Tuesday, March 30, 2010

TOY REVIEW TUESDAY:


Good old crayons and markers!!!

It is almost the end of the school year when our markers are almost all gone. If your markers are dried out you can try this tip.

The best time to stock up on good markers is back to school shopping time. Some years I find Crayola marker sets for about 50 cents and buy about 30 packs!!!

When crayons are all broke you can make these.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Monday, March 29, 2010

MOVIE REVIEW MONDAY:


THE PASSION
Is this a surprise? Come on...even if you are too afraid of watching it, just give it a try. Watch about 15 min a day till Easter. There are clips to watch here. Even a little will change your life.
It will give you an amazing new perspective on Christ dying for us!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

TOY REVIEW TUESDAY:


TOY KITCHEN FOOD:

Really can't go wrong with this.
Any age or sex can have fun with playing house, restaurant, or grocery store.

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

Monday, March 22, 2010

MOVIE REVIEW MONDAY:


Just realized I never reviewed WALL-E.

I liked this and it was good for all ages. I don't think it was as fantastic as it was pumped up to be...but what movie really is?

It is a must see and maybe even worth owning.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Sex trafficking:

Sex trafficking is a scary thing. Watch this...God bless all who are effected by this.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Internet Safety:

Watch this from The Porn Talk website that helps families learn about internet safety.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

For all you lego lovers:



THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Are you ashamed of your MOTHER?

Every Mother’s Son: Confessions of a Marian Prodigal
Some Catholics are ashamed of their mother. They have forsaken their rich heritage of Marian devotions for many reasons. Have you?

Catholic.net
For all my newfound piety, I was still fifteen years old, and all too conscious of “cool.”

Just months before, I’d left behind several years of juvenile delinquency and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. My parents, who were not particularly devout Presbyterians, noticed the change in me and heartily approved. If it took religion to keep me out of juvenile detention, so be it.

Zeal for my new faith consumed me, most of the time. But, one spring day, I was aware of something else consuming me. I had a stomach bug, with all the unpleasant symptoms. I explained my predicament to my homeroom teacher, who sent me to the school nurse. The nurse, after taking my temperature, told me to lie down while she phoned my mother.

From the conversation I overheard, I could tell I’d be going home. I felt instant relief and dozed off.

I awoke to a sound that cut me like a razor. It was my mother’s voice, and it was saturated with maternal pity.

“Ah,” she said when she saw me lying there. Then suddenly it dawned on me. My mother is taking me home. What if my friends see her leading me out of the school? What if she tries to put her arm around me? I’ll be a laughingstock. . . .

Humiliation was on its way. I could already hear the guys jeering at me. Did you see his mother wiping his forehead?

If I had been Catholic, I might have recognized the next fifteen minutes as purgatorial. But to my evangelical imagination, they were sheer hell. Though I stared at the ceiling above the nurse’s couch, all I could see was a long and unbearable future as “Mama’s Boy.”

I heard the office door click open and Mom’s voice exchanging pleasantries with the nurse. I sat up to face a woman approaching me with the utmost pity. Indeed, it was her pity that I found most repugnant. Implicit in every mother’s compassion is her “little” child’s need — and such littleness and neediness are most definitely not cool.

“Mom,” I whispered, before she could get a word out. “Do you suppose you could walk out ahead of me? I don’t want my friends to see you taking me home.”

My mother didn’t say a word. She turned and walked out of the nurse’s office, out of the school, and straight to her car. From there, she mothered me home, asking how I felt, making sure I went to bed with the usual remedies.

It had been a close call, but I was pretty sure I’d escaped with my cool intact. I drifted off to sleep in almost-perfect peace. It wasn’t till that night that I thought about my “cool” again. My father visited my room to see how I was feeling. Fine, I told him. Then he looked gravely at me.

“Scottie,” he said, “your religion doesn’t mean much if it’s all talk. You have to think about the way you treat other people.” Then came the clincher: “What you did to your mother today was shameful.”

I didn’t need an explanation. I could see that Dad was right, and I was ashamed of myself for being ashamed of my mother.

Generation Gap

Yet isn’t that the way it is with many Christians? As He hung dying on the cross, in His last will and testament, Jesus left us a mother. “When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing near, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home’ ” (Jn 19:26-27).

We are His beloved disciples, His younger siblings (see Heb 2:12). His heavenly home is ours; His Father is ours; and His mother is ours. Yet how many Christians are taking her to their homes?

Moreover, how many Christian churches are fulfilling the New Testament prophesy that “all generations” will call Mary “blessed” (Lk 1:48)? Most Protestant ministers — and here I speak from my own past experience — avoid even mentioning the mother of Jesus, for fear they’ll be accused of “crypto-Catholicism.” Sometimes the most zealous members of their congregations have been influenced by shrill anti-Catholic polemics. To them, Marian devotion is “idolatry” that “puts Mary between God and man” or “exalts Mary at Jesus’ expense.” Thus, you’ll sometimes find Protestant churches named after St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James, or St. John — but almost never see one named for St. Mary.

You’ll frequently find pastors preaching on Abraham or David, Jesus’ distant ancestors, but almost never hear a sermon on Mary, His mother. Far from calling her “blessed,” most generations of Protestants live their lives without calling her at all.

This is not just a “Protestant problem.” Too many Catholics and Orthodox Christians have abandoned their rich heritage of Marian devotions. They’ve been cowed by the polemics of Fundamentalists, shamed by the snickering of dissenting theologians, or made sheepish by well-meaning but misguided ecumenical sensitivities. They’re happy to have a mom who prays for them, prepares their meals, and keeps their home; they just wish she’d stay safely out of sight when others are around who “just wouldn’t understand.”

Unstrung

I, too, have been guilty of this filial neglect — not only with my earthly mother, but also with my mother in Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The path of my conversion led me from juvenile delinquency to Presbyterian ministry. All along the way, I had my anti-Marian moments.

My earliest encounter with Marian devotion came when my Grandma Hahn died. She’d been the only Catholic on either side of my family, a quiet, humble, and holy soul. Since I was the only “religious” one in the family, my father gave me her religious articles when she died. I looked at them with horror. I held her rosary in my hands and ripped it apart, saying, “God, set her free from the chains of Catholicism that have bound her.” I meant it, too. I saw the rosary and the Virgin Mary as obstacles that came between Grandma and Jesus Christ.

Even as I slowly approached the Catholic faith — drawn inexorably by the truth of one doctrine after another — I could not make myself accept the Church’s Marian teaching. The proof of her maternity would only come, for me, when I made the decision to let myself be her son. Despite all the powerful scruples of my Protestant training —remember, just a few years before, I had torn apart my Grandma’s beads — I took up the rosary one day and began to pray. I prayed for a very personal, seemingly impossible intention.. On the next day, I took up the beads again, and the next day, and the next. Months passed before I realized that my intention, the seemingly impossible situation, had been reversed since the day I first prayed the rosary. My petition had been granted.

From Here to Maternity

From that moment, I knew my mother. From that moment, I believe, I truly knew my home in the covenant family of God: Yes, Christ was my brother. Yes, He’d taught me to pray “Our Father.” Now, in my heart, I accepted His command to behold my mother.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

TOY REVIEW TUESDAY:


Scattergories Game:

We have had this for years. It comes and goes as our family favorite. It is on the top favorite again this month!!! Fun with group of people made into teams. WE just played it with a group of mom's and son's for a MOTHER/SON game night. It was a blast!!!

Ages 5 (if on a team) and up!

Easy to make your own at home.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Monday, March 15, 2010

Movie Review Monday:


It is that time of year when we pull out JESUS OF NAZARETH one of our very favorite movies. We haven't put an age limit on it. Kids who don't want to watch it don't have to. We sometimes fast forward or close eyes during some scenes we think are not age appropriate.

Usually we watch half during Advent and the other half during Lent.



THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Friday, March 12, 2010

Facebook Privacy Settings:


How to figure out facebook privacy for you and your kids?

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Toy Review Tuesday:


How do you store your toys? I have tried everything from buckets to crates and more. I use these Sterilite Large ShowOff Storage Containers. I bought them from Walmart online. They are what I use for each kids to carry their school books around too.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Friday, March 5, 2010

Movie Review Monday on Friday:


So you can get ready for the Oscar-Nominated Flicks for Families!!! See this link from Common Sense Media.

(The 82nd Annual Academy Awards telecast airs March 7, 2010, on ABC.)

Movie: The Princess and the Frog

First African-American Disney princess is a good role model.

Release date: 12/11/2009

Age 6+

DVD: Up

Pixar's stunning 3-D adventure is an upper for everyone.

Release date: 5/29/2009

Age 6+

DVD: Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

Always-charming claymation duo mix murder with romance.

Release date: 12/31/1969

Age 7+

Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Offbeat family adventure may charm adults more than kids.

Release date: 11/13/2009

Age 7+

DVD: Coraline

Cool but creepy animated fantasy too scary for young kids.

Release date: 2/6/2009

Age 9+

Movie: The Blind Side
Movies in Theaters

Syrupy sports drama uplifts but glosses over deep issues.

Release date: 11/20/2009

Age 12+

Movie: Avatar
Movies in Theaters

Action-heavy epic has dazzling effects, familiar story.

Release date: 12/18/2009

Age 13+

DVD: Julie & Julia
Movies on DVD

Tempting Meryl Streep dramedy satisfies but doesn’t wow.

Release date: 8/7/2009

Age 13+

Movie: An Education
Movies in Theaters

Intelligent period drama tackles mature teen topics.

Release date: 10/9/2009

Age 14+

DVD: District 9
Movies on DVD

Sci-fi stunner is gory, but also fascinating and smart.

Release date: 8/14/2009

Age 15+

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Imitation of Christ Meditation of the day:

This is such a huge chapter to meditate on in one sitting so I broke it into three. Go here for my meditation on the first part. Or for full chapter click here.

The First Chapter (part two)

The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ

The Disciple

What means this most gracious honor and this friendly invitation? How shall I dare to come, I who am conscious of no good on which to presume? How shall I lead You into my house, I who have so often offended in Your most kindly sight? Angels and archangels revere You, the holy and the just fear You, and You say: “Come to Me: all of you!” If You, Lord, had not said it, who would have believed it to be true? And if You had not commanded, who would dare approach?

Behold, Noah, a just man, worked a hundred years building the ark that he and a few others might be saved; how, then, can I prepare myself in one hour to receive with reverence the Maker of the world?

Moses, Your great servant and special friend, made an ark of incorruptible wood which he covered with purest gold wherein to place the tables of Your law; shall I, a creature of corruption, dare so easily to receive You, the Maker of law and the Giver of life?

Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel, spent seven years building a magnificent temple in praise of Your name, and celebrated its dedication with a feast of eight days. He offered a thousand victims in Your honor and solemnly bore the Ark of the Covenant with trumpeting and jubilation to the place prepared for it; and I, unhappy and poorest of men, how shall I lead You into my house, I who scarcely can spend a half-hour devoutly—would that I could spend even that as I ought!

O my God, how hard these men tried to please You! Alas, how little is all that I do! How short the time I spend in preparing for Communion! I am seldom wholly recollected, and very seldom, indeed, entirely free from distraction. Yet surely in the presence of Your life-giving Godhead no unbecoming thought should arise and no creature possess my heart, for I am about to receive as my guest, not an angel, but the very Lord of angels.

Very great, too, is the difference between the Ark of the Covenant with its treasures and Your most pure Body with its ineffable virtues, between these sacrifices of the law which were but figures of things to come and the true offering of Your Body which was the fulfillment of all ancient sacrifices.

Why, then, do I not long more ardently for Your adorable presence? Why do I not prepare myself with greater care to receive Your sacred gifts, since those holy patriarchs and prophets of old, as well as kings and princes with all their people, have shown such affectionate devotion for the worship of God.

I think Thomas a Kempis is trying to make us realize just how much we are unworthy to receive Christ in the Eucharist. He compares us to the Old testament characters Noah, Moses, and Solomon and how much time and effort they spent in preparing to do God's will. We spend so little time preparing ourselves for Christ. PART THREE will come soon.

Lord give me a supernatural understanding of how to better understand and serve you.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

TOY REVIEW TUESDAY:


A GOOD OLD DECK OF CARDS!!!

Here are our all time favorite games to play with a regular deck of cards:

Steal the old man's pack...(ages 4 and up)

Go Fish

Rummy and Rummy 500

Spite and Malice

Got any others?...please don't tell me war...that game takes forever!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Monday, March 1, 2010

PARENTS: THE ANTI-DRUG:

Growing Up Too Fast
Is your child growing up too fast?
by Jeanette Gardner Littleton
From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY:



Before she was a teenager, Chelsea* had a cell phone. She also had her own bedroom complete with cable TV and a computer with high-speed Internet access. By the time she was a young teen, she made regular salon visits and had an artificial tan that made her look much older than she was.

By the time Chelsea was 14, a new car sat in the driveway, just waiting for her to get a driving permit.

By 15, Chelsea pretty much had it all and was bored.

A few months later, Chelsea launched a parental Hiroshima by asking her parents for permission to get married. "After all," she reasoned, "we're already married in God's eyes." And to compound their shock, she was expelled from school for drug possession.

"I don't understand how this could happen," her mom, Dawn, said. "We raised her in a strong Christian home. And she's not some underprivileged kid. I went back to work to make sure she had all the advantages."

We want our kids to have good things in life. But lavishing them with too many good things is like letting children gorge on candy — in the long run, it hurts their health, hinders their appetite for wholesome things and leads to a hunger for risky, harmful ones.

Just as we limit sweets in our children's diets, we also need to set healthy limits in other areas. We can do this by creating appropriate stages and boundaries.
Why wait?

Creating appropriate stages means putting age limitations on behaviors that rush our kids out of childhood — such as wearing makeup, enjoying Internet use, having a cell phone and getting a job. By delaying these activities until an appropriate age, we use them as rites of passage that mark a healthy progress toward adulthood.

As we set up stages and boundaries, we give our children something to look forward to. We help them see that maturity is a process, not something that automatically happens when they turn 18.

This approach also teaches our children that it's OK to wait for something. Our society says, "Have everything you want now! Don't wait. Go for it!" But seeking instant gratification often leads to long-term problems, such as massive debt, destroyed relationships and wounded emotions.
Questions to consider

There are no set rules for determining the ages when kids should be allowed to have or do certain things. Each family and each child is different. But as you think about stages for your kids, ask yourself these questions:

* What is the reason for letting my child have or do this? For instance, 8-year-old Taylor has a cell phone, which she uses to call her mom at work while she stands at the bus stop alone every morning. For Taylor and her mom, the phone is a matter of security.

On the other hand, Lindsey started asking for a cell phone in junior high. But since Lindsey just wanted a phone to impress her peers, her mom decided that Lindsey could have one when she was old enough to get a job and earn the money to pay for it.

Sometimes we have to evaluate whether an item is a frivolous accessory or something that's important to a child's self-image. A mom may balk at letting a daughter get a bra before she has the figure to fit it, but parents sometimes need to realize that when kids see their classmates developing physically, they don't want to be the only one in school who's "still a baby."
* Is my child ready for this responsibility? If my son isn't mature enough to avoid using a cell phone during class, then I'm doing him a disservice by giving him one. Sometimes we even put our kids at risk by letting them have privileges too early. One mom was horrified to learn that her daughter was giving out personal information to men on the Internet.
* Am I ready for this responsibility? Parenting is tough enough without giving yourself extra work. When we let our children enter a new stage, we have the added job of helping them handle the new privilege responsibly. Letting a child have a phone in his room, for instance, may mean monitoring to make sure he's not chatting with friends when he should be doing homework.
* Will jumping too soon to a particular life stage send unintended messages to my child about self-image or materialism? Will letting a daughter get too many beauty treatments too young make her think her appearance is the most important thing in life? Will letting a boy have too many electronic toys too young set him up for always having to buy the latest gadget?

Give them a hand

When your child reaches a new stage, enthusiastically help him or her enter it. When he's old enough for a mountain bike, help him select one. When she's old enough to shave her legs, pick out gel and razors together and show her how to do it. When your son is ready for a job, help him research the market. Use life stages not only as signposts of growing up but also as opportunities to start something new with your child.