Monday, July 30, 2007

A Little Humor to Brighten Your Day






Are you a Professional?
The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you whether you are qualified to be a professional. The questions are NOT that difficult. But don't peek UNTIL you have answered the question!

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
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The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
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2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
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Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?
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Wrong Answer.
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Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.
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3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend... except one. Which animal does not attend?
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Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory. Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
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4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
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Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
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According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

A Journey Back in Time

Recently, our family visited Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI (outside Detroit). I hadn't visited there since our oldest son was a baby. What a wonderful day, and a great memory to share with our kids!

If you're not familiar with Greenfield Village, it is the brainchild of the late Henry Ford (yes, the one of automotive fame). He brought together a collection of historic buildings from all over the United States--and even some from other countries. Buildings include: the Wright Brothers' Cycle Shop; a courthouse from Illinois, in which Abraham Lincoln practiced law; Noah Webster's home; Thomas Edison's lab; and a wealth of others too numerous to mention. There are also crafters: glass blowers, tin smiths, wool weavers, etc. My personal favorite is the "working farm, circa 1800's". While we were visiting, the men were harvesting the wheat crop with scythes. The women were in the kitchen, working to make the men's harvest meal. They grow crops, raise their own livestock, etc.

The kids all loved the old-time carousel. At one point, the music was, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Everyone joined in singing. What a time they had!

One of the special highlights of the day was the old-time baseball game. We saw the Lah-De-Dahs (pictured above) take on the Nationals (pictured below). They play by 1800's rules. And, as you can see, they wear the appropriate uniforms. (You have to understand that in the 1800's, there were no gloves used. They caught bare-handed!) It was such a treat to watch. We all sat on a grassy hillside, and got caught up in the camaraderie with the players. There was even a band playing 1800's music. I'm not sure who won the game, as we left at about the 5th inning to go tour other sites. It was a memorable time, though!

These are the things I love passing on to my kids: memories made with family. I hope I took enough pictures! :o)


Wednesday, July 25, 2007

How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know How Old You Are???

On my other blog, I recently posted about our youngest son, "Clyde," celebrating his 8th birthday (July 23rd). It is amazing how quickly those eight years have flown by. A few people left comments regarding the age of their "babies". I truly understand. I am the baby in my family, too.

I love the smell of an infant after he/she has been freshly bathed. There's that sweet freshness of baby powder and, I think, the fragrance of innocence. I love touching their little toes, fingers, and ears. I love gazing at a sleeping infant.

And yet, thinking back on the baby days of my boys makes me realize how much older I am, too! I'm no longer the mom of "little" children. I have a pre-teen and a young boy. I can only hope that we are all maturing, even as we are aging!

Recently, as I heard of yet another young celebrity who is battling alcohol and the media frenzy surrounding it all, I thought: I'd so love to just sit down with that young lady and remind her of what is truly important in life. I enumerated several items to my husband, as I expressed my desire to help out this young woman. Then it hit me: I'm really old enough to be her MOM! Yikes! :~0

I guess it just goes with the territory...but aging sure isn't something I expected to come upon me so quickly!



Monday, July 23, 2007

Update from Kansas.com


I got this article from Kansas.com. This is an update on the couple who got the free pickup!
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Chance Little considers his rescue efforts the night of the Greensburg tornado just part of his job as a volunteer firefighter.

But his heroism captured the attention of the Country Music Association, which rewarded him with a trip to Nashville for its annual musical festival.

He had no idea country star Martina McBride would present him a new Chevrolet Silverado onstage.

He's grateful, but he wishes the CMA had given him a heads-up.

"Otherwise I wouldn't have bought this other truck the week before," he said, pointing to his new Dodge Ram pickup.

So now Chance and his wife, Tracy, have two trucks and no home. Like most Greensburg residents, they lost their house and most of their possessions in the tornado.

A segment on the Little family will be aired today during the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" along with festival performances by McBride, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and others. It will be broadcast from 8 to 10 p.m. on KAKE, Channel 10.

Chance, 27, was born and raised in Greensburg. He and his wife are building a new home, where they will reside with their 1-year-old daughter, Marley; their second child, who's on the way; and the family dog, Cooper.

As tornado reports came in May 4, Tracy and Marley hurried to Chance's parents' house across town to ride out the storm. Chance went to work helping to prepare for the storm.

After the tornado passed, he and other volunteer Kiowa County firefighters split up and searched houses. The wreckage was overwhelming, but Chance said he tried to do whatever was needed to ensure people were not harmed. He got a woman out of her basement and took disoriented residents to Dillons, where medical care was available.

"It all happened so fast," he said "I never had time to think about what had happened. We were busy trying to take care of people. I still don't think it's all hit me. I just keep pushing on."

A few days after the storm, Chance was at the firehouse when he got a phone message to call the Country Music Association.

"I thought some of my friends with the city were playing a trick on me," he said.

Chance still doesn't know how the CMA heard about him. The association asked the Littles to submit a tape of their story. The couple did, and they were invited to the music festival.

Nearly 200,000 people attended the June 7-10 event in Nashville.

Chance and Tracy were invited backstage during McBride's concert. McBride, a native of Sharon, dedicated the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to them.

Tracy said she's a big country fan so it was exciting to hear McBride live and get to meet her.

After the song, the Littles were unexpectedly ushered onstage, where, in front of about 50,000 audience members, they were given the new pickup.

"It drives pretty well," Tracy Little said.

The family is living in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer until their house is built. The foundation is in place and framing will begin in the next week or two. The couple hopes to be in their new home before Christmas, Chance Little said.

"That would be real nice way to spend the holidays," he said.

Article by Jamie Shapiro, Eagle correspondent

Friday, July 20, 2007

The Little Man


Our little Isaiah is already changing so much! He's one month old now!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Can You Help?


I am looking for some kid-friendly blogs. My kids love blogging, but get a little tired of only being able to view each other's blogs or this one of mine.

My boys are ages 8 and 11...so if you have any ideas, please pass them along!

THANKS!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Leavin' on a Jet Plane


I'm so excited! Our niece (who was my flower girl) is getting married in September. I figured there was absolutely no way I could go for the wedding. Sweet, sweet hubby, though, said I could fly out. Made the reservations this morning! And an added bonus? I'll be staying with the niece who just recently had the baby. So, I get to witness the wedding, AND give that little Isaiah lotsa lovin'! Hurray!

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Special Marriage Recipe

I received the following as a shower gift, a little over 18 years ago. It's a bit old-fashioned in language, but it's tried and true advice!
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How to Preserve a Husband

Choose one not too young and green nor too old and tough.

After making a careful selection from a variety as has been reared in a good moral atmosphere, let that choice remain forever settled and give your entire thoughts to preparation for domestic use. Some make mistakes by keeping them in a stew, or constantly getting them in hot water. All varieties may be made sweet, tender, and good by garnishing him with patience, well sweetened with smiles and flavored with kisses. Then wrap well in a mantel of love. Keep cheered with a steady fire of devotion and serve with joy and kindness.

When thus prepared, he will keep good for a lifetime and will always be a delight.

"Love is patient, love is kind." I Corinthians 13:4
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Special thanks to Joyce Thronesbury for this timeless advice! It's still working!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Cell Phones vs. the Bible




I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or
pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the
text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without
it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is
my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. ...
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities?"

And no dropped calls!



Monday, July 9, 2007

Church Discipline


Several years ago, my husband did a teaching on church discipline, according to Matthew 18. A parishioner sent him this e-mail. I've kept it all this time, just because it's too original and humorous to delete!
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CHURCH DISCIPLINE IN ACTION: MATT 18

Bill billed Bob for a bad abode.
Bob brought the bad building matter to Bill.
Bill battled Bob over the bad building.
Bob brought the matter to the brothers.
Bill blew off the brothers.
The Body bounced Bill.
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Matthew 18 has never been easier to understand! :0)

Friday, July 6, 2007

The CMA Music Festival


As stated in a previous post, I'm not really a country music fan. But this one will be worth the watch, I think. On July 23rd, ABC will air footage of the CMA Music Festival. (See more details at this link.)

According to a source of mine, an item that will be included is footage of a Greensburg couple receiving the keys to a brand-new pickup truck, while they were attending the music fest.! The new ride was compliments of Kansas native Martina McBride.

And now you have the scoop! :o)

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Wait Upon the Lord



After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed ...

"Lord, it's up to you, if you want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery."

And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was! God is so Good!

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Monday, July 2, 2007

A Funny Photo I Came Across...



This was too funny to pass up! Notice the plate?! (That's a septic truck, by the way!)