Seasons of Autumn

Summer 2011

2011-07-28T20:18:00.001-07:00

Visiting with old Homestay Family, Shiloh & Wendy Quill halfway through our journey in Oz!
Wonderful group of ladies: Bianca (DM), Teresa, Andrea, me and Mendy
(We are at Byron Bay Lighthouse, Easternmost point in Australia)

My new friend Mendy from Utah...we're at Tangalooma on Moreton Island

At the Harbor in Sydney (Opera House in background)

New Homestay Family, John & Michelle Loxton (Sydney/Eastwood)

Rapelling in the Blue Mountains at Full On (first time!)

Whole crew at Moreton Island beach

Holding a Koala at Rainforestation in Kuranda, Queensland

Early summer fun: Rent in June with Guidi

January Blizzard

2011-02-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

I still can't believe we missed out on an ENTIRE week of school due to this crazy snow! WHOA! The outside of my house and the path
Roswell Road, completely covered. Hardly anyone drove for several days!

December 2010 in Review

2011-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

First winter snow in Atlanta!

Riding the Pink Pig at Macy's with coworkers!

The adorable gingerbread house Amanda gave me for

my birthday! I had fun making this!

I love getting Christmas cards and letters from friends!

2010 Tree...lots of presents! YAY!

Fall Fun

2010-11-24T17:19:00.000-08:00

With 4 of my 6 students at Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus

Singing the "Teacher Piece" (title of which I forgot)

at SEHC...Can you say, sight reading anyone?

With half of our People to People delegation at the Corn Maze social

With all the girls I took to State Elementary Honor Chorus

Back to School

2010-07-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine has a daughter who is about to start kindergarten who has been experiencing some anxiety about it. The anxiety has resulted in tantrums when the routine isn't followed at home. She asked for my "teacherly" advice, and here was my response:

School will be a big adjustment initially (has she been to Pre-K?), but there will definitely be a routine in place there which should help her out a lot! Especially if you establish a routine for what happens when she comes home from school (i.e. snack, homework if any, playtime, supper, bath, story, bed). I would not hesitate to talk to the teacher about her anxiety in regards to routine and make him/her aware in advance. Teachers always love when you tell them that YOU know your child isn't perfect and you are working on things at home. Home support goes a long way when your child has any issues, or the potential to have them. You guys and the teacher will work as a team to help her make the kindergarten transition in a positive way.

Now is a good time to pick up some books about Kindergarten, and I'm sure you've been talking to her about going to school, etc. Some of the best ones I know are:

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten (Slate & Wolff)

**There are a ton of books in the Miss Bindergarten series that are so cute!!!

The Night Before Kindergarten (Natasha Wing)

Look Out, Kindergarten! Here I Come! (Carlson)

Regarding routine at home, have you tried making a picture chart for her? Some of our younger grades use these at school, and in special ed classes, each individual student has their own routine chart with pics. (I'm not suggesting your child is special ed!). Anyway, the idea is that you chart out what the routine is each day and it's represented by pictures so the child can follow it. You might put times on it to make it more specific. The ones at our school have velcro spots next to each "task" in the routine, so the child puts a reattachable object next to it when it is completed (or you could laminate it and let her check off each task with a dry erase marker). I'm not explaining this well, so check this website out:

http://parentingresources.suite101.com/article.cfm/morning_picture_routine_chart_for_kids

The picture cards are here in clipart form, but you can also maybe even go through magazines or old books with her and let her choose the pictures for each task, making it into a project that you guys work on together, allowing her more ownership:

http://www.dotolearn.com/picturecards/howtouse/schedule.htm

Emphasize that this is what "Big Girls" or "Kindergarten girls" do...they can make right choices by doing what is asked of them, and follow adult directions...the first time. Working on that skill alone (following adult directions when given), will make her more successful in kindergarten than you know!

You may even want to do a secondary chart with stickers...where if she follows the directions/routine all day one day without a meltdown, she gets to put a sticker on the sticker chart. When she achieves say, 3 stickers in a row, give her a SMALL reward. Maybe after a straight week of stickers, she gets a little bigger reward. When she fills up the sticker chart, then I would introduce the bunny...and add a task of "Feeding bunny" or "Cleaning Bunny Cage" to her task chart. Kids feel so grownup when they have a job to do, and pets are great way to introduce that responsibility.

In regards to rewards: be wary of food rewards. Think of things like "computer time with Dad" or "playing outside with Mom" or "a trip to the library" or a big one could be "choosing a new book/toy at Target." Don't let her assume it will always be a piece of candy, or necessarily an object.

Finally, both of your girls are really old enough for the routine charts. You might start the younger one on a modified version, but if they both have it and Elena's has a few extra steps, she'll feel more special. Be sure to place the charts somewhere like the kitchen where the whole family can see them all day long and chart the progress being made.

Those are just some ideas from my end. I hope they help!

Good times in the UK

2010-07-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Notting Hill, Portobello Road

Outside the best musical EVER!

Newly built International House, where I used to live. They tore down the old one!

John and Steve's new house on Grand Avenue, Camberly

In Joy's garden, Uxbridge

Germany!

2010-06-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

We've seen a lot and been several places, but these are just 2 little gems:

Group of kiddos with host students after school today.

Cornelia (DM), me, Amanda, Suzy, Karen & Denis (driver) at the Irish Place in Ludwigshafen!

More pics from Paris, London, & Bruges

2010-06-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Adorable Bruges! Love it here!

Our horse-drawn cart tour of Bruges

Cupid & Psyche. I find this to be one of the most beautiful sculptures in Le Louvre.

Me, Morgan & Amanda outside the Eiffel Tower

Me & Amanda on Utah Beach, Normandy (Of D-Day Fame)

Me in front of the Palace of Versailles, home to Marie Antoinette!

Me & Amanda on the London Eye, being goofy!

London & Normandy

2010-06-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Pictures weren't working to upload tonight! Will try again later!

Day 1: Runnymeade, Hampton Court Palace

2010-06-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

Europe Here I Come!

2010-06-02T13:10:00.001-07:00

European Heritage

Map

Satellite

Hybrid

Amanda and I leave with our People to People delegation on Tuesday for our 3 week trek across
Europe! We're so excited! Keep a watch here for updates on our travels!

Name that Broadway Show!

2010-05-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

1. "We'll not discriminate great from small. No...we'll serve anyone - Meaning anyone - And TO anyone - At all!"

2. "It won't work! I look before I leap. I love margins and discipline. I make lists in my sleep, baby!"

3. "To love another person is to see the face of God."

4. "I'm through accepting limits', Cuz someone says they're so...Some things I cannot change, But till I try, I'll never know!"

5. "In my dreams I have a plan, If I got me a wealthy man...I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball."

6. "Love's never easy, Take it from a girl who knows. Love comes as quickly as it goes."

7. "Santa Claus we never see..." "Santa Claus...what's that? Who's he?"

8. "Once upon a time, this place was infested. Freaks on every corner...I had them all arrested! Hey nonny, nonny, nonny no!"

9. "Actually sire, I'm Jewish." "Really?" "Yeah, on my Mum's side.." "Why didn't you say anything?!" "Well..it's not the sort of thing you say to a heavily armed Christan."

10. "Being true to yourself never goes out of style."

Break A Leg!

2010-05-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Wish us luck tonight!

Sarah's Key

2010-04-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

If you have any interest at all in World War II or the Holocaust, this book is a must-read. I read it in just a few days last week. I thought it'd be good pre-reading before I head to Europe in less than 6 weeks. This year we visit the Anne Frank stuff in Amsterdam, and of course the Beaches at Normandy/Utah Beach again along with the American Cemetery. This book tells a story about the German occupation of France that I never knew about, the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup of Paris in 1942. Check it out.

Ah, Spring Break

2010-04-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

I will miss you, Spring Break...

Kelli's in Cambodia

2010-03-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Kelli is in Cambodia working with an organization called CHO that helps to rescue children and young girls/women from the streets and sex trafficking. WOW. These photos they have on their blog today of kids at Mat Schools (outdoor schools provided by CHO that take place of real school when families can't pay the $20 per year fee), really tugged at my heart.

"Little Gems from the Healthcare Bill"

2010-03-22T05:31:00.001-07:00

If you're not already REALLY concerned about the new Healthcare bill that just passed, you ought to be. Check out some of the highlights we'll soon be enjoying (starting in as early as 6 months!), in plain English:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2300451/posts

As one friend commented on facebook: "One nation, under Canada, above Mexico, with socialism and injustice for all!"

AHHH!

Field Trip

2010-03-10T18:42:00.001-08:00

What a great trip! A musical at the Alliance (Disney's Mulan Jr.), and lunch at the Varsity. Can't get any better than this!!!

Snow!

2010-02-22T18:44:00.001-08:00

Snow a couple weekends ago...very pretty, and just enough to not inconvenience us too badly!

The Strong-Willed Child

2010-02-08T16:56:00.001-08:00

At church yesterday, John Ortberg told the story of how sometimes a strong-willed child can become an excellent leader later in life. He talked about how the closer we get to God, the more we are becoming what He wants us to be...but we'll still be ourselves. I love this story:

A mom was having trouble with her 4-year-old daughter riding her tricycle everywhere in the street. The mom sat down with the little girl and told her the parameters. She said, "If you go beyond where Mommy said, I will spank you. Do you understand?" The little girl looked right at her mom and said, "You can go ahead and spank me, 'cause I have places to go!"

Mandy was telling me the story about her friend Melissa's little girl, about the same age, who was having trouble keeping her room clean. Melissa told her, "If you clean your room, you may keep all your toys. But if Mommy has to clean your room, I will take three toys out and you will not get them back." A little while later, Allison (the little girl), came to Melissa with 3 toys that she had carefully selected, and proceeded to tell her why she didn't need these three anymore and that Melissa could have them. HA!

Kids are so great, aren't they?

World Vision: Helping Haiti

2010-02-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

One of many reasons why I support World Vision...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7pbAhJmFco

Savannah & Diet Coke

2010-01-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

Oh really, Fox Theatre? These bottles are manufactured, "Exclusively for the Fox?" Because I definitely found one here in Savannah, GA at the River Street Sweets. That's right. Boo-ya!

Thanks PCC...Much Needed, Louie!

2010-01-25T15:15:00.001-08:00

Romans 8:26-39 (The Message)

26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Two Things

2010-01-11T18:38:00.001-08:00

Even though my kitchen flooded over the weekend and none of it is really solved yet, I found this on a friend of a friend's blog today, and it made me smile :o)

Happy Christmas, NY Style!

2009-12-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

Good Old Movies

2009-12-17T19:02:00.001-08:00

Did you know that the 1940 film, "The Shop Around the Corner," was the basis for the 1998 movie, "You've Got Mail?" Both films starred big name actors of the time. Margaret Sullivan and Jimmy Stewart in the 1940 flick and of course Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in the follow-up 58 years later. I recently had the opportunity to watch "The Shop Around the Corner," on AMC one evening and it was marvelous. The similarities are striking. If you have the chance, I'd suggest watching it! In the meantime, E! is featuring "You've Got Mail" this week!

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

2009-12-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

Did you know...???

Rudolph was the creation of Robert May, an advertising writer for the Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago. May, who was very imaginative, wanted to create a booklet to give to parents who shopped at Montgomery Ward and with the help of Denver Gillen, a friend who had artistic skills, they created a booklet about Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

The story of how Rudolph lit the way through the fog to help Santa Claus deliver his toys was distributed for several years, with millions of booklets distributed at Montgomery Wards stores over the years.

In 1947 the story of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was put to music by a friend of Robert Mays by the name of Johnny Marks. It was recorded and sung by Gene Autry a famous TV star and sold millions of copies of the song. Rudolph has had his own TV shows and movies and continues to grow in popularity with every passing year.

A Classic

2009-12-13T18:09:00.000-08:00

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has recently been made into a made-for-TV movie, which I hope they will rerun so I can see it!!!

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? VIRGINIA O'HANLON. 115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there.

Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real?

Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Radio City Rockettes!

2009-11-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

This year was my third year seeing the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. It is such a good show, and if you haven't seen it before, you really must prioritize to see it soon! It hasn't been in Atlanta since 2004, and even a few parts have changed since then. Last year, Mandy and I got the chance to see it at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, and it was pretty awesome there too!

Fun Facts:
1. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular began in 1933 and only 2 acts have survived all those years: The Toy Soldiers and the Living Nativity at the end.
2. To be a Rockette, your height maximum is 5'7".

Wanna see more? Click here: http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/nationaltour/

New Moon

2009-11-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

I admit it fully. I succombed to the hype and saw New Moon. And I have to admit, I liked it. It was 100% better than the first film (which was lame and had just such poor special effects). I still think it's cheesey how they make Edward glow in sunlight as if he's taken a shower in glitter. But I enjoyed the film more than the last. I do still think there is no chemistry between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It's more believable between Kristen and Taylor, but Kristen's just probably one of the worst actresses EVER. Her poor acting aside, the movie overall was good. It was an easy, stress-free escape from reality which is exactly what I paid for. I will now probably finish the book series...I quit midway through the 3rd. Sigh.

Honor Chorus

2009-11-09T05:21:00.001-08:00

Check out the slideshow of my awesome Honor Chorus kids this weekend!!!

http://www.thelucasimage.com/09SESHonorChorus/

The Sparrow

2009-11-05T14:47:00.001-08:00

I was teaching grade one about Japanese music today at school. The song was called "Chichipapa," and was about the "Sparrow's Singing School." I asked the children if anyone knew what a sparrow was. Here is the conversation that took place between me and one of my really gifted kids who has a big vocabulary...which apparently didn't---until today---include "sparrow." HA!

ME: Can anybody tell me what a "sparrow" is?

JACK: A sparrow is this weapon...you pull it back like this, and then let it go and shoot it, and then it sticks in someone.

ME: Hmm...that sounds more like an ARROW. Let's think of something that is ALIVE...

I love my job. Especially little nuggets like that!

Halloween Funny

2009-10-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

Church & Coffee

2009-10-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

Flooding in the Phillipines

2009-10-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

Please say a prayer for our friends, The Stallsmiths, who are missionaries in Manila, Phillipines with Wycliffe. Fortunately, they have not suffered any hardship or damage of any kind to their new home. But many others are not as fortunate. These are pictures they sent us over the weekend. Please pray for all the families affected! More details are below the pics!

FROM GLENN & SARAH:

Thank you very much to those who checked on our safety here in Manila. We are grateful to report that we are doing well and were unaffected by the two recent storms. No water entered our house. We did not get stranded anywhere. The power and water stayed on to our house during the entire ordeal. Last Friday and Saturday (September 25 & 26) Tropical Storm Ondoy (aka Ketsana) dropped a month's worth of rain in 24 hours. Waters rose quickly, trapping people on their rooftops or in their vehicles. Families were separated, caught on opposite sides of the Pasig River. Hundreds died. Hundreds of thousands are homeless. Classes were called off all week, with many schools used as evacuation centers for the victims. We could write pages of stories about our friends who were affected. Here is just a sample:

~One of our Filipino employees who works in our library had water at chest-height in her home. Her husband put their baby daughter in a washing machine to let her float above the flood waters.

~The wife of a different employee noticed a large crack in the neighbor’s house. She insistently knocked at their door and warned them to leave the house. Within seconds of leaving the house, it collapsed down the hillside.

~A Wycliffe missionary friend lost everything she owned when the 10-foot high waters entered her house. There was an oil spill nearby, so the floodwaters left a slimy slick over everything. Many other people were at least able to salvage their clothes, but our friend had to throw away everything.

Please keep praying!

My New Favorite Thing!

2009-09-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

From P.S. 22 in Staten Island, NY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2p5augniQA

And check them out here too:
http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/

Guess I got my work cut out for me! HA!

More NJ pics!

2009-09-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dad prepping the space for lecture.

Double decker train (not ours)

Our train! Yay!

Metropark Station sign on the platform

Dad with magician and friend, Dick Swanby

New Jersey & DC With Dad!

2009-09-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend with Dad! We decided we should do it again. I got to meet lots of other clowns and magicians and enjoyed watching Dad in his element. A good time was had by all! Getting ready to ride the train from NJ to DC!
All the stops our train made...a 3 hour trip total!

Ticket booth!

Dad's table of magic props & tricks for sale

Dad preparing his lecture (and "Magic with a Smile" Glen helping)

Return of Plumpy*Nut

2009-09-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

I get things in the mail from World Vision just about every week. I sponsor a girl in Albania, but they have regular mailouts to ask for donations towards particular agendas. But what I got yesterday made my heart happy. World Vision is now purchasing and distributing Plumpy*Nut!!! In case you didn't get a really cool email from me earlier this year about this amazing product, basically it's a peanut-based paste full of vitamins and minerals that is basically saving lives in Africa. This product can essentially take a child who is so malnourished that he is on the brink of death, and put weight on him in just days. The nutritious packet is made by locals in the countries where it is distributed, thus providing even more jobs. Additionally, the packets can keep for a long time which means they can be transported without spoiling. Kids love the sweet taste and even toddlers can feed themselves (like in the photo above). If you're interested in learning more about donating through World Vision to the cause of Plumpy*Nut, click here to watch a short video on it and see how to give:

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=1753174&go=item&xxwvCampaign=1119031

SWINE FLU...WATCH OUT!

2009-09-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

Apparently the Swine Flu has gotten a bit out of hand...

Mom sent me this from work this morning. Classic!

Dad & Me

2009-08-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

I have the coolest Dad. As you probably know, he's a magician. Thus the rabbit. We used to go to these magic conventions when I was a kid, you know, with ventriloquists, puppeteers, clowns and of course magicians. I performed with Dad when I was younger too...my signature trick was the sword basket. I would get in this wicker basket and dad would shove all these swords through at different angles, then step in the basket as if I had disappeared. Tricky.

So I told Dad a few months ago I wanted to go to one of those conventions or lectures with him in the future. He travels a lot doing his lectures to other children's entertainers/magicians/clowns about how to do what he does. He also sells his products, tricks, books, DVDs, etc.

Dad has taken me up on the offer! In a few weeks, we are heading to New Jersey for one of Dad's lectures and I will help him out. Then we're taking the Amtrak train to Washington D.C. for his next lecture. That will be so much fun because we both love trains. Then we'll fly home. It will be a proper father/daughter weekend. Good times, good times! Now...if I can just remember how to deal with all those crazy magicians!

Let the Chorus Begin!

2009-08-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

Chorus began again today! Hoorah for singing!!! I can't believe I had over 60 kids in my room...and that's only HALF the group! The other half comes tomorrow. Today we began some holiday tunes, and I honestly thought when they were singing the divine words of, "Joy to the World," and "Silent Night," that it was a Choir of Angels. We also worked on, "Over the Rainbow." I thought to myself, "Wow. Great job choosing kids who sing really well this year!" Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me and push that kid who really can't sing into choir, just because. This year I was more strict and turned 39 singers away as they just weren't up to par. Now here we are, 130+ singers, including some new faces who weren't at my school this year. Here we go!!! Wee!!!!!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!! Wahoo!

2009-07-27T12:42:00.001-07:00

Gotta love that t-shirt!

Both GA and NC kids enjoyed Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island,
the 3rd largest sand island in the world!

Ferris Wheel at Sydney Harbor

Beautiful Opera House and Harbor Bridge view at dusk

Harbor Bridge, night fall.

Byron Bay Lighthouse

Getting ready to go on the boat out to the Great Barrier Reef!
We loved Reef Magic tours...what a great company! And thanks to
the medication Kytril, no sea sickness for Autumn! Yay!!!

Inside Capricorn Caves

One of my koala friends at RainForeStation!

Some typical currency

One of many "big" icons in Oz...the Big Banana!
(There is also the Big Prawn, the Big Mango, etc).

With our homestay family, Shiloh, Wendy and Mark Quill.

Sampling sugar cane cut right from the stalk!

In certain areas of Australia, frogs really enjoy hiding in the
toilets and coming up when you flush! Ahh!!!

Hanging up our laundry to dry at our home stay. I mean,
should I point out that they have a perfectly working dryer? Nah!

Me with Amanda getting ready for sand tabogganing...probably
my least favorite activity on the trip. AHHH! Bleh!

Squinting at Byron Bay. Gorgeous day and views!

Trying our hand at cricket at the Sydney Cricket Grounds...

or just faking it with the equipment that was laying around!

Snapshots of Kenya

2009-06-22T21:41:00.001-07:00

Ngaamba is green! There were many more green plants
this year as a result of the water project!

My little girl I sponsor, Mumbua Muuo, showing me her desk and
notebook in Class 2. She's only six years old! Isn't she adorable?

This little friend was playing in a rain barrel!

Drinking water at the tank. Everyone shares this common mug. Ahh! Germs!

This little friend entertained us all at church for 3 hours! She's a mess!

With new friends after church in Ngaamba.

Reunion with Phoebe Maina, our leader from last year. Now Phoebe is on
staff with BrightPoint, helping determine needs and carry out sponsorship
program benefits for kids who have an American spnosor.

This is the kitchen built as a result of BrightPoint sponsor funds. Now, at Itumbule Primary, each day a hot meal is cooked in this kitchen and served to every student at the school. Enrollment has risen by over 60 children in the last 6 months due to the feeding program. They are also able to pay the cook, Yacinda, which helps her family to have more earning power as well!

Two little pre-schooler friends at Itumbule.

Hungry, Hungry Hippos at Tsavo National Park.

Me with Mumbua on our first meeting. Very exciting!!!

Traffic Jam! Goat and cow crossing!

Me, attempting to lift a 25 liter water jug. Women carry these multiple times per day and let me tell you, they are HEAVY! Gosh! I watched the owner of this one strap it to her head with a rope and RUN up the hill to her house. What?! Guess I need to lift more weights at the gym. What, what?!

Class 4 after doing an art lesson, creating nametage necklaces.
They were honestly more excited about the markers than
the necklaces, but very proud in this picture! What a treat!

Dusty, bare feet. But they can still play a mean game of soccer!

Kenya Bound

2009-06-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a map of Kenya. To give you an idea, we are going to start in Nairobi, then stay in the town called Machakos which is about 2 hours southeast of Nairobi. From Machakos, we'll be driving an hour and a half each way into the village of Ngaamba to work each day at the school. We finally got our first flight settled tonight at about 11:00 PM. We leave for Paris tomorrow at 4:30 PM and are unsure about our next flight after that...but God is good and we're learning that we can make all the plans in the world but His way prevails! I heard someone this week say, "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans." Well He must be laughing now! Please keep us in your prayers! More updates here as soon as we have computer access again!

Bach Duo

2009-06-08T19:56:00.001-07:00

Because I'm a music nerd, and because this is both amazing and entertaining all in one!

And PS: To those in the video who are clapping to the steady beat halfway through, you don't clap the steady beat to Bach. It's silly. Please get a new hobby. Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZD8W2nO1lY

Biltmore Trip

2009-06-07T19:45:00.001-07:00

On a bench in the gardens

Mandy on the bench

Side view of the house

Me next to the rose bushes

In the rose garden

On the back terrace...it was a bit windy!

Beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Who really needs this much space? 250 rooms...ahh!

The Countdown Begins...

2009-06-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

One week from today, providing our flights are booked... here I come! Aren't they magnificent little creatures? God really outdid Himself in Ngaamba!

Grammar Police!

2009-05-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because my parents were journalists, but I have declared myself the Grammar Police and I'm currently issuing citations:

1) I frequently correct my students who wish to, axe a question. It's ask guys. Just don't ask R. Kelly in his song, "The World's Greatest," because he'll encourage you to axe him. Such violence.

2) Seen today at L.A. Fitness in the Spin Room, a sign that reads: Locker are available. Ok, several ways we could approach a correction...either Lockers are available or A locker is available would be great alternatives. And the worst part? This sign is printed and hung in several places around the gym, not just the spin room. Sigh.

3) I've saved my favorite for last. I saw this on the clearance rack at American Eagle last weekend. Check out the inscription on the t-shirt (enlarged for better viewing):

Really? I mean, editors didn't see this? It actually went to print and teen girls all across the USA are wearing a grammatically incorrect t-shirt that proclaims you should Love the one your with. Wow. No wonder our society is lost in abbreviations like LOL, BFF, and TTYL. We can't speak in complete sentences, so why not just misuse the English language while we're at it?

Just to clarify on that last one: Your is a posessive pronoun, you're is the contraction that they meant to use, meaning "you are."

Shame on you guys, R. Kelly, L.A. Fitness and American Eagle. You really ought to know better...or at least your agents, editors or designers should!

Overlooked: Shirts for a Cause

2009-05-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is the shirt our Kenya team is ordering for our "trip shirt" so to speak. I found it online and the cool thing about it is, with the purchase of every shirt, a free mosquito net is given to an African person in need. In fact, the back of the shirt shows exactly that: "You can't see it, but right now I'm stopping malaria in Africa." Very cool indeed. If you wanna check out the other available shirts---which support initiatives such as child trafficking, jobs in Uganda, clean water and feeding programs---click on the link below. What a great way to spend $20!

http://feedjustone.bigcartel.com/

Behavior 911!

2009-05-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me, every time I go to a restaurant, how many parents completely ignore the behavior of their children.

Last night, for example, I was dining at La Parilla in Alpharetta. Nearby, there was a table that consisted of 2 ladies and four or five children, two of whom were seated at a separate table than the adults. The two girls seated alone were about 5 or 6 years old.

Apparently, the children finished eating and the moms wanted to continue talking, so all of the children got up and began to wander around the restaurant. They went to the front, returned with balloons, which one of them subsequently popped loudly. Everyone was staring at them. The moms did not reprimand this child in any way. For the last 20 minutes or so of my meal, the two young girls who were seated alone wandered to the front and stood in the atrium near the exit, going in and out, walking back to their table, and back up to the front.

I cannot believe that a parent would let a 5-year-old out of their sight! As I've heard it said, "That's how girls get gone!" The girls were not in view of the parents at all. How unsafe! A man and his wife came in midway through my meal and said to the waiter, "We're not sitting over there with those noisy children," referring to the same table. Still, the 2 mothers carried on with their socializing while completely ignoring the misbehavior of their children.

Am I living in a world where parents don't want to parent anymore? "Parent" isn't just a noun...it's a VERB. Something folks should consider before reproducing. But no, people would rather ruin everyone else's dinner just so they can do what they want. It's called being unaware.

And this isn't the only time I've seen this happen. I've seen it over and over. I see it whenever I go out. The thing is, if I'm going to spend hard-earned money to not have to cook a meal, I would like to be able to enjoy my food without shrieking, kids running around, loud talking, or balloons popping.

Truly, it's not like I'm "out of the loop" with kids. I spent the last week and a half eating lunch in the school cafeteria with my students, and guess what? They all REMAINED seated. They all talked in normal voices, sans screaming. And the adults around them paid attention to them. I'm around children more than many parents whose children are raised predominantly by a combination of school and daycare, and I think I'm pretty aware.

So that's my vent. My best friend, a pediatric nurse, always refers to children as, "magnificent little creatures." I couldn't agree more. With a little attention and a lot of love, they can be molded into something great. But if they are constantly ignored, what then? I've believed for a long time that most of our behavioral issues in schools have a root problem of the child craving attention from the adults who are supposed to be guiding them through life. This year, I even remember asking a 5th grade boy, "Why do you act like this in my class? You're an intelligent person. What's the deal?" His response, "Ms. Ginn, I just really like the attention."

And there it is, right from the horse's mouth.

Intumbule Primary School Update!

2009-05-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

The following is an update of the community I visited in Kenya, the work being done there, and what is happening next. I'm very excited to hear about the school doing so well, as this is where my sponsored child, Mumbua Muuo, attends. That's her smiling face above! I just got my first letter from her last week. She's in Class 2 now, or 2nd grade. She's a shining star and I can't wait to hug her face this summer! Jane, one of the empolyees of BrightPoint, recently visited Ngaamba and she's the one who gave us the update below. Enjoy!

The children were out of school on term break, and so I didn’t get to meet all of them when I was in Ngaamba last month, but I did meet some and a lot of their parents. They are so excited and appreciative of your help… the program has gotten off to a GREAT start. I had a meeting with the Leadership Council and they filled me in on the progress.

Ngaamba is such a wonderful place to live, a close knit community, but the drought for the last few years has really put all of them into bad economic shape. They depend on farming, for their own food as well as selling any excess to provide other needs for their families. So, the first priority of the school was to feed the children a hot lunch every day!! That was implemented from the first day of school in January… and the results are all the students have MUCH better attendance. This is the only meal some of these children get, so the parents make sure they come to school… and when they attend, they learn! The parents are collecting the firewood, carrying the water and paying the cook for this program. This is part of the 410 Bridge/BrightPoint model, that we “assist” in projects, but the community gives part as well.

The 2^nd priority that the PTA and Leadership Council identified was more teachers. So as more sponsors came on board, they were able to hire 2 more teachers and will add even more. The 3^rd priority was met for the first time during this term break; it is what they call “tuition”… what we would call “tutoring”. BrightPoint is providing money (from your sponsorship) to pay teachers to help any Grade 4-8 student who wants to go to the school to get extra help during this break, and most of the children were taking advantage of this service. Because many have not attended school in recent years, or not attended regularly… many of these kids are behind, so are able to use this “tuition” to catch up or get ahead.

The 4^th priority was more furniture…desks and teacher tables and chairs. We have gotten enough sponsors in this program that the monthly income has grown to be able to start having desks made. As the rest of the Star Students are sponsored, and the Intumbule Primary “Quality Improvement Program” gets fully funded, each child will have a desk, each teacher will have a table and chair, each child will have the textbooks needed and not have to share, and learning materials (maps, reference books, etc) will be purchased. Then assessment tests can be funded and given to each child every term to prepare them for the all important 8^th grade National exam that determines if they qualify to go to High School.

So thank you for your caring hearts and love for these children. You are truly improving the quality of education for ALL of the Intumbule children, and the community is thrilled with the progress that has been made and it will just keep getting better. The other schools in Ngaamba and nearby Kiu are jealous, and all are begging to be the next school to be chosen for a Quality Improvement program. The entire community…. Leaders, Pastors, PTA, parents and students… could not stop telling me how excited they are and that they see a much brighter future for the children of Intumbule.

Friends...interested in sponsoring a child like Mumbua? Go to the BrightPoint website and check out the possibilities...

http://www.brightpointforchildren.org/child-list.php?communityid=19

Plumpynut!

2009-05-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

This is truly the most amazing thing I've seen lately. It's right up there with the Pur Water packets! Wow! This invention even won a Nobel Peace Prize and could literally change the lives of millions of malnourished and poverty stricken people in third-world countries all over the world. I love it! Yay Plumpynut!

Composers vs. Jeans

2009-04-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

After teaching a somewhat excrutiating lesson to my fifth graders today on recorder, I played for the class the next song they will work on which is "Ode to Joy," of course from Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

I said, "Most of y'all have heard that song before, haven't you?" The students voiced their agreement with my statement.

Then I said, "Who thinks they can name the composer of that piece? It's someone very famous that you may have heard of before."

From the back of the room came a loudly bellowed answer, "LEVI STRAUSS!"

Sigh. This student was clearly thinking of Johann Strauss, renowned for composing many waltzes. Sadly, they weren't in the right ballpark.

Yep. That's my funny of the day. Just ask your local Levi's store if they can play Ode to Joy. Sigh.

Beethoven

Strauss

Something tells me these guys didn't ever wear a pair of these:

Dad Hammers Teen's Cell Phone

2009-04-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

I know who'd be footing that bill at MY house when I was a teenager: ME!

CHEYENNE — In one month, a Cheyenne teenager sent 10,000 text messages and received about the same — all while her family's plan did not include texting.
That means the family's provider — Verizon — charged them for each incoming and outgoing text message.

The girl's parents, Gregg and Jaylene Christoffersen, thought texting had been disabled, so one can imagine their surprise when they got the monthly phone bill and it asked for $4,756.25.
"It just hit us like a rock, like you're stepping into a bus," Gregg Christoffersen said.
The bill was legit.

Dena Christoffersen, 13, had apparently been sending most of these messages at school. That's more than 300 texts within an eight-hour period every

Gregg Christoffersen was shocked to see his daughter's texting bill. She had been sending 300 texts a day for the whole month. Needless to say, it drew attention away from what she should have been doing: paying attention in class.

"She went from A's and B's one semester to F's in two months," Dena's dad said.
Hours after the enormous bill arrived, Gregg Christoffersen took a hammer to his daughter's phone.

He and Jaylene also grounded Dena until the end of school.

"I felt really bad, and I have learned my lesson," Dena said, with her head down.
Since she lost her phone, Dena's grades have gone up, and the texting is down to zero.
As for the phone bill, the family says Verizon has been willing to knock it down to a reasonable level.

The Christoffersens are asking school administrators at Johnson Junior High School to crack down on cellphone use during school.

See the smashed cell phone at 9News.com

San Francisco in Pictures

2009-04-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Mandy and me on Alcatraz Island with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Don't worry, it's not our hotel room...it's a cell in Alcatraz! (though our hotel room was a close second to this, ha!)

Closed cells in Alcatraz

The sky couldn't have been any bluer...

One of several "Whaling Walls" by John Wyland, an artist who raises money and awareness for the preservation of marine and ocean life. Check out his site here: http://www.wylandfoundation.org/

One of the less steep streets

A beautiful park by the bay

Boats docked in the bay

Cancer Sucks!

2009-03-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Many of you may remember my friend of over 10 years, Steve Atkins. We met back in college when a friend from Berry studied abroad at the University of Reading where Steve attended. Steve then came back to Georgia to work at Camp Winshape. We've been friends now for over 10 years. The picture above is one of our oldest photos, taken I believe during college! Note the awesome light denim shirt I'm wearing. Ahh!

About three weeks ago, 29-year-old Steve was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. Fortunately, as he works for a company that insures employees with private healthcare, he was seen by a specialist and the tumor removed within 10 days of discovering it. This was great news! The operation went smoothly and he was back home within a couple of days.

However, last Friday additional bloodwork and tests showed that the cancer had spread into some of his lymph nodes. As you are most likely aware, this is not a good thing. As of Wednesday, Steve has been inpatient at an NHS hospital in Brighton receiving his first round of chemo. The drug he's on is called Cisplatin and is very harsh on the kidneys. This morning, Steve has started to experience lots of nausea, which is one of the most common of the side effects and can last up to 10 days post treatment.

Please keep Steve in your prayers. Cancer, especially this form, runs in his famil, and although he is trying to minimize his concern, I know better. I have talked to him just about every day since the diagnosis and treatment has started. I know any prayer support will be appreciated.

IV Fluids are my Friend!

2009-03-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

Who knew that getting hooked up to an IV in your own living room would make you feel so much better? That's right, folks, after being hit with a very unpleasant virus on Wednesday evening, I wasn't keeping anything down. I wasn't sleeping. I was puking up my guts and sick on both ends. Bad News Bears, friends. Real bad.

So my best friend showed up at my house last night with IV tubing, needles, and 4 bags of lactated ringers (a solution containing sodium chloride, potassium, calcium and electrolytes...all fluids your body naturally produces when you are healthy). You got it...before I knew it, I was stuck with an IV inserted, and the drip bags were hung from my curtain rods. An hour and a half and 1000 CCs of of fluids later, I was able to get up off the couch without feeling dizzy or sick. It was amazing.

I slept through the night, with some fever, but still woke up feeling more rested. And today I was able to shower and wash my hair which made me feel a lot better too. Gosh!

Apparently on Thursday, 15 kids were sent home by the school nurse by lunchtime. So I guess it's going through my school. Hopefully after this weekend I'll be back to normal!

My Babies!

2009-02-27T05:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes after a lot of work, headache, and hassle, it all comes out right. The Cluster Black History Celebration was a success...and now it's over!!! Next up...the Fine Arts Festival in March, then the Spring Musical, Beauty and the Beast Jr., in May. Ahhh!!!!! But don't they look darling?!

I have succomed...

2009-02-25T11:14:00.001-08:00

I have succombed to something ridiculous to pass the time! HA!

The rules: google your name and the word "needs" and list the first 10 things that come up...

AUTUMN NEEDS....

1. Autumn needs adoption.
2. Autumn needs a home.
3. Autumn needs a ride in the Toy Cowtown Motorcycle Meetup (scary!)
4. Autumn needs a drummer and a bassist. (ha!)
5. Autumn needs a middle name.
6. Autumn needs more tuning.
7. Autumn needs your help.
8. Autumn needs to be a Cover Girl model.
9. Autumn needs Trim a Tree.
10. Autumn needs your prayers.

I don't know what those things say about me but, very interesting! HA!

School Here and School There

2009-02-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

As I go throughout my day here at Shiloh, I keep thinking that even if our pencils are out of erasers, at least we have pencils to start with. And even if the kids don't love the cafeteria food, at least they have meals fed to them here at school twice a day.

The feeding program started by Brightpoint in Ngaamba is an amazing thing. Now these wonderful kids pictured above get a hot meal at lunch each day at Itumbule Primary School. Before, many only ate once per day. Change is coming to Ngaamba. First the water, now the feeding program. The 410 Bridge has even split Ngaamba into it's six villages to start various projects in each area.

I'm so excited to be a part of this wave of change. Our Kenya team met for the first time on Sunday afternoon and I am very excited. Of the 39 participants, 2/3 have been to Kenya and are returning for more; at least 1/3 are teachers! At my table alone was a high school art teacher, two fifth grade teachers and a fourth grade teacher. Only 5 of the 39 are married and there are no students coming on this trip. I know it will be different, but I am still just jumping out of my skin to land in Nairobi and ride around on those bumpy roads all over again.

School here, School there. Team meetings here, team serves there...God is here...and God is there.

Kenya see me now?!

2009-02-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

Guess who's going back??? Me! I'll be joining a team through GlobalX/410 Bridge from June 11-20th!!! Just got the call yesterday! Wahoo!!!! See, they're already jumping for joy! (Kidding, they were at Stone Mountain doing a photo shoot).

HAVILLA!

2009-01-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord! Havilla Children's Home is getting a new dormitory building that will be multi-story and have the ability to accommodate MORE orphaned and vulnerable children! God is so good! Please keep Joseph and Salome in your prayers as they work with builders while still caring for their own daughters (Gloria and Christophany), in addition to their 46 adopted children!!! I know they'd appreciate it! God is work in Kenya!
Here is Joseph and Salome, with daughters Christophany (left, age 3) and Gloria (right, age 5). How about that UpStreet shirt Salome is wearing?!

Blast from the Past

2009-01-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

This had to be about 1982. Cover of one of Dad's bestsellers.

And here he is, still doing magic after all these years. Need I say more?

Disney Marathon Weekend!

2009-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

A sunny afternoon at Downtown Disney

Where we dined at Rainforest Cafe

Cinderella's Castle
Race day: no makeup, before the race, about 5:15 a.m.!

Mandy, post race, showing her medal! 13.1 miles baby! YAY!

Epcot at dusk

Aerosmith's Rockin' Roller Coaster

"Be Our Guest!" at the Beauty & The Beast Show, Disney's Hollywood Studios

Snow White and a Dwarf are bushes at Hollywood Studios

Big fun!!! Gotta love it...lots of runners, Mickey, Minnie, and a best friend experiencing Disney for the first time! Sweeeettt!!!!

Tell Them You Love Them

2009-01-05T00:43:00.001-08:00

This is Taylor. She's a middle schooler who loves to talk to her friends, shop at the mall, all that jazz. Taylor has osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. Not in all her bones, just a specific area of her left arm. It pretty much sucks. Because just when they removed part of a bone a year ago, replacing it with a cadaver bone to hold the place until further surgery could be performed, a couple months ago Taylor came out of remission. That's right, the cancer was back. Now she's back on chemo. That beautiful hair is about to be gone...again.
Meet Hollyn. She's eight years old. She has a big family...three sisters and a brother. She's the middle child. She loves the third grade and the Cheetah Girls. But right now, she is spending a restless night in the hospital...again. She had chemo today at 4:00 p.m. and has to be woken up every hour and a half to have things checked. She loves to wear hats, which is good because she just lost the hair that had grown back. Hollyn has a rare form of childhood cancer known as Wilm's Tumor, which grows on the kidneys. She has relapsed twice now, most recently in October right before her family went to the Lighthouse Family Retreat.

That's where I met both girls. Their stories are real and they touched my heart. I just wanted to write this post so that you would pray for both of them. Please pray hard. What they are going through isn't easy. Hollyn's situation, especially, is particularly difficult. If you'd like to read more of what is happening with them, you can click on their sites to the left in my blog listing. They are called "Hollyn's Site" and "Taylor's Site." I know both of these families would really appreciate your prayers.

As I sit up with insomnia tonight, I can't help but feel grateful for my health---allergies and all. Hollyn's mom put it best at the end of her blog today: "Remember to tell your loved ones how much you love them, and hold each moment with them close to your heart. Nothing in this world is perfect, but life can be so wonderful anyway, even in this world of pediatric cancer."

The current St. Jude's commercial says, "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life." I'm so thankful for each of you. Hug and kiss those you love today, and mean it.

New York, New York!

2008-12-28T20:54:00.000-08:00

A few of our best shots of NYC at Christmastime!The weather was quite foggy!

Best service in town: Hard Rock Cafe! Can't go wrong!

Again, check the fog!

In Dylan's Candy Bar

Don't eat the gumballs, kids! (Definitely saw some children reprimanded for this!)

Tree at Rockefellar Center with Swarovski Crystal Star on top!

Radio City Music Hall, where we saw the Rockette's Radio City Christmas Spectacular!

Bloomingdale's store front

One of Bloomie's magnificent windows. Each has it's own song as part of the soundtrack of windows! Very cool! This one was "The Christmas Waltz."

In the nasty subway! Ha! Friends for-eva!

Check it out!!!

2008-12-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

The media specialist at my school was very tricky and created this lovely video that you need to watch. It stars me, Mr. Polly (art teacher) and some other staff at our school. Bet you didn't know I knew all these sweet moves, hey?

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/UHSkEumAFIbPtPZz
Meanwhile, here are some pics for the other things I've been up to lately!

Our media specialists at school dressed up to tell the story, "The Night Before Christmas"

My tree at home!

Mr. Polly explains the "Night Before Christmas" game to kindergarten.

Hanging with my students at The Nutcracker.

R.I.P. Maximo

2008-12-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

Today, my beloved Betta, Maximo, went to the happy pond in the sky. I will miss his swimming in circles in the flower vase on my counter. I will miss him fluttering excitedly as he ate the food I gave him. Sigh.

Maximo Ginn
June 2008---December 2008

Psalm 95

2008-11-24T05:12:00.000-08:00

Just because it's a great way to start the day...

PSALM 95:1-7

Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean—he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth! So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he's our God, and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

Comment of the Day

2008-11-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

We were watching the following scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in second grade at school today...it's when Jeremy, Jemima, Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious are at the seaside having a picnic. Caractacus and Truly are off by themselves near Chitty, having a conversation, while Jeremy and Jemima are playing on the rocks. Jeremy is watching his dad talk to Truly.

JEMIMA: Jeremy, it isn't nice to peep!

JEREMY: I'm not peeping, I'm looking!

JEMIMA: Do you think they're going to get married?

JEREMY: I don't know.

JEMIMA: Has he kissed her yet? Because once he kisses her, then they'll just have to get married!

KID IN MY CLASS: Well, that's just about enough of that subject!

Did I ever mention I love 2nd graders? I wanted to tell them that was a great philosophy and remember it when they get to middle and high school. Sigh. Out of the mouths of babes...

NYC---Here I come!

2008-11-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

It's official: I will be spending the big 3-0 in NYC!!! The tickets are booked, the hotel is reserved and we take off on December 19th!!! Mandy and I will fly into New York on Friday night and I'll wake up in one of my favorite cities on my birthday! We'll shop till we drop on Saturday and then head to Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night for the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular!!! I'm hoping to get to eat at my favorite NY retaurant...Serendipity iii...while we're there too! More info to come! YAY!!!!!!

Mountains...

2008-11-04T07:47:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for about 18 hours. Because of People to People interviews, and because of being tired from Lighthouse, Mandy and I headed up Saturday afternoon to meet Gina and Susan. It was beautiful. How about the name of Gina's parents' cabin? "Autumn Bearadise!" Love it!

The Lighthouse

2008-10-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

Come on over, come on down

Come on in to the Lighthouse...

My time this last week at the Lighthouse Family Retreat in Watercolor, FL was just beyond words. It was such an amazing time to serve these 9, wonderful families who had a child who has cancer. One of the families even had a dad who had a brain tumor, and just as they were getting through that treatment, they found out that their 4-year-old daughter had Wilm's Tumor, a cancer in the kidneys. How do families manage such a traumatic, life-changing event?
The Lighthouse Family Retreat provides a place of refuge for families who have become disconnected and overwhelmed by the way cancer has affected them. I learned this week that cancer doesn't just affect the person with the diagnosis; it affects every member of the family...from the relationship between Mom and Dad, to the teenage siblings of the sick child.

Kids react to cancer differently than adults. Grown-ups tend to automatically view this disease as a life sentence. But kids are resilient. One of our moms told me that when her 10-year-old daughter found out she had osteosarcoma (bone cancer), she just looked at her mom and said, "Okay, what do we do next?" Some of the kids are back in treatment for a second round because they have relapsed. The kids' attitudes towards life really left me in awe and in silent recognition that every day counts and I really don't have a lot to complain about!
For many of our families this week, it was the first time Mom and Dad had been on a date or done anything without their children. And kids got to be kids...playing in the pool, at the beach, making Haunted Houses, and watching movies. We had a great time connecting with the kids while Eleanor and Buck Barber facilitated the group for parents each morning during a time called Flip Flop. It was here that parents were able to share their family's story with each other and encourage and support one another. Though our families were from all over the US...Texas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida and Georgia...connections of the heart were made forever.

Thank you for all of you who supported me in this endeavor, and the families would tell you the same thing. One mom has already blogged on her son's site that this was the first time in a long while that she's been able to really relax...her housework/laundry and cooking was done for her and she was really able to let go and enjoy her husband and children. I think that is just SO awesome. Jesus is in the business of connecting people and caring for them, and the families were really able to see that this week.

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures!

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

2008-10-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

I cannot take credit for this stroke of brilliance. My coworker, D, did this a couple of years ago and I just found it on my computer. She went around asking kids at my school to finish the popular "addage" with their own words. The results crack me up! The addage is in black, and the children's responses follow in red. Enjoy!

1. Don't change horses there are shiny things on their paws.
2. Strike while the ball is moving.
3. It's always darkest before lightest.
4. Better late than early!
5. You can lead a horse to water but you can go in the forest by yourself.
6. Don't bite the hand that hurts!
7. No news is no fun.
8. A miss is as good as a Mrs.
9. You can't teach an old dog to swim.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll be sleepy.
11. Love all, trust all.
12. The pen is mightier than the pencil.
13. An idle mind is a statue.
14. Where there's smoke there's . . . Smoke!
15. Happy the bride who dances.
16. A penny saved is money
17. Two's company, three's a party!!!
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what is done already.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and whine.
20. There are none so blind as mice.
21. Children should be seen and not loud. (AMEN!)
22. If at first you don't succeed you seek.
23. You get out of something only what you get in.
24. When the blind lead the blind they get lost.

Out of the mouth of babes. . .

25. Never underestimate the power of God.

Lighthouse Family Retreat

2008-09-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family!

Can you imagine hearing the doctor say, "I'm sorry, your child has cancer." Can you imagine watching your child go bald, getting stared at, or being treated unkindly? Can you imagine the weariness of sleepless nights, hospital smells, losing control of your world?

Can you imagine living in unspeakable anger or just wondering, "Why?" Can you imagine your family growing apart?

Now just imagine a place of retreat.

Imagine a place where the warm sun, rolling waves and ocean breezes rejuvenate you, where the sunset brings peace to your soul. Imagine a place where you and your children can laugh and play together, where family relationships are restored, where caring friends walk beside you. Imagine a place where volunteers serve you willingly and joyfully, a place where the staff understands your child's needs. Imagine a place where the spirit of God resides to heal and restore, a place of comfort and encouragement.

Just imagine...

I wanted to share with all of you an exciting service opportunity that I have decided to be a part of called the Lighthouse Family Retreat. From October 14-19 I will be heading to Watercolor, FL to take part in the Lighthouse Family Retreat as a volunteer. Some of you may have heard of the Lighthouse before, but for those who have not, let me tell you a little bit about it.

Lighthouse was founded by Melinda Mayton, a pediatric oncology nurse. Melinda felt there should be a place of retreat for families who have a child going through treatments for cancer. Every year, Melinda and her team host a series of 10 family retreats at donated beach houses and condos at various beaches on the gulf. The idea is to give families a break from the disease...the h ospital visits, the chemo treatments, and the feeling of being "different..." and a time of reconnecting with one another free of cost. Volunteers serve families during the week and help facilitate activites such as a spa day for the moms, parents' date night out, a talent show, beach olympics, a movie night, and family style meals every day. We also do all the laundry for families and help them with whatever they could possibly need or want during the time they spend at Lighthouse. There are also times of counseling with the parents sharing their stories, and kids and siblings connecting during a time of play and crafts in the mornings. Each Lighthouse family brings their entire immediate family...Mom, Dad and siblings.

The week is sure to be an amazing experience and one that I will not soon forget. In order to make this cost-free f or families, every volunteer is asked to raise $750 to cover the cost of food and other materials. If you would like to partner with me as I go and serve at the Lighthouse, you can make checks out to the Lighthouse Family Retreat and send them to me here at home (Autumn Ginn, 6520 Roswell Road #94, Atlanta, GA 30328). I'd love for you to learn more by visiting the Lighthouse website here:

http://www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org

I hope you are having a blessed fall and that I can see you all very soon!!!

Love,
Autumn ><>

Let's Sing!

2008-09-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Kids at the Pre-School in Ngaamba singing the Family Members song sung to the tune of "Freres Jaques." The little girl up front in the pink sweater is Sophie, and she was just my absolute favorite!!! The lyrics are:

Family members, family members
In our home, in our home
Father, mother, brother, father, mother, brother
Sister and baby, sister and baby.

This is our same little Pre-School class learning the words and actions to "How Great is Our God." It's my voice and Robyn singing, and Robyn leading actions.

These are students at Itumbule Primary School led by Phoebe. The little soloist is a girl on the lefthand side kind of in the middle-ish row called Cynthia. She has a great voice. The song lyrics mean:

Some people say that Jesus is dead
But I say He is alive because I can feel him
In my head, my chest, my back,
My heart, my legs, ears, feet, etc.

Kind of looks like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" doesn't it? I think every school child in Kenya must know this song! Yay!

Memories of Kenya

2008-08-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Gosh I miss this place!!! Hope you can enjoy some of these pics until I can get a better gallery going!!! Thanks for checking them out!

The team on the way to the airport!

Isn't she beautiful?

Teaching at the Pre-School...45 students, 3 teachers, 1 room. Wow!

School room at Itumbule Primary. These guys hadn't finished their work so they couldn't go out to play yet. They were cute and funny, but I told them to hurry up and finish!

Busy workers at the Pre-School where I had the chance to teach

Me with Sophie and Mary, a teacher at the Pre-School

Sunset at Amboseli National Park

Highlights from School

2008-08-14T04:52:00.000-07:00

So as many of you know, this is the first week "back to school" for my county. I thought I'd share a few humorous moments thus far...

A Kindergartner on their first day at music: "Bye Miss Grin!"

A 5th Grader to his teacher while seeing the ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) schedule posted on the board: "Ms. McGowan, what's an SOL teacher?"

Sigh. Never a dull moment!

Just the Beginning...

2008-07-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just the beginning of the treasures I will share from my trip to Kenya. This is the kids at the Havilla Children's Home doing a performance for us. Man I loved those faces. I wanted to stay there all week. The girl in front in the red shirt singing the solo is Gladys. She's truly a leader, and a gift from God. I saw this girl in the kitchen making chapatis for everyone as well as leading in worship. I hope you enjoy this song! It rocks my face off!

God Speaking

2008-07-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Mandy and I went to the Beth Moore "Deeper Still" conference at Philips arena. Former American Idol contestant, Mandisa, was one of the featured worship leaders, and she sang this song that is off her new album. She talked of her struggles with a food addiction, and how God is working her through all of that. I was really impressed and touched by what she had to say. Check out this song she sings, called "God Speaking." I think you'll really appreciate it too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZI2gOBvBHk

Queen of Clean

2008-06-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

As a little break in my otherwise serious blog, I would like to take a moment to award this year's Queen of Clean medal to my friend Sarah*!

I thought I was thorough when it came to cleaning my house. I vacuum, dust, swiffer, and windex things often...but little did I know I was only in the junior league.

I have, for the past hour, watched my friend clean her bathroom, including vacuuming the toilet seat cover and wiping down every cabinet door and closet door. I have watched her use Windex on every mirror in the house, and every framed picture. I have watched her dust. Currently, she is vacuuming around me.

One thing is alarmingly clear: I am no longer holding the title of Queen of Clean.

My mother will be pleased that I have a new, clean friend. I think even she could walk through this house right now with a white glove and find absolutely nothing.

Wow. I think I have to go home and do dusting or something...

*Name has been changed to protect the innocent/embarassed.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

2008-06-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

Mt. Kilimanjaro, arguably the tallest mountain in the world, is definitely the tallest peak on the entire continent of Africa. It's located in a small corner of Tanzania, but is visible from Kenya. Only three weeks from yesterday I will be boarding the first of two flights totaling over 17 hours to set foot on the soil of this beautiful continent. But it's not really about the mountain that I may see from a distance. It's really about something far more personal. Something more like this:Need I say more?

Cardboard Testimony

2008-06-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Seriously, check out this video on YouTube. It's really moving. I know it moved me. I decided mine would read:

"Perfect Prideful Life...Proud of My Perfect Savior."

What would your Cardboard Testimony be? Leave me a comment if you'd like to share...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

Backsplash!!!

2008-06-12T08:25:00.001-07:00

Kathy and I spent 6 hours doing this yesterday, and it looks AWESOME! Of course we still need to grout, but you have to let it sit 24-48 hours, so maybe we'll get to that one day next week! Then David has the trim to finish up and the kitchen will be DONE!!! I will save for appliances later...next projects will be the sliding glass door in the kitchen, venting the dryer and the upstairs bathroom. Yay!!!

The Kite Runner

2008-06-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

Every so often, I see a film that changes me inside. Something happens to me as I watch it, and I consider things I have not considered before. Suddenly, my picture-perfect image of the world disappears and I am not the same. It happened to me when I watched Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond.

Tonight the film was The Kite Runner. It is based on the book of the same name by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author based in California. I hear the book is even more amazing, and plan to now read the follow-up novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, now being adapted to film as well.

If you'd like to read a non-spoiler synopsis of the story, click here http://www.khaledhosseini.com/hosseini-books-kiterunner.html

Otherwise, run, don't walk to your nearest Blockbuster and get this film. Seriously. Check it out.

Pastimes...

2008-06-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am intrigued by the social graces of Jane Austen. Tonight, as I was watching Emma, with my cousin and another friend, I couldn't help but marvel at the supreme politeness with which everyone treated one another. See examples below:

Mr. Knightley: Emma, you didn't ask me to contribute a riddle.
Emma: Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightley. I thought you overqualified.

~~~

Emma: Was he handsome?
Jane: Many say he is.
Emma: Was he agreeable?
Jane: He was in no way disagreeable.
Emma: Was he a man of information?
Jane: All his statements seem correct.
~~~
Emma Woodhouse: One does not like to generalize about so many people all at once, Mr. Knightley, but you may be sure that men know nothing about their hearts, whether they be six-and-twenty, or six-and-eighty.
~~~
Mr. Knightley: Marry me. Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend.

Man, gotta love you some Jane Austen.

Diagnosis!

2008-06-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Would you believe that I am SOOO special that I am one in 130,000 people who have this particular adverse reaction to the Yellow Fever immunization? Oh yes! Lucky me!

After seeing my allergist again today, and later spending over an hour and a half with the infectious disease specialist, we have pretty much determined with 99% certainty that my rash/hives is an allergic reaction to the shot I got last Wednesday for yellow fever.

I am on four different antihistimines and anti-itch meds and have been advised to NEVER under any circumstance get this vaccination ever again. Or the flu shot.

Lovely!

Praise God that we figured it out. Now I have to sit and wait. And sadly, I will not be traveling with People to People to the UK & Ireland this year. I'm really disappointed about that, but I know it's best for my delegation and also best for my health. Learning to relax and rest are things I need to work on, so God will be giving me lessons in patience over the next few weeks. The great news is that I will be able to spend quality time with friends and family, and for the first time in 3 summers, I'll be able to celebrate both my Dad's birthday and Father's Day here in the states. This is a great thing!

The other positive is that it's highly likely that I'll be well by the time I'm to travel to Kenya in 6 weeks time. I will now have more time to get to know my team better and prepare for that 17-hour long journey to Nairobi. Had I gotten the vaccination after my People to People trip, it would surely have disabled me from participating in this trip, which is ultimately serving God's people and purpose in Africa, something I've longed to do for a long time.

Praise God for amazing doctors and modern medicine! I'm so thankful for my clever nurse friends and my caring friends who keep checking in on me. For now, I'm awaiting the arrival of my cousin who has offered to bring me dinner from Doc Chey's (sans the eggs!) and looking forward to some chill time with her!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7 (New International Version)

Whey to Go

2008-05-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

My friend Heather pointed this article out to me and it's
borderline hysterical. Pay particular attention to the name of
the girl mentioned toward the latter half of the article!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080526/od_afp/entertainmentbritaincheeseoffbeat

Enjoy!

One Another

2008-05-24T14:37:00.001-07:00

This week I listened to a podcast from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. Many of you will recognize that this is the home church of Francis Chan. The message was entitled, "A New Attitude Towards People." He talks about how in our society today we have such an autonomy, such pride in independence from each other. We like to do things on our own without the help of others. Interestingly, this is a phenomenon mostly seen in cultures with plenty of financial resources. I was just researching some cultural background for my trip to Kenya, and basically everything pointed to interdependence between the family and community.

Francis mentioned many scriptures that point towards exactly the opposite of autonomy. Take a look:

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Live in harmony with one another." Romans 12:16

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Romans 15:7

"Agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10

"Serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

"Bear with each another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." Colossians 3:13

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

"But encourage one another daily..." Hebrews 3:13

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

"Love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." 1 John 3:11

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:11

And that is only the beginning!! Clearly God desires for us to live in community and care for one another. He is not interested in our individual accomplishments, but rather the spurring on of relationships dependent upon Him. After all, if I can indeed do it all on my own, then what need have I for the Father? A relationship with Christ is one of interdependence. As the grass depends on the rain for nourishment, so I must depend upon God for my spiritual feeding. And much of that comes from my interactions with other people.

Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends. Czech Proverb

Fearless Leaders!

2008-05-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to Amanda, Ben and Heather! These wonderful people are my travel buddies for our People to People adventure 2008! In just 18 days, we will be departing for the U.K. and Ireland for a 3 week tour, including a home stay outside Dublin, with 41 seventh and eighth graders! Are we crazy?! Yes!!! Today was our delegation picnic social and we had the best time. It was a pot luck with lots of fried chicken and congealed salads. Yum! The kids played in the creek and had hay rides on Ben's farm and we all enjoyed talking about the upcoming trip. One dad even decided to bring along his bagpipes to get us in the right mood (see below!)
All in all, we had a great afternoon. God is good! On June 5th, our adventure begins!!!

Willy Wonka!

2008-05-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my very talented students! We got through Willy Wonka with flair and now I can breathe a sigh of relief! SIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHH!!!

This Friday is our cast party and I'm excited about that. I'm getting together little goody bags for the kids. I was interested to discover at Party City today that they are now called, "Loot Bags." What's with that? Are we all pirates? Hmm...

Oompa-loompa Doompa-ty doo
I've got a final puzzle for you
Oompa-loompa Doompa-ty dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me.

There is a problem with lots of our youth
Not everybody likes telling the truth
Telling the truth starts a beautiful buzz
Isn't it nice when someone does?
It could be contagious!

Faith

2008-04-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

LUKE 5 (The Message)
12 One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."

13 Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

Andy talked about this today at church and before he said it, I was thinking that this very short little blurb from the gospels really is the picture of all of our conversion stories. The NIV version has the leper saying, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," with Jesus responding, "I am willing."

Isn't that just the heart of the matter? Jesus is willing to change us both inside and out. In those days, leprosy was seen as a horrible skin disease, of course originating inside the body. Not only was the man in this story healed emotionally (inwardly), but experienced an obvious change outwardly in the physical sense. Jesus changed him tangibly that day in just a matter of moments. He can do the same for us when we place our faith in him. I know this is oversimplifying things, but sometimes it's the simplest things that can be so meaningful.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
~Saint Augustine

His Commands are not burdensome...

2008-04-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

These are some verses I've been digging into lately. They are all about a simple truth: If you love God, you obey what he says to do. Simple as that. Not rocket science. Now the trick is being familiar enough with his Word that I know what it is he wants me to do. Easier said than done, but a challenge I'm up for!

John 14:15 (NIV)
"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

1 John 2:3 (NIV)
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands."

Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

1 John 5:2-3 (NIV)
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Gosh, that's some good stuff, isn't it?

Teachers Needed!

2008-04-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Anybody ever want to live and teach abroad? My friends Sarah and Glenn Stallsmith have lived and worked as ethnomusicologists in the Phillipines with Wycliffe Bible Translators for several years now. I have just received the following e-mail from them:

By the way, do you have any teacher friends who want to spend a year in the Philippines ???? We need one elementary teacher (4^th/5^th) and one Jr.High teacher (7^th/8^th) here at our little center school.Spread the word!

If you know anyone who is a Christian and would like to teach abroad, let me know! The area is called Bugabog and is outside of Manila. I can get more info as needed.

10 Random Facts

2008-04-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

For your entertainment, here are 10 random facts about me. My roommate did this a few months ago, and so I'm going to follow suit. Those who know me well may know a few of these tidbits, but I've tried to put in some more interesting, lesser-known facts too! Hope you enjoy!

1. My father is a professional magician and writer. And yes, I did say MAGICIAN, not musician. He does, however, play the guitar very occasionally and sings all the time in the car. Dad performs around 400 educational school magic programs each year and has written around 80 books on entertaining and educating children through magic. He also travels around the world lecturing on magic and selling magical props, books, and other resources. Don't believe me? Check out his website: www.ginnmagic.com

2. I really love travel bags and accessories. Meaning, I like backpacks, magazine bags, any kind of travel bag really. And other travel accessories like Nalgene bottles, packing cubes, etc. I have to remind myself that I do not need a new bag for each trip. The Eddie Bauer backpack from Target has lasted me through Australia, France and all over the U.K. so far!

3. I have a need to be clean. If you know me at all, you are probably rolling your eyes or nodding your head until it nearly falls off. But see, when I was a kid, I played in the creek behind my house and made mud pies. This is shocking because I used to run around and get sweaty and dirty, but now, not so much. I used to catch salamanders, but Mom would never let me keep them. I clean my house...often. I enjoy purchasing cleaning products. I think I get this from my Mom. However, through the kitchen renovation, God has brought me to a new places where now "clean" doesn't have to mean "perfect." I've let it go a lot. I'm a work in progress.

4. I love HGTV and TLC. My roommate can attest to this. I actually really enjoy watching the real estate and home makeover shows. And What Not to Wear. Classic.

5. I have a degree in music but I can't really play the piano much. Yes, it's true. I took piano lessons from grade 2, but after I got the basics, I think I lost interest. I can practice and play things okay, but honestly, I prefer not to!

6. I used to want to be a writer. Except all my stories were lame and had the same plot. They were about big families with cleverly named children who lived in houses like the one in Father of the Bride on the perfect street in the perfect neighborhood. I think they were about that because I was an only child and I had a small family and lived in a normal-sized house. I also used to want to train whales like at Sea World. But then I realized you had to know a lot about science to do that, and I don't really dig science too much...

7. My love languages are Quality Time and Physical Touch. So basically I love getting hugs and hanging out. I love being around people. I love talking and listening to people. I thrive on activities with others. I'm not a loner.

8. Somewhere inside me, I honestly wish that life worked out like most romantic comedies or Broadway musicals. I mean, to have your life depicted through song and enjoy the sappy, amazing ending? Come on. We all want that, right?

9. I have terrible stage fright. Now don't get me wrong. I can sing on stage, mike in hand, no problem. But as far as acting, or talking on stage...it freaks me out. I was only in one musical in high school and I was in the "ensemble," which is a fancy word for "background chorus." It's a weird phenomenon. When I was a child, I was often given speaking parts in our church and school plays, and even played the lead in a version of A Christmas Carol. I could memorize anything. The problem now is that I realize that I might forget my lines, and people may actually laugh at me. Can't bear that.

10. The first songs I ever learned to sing (in the car with my Dad, no doubt) were Mr. Robato by Styx and De Do Do Do De Da Da Da by The Police. That's where my music education really began.

All in a Day's Work...

2008-04-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

This afternoon a 3rd grader and I have the
following conversation:

HER: Did you know that Christmas is
Jesus' birthday?

ME:  Yes, I did.

HER:  I'm not sure when God's birthday is. I was
supposed to ask my Mom. But I think it's probably
on Valentine's Day.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Things I Used to Believe about God

2008-04-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend was Passion Regionals in Atlanta and I had the opportunity to volunteer. It was an amazing weekend of renewal mixed with personal challenge. Speakers included Louie Giglio and Francis Chan and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall and David Crowder. God was certainly glorified!

So today I started reading Francis's new book, Crazy Love, which I picked up at the conference. I've only read the first chapter, and already I'm starting to remember the untruths I believed about God, Christians and the Church when I was growing up. I'm not blaming my church; without them I wouldn't have necessarily experienced the fundamentals that I now take for granted (I'm learning that over and over, and repenting for it!). Don't get me wrong; my parents never taught me these things overtly, nor did the church. However, here are the top 5 myths about God, Christians and the Church that I came up with:

1. God is big and powerful, and he lives up in Heaven, but is somewhat disconnected from us.

2. To be a Christian, there are all kinds of rules to follow, most of which involve a long list of things not to do.

3. Church is where Christians go on Sunday and if you don't go, you'd better be hospitalized or gravely ill.

4. Don't hang around people who don't go to church because they will be a bad influence on you.

5. Worship = Hymns (verses 1, 2 and 4) or Latin Songs that nobody understands.

Now this may all seem absurd to some of you, but how many of us are still living as if these "myths" are reality? For example, how many of us have meaningful relationships with people who aren't believers? Or how many feel that God takes attendance at church every Sunday and if you're not there, you'll be punished? And I'd venture to say that lots of believers say that they have a relationship with God, but still feel at times, really disconnected from Him.

I'm confessing now with a repentant heart that I do not believe these lies anymore. God is very near to my heart now, and having a relationship with Him isn't about what NOT to do, but rather how to ENJOY His love and all He can do through me. I missed church today, but still had fellowship with Him and other believers. I am intentional in developing relationships with those who don't yet know the love of Christ. And I know worship can involve singing, clapping, jumping (as demonstrated by the students at Passion!), or...watch out now...raising your hands! Who would have known?!

Psalm 100 (The Message)

A Thanksgiving Psalm

1-2 On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.

3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

4 Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

5 For God is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.

Granite...finally!

2008-04-09T19:44:00.001-07:00

New granite worktops installed! Yay!
And here's the undermount sink from eBay...just about $100! What a deal!

I Heart Goat Cheese!

2008-04-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

I got this from Kathy and I really enjoy it. I've even made it for small group. So I thought I'd share! Hope you like it!

Chavrie & Pesto Dip

Take one package of Chavrie (spreadable goat cheese) and empty the entire contents onto a regular dinner plate. Spread it out around the plate to fill the base of the plate.
Next, take your pesto and empty the contents on top of the chavrie, spreading it out evenly to cover the chavrie.
Surround the entire mixture with Stacy's Pita Chips or Wheat Thins as desired. It's a great h'ors d'veure that not lots of people make. It's a perfect mix of smooth and crunchy! Enjoy!

PS: I've included pictures of the products so you can find them. The pesto is usually on the pasta aisle; the chavrie is with the hummus and exotic cheeses.