Works for Me - Toy Rotation

I have a system for dealing with all of my son's toys. I rotate them. This became a necessity for me after the abundance of toys my son received for his first birthday & Christmas - which happen to coincide. And it has worked for the last 2 years. Here's what I do... divide the toys up and put some up & out of sight. Theses toys are reserved for a rainy day (literally) or when cold/extreme hot weather keeps us inside (or my son is driving me bonkers). I just pull out the "new toys" and he's totally entertained for the next little while. And, the "old toys" are inconspicuously hidden away until needed for the next time. This also helps my house from becoming too much of a Toyville!

Another tip - we go to the $1 store and buy a few cheap "car toys" for whenever we have to make long trips in the car. When he gets restless, we just pull out one toy at a time and there's peace for at least a little while. It works for me.

For more tips, check out Works for Me Wednesday.

Remedy is here

David Crowder* Band's latest cd, Remedy, hit the stores today - and yes, I have already purchased my copy. It is good. dc*b is incredible. I love their new version of "O, For a Thousand Tongues". To hear short samplings of the songs go here.

other random thoughts:

1. I drove home the slightly longer way... a back road that I discovered. There's tons of horse farms for Jack to see. Pumpkin patches that I made note of to visit later. Beautiful old farmhouses. An old general store. We go over parts of a lake. I like taking this route - it's just minutes from the suburbia I live in... and it reminds me of simpler things.

2. I signed up for facebook almost a year ago, and completely forgot that I had done so. I don't even remember why I did it - maybe Denise made me... or maybe I was trying to track down an old friend... Anyway, lo and behold, I started getting "friend requests" send to my email account. Which baffled me, because I did not even realize I had a facebook account. So, other people have noticed that I accepted her as a friend... and I keep getting friend requests...next thing you know, I'm doing facebook. And, I'm over 30. Go figure.

The extinction of the redhead

According to this article, and others like it that people keep forwarding to me, Redheads could be extinct by as early as 2060 or by the end of the century.

Here's my completely unscientific thoughts as to why this is asinine...

First, I hope to be alive in 2060, and I certainly hope Jackson will be as well. Plus, all the other great redheads I know. So, barring some sort of redhead genocide, this is absurd.

Secondly, the redheaded gene can be dormant for several generations. As in - ME! None of my parents or grandparents had red hair. I had a great-grandmother with red hair. Also, it only takes one parent with the red hair gene to pass this to their offspring (as in - Jackson!).

Thirdly, um... what about Scotland and Ireland. Huge percentage of redheads.

While the extinction of reds is a fun little musing, I really feel it has NO merit. And, what kind of world would this be without redheads? I love my hair color. It makes me different. And, if these "scientists" get it right, I may be getting more and more unique. :)

Oh, and while I'm bashing redhead folklore...[insert soapbox] ... redheads are not necessarily more temperamental. I can't tell you how many times I hear this. In reference to me, or God FORBID, my son is cranky in public....[soapbox over].

I'll also pause to answer the questions I am constantly posed as a redhead...

1. "Were you ever called carrot-top?" Not really. Sometimes Red, especially by my buddy Ashley. But, none of that remotely bothered me... maybe that's why I never got called it much.

2. "Do you tan?" Um... no. I can get what I call the "redhead tan", where there is a slight beige-ish tint to me. Otherwise, I burn, peel, and I'm right back to the whiteness. Redheads that tan (aka Nate) break the rules and its totally not fair. Tanning in the bottle has been my friend and, per my dermatologist, I am never to intentionally try to get sun. Ha.

3. "Are you burnt?" or "Do you have a rash?" Let me explain this. Redheads typically have very fair skin. I can't touch my neck without a faint little pink spot appearing. I can't cry without people noticing my blotchy face for HOURS later. And, if I am hot, my face gets very red. This seems to be odd to you olive-skinned ones.

Recipe: Pineapple Casserole

In continuing with the fall/holiday recipe series... This is Mike's #1 request for me to take to family get-togethers. Which is surprising, because usually "food mixed together that shouldn't be" is classified as "goop" to him. He's not particularly fond of most casseroles. :) I love him, anyway. It helps that this tastes more like a dessert than a side. Goes great with ham/pork dishes.

Pineapple Casserole
1 (20 oz) can of pineapple chunks (drain and save 3 Tbsp of juice)
1/2 c sugar
3 Tbs flour
1 c grated cheddar cheese
1/2 to 1 stick margarine (melted)
2 stacks of Ritz crackers (crushed)

Drain pineapple juice except for 3 Tbsp. Mix juice with flour & sugar and set aside. Combine pineapple chunks and cheese. Stir in the sugar and juice mixture to coat. Layer pineapple mixture in the bottom of dish. Combine melted butter with Ritz pieces and layer crackers over pineapple mixture. Bake for 23-30 min at 350 degrees (until crackers are golden brown).

Note: This makes a small dish, suitable for one family. If taking to a family event, double the recipe. :)

fundraiser

Yesterday, Mike and I had the privilege of helping with a fundraiser for a new Christian camp for children. The camp, Camp Willow Springs, will be the sister camp to our alum, Camp Willow Run. It will be adjacent to CWR and will be built specifically for grade-schoolers. The big reason for this camp is that CWR has had to turn away around thousands and thousands of campers due to lack of space. Almost 500 just this past summer. Willow Springs will enable us to double the amount of children able to learn about Jesus!

The initial designs for Camp Willow Springs are AWESOME. I would LOVE to send Jackson there... Lord willing, the funds will come in to enable this camp to be built by that time.

We were able to see camp alumni (young and old) that we haven't seen in a while. Also, Dot Helms, the wife of former senator Jesse Helms, spoke at the fundraiser. She and Jesse have been major supporters of both camps for decades. It was so neat to hear about their involvement and love for seeing children come to know Christ.

Another reason to love fall...

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE. Holy Cow. I'm addicted.

Recipe: Potato Supreme Casserole

In honor of the onset of fall, I will post a series of recipes that you will ALWAYS find at my family's get-togethers, particularly Thanksgiving. My mom & her 4 sisters are all excellent cooks and most of the recipes I get come from something that they made.

This recipe is my favorite side dish. It make a lot - which is good because I can eat this until I get sick. I LOVE it.

Potato Supreme Casserole:
2 lbs frozen hashbrowns (southern style)
1 C butter, divided
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 C sour cream
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 onion (chopped)
1/2 box cornflakes or Special K

Preheat oven to 350. Pour hashbrowns into a 13x9" pan. Pour 1/2 cup melted butter over hasbrowns. In a separate bowl, mix next 6 ingredients and pour over hashbrowns. Crush 1/2 box of flakes in a ziploc bag. Pour in 1/2 cup of melted butter over flakes and mix. Then, pour over hashbrown mixture. Bake for 1 hour.

(By the way, Bridge Ladies, don't forget about the recipe swap this Saturday night! Dessert swap - Yummy!).

Go 'Heels!

Yesterday Mike and I had a great day date! We were given *Free* tickets to the UNC v. UVA game in Chapel Hill. It was a beautiful day and was so fun, despite the disappointing loss. (How many years can we say, "it's a building year"?) Our seats couldn't have been better. One highlight - our friend's father, who was sitting next to us in his season ticket seats, invited us to join him in the Letterman's club during halftime. So, off we go to this private little club to get free lunch, drinks, and snacks in the air conditioning - and use the private potties! It was quite the hook up!

On the way to our sitter's house before the game, Jackson chanted "Go 'Heels!" over and over and over. It was cute. I can't wait to take him to some games... I don't think he's quite ready this year - or I should say, I am not ready to chase him around and try to entertain him during the game lulls. :)

Note to my family: We have tried to teach him "Go Vols!", but he confuses Vols for balls and just thinks we are talking about football in general. I'll work on it. Don't worry.

Court's favorites - kid activity websites

So, I get asked often, "What do you DO with Jackson all day?". I would love to say that I am the creative type and have our days filled with adventure and fun. I get in ruts of the same old thing over and over. But, I have these resources to do the creative thinking FOR ME. Thought some of you might enjoy as well. And, if you have favorites site of your own, please SHARE!

1. http://www.bozthebear.com/church/ - meant for church groups (I've already got it for ours), this site has activity pages and cute coloring pages. And lessons that go along with their DVDs. Jack loves his B-O-Z! Can also go to http://www.bozthebear.com/ and play games online.
2. http://www.123child.com/ - great activity suggestions for when you get in the activity rut with your kids.
3. http://preschoolrock.com/ - everything for your preschooler - songs, books, crafts, etc. Bonus: My friend, Monica, is one of their writers.
4. http://www.dltk-kids.com/coloring.htm - tons of free coloring pages... Bible, seasonal, you name it.
5. http://momma2beans.blogspot.com/2007/09/wfmw-bum-print-pumpkins.html - Oh my word. I can't decide if this is a cute idea or gross. At the least, it gave me quite a laugh. You must check this out and tell me your thoughts.
6. http://atv.disney.go.com/playhouse/index.html - games and fun activities for kids to do online. Jackson loves fishing with Donald Duck and matching instruments with the Little Einsteins.
   

SHE 'S HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a long 6 days. Mike came home from his Connection Group tonight and saw Daisy sitting in our neighbors yard. At first she tried to run when he called her, then he whistled the "Andy Griffith" theme song and she came right to him (she always comes to that song...I have whistled it outside all week). We think she's probably been holed up somewhere close-by and too scared to come out when we called or came near.

She looks perfectly fine - just a little dirty. Didn't even go to the food dish when I put it down... all she wanted was our love! (Don't worry, she ate fine after that).

Thank you, Lord!!! And, thank you, dear friends, for your prayers. It's amazing how much that little furball has become part of our family.

Rough day...

Today has been one of the most difficult in a while... I awoke to discover that our beloved family cat, Daisy, has run off. She is a house cat and is extremely skiddish. Her escape was an accident. She's been gone for over 36 hrs without a trace.

We put up flyers (twice - and recieved a call from our town's office that we cannot do so), called SPCAs, animal control, posted it on Craigslist, and searched everywhere. We even went door-to-door in certain sections of our area.

Did I mention that she is my first pet EVER? I was never allowed to have pets growing up. Except for a fish for about 2 weeks before it died. Needless to say, I was/am VERY attached to Daisy. I grieved today like an 8 yr-old who lost their first pet. I am hopeful, but trying to prepare for the fact that she may be gone forever... and how to communicate that to Jackson. Several times today he called out "Mommy, where's daisy? DAISY! Where are you?". Ugh.

Please pray that we'll be able to find her, or that she is safe with a loving family.

PS - Thank you, again, to my awesome sister Cheri for the hugs, Starbucks, and for looking for her, too. I love you!

Elliott @ the Braves game

I had to post these ADORABLE pics of my neice, Elliott, taken at her first Braves game. Check out the Braves outfit!! Too cute!

Geese & The Bridge

(from my last "Mom 2 Mom...devotional thoughts for Bridge Moms")

I've been thinking lately about how geese remind me of The Bridge. Sounds odd, I know. Let me explain. Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a "V" formation? Research shows that these birds use this formation to conserve energy. They are able to glide more often. And, the V formation reduces the air resistance, enabling the geese to fly long distances - up to 70% farther than if they flew alone. It was also found that the geese take turns leading a the front of the V. As one bird gets tired, they can drop back and another will take its place at the front. That's incredible teamwork and support!

In so many ways, I see GEESE in the people of The Bridge. We have Connection groups that pray, study the Bible, go out to eat, and look out or each other when life gets difficult. It takes a small army to get The Bridge up and running on Sunday mornings as we transform the building from a school to a church - and back again. What profoundly impresses me, though, is the JOY that I see on the faces around me as we serve together. There's something in the DNA of our church that makes people say "it's not all about me". We are all on this spiritual journey together. There are times when some of us are weak and tired, and our friends are there with support and love. That is what being the church, a spiritual family, is about. And, that is what makes me so proud to call The Bridge my church family.

"Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another" (Heb. 10:25).

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Gal. 6:2-3).

Only Grace

Every now and then a song comes along that seems to epitomize my thoughts and feelings... and this song becomes my anthem, so to speak, for a period of time. For a long time I was hooked on the praise song "In Christ Alone". I still love it.

However, there is a song that I am now captivated by -"Only Grace" by Matthew West. I think what I am drawn to the most is how this song reminds me of why Mike and I started The Bridge. A place free of judgement. We love our community so much, and our hearts ache for them to see the love that God has for them. So many have come to our church without any church background. Others are de-churched... they have been burned by church in the past. They are finding a place of acceptance. Most importantly, they are finding Christ. It is only by grace...the grace that I don't deserve, but that God pours on me... and you. Beyond amazing.

I have the lyrics below, and if you would like to hear the song, play the video below (someone made up this video, it’s not the artist’s video for the song - but it's really great).

Only Grace - by Matthew West

There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday
Has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now it’s clear

Chorus:There’s only grace
There’s only love
There’s only mercy
And believe me it’s enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There’s nothing left now
There’s only grace

You’re starting over now
Under the sun
You’re stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun

Chorus

And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, Get back up
Get back up again

Chorus: (2x’s)

Fear the Mountaineers!!

I have to give a shout out to my alum, Appalachian State, for making history today in their defeat over Michigan - in Ann Arbor. App is the first EVER division 1-AA school to defeat a ranked division 1-A school. Michigan WAS ranked #5 in the nation.

Perhaps my mountaineers will finally get more national attention! As if winning the last 2 national 1-AA championships weren't enough! Woohoo! Go App!