visions of families danced through my head

I started indexing on Family Search this weekend. It is my new passion.
I find it interesting how I am able to read all sorts of names in all sorts of handwriting. Sometimes, not at first, but i close my eyes, open them, and then I "see" the name. It is like a mini-miracle.

After 2 days of indexing, last night I really did dream of families...and they did seem to be dancing. I woke up happy.

Great Christmas Read

Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne

We read this book as a family last year. When we got to the end, I started to cry, so my husband took over, he started to cry, so my then 17 year old son tried, and failed. No one could finish without tearing up. We could barely finish the book.

House Party

So, I learned of this site called House Party, where manufacturers of products are looking for people to host a party using their stuff. So last month I signed up for an EA sports Active 2 party and got selected! I was so excited. Anyway, a few weeks later I received a package in the mail with the game and some party favors. I planned the party, invited a few friends, and waited for the day to arrive. To bide my time while a waited I tried out the game, and I loved it! After each workout I feel like I have been to the gym. My kids love to work out with it too! Anyway-check out house party if you love to host parties and try new things...Check out EA sports game if you are looking for a fun new way to exercise. (I have a few coupons left for $30 off the game...expire on 12/19...if you think you might want one, let me know!)

towels were needed!

prizes wrapped in EA paper

Even she got a work out!

Thankful for...

This beautiful world in which we live.
May you find the beauty wherever you are today.

Grab and Go

72 hour kits for the family-done!
For this I am grateful.

Small Change

As I would go through my house picking up, cleaning, vacuuming...I would always find coins on the floor...dimes, nickels, quarters...I would pick them up and pocket them and put them in my penny bank. I would periodically tell the kids that change is not trash; that small change does add up.

Then one day while shopping at CVS I saw a bank that counted the change as one put the money in. I bit the bullet and spent the $9.99, hoping that I could teach a valuable lesson to my children.

The kids were fascinated as I opened the box containing the bank. More fascinated as I emptied my penny bank into the new one.  The dollar amount climbed. $30...$40...$50....The kids got excited. I left the bank on the book shelf. Throughout the next few weeks, the kids would report a new total as they put their change in the bank. Soon we topped $100.

After one month, the bank is full and can take no more money. There is over $150.00 in there. AND I am not finding any more money on the floor. I hope the lesson has been learned.

Like penny banks, life is filled with lots of small change. Small things we can do to make life a better place. A smile. A kind word. A gentle answer. A morning prayer. A few minutes each day reading the scriptures. A small, secret act of kindness everyday.  A thank you note.

As we fill our lives with these small changes, we will find that these small changes do add up to a much richer life.

I am thankful for small change.

God Bless the USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTb6qdPu8JE




Note to the Unknown Soldier:


I don't know you. I never met you.You were so far from home.I know you're the best man I know.
I am glad you are on my side. Did you have a son...a daughter...I might go and thank?
It's a better world because you came.-John Ondrasik