FTC disclaimer: Most of my blog posts do contain affiliate links.
This is this blog's most popular post, and I've revised it slightly since it originally published in July 2010.
I love to enter sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways. I think it's no secret I get slightly annoyed when I mention something I've won and I get the comment, "You're so lucky" or "I've never met anyone as lucky as you." While luck has a bit to do with it, I see sweepstakes as just a numbers game. Contests rely on skill and therefore there is no luck involved.
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Thursday, June 18, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
FTC disclaimer: This is a sponsored post from U.S. Cellular. All opinions are my own.
U.S. Cellular offers a FREE PRINTABLE Parent Child agreement to help you discuss safety of the Internet, cell phone usage, limits, and courtesy with your teen or tween. You don't even need to be a U.S. Cellular customer to access this, although I have been for 10 years and highly recommend them.
Did you know that June is Internet Safety Month? (Personally I think every month should be Internet Safety Month, but this is a good time to remind everyone about the cautions of social media in our lives.)
The Pew Research Center found that 74% of teens 12-17 access the Internet on a Smart Phone, tablet, or other mobile device, at least on occasion. I remember when the big safety suggestion was having one computer in the house and having it in a public area. That's not realistic these days to help safeguard your kids, so one of the most important things is not giving them a Smart Phone until they show enough maturity to use it properly. But this is also a little difficult because there are so many things for children to access -- TV shows, magazines, music, videos, and even books.
U.S. Cellular offers a FREE PRINTABLE Parent Child agreement to help you discuss safety of the Internet, cell phone usage, limits, and courtesy with your teen or tween. You don't even need to be a U.S. Cellular customer to access this, although I have been for 10 years and highly recommend them.
Did you know that June is Internet Safety Month? (Personally I think every month should be Internet Safety Month, but this is a good time to remind everyone about the cautions of social media in our lives.)
The Pew Research Center found that 74% of teens 12-17 access the Internet on a Smart Phone, tablet, or other mobile device, at least on occasion. I remember when the big safety suggestion was having one computer in the house and having it in a public area. That's not realistic these days to help safeguard your kids, so one of the most important things is not giving them a Smart Phone until they show enough maturity to use it properly. But this is also a little difficult because there are so many things for children to access -- TV shows, magazines, music, videos, and even books.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Who's The New Kid by Heidi Bond Book Review
FTC disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. Many of my blog posts also contain affiliate links.
So why did a newlywed of less than three weeks and someone who is not a mom sign up for a blog tour of book written by a mom who helped her child fight obesity? It's obvious that I am not reading this to try and help my child -- but the subject interested me. I was the one in school who was overweight. I remember one time a teacher said we could write our nicknames on our papers we turned in. Mine was handed back with "Use your real name." Evidently, it was acceptable to use "Bubba" but not "Short, Fat, and Ugly". As an adult, I now see why my teacher said that, but at the time I thought, "That's just my name."
So why did a newlywed of less than three weeks and someone who is not a mom sign up for a blog tour of book written by a mom who helped her child fight obesity? It's obvious that I am not reading this to try and help my child -- but the subject interested me. I was the one in school who was overweight. I remember one time a teacher said we could write our nicknames on our papers we turned in. Mine was handed back with "Use your real name." Evidently, it was acceptable to use "Bubba" but not "Short, Fat, and Ugly". As an adult, I now see why my teacher said that, but at the time I thought, "That's just my name."
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Our Slice of Eternity
Most of my posts contain affiliate links where I get a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you when you purchase something through a link. Thank you for starting your shopping here at Books, Bargains, Blessings.
On my wedding day many, many thoughts went through my head. One of my favorite moments of the day was when we asked all our guests to join us for a group photo by the crosses at the church we got married in. This isthe church I grew up in, and looking at the charter membership, I think there are more charter members who have passed on than are still on this earth. My memories from this church are dear. I remember a lady named Dean stringing Christmas lights around her feet, plugging them in, and asking, "What hymn am I?" (Answer: Let the Lower Lights be Burning.) I remember her husband, Bob, one time saying we needed to sing a new to us hymn and somehow picking something more suited to a toddler Sunday School class. I never laughed so hard in church in my life. Dean and I could't even sit up straight we were laughing so hard. Then there was our precious Gayle. She invited me to church in 1986, and passed away a few years later. Who knew that when she invited me to that church, I would someday get married in it? When I learned she passed away, I was helping with VBS that week (Anyone remember JoyTrek space themed VBS?) It was the closing program, and my friend Shelly got up and sand "Friends" by Michael W. Smith and said Gayle had passed away. I can remember feeling responsible for my 5th and 6th graders but just wanting to run out and scream "Why God?" I remember the care in picking out a sympathy card for her family. It was the first time I ever had to send a sympathy card to a friend's family.
In addition to friends and family from that church, from where we had the group photo I could see my parents' grave.
Something about that moment gave me chills. We are here. Yet we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us Hebrews 12:1 KJV
My mother had a story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven: 101 Miraculous Stories of Signs from Beyond, Amazing Connections, and Love that Doesn't Die. In her story she talked about how she made a bit of the journey to the afterlife with her uncle. I'm not one for what I call "Heaven Tourism" stories, but I remembered what she said about seeing people she knew who had gone before and seeing those she knew would come after her. I thought of this.
Somehow the cloud of witnesses almost felt tangible on that day. We are just one small slice of enternity. The Bible says the average person lives 70 years. That's a drop in the bucket of time. No matter how long we live on this earth, it's never long enough. My husband's grandfather passed away at age 99, yet it still didn't feel long enough as his goal was to live to 100.
We have a small slice of eternity to make a difference. Let's use it wisely, and remember those who came before us.
Somehow the cloud of witnesses almost felt tangible on that day. We are just one small slice of enternity. The Bible says the average person lives 70 years. That's a drop in the bucket of time. No matter how long we live on this earth, it's never long enough. My husband's grandfather passed away at age 99, yet it still didn't feel long enough as his goal was to live to 100.
We have a small slice of eternity to make a difference. Let's use it wisely, and remember those who came before us.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Sneak Peak of wedding Photos
Friday, May 22, 2015
Called to be Amish by Marlene Miller Book Review
FTC disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This post contains affiliate links.
I realize I went to an unconventional high school. There were 16 of us in grades 1-12. A small Christian school at the beginning of the Christian schooling movement, we were unique. Mine was the first graduating class. We were located right in the middle of an Amish community.
We didn't have any Amish students attending our school, but I can remember buying carrots from the lady with the buggy parked in her garage. There's nothing like a carrot harvested that day. It was not unusual for another Amish lady to stop by to use the phone in our one room schoolhouse.
I realize I went to an unconventional high school. There were 16 of us in grades 1-12. A small Christian school at the beginning of the Christian schooling movement, we were unique. Mine was the first graduating class. We were located right in the middle of an Amish community.
We didn't have any Amish students attending our school, but I can remember buying carrots from the lady with the buggy parked in her garage. There's nothing like a carrot harvested that day. It was not unusual for another Amish lady to stop by to use the phone in our one room schoolhouse.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
The Weirdest things Happen to May May 2015 edition.
I can't believe that one week from today I'll be married. Actually with the stress I can. Stress is at an all time high for me. The contractors finally finished the kitchen this week. I told them to be done by May 1st. So the house is pretty much still unlivable. I can't find my veil. My guest book pen is still among the missing, the bulletins aren't done, I still have the slide show to put together, favors to assemble, and that's just the beginning.
The other day I was in Walmart getting some last minute items. Well, not too last minute, but some stuff I needed. My fiance saw an older man had been carrying a broken bottle of Palmolive through the store, and my fiance stopped, but I walked right into it. I pulled a muscle in my back trying to keep my balance. Then as I stepped out of the puddle my Palmolive covered shoes wanted to send me down to the floor again. I had to finish the rest of my shopping trip in pain and barefoot until my fiance took my shoes into the bathroom and washed off all the dish washing liquid.
I'm at that stressed out level now that I am having nightmares about not getting everything done for the wedding. I am looking forward to having as much done as will get done and enjoying everything. Being out of commission for over 48 hours due to a man carrying a broken bottle of Palmolive through a store is NOT something that was good timing. Not that it would ever be good timing, but there are times it would be a lot less stressful than it is now.
Seven days!
The other day I was in Walmart getting some last minute items. Well, not too last minute, but some stuff I needed. My fiance saw an older man had been carrying a broken bottle of Palmolive through the store, and my fiance stopped, but I walked right into it. I pulled a muscle in my back trying to keep my balance. Then as I stepped out of the puddle my Palmolive covered shoes wanted to send me down to the floor again. I had to finish the rest of my shopping trip in pain and barefoot until my fiance took my shoes into the bathroom and washed off all the dish washing liquid.
I'm at that stressed out level now that I am having nightmares about not getting everything done for the wedding. I am looking forward to having as much done as will get done and enjoying everything. Being out of commission for over 48 hours due to a man carrying a broken bottle of Palmolive through a store is NOT something that was good timing. Not that it would ever be good timing, but there are times it would be a lot less stressful than it is now.
Seven days!
Friday, May 8, 2015
Making the Most of Your Summer Using iPhone Apps
FTC disclaimer: I am part of the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger campaign. I received compensation for this post but all opinions are my own.
U.S. Cellular offers a FREE PRINTABLE Parent Child agreement to help you discuss safety of the Internet, cell phone usage, limits, and courtesy with your teen or tween. You don't even need to be a U.S. Cellular customer to access this, although I have been for 10 years and highly recommend them.
My life is so busy right now! I'm sure everyone can say that, because as summer begins, so do activities. I remember a Facebook post last year about this time where someone said, "Seriously people, there are other days in May besides this Saturday". This year I am feeling like everyone chose the 23rd as the day to do things. After I chose it as my wedding date! I heard of nothing going on that day when we picked it -- last July. Since then I've learned of four weddings, a bridal shower, a flea market,
U.S. Cellular offers a FREE PRINTABLE Parent Child agreement to help you discuss safety of the Internet, cell phone usage, limits, and courtesy with your teen or tween. You don't even need to be a U.S. Cellular customer to access this, although I have been for 10 years and highly recommend them.
My life is so busy right now! I'm sure everyone can say that, because as summer begins, so do activities. I remember a Facebook post last year about this time where someone said, "Seriously people, there are other days in May besides this Saturday". This year I am feeling like everyone chose the 23rd as the day to do things. After I chose it as my wedding date! I heard of nothing going on that day when we picked it -- last July. Since then I've learned of four weddings, a bridal shower, a flea market,
Monday, May 4, 2015
The Day I left Church in Tears
Last Mother's Day was the first without her. I headed to the first service our church holds, and it being on a Saturday I thought I was "safe". I remembered how my mother said in her childhood church every woman got a carnation -- one color if your mother was living and another if your mother was deceased. I thought about how difficult it would be the first year to wear the deceased color.
Nothing was said about Mother's Day all through the service. But at the end. Oh, how I wish I had left early. Our church had about 50 in that service, and the mi
nister called all mothers up to the front. I was the only adult woman left in the pews. It was all men and me. (I don't recall any children being at that service.) I felt so singled out when every woman but me was called to the front. Every woman but me received a flower. It was uncomfortable, but I've dealt with that for years. It doesn't matter how much you may want a child, at most churches I've been to only those who have children either biologically or adopted are honored. (I've often wondered how women who have no children with them but have given a child a chance at a better life by releasing them to be adopted feel when all mothers are to stand.)
Mom and me after she was on dialysis for a couple years. |
I was the only woman who was not given a flower. I was the only woman looking on at all the other women while the minister did a mini-sermon about how being a mother and raising a child is God's highest calling. (Isn't the calling God has on your life His highest calling for you? And my calling is not what someone else's calling is so why should we say what is God's highest calling?) My fiance tried to comfort me, but that only made it worse. I was in absolute tears. So much so that one of the women brought her flower to me, the childless one.
Isaiah 51:4 says it beautifully:
Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the forsaken one will be more than the children of the married woman," says the LORD." (NLT)
Last year after the minister finished his mini-sermon on motherhood being the highest calling in a woman's life, church was dismissed. I want children. I spoke to my doctor today about the possibilities and risks of trying to have a child. I'm 41 and have health problems. From the sounds of things, it likely won't happen. We hope to adopt. But until now God's highest calling for me was taking care of my ailing mother. I couldn't have cared for her the way she needed if I would have had children.
Ours was the first of four church services over Mother's Day weekend last year. As I left the church, I mentioned to the minister that he might want to be aware that there are women who want children and can't have them and hearing that motherhood was God's highest calling might not be the best way to honor mothers. I was met with silence and a blank stare.
As soon as I got to the car, I announced I was never again attending church on Mother's Day as it was too painful. I went home and went to bed. My fiance had the next day off work and wanted to see me busy so we did a day of geocaching until we were exhausted.
Let's remember that God calls different people to different things. Mother's Day can be a difficult day for various reasons. Infertility, singleness, miscarriage. I'm not saying to not honor mothers but I'd love to see churches be mindful of the pain this day can cause, and let's also remember the Leslies in our church, the single women who give so much to the children.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Max Lucado: Let the Journey Begin
FTC disclaimer: I am a Family Christian blogger and received this book and an appreciation certificate to facilitate my review and for hosting a giveaway. Post does contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Let the Journey Begin: Finding God's Best For Your Life a great little hardcover gift book, perfect for graduation. It is more of encouragement as to what the future holds. While it would be great for the graduate, I think it would make a nice gift to a newlywed couple with a gift card to Family Christian tucked inside. Why do I say that? As I was reading this book, I was reminded what my fiance recently asked me. We are getting in 20 days, and between wedding planning and renovating the house I inherited from my mother, we have had little to no free time. I think back to the days when we would play a board game, watch a DVD, or participate in other hobbies. We haven't had time to do anything other than wedding prep and house remodeling. Add in the fact we each have been sick in the last month and we both work, time has been at a minimum.
Let the Journey Begin: Finding God's Best For Your Life a great little hardcover gift book, perfect for graduation. It is more of encouragement as to what the future holds. While it would be great for the graduate, I think it would make a nice gift to a newlywed couple with a gift card to Family Christian tucked inside. Why do I say that? As I was reading this book, I was reminded what my fiance recently asked me. We are getting in 20 days, and between wedding planning and renovating the house I inherited from my mother, we have had little to no free time. I think back to the days when we would play a board game, watch a DVD, or participate in other hobbies. We haven't had time to do anything other than wedding prep and house remodeling. Add in the fact we each have been sick in the last month and we both work, time has been at a minimum.
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