughs.

The kids all talked at once on the ride back to school…

“That was the best time ever! I totally want to do that again!”

“That lady made me feel like she was my grandma!”

“I had so much fun!”

We already have plans to return in a few weeks. 

And next time, I’m going to bring two iPads.

*Difference Makers is an after-school group that I have been trying to get off the ground. Right now, I only have six students, but with each week, we gain another one or two members. Our goal is to just have fun making a difference in our school and our community.  As you will see, we are having a lot of fun!

**Talking Tom is a virtual cat iPad application that blinks, purrs, and parrots everything you say to him.  When he purrs, you can feel the iPad vibrate a little. Because he mimics the user's voice with perfect clarity, this app is not only hilarious but also useful for working with students working on speech development.  

[Note: I wrote this as an email to some people at school; supporters of Difference Makers who I knew would appreciate it.  I also included some beautiful photos that I didn't feel comfortable sharing here without cropping them, for confidentiality reasons.  [To read more about Difference Makers, click here.]

What Think Ye of Christmas? (Book Giveaway)

Note: This giveaway is over. The winner was Caution.

A couple of years ago, I "met" a blogger with whom I connected so well, I felt like we were sisters separated at birth. Jana Winters Parkin, "Charette," writes at Divergent Pathways, and if you've never read her blog, you really should, because she writes some very moving stuff. She's not only a talented writer, though; she's also a very gifted artist, which, of course, I figured out seeing works like this on her business site (which I found while stalking her a couple of years ago).

How gifted Jana was, I had no idea, until I read her bio (WOW), written especially for a new book that she illustrated with original watercolor paintings, What Think Ye of Christmas?

When Jana asked if I would review the book, I was honored to accept. She sent a copy of the book for me to keep and one to give away on Half-Past Kissin' Time!

What Think Ye of Christmas, written by Ester Rasband, is the second edition of a book she originally wrote 30 years ago, as a way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas:

The star, the lights, the feasting...if we forget the symbolism behind them, we lose out on the richest, most valuable message of the holiday:

THERE IS CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.

Ms. Rasband's and Jana's partnership bears fruit in this treasure, which calls us all to fit some quiet time into the holiday, to remember why we're doing all the rushing around. (I don't know about you, but I could use the reminder.)  To see Jana's heartwarming artwork that's in the book, visit this link.

One person will win a copy of What Think Ye of Christmas. To enter, just leave a comment here, telling me the Christmas symbol that has the most meaning for you. That's it. (Giveaway ends Sunday night, November 14th, at 11:59pm.)

*This hard-cover, picture book has about 30 pages and sells for about $10. Discounts are offered for multiple copies, and gift wrapping is available.

Our Eagle

This weekend, we celebrated Kyle's Eagle Scout achievement. The Eagle Scout rank is kind of a big deal, as far as Boy Scouting goes; it's the highest rank advancement and the only youth achievement that is acceptable to keep on your resume for the rest of your life. [To read about Kyle's Eagle Scout Project, click here.]

At the ceremony, the scouts are awarded handsome pins like this:

In a touch that is very appropriate, the scouts are also given pins to award to their parents for supporting them through the process. I was very happy to receive mine and proud that Mr.4444 got his own, as well. (We're a team, after all!)

In this photo, we're laughing because, up to this point, the ceremony had been pretty serious, but as Kyle was pinning his dad's pin on his lapel, Mr.4444 cried out, "OUCH!" startling everyone and cracking us all up. (Shocking, I know!)

Of course, both grandmas were in attendance.  My mom made a beautiful cross stitch memento for Kyle...

Kyle and fellow Eagle, Jake 

(He's got his sleeves rolled up because he's outgrown them! :)

Recipe for an Eagle Scout

by Mike Gallo

Place a young boy,
Bright and shining with God’s grace,
Into a free and hopeful nation.

Add a large helping of mother’s love,
And a touch of father’s, too.

A full measure of Scoutmasters’ patience and generosity,
Kindness and care from Assistant Scoutmasters
Camaraderie and friendship from a number of boys,
And support and help from their parents;
Plenty of assistance and encouragement
From family, friends, and community.

A kind word in a moment of doubt,
A gentle reprimand in a moment of weakness,
A helping hand, a guiding thought,
Understanding and forbearance, in full measure.

Immerse for years
In a Scouting atmosphere,
Warming thoroughly with
Good examples on every side.

When done,
Decorate with badges,
And serve to the world.

Friday Fragments, Episode #119

In honor of my laptop apparently being on its last leg (think 10-20 seconds to get a click to execute), I'm keeping this short tonight.  It's time to link up our randomness! [click on the Friday Fragments tab above for more information about FF.]

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Here's one of my favorite pics of late. It's a sweet little one-year-old neighborhood cutie pie on the loose.  If this doesn't say a thousand words, I don't know what does....

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As mentioned above, my laptop is suddenly running s l o w  a s  m o l a s s e s....It's annoying.

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Difference Makers--I have some mixed feelings about it:
 
*related to the fact that I'm not getting paid to do it and it takes a lot of my time
*related to the fact that one of our members is extremely hyper (and loud) and at times drives me to the brink of insanity (I'm very noise sensitive, especially by 3pm, when I am also tired and hungry) Still, I love the kid!
*related to the grant application I just sent in--Should we even try to get a grant for our group, or would it be more impactful to keep proving that it's easy to make a difference without spending a dime?

However, after tonight (playing BINGO at a local nursing home), I am more than ever committed to our group. Making a difference in people's lives feels fantastic. We are having a blast!

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As if she needed more amazing credentials, my friend Charrette, is now a published illustrator!  Visit Divergent Pathways to enter her giveaway for What Think Ye of Christmas, and watch for my giveaway on Monday!

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If you miss my mom and didn't see my post yesterday, read Missing Mom? 

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Okay, okay...it's taken me 30 minutes to write this--I'm done fighting with my laptop. Let's have your FRIDAY FRAGMENTS! [FF posts only, please.] Have a great weekend!!!

Saturday Sampling, November 6, 2010

Looking for some especially good posts? The posts here come recommended by the authors themselves or have been linked up by admirers of the writing for their humor, inspiration, poignancy, or just plain entertainment value. Got a favorite post from your week? Link it up, whether it's old or new, your own or someone else's.

Following the guidelines found under the tab above is appreciated :) Please post only one of your own posts, and or any number of others. Add a star to posts you have linked up from blogs other than your own. Then, sit back, read, and enjoy!

Missing Mom?

You haven't seen Mom in a while, so I figured you'd enjoy this shot of her on Halloween, in all her glory!

 

(If there was any doubt where I get my Halloween spirit, that should now be put to rest! :)

Even after all of her Halloween excitement, Mom kept her regular commitment to volunteer at her local election headquarters on Tuesday. In fact, I'd wager to say that my 81-year-old mother worked harder on Tuesday than anyone half her age, manning the polls from 6:30am until she arrived home at 9pm! I had called to see how it went, but she was so tired, she went right to bed without returning my call.  Today (Wednesday) she told me they had an incredible turnout (which will come as no surprise, I'm sure), and she and her fellow volunteers didn't get a break all day! She was excited to tell me about it.

"We were so busy! Yahoo!!" [what a cutie pie!]

Mom said she was so tired today that she didn't get out of her pajamas "until noon!" Then, she just lazed around with "Jimmy Cat."

I'd say she's entitled, wouldn't you?

Frosh Fun

Our son Kyle is having a blast in college; he's taking advantage of everything it has to offer.  This post is proof:

He's rushing a *fraternity. Don't worry-He assures me that it's not "that kind" of fraternity; they are the only fraternity on campus and are all about community service. Riiiiigght. Whatever. He's having fun and has been forced (as a pledge) to do all sorts of ridiculous things, such as wearing a pink shirt for two weeks, cleaning fraternity members' dorm rooms, and putting Martha Stewart's photo up for his Facebook profile photo (which in my book beats feats of drinking-til-you-puke-and-pass-out, hands down.)

Mostly recently, I received a text from my niece Mandy, who asked, "Are you at Mr. Phoenix**?" and of course, I replied "no," since I didn't even know what "Mr. Phoenix" was.  Turns out Kyle was at that very moment on stage, at his college, competing to be Mr. Phoenix!  I still didn't know what it was, but I got the gist of it the next day, when I called Mandy.

In order to compete, Kyle had to do three things:

1) Lead the crowd (of hundreds) in a school cheer (He rocked this.)
2) Answer a question (If you had a million dollars, how would you use it to help your school?) in formal dress. (No, Lisleman, not "in A formal dress." There. I beat you to it!haha)
3) Perform a talent.

Now, Kyle can sing, so at first, I was like, "Wow! Kyle sang?!  I haven't heard him sing since that time I videotaped him singing The Star Spangled Banner in the shower.  Dang it! I missed it.  However, as he explained the next day, he had only found out the day before (from his fraternity peeps) that he would be competing. He had to come up with something in a hurry, so here's what he did...

With the theme from Rocky playing in the background, Kyle walked up, whipped his shirt and pants off, put on his swim goggles, cut the music, and proceeded to tell the dramatic tale of how he once jumped the gun in an important swim meet.  Here's a glimpse of what it looked like:

That kid definitely takes after his dad; totally cool and collected up there, wearing nothing but a Speedo jammer swimsuit and a pair of goggles. (The crowd went wild, apparently.)

Kyle didn't even bother to tell us about the competition until it was over, and guess what?

He was 1st runner up!

What I love about Kyle is that he takes advantage of every opportunity available to him. He's taking classes, working part-time, is VP of his Dorm Council, is rushing the fraternity, has a girlfriend, and has big plans to study in Spain next year. What this kid won't accomplish in his life is beyond me.

Unfortunately, his grades are also beyond me; I don't have a clue what they are.

Fortunately, I figure a kid with this much ambition has got the grades under control, too.

Right? Right?!  tap-tap-tap  Is this thing on??


*Never ever refer to a Fraternity as a Frat. The term "frat" holds negative connotations, and most fraternities are extremely offended. Some individuals may not care, so be sure to get to know the person you are talking to first. But in general, the term "frat" is taboo, so just play it safe.
 **Not to be confused with Mr. Phoenix Leather Competition (trust me-you don't even want to google that.)