tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39743773434939751302024-02-06T18:36:22.440-08:00Talk To My HeartMarilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-71357663505209362272009-07-28T21:20:00.000-07:002009-07-28T23:00:34.470-07:00"Rock Of Ages"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJoIbiUn7zQq3YGdF52WPwybAV6IcCr1DXnk-qIDaDPU85uNqyndVcc9hZLITsGOgEkrjtb7Atqp3V7QYBZSOvN-lssjeo8tkXKO4ozU2zz5_qsRBr2xsP6yAITk2tdmZiXB1WPoE0p0S/s1600-h/rock+of+ages.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJoIbiUn7zQq3YGdF52WPwybAV6IcCr1DXnk-qIDaDPU85uNqyndVcc9hZLITsGOgEkrjtb7Atqp3V7QYBZSOvN-lssjeo8tkXKO4ozU2zz5_qsRBr2xsP6yAITk2tdmZiXB1WPoE0p0S/s320/rock+of+ages.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363735409649208146" border="0" /></a>When I got the email from One2One Network asking if I would like to review the soundtrack from "Rock Of Ages" I was so excited! This is just my kind of music!<br />With tunes like .....<br />"Just Like Paradise/"Nothin But A Good Time"<br />"Sister Christian"<br />"We Built This City"/"Too Much Time On My Hands"<br />"I Wanna Rock"<br />"We're Not Gonna Take It"<br />"Heaven"/"More Than Words"(one of my favs)/"To Be With You"<br />"Waiting For A Girl LIke You"<br />"Wanted Dead Or Alive"<br />"I Want To Know What Love Is"<br />"Come On Feel The Noize"/"We're Not Gonna Take It(Reprise)"<br />"Harden My Heart"/"Shadows Of The Night"<br />"Here I Go Again"<br />"The Final Countdown"<br />"Any Way You Want It"/I Wanna Rock(Reprise)"<br />"High Enough"<br />"I Hate Myself For Loving You"/"Heat Of The Moment"<br />"Hit Me With Your Best Shot"<br />"Can't Fight This Feeling"(Another Fav)<br />"Every Rose Has It's Thorn"<br />"Oh Sherrie"<br />"The Search Is Over"<br />"Don't Stop Believin"<br /><br />What could make these songs better? They are preformed by none other than the cast of "Rock Of Ages" Including*******Constantine Maroulis finalist from American Idol. "New Line Records" did the CD so it is great quality, as always with them.<br /><br />I really enjoyed listening to this sound track, it brought back some awesome memories of when my kid's were younger, and so was I. You don't have to be a child of the 80's to enjoy this music though, they have revamped the tunes a bit and they are so relevant for todays enjoyment too.<br /><br />I am so stoked about this CD I would like for everyone to have the same listening pleasure I did so you can order your copy here <a href="http://tr.im/rviv">http://tr.im/rviv</a><br /><br />You can also see a preview of the music video here <a href="http://tr.im/rsVE">http://tr.im/rsVE</a><br /><br />If you are lucky enough to live where you can see this show I would say go. It has been nominated 5 times for Tony Awards. I think you would enjoy the show. Oh if I were that lucky! I will just have to dream.<br /><br />SoTalk To My Heart, tell me how you feel about Broadway shows, and how you think this one would be in particular. If you have seen it, or plan to please give us a review here.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-12065593342618686692009-01-08T00:36:00.000-08:002009-01-08T02:40:59.392-08:00Surfing the web stone age styleI remember the first personal computer I bought. It was a Tandy from Radio Shack. This was before the days of dial up, much less <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DSL</span>, you could basically type with it, and play a few games, but my ex husband thought he was king of the techies with it, I believe I paid almost $2,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ooo</span> dollars for it because I had to finance it. Wow have we come a long way baby!<br /><br />I have been upgrading over the years until I finally have been using the highest speed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">DSL</span> that our local phone company offers to residential customers. This worked great for us for the last few years until last year when the local phone company sold to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Windstream</span>. I don't know what happened when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Windstream</span> took over, but it seemed we were offline at least twice a week sometimes for 8 to 10 hours, and when I would call to report the problem, I would be on hold sometimes for over an hour, I would just put the phone on speaker and go about my business until someone would finally answer. Then guess what, it wouldn't be an American it would be someone from over in India or somewhere, who barely spoke English, and they were trained to say the same script each time. "It appears we are having trouble on your line, it may be an hour or it may be tomorrow, we can't tell". Talk about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">frustration</span>!<br /><br />A couple of weeks before Christmas I was trying to finish my shopping, which I do online, and low and behold down the service went. I was in the middle of placing an order with Amazon, my favorite place to shop, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/freelancebyu">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/freelancebyu </a> but if you shop there, then you know that the good deal you are buying<br />may be gone when you check back 10 minutes later, or the price may have gone up. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">DSL</span> went down at about 6:30 pm and we didn't get it back until around 11 the next day. Talk about angry, I was one angry bargain hunter. Luckily Amazon still had the items I was ordering at the same price, or I would have been on my phone companies door step.<br /><br />What I did instead was decide to change services. Good idea huh? We'll see.... I have my TV connected to Direct-TV, I hate Time Warner as it seems they raise prices a couple of times a year. So I call Direct and ask them what kind of Internet service they have available. The saleslady was so helpful, she said what I needed was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">satellite</span>, so I paid $200+ and set up an installation date which was Dec. 19<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Th</span>. I was supposed to have the highest speed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">available</span> through a service called "Wild Blue".<br /><br />The first thing I noticed was the speed was not what I was used to, but I thought, well it was still tolerable. The 3rd day I lost my connection, my husband had been playing World of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Warcraft</span>, his favorite past time. He had stopped and gone to bed, that was when I lost my connection. I was ready to quit anyway, so I just closed my lap top and went to bed. The next day, I had been checking my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">freecycle</span> site, and my email, all was fine. I stopped and started m dinner. Mean while hubby had gone back to WOW as it is called. Again the service went down. Well when I finally came back to my email. I had a notice from Direct-TV informing me I had been reported for "Fair Access Policy Abuse". I had no idea in the world what this meant, but I was soon to find out, and you talk about someone blowing their stack, I did.<br /><br />It seems <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">that</span> with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">satellite</span> services, you are only allowed so much use a month, and when Direct-TV checked mine we were at 150%, at that point we were cut off from service and would not be allowed back on line for a month. I was trying to find out what we had done to abuse our service, and the tech I had on the phone was doing just that, talking techie language, I asked him to speak everyday language and explain to me and he couldn't. I said give me your manager please! By then I was ready to go through the phone line after him. So much for my religion, I had lost it! Well as it turned out, Wild Blue does not support gamers, so in 3 days, my husbands WOW addiction had put us way over the usage allowed. I was at a loss as to what to do because we were supposed to have an 18 month contract, I was furious because the nice little sales lady had never mentioned the Fair Access Policy, the installer was supposed to have left us a paper explaining the policy, he did not. As I told the manager, I would have never purchased something that wouldn't support gaming, that would have been stupid on my part, I may be many things but stupid is not one of them!<br /><br />As it turned out the nice sales lady was told we were using <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">DSL</span> so she should have never sold us the service she did. So Direct-TV let me out of the contract, and she is trying to get me a refund, I hope she does or I will be back on the phone blowing my stack. So that left me with going back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">DSL</span> with my phone company, the glitch was they couldn't reconnect me until the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Th</span> of Jan. in the mean time I would have to go back to dial up. Talk about a rude awakening! You don't realize just how fast <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">DSL</span> is until you have to go back to dial up. I felt like I was back on the old Tandy. We just got everything back to working order tonight, something had happened to our router while we were disconnected so they had to bring us another one out yesterday, then our wireless connection wouldn't work anymore so my husband had to buy another one of those thingies. I told you I am not a techie.<br /><br />I learned something from this experience. My temper has gotten me in some bad spots, and this was another one. I need to wait a day or two when I am angry, and think things through before making rash decisions, weigh the pros and cons of what I am going to do. Now if I can just follow my own advice, who me?<br /><br />I had another situation come up a few days ago, with our bank, they wouldn't let me deposit my daughters check into our account, because she is not listed on the account. They had been letting me deposit it for 3 months and all of a sudden I couldn't. Temper flared, I said some not so nice things to the teller, that I will have to go back and apologize for, and started to change banks. I got in my van and started to go to a different bank, and all of a sudden I regained my sanity. I have direct deposit at my bank, I have several payments that come directly out, my account is tied to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Paypal</span>, etc. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"></span> Now That is just too much to change over a check, that will be cut off in Sept. anyway. <br /><br />Talk To My Heart. Does your temper get you into trouble like mine does me. What have y<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">ou</span> done while angry that you regretted later, or cost you more money or something else than it was worth. Tell me about it so I won't feel like the only dip stick out there in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">cyber</span> land. I look forward to reading your responses.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-2139807759907823012008-12-19T23:40:00.000-08:002008-12-20T12:35:32.452-08:00What Chrismas Means To MeWell it is December 20Th, only 5 more days until Christmas, or as the retailers would put it;<br />"Only 4 shopping days left until Christmas!"<br />Is that really what we want Christmas to mean? Is that the memory we want our children to have when they are grown?<br />Christmas....We all know what the true meaning of Christmas is suppose to be, and is; The supposed date for the birth of our beloved Saviour, Jesus Christ. That is what it should be and it is in my heart of heart's, but Christmas has become so many more things to us too.<br />Christmas is the time when we show our loved ones how much we care, a time to spend special time with family and friend's, to eat special goodies that are made with love and care.<br /><br />So what has happened to what Christmas is supposed to be? We tell our children what they are supposed to feel about Christmas, that it is better to give than receive. Then we turn around and spend hundred's, sometimes thousand's of dollars on toy's and electronics that they will play with for a week and throw in a corner and forget. In the mean time, children all over the world go to bed hungry at night.<br />Oh I am not judging fr I am just as guilty as anyone else. I am like every other parent, I want my children to have the latest gadgets and gizmo's, I want them to be happy and "Love me", cause I am the coolest thing since marshmallows, when I buy them what they want, or what they think they want.<br />So I am asking myself this early morning; "what does Christmas mean to me?" Not what everyone tells me it is suppose to mean, not what I tell my children it is supposed to mean, but what does Christmas mean, in my heart of hearts?<br />Christmas, is a song that sings of a future, where all are equal, no one lacks food, or clothing, there are no tears from the loss of a loved one to cancer, or aids. It is the promise of a future for our children that is filled with love and forgiveness for our brothers and sisters that are bound to us by this thing called humanity. Christmas to me is hoping there will be no more war, but knowing there will be, so the hope turns to peace, so that our men and women serving in the Middle East will be able to come home quickly and be with their families, that the escalating war in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Afghanistan</span> will be stopped, so no more innocent lives will be lost.<br />Most of all Christmas to me is the joy of seeing a family together. The smile on my child's face, when she <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sees</span> the Christmas lights lit on all the houses and trees, in that smile of a seven year old is pure innocence, it can't be bought, sold or traded, and it is all mine for a few more years.<br />So in this season of giving and sharing, think of the things that really matter to you. Not what can be bought in a store, not money, or even gold. Let our mind's go back to the innocence of when you were seven, think of the thrill you felt when you saw the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">light's</span>, when you sat on Santa's lap, the first snow flakes of the year falling, your Mother and Dad's unconditional love.<br />Talk to my heart. What does Christmas really mean to you?Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-44827418712002013882008-10-30T09:38:00.000-07:002008-10-30T09:51:20.404-07:00Free $25.00 Shopping For You At BidzHi all I got this code from a freebie site that I visit, and wanted to pass it along to you. I love this site, especially at Christmas and Birthdays. You can get jerwerly at 1/3 the price or even less sometimes. It is all good quality, I order for my children and family. Hope this helps save you some money during the Christmas shopping season. Here is my friend and mentor Anjie's link for Bidz.<br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=EqcdkoI2zWE&offerid=90206.10000006&type=3&subid=0">http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=EqcdkoI2zWE&offerid=90206.10000006&type=3&subid=0</a><br /><br />And here is the code to use for your $25.00 shopping money, just put the code in at checkout.<br />Use code SCARY25<br />Valid 10/30 - 11/2<br />Talk To My Heart, Let me know what yyou bought with your free $25.00, and who it was for. I just love what I call "Found Money".Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-74762532650272664772008-10-29T02:05:00.000-07:002008-10-29T02:20:27.378-07:00Free Cell Phones and Service for Low Income Families<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/images/img_phone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 411px;" src="https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/images/img_phone.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks so much to our friend Marie over at <a href="http://freelancingrammie.blogspot.com/">http://freelancingrammie.blogspot.com/</a> she found this wonderful program to help low income families.<br /><br /><h2 id="ctl00_ContentSubHeader_GovernmentProgram">SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program<br />that provides a free cell phone and airtime each<br />month for income-eligible customers.</h2><br /><br />I sincerely hope that some of you can use this program and that it will be a blessing for someone. Things are so hard these days, even for two income families, and I know that some can't even afford home phone service, so this is a great program.<br />Talk To My Heart, let me know if you or someone you know cold benefit from this program, or if you know of similar things being offered, and I will publish your thoughts and suggestions here.<br /><br />Remember Halloween is Friday, look out for the ghosties and goblins!Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-58843326455799610562008-10-26T23:17:00.000-07:002008-10-26T23:45:53.243-07:00New Use For Vicks Vapor RubI said in the title this is a new use for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vicks</span>, maybe I should rephrase that. It is an old use, but done in a different way.<br /><br />I have used <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Vicks</span> every since I was a child. It was the cure all for stuffy noses and hacking coughs for my parents. My parents couldn't take us to the doctor every time we had a cold, as a matter of fact we had to be about dead before we went. If we got a cold out came the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Vicks</span>, it was rubbed on our chests, and on the upper part of our lip, right under our nostrils.<br /><br />Now it did a terrific job of opening my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sinuses</span>, but have mercy it felt like it was gonna burn my lip off some times, because of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mentholatum</span>. By the time it stopped stinging, you were either "cured or killed," as they say.<br /><br />Well now someone has come up with a way to get the benefits without all the fuss and muss, so next time I have a cold I will be trying this. Hope you enjoy, and please if you give it a try, Talk To My Heart, let me know how it works for you and your family.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Subject: VICKS VAPOR RUB INTERESTING<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">you can 'taste' it.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">Some of us have used Vicks Vapor rub for years for everything from chapped <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">(or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapor rub generously on the <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent,<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> <br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemical<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprise finding and <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">who then went on to sleep soundly.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">this was a deep, ( incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> <br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself <br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial;">and you will be absolutely amazed at how it works.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><br /></span></span>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-84098985325987381212008-10-16T21:00:00.000-07:002008-10-17T00:12:40.892-07:00Teaching Our Children To Be Civic Minded Citizens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cm/goodhousekeeping/images/2z/girl-at-ballot-box-de.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cm/goodhousekeeping/images/2z/girl-at-ballot-box-de.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It is almost time for the 2008 Presidential Election. I don't think I have ever missed voting in an election since I turned 18. They had just changed the law, to allow an 18 year <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">old</span> to vote, (for you youngsters, it used to be 21). I was so proud the first time I stepped into a polling place, I felt like I was grown and finally 100% American. You might say, "but you were born in America." Yes I was, but there was just something about voting that first time that confirmed it in my heart and mind, my chest was bursting with pride.<br /><br />I don't know if that is the feeling everyone gets when they vote, but that feeling has never left me. Every time I vote it reaffirms the fact I, Marilyn Oliver am an American.<br />My oldest adopted child just turned 18 in October. I started telling her the importance of voting last year, she has only been with us going on 3 years, or she would have heard my spiel all her life.<br />Anyway I didn't wait for her to register to vote, I registered her online myself, cause she is quite a procrastinator. She was thrilled though when she got her Voter registration card in the mail about a month ago.<br />I don't stop there, when I went to vote in the primaries, I lugged all four of my girl's with me, took them all into the voting booth, so they could see what the process was. The people at our voting precinct didn't know quite what to think when I walked in and told them I would be taking the girl's in with me, but they were troopers and when we got done, they were each given an I voted today sticker, they all wore them out with pride in their eyes.<br /><br />If you haven't figured it out by now, I am very patriotic. I still get a tear in my eye when the National Anthem is played, and we say the Pledge Of Allegiance to our flag. Nothing makes me angrier than to hear someone put down this great country of ours. I am one of those people who feel like if you don't love our country, then please go find somewhere you can be happy. We have so much freedom, and opportunities in this country, I don't think you will find that anywhere else in the world, we are blessed beyond what we deserve sometimes. We all take what we have for granted, and it seems the only time we think about it is when we see pictures of starving children in other countries, or when a freedom that affects us is going to be taken away. Friends that is why you should vote. If the things you believe in are there for you now, and someone who doesn't share those same beliefs is voted into office, then chances are what you hold near and dear may be gone, if that person has enough influence.<br /><br />OK off my soap box and back to the kids. As I said I start brainwashing my kids to be patriots from the time they are old enough to listen. I don't take toddlers with me to vote, they can be distracting, but I do let them know Mommy is going to vote, and try to explain what that is. I usually start taking them with me to the polls at 4 or 5, and while they don't understand all that is going on they do know we are doing something very important. When I was in school we were taught everyday how important being an American was, and how important our civic duties to this country are. Kids today don't get that in school, it might offend someone else belief system. (Refer back to how I feel about if you don't love it leave it.)<br /><br />What are these civic duties that we should be teaching our children? Well of course voting, jury duty, serving our country with military duty when called upon. Those are just some of the things considered civic duty, but I would also throw in some others here, how about the battered woman or child? Report the abuser. Did you see someone steal from the store you are shopping in? Report to the management. Civic duty means being responsible, not just for yourself, but for your fellow man.<br /><br />Please teach your children to be good responsible citizens, they are our future, if we don't guide and lead them in the right direction, who will? I received a good article in my email the other day that also kind of goes along with my blog today. It was from Good Housekeeping, and I am including a link here for you to read it if you chose. <a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/activities/prep-kids-election-time">http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/activities/prep-kids-election-time</a><br /><br />I was listening to the news today and found out one of the candidates will be in our town this Saturday. This is the first time that a Presidential candidate has been right here in my town that I can remember, if any were before, I was too young, or working and didn't know. I am not going to say which candidate, because my party preferences should not affect how someone else views this blog. To me it doesn't matter what party you are as long as you vote. Anyway, as soon as I heard about the rally I called to find out if there were any tickets left, they said no, but they were expecting some more in if I could stop by later. Well by the time I could get there they were all gone again, I was so disappointed, I told the lady how much I wanted to be able to take my children, and how important I felt it was for them to learn early. She said well, maybe another location had some, and she called for me, they did have some left, but only a few, if I could get there they were mine, but they could not hold them. I headed out crossing my fingers they would still have seven when I arrived. I stopped to get gas a couple of miles up the road, and my cell phone rang, it was the lady I had just talked to, I had given her my number just in case the other location was out, and they by chance got some more in. She said we have 750 tickets on the way here, if you can come back here in about an hour, I will put seven aside for you. I was elated. I headed back and stopped to pick up a few things from the store to defray my wait. When I go back to the head quarters the tickets still had not gotten there, the lady was gone I had spoken to, but another lady remembered me, and motioned me to come back and have a seat she said they will be here in about 15 minutes. There were a few other people waiting, and the crowd was slowly building. When the man walked in with the tickets, I was told I could only have four, well I knew it was one of those fight or flight moment's. I said to them, look I am not trying to be ugly, but I was called back here by the other lady and was promised there would be seven tickets waiting for me, as I have five children as well as myself and my husband. The other lady said, "she promised you seven?" I said yes when she called, she said "OK give her seven, but after that only four per person." See <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">perseverance</span> pays, not only did I get seven tickets, the T-shirts that they didn't think would come in until the next morning arrived at the same time, so now my husband and I have white ones to wear, and my daughter who thinks pink is the only color in the world has one in pink, oh was she so happy! "Mom, can my boy friend come?" I explained I could only get the seven tickets but if he wanted he could check to see if they had any more tickets. Well as luck would have it my 14 year old has a best friend who he has not seen in months, due to visitation with his father. He called and begged for my son to be able to come for the weekend, that freed up a ticket for her boyfriend, so that will make it even more special for her. He is 18 also, I hope he registered to vote, if not he will get Momma Marilyn's civic lesson on Saturday.<br /><br />Well everyone Talk To My Heart, how do you feel about voting, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">civic</span> duties in general? Give a comment and let me know.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-25724556708682200082008-10-12T20:36:00.000-07:002008-10-12T22:03:07.430-07:00Mom, What's In my Lunch Box?I have always paid for my children to get school lunch, or the last few years I have been one of "those moms ", my children have qualified for free or reduced lunch. This year we didn't qualify anymore, not because we had a huge increase in pay, but just a few dollars. Well with gas going up, the cost of food at the grocery stores and every thing else you can think of, I couldn't see paying $3.50 and up for lunch everyday for 5 children, we were looking at About $88.00 a week just for lunch , that didn't include breakfast. I told my children we just could not do that, and they would be taking their lunch from home.<br />The first week was fun, they had new lunch boxes, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and just a plain red and black for my 14 year old son, PLEASE! The next hurdle was what to get them to drink? I wanted something low in sugar, but with some kind of nutritional value, none of them really ever liked getting milk at lunch. Well a friend of mine told me about the Sugar free Hawaiian Punch Singles To Go. 5 calories per serving, 5 mg of sodium, 1 g of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">carbs</span>, and best of all 100% of the RDA of vitamin C, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">woohoo</span>. I found them in 5 flavors and they come 8 servings to a box, but those sticks as I call them make 16.9 fluid <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ozs</span>, my kids lunch bottles are 8oz, so we actually get 16 servings. Best of all I bought them at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Walgreens</span> for $1.00 a box, can you say 6 cent per serving? The only way to beat that would be having coupons, but alas I couldn't find any.<br />Now back to my lunch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">delimena</span>, what's that you say? You didn't say anything about a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">delimena</span>. Well let me tell you folks, I have found out it is hard to find something for lunch that will please all 5 kids, 5 days a week. They got tired of bologna, turkey, and ham real quickly. I was able to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">supplement</span> my middle and high <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">schoolers</span> boxes with hot pockets, and the smaller microwavable entrees, like beef and cheese, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">stroganoff</span>, etc. but no such luck with my elementary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">schoolers</span>, they aren't allowed to use the microwave. Heck I can't even give the their favorite, peanut butter and jelly, because of the chance that some children may have nut allergies. I understand this to a point, but why can't my child just be sat away from the child with allergies. I am <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lactoise</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">intolerent</span> but I still buy milk. Oh well, no use fighting that battle here.<br />I've tried reading the articles about keeping lunches interesting, well that might just work, if you have all day to do nothing but stay in the kitchen and cut out the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">cutsie</span> little designs, and cut the veggies into exotic shapes, I can do that, "NOT"!<br />I guess I am going to have to check on the price of K-Rations, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">LOL</span>, rub them or shake, I forget which, and they self heat. Now that would be nice, and they couldn't taste any worse than my kids say the cafeteria food does. Can they?<br />So what's a mom to do? When and if I figure it out, I promise to do an update to this Blog, in the meantime.....Talk To MY Heart, tell me what you do for your kid's lunches at school. Who knows maybe someone out there has the answer, I sure could use it before my kid's go on lunch strike, then I'll be "one of those moms who don't feed their kids"Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-60332601347125271842008-10-12T18:51:00.000-07:002008-10-12T20:34:38.215-07:00Pushing The FutureMy friend and mentor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Anjie</span> Henley at <a href="http://flbyu.blogspot.com/"> http://flbyu.blogspot.com/</a> gave us a link to day to an awesome blog and video that could potentially save us all a bunch of money in our gas tanks. I have heard all of our political parties <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ideas</span> about new energy sources. They have talked about drilling, solar energy, clean coal, but the thing I haven't heard is what can help us now? Everything they are talking about is 7 or more years down the road, and I personally can not survive another 7 years with these kinds of Gas prices, and everything else going up. I was so impressed with this technology I want to know more and quickly. You can view the video here, and find out more, I personally think it is brilliant and I am proud to say this awesome invention was dreamed up by one of our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Freelancebyu</span> members, spouses, so it's kind of all in the family. <br /><a href="http://gasavings.blogspot.com/2008/10/gas-savings-in-our-future-push-hog.html">http://gasavings.blogspot.com/2008/10/gas-savings-in-our-future-push-hog.html </a><br /><br />After you have a chance to view come on back and Talk to my heart, let me know what you think about this new invention.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-17709486835094829082008-09-12T22:32:00.000-07:002008-09-12T22:52:16.641-07:00Kid's Eat FreeHow are you all doing this wonderful Friday/Saturday? First I want to say my prayers are with the people of Texas, and other areas being affected by Ike at this time, please stay safe and evacuate.<br /><br />Now, I wanted to share a wonderful site that I just found, it is awesome and will really help those of us who have children under 10, and those of us with large families, like our 5 children. So check it out here ....<br /><a href="http://www.mykidseatfree.com/">http://www.mykidseatfree.com/</a><br /><br />Here is an excerpt from their home.<br />80% of Kid's Eat Free specials are only advertised by Word of Mouth! If you know of a Kid's Eat Free special not listed here, please let us know so we can add them to our site.<br /><br />Talk to my heart, let me know how you like this goodie, I love it, anything to help defray the cost of gas right now.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-44373861672878079232008-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:002008-09-04T06:47:12.328-07:00School Is In, I Am Out!Ok, so it seems like forever and a day, but I am finally back. A my title says school has finally started back, but I am so out of it from running myself ragged, trying to get all five of my ankle biters back to school.<br /> This year seemed much harder than previous years for me. For one thing there was much more paperwork this year. I began filling it out when the first two got home at two pm, on the first day. I finished at five am the next morning. Now mind you, that was in between helping with homework, yes you read right homework the first day! Cooking dinner, picking up the 14 year old from football practice, going to try and find the last of the school supplies for each class. I had all the basics, but you know each teacher has their own list too. Marble notebooks are my enemy this year. Every store in my area was sold out, and now two weeks later, I finally found five at my local Foodlion. My children fought over those precious five last night. Seems the teachers are jumping onto the children for not having them, Momma Bear is ready to jump the teachers eeerrrrgggg!<br /> So how has your school year started? I can't just say, how has your child's school year started, because we are just as much a part of the school as our children now, it is expected. It is called shared responsibility here, I call it the teachers not wanting to deal myself. I can count on my fingers the number of times my parents ever went to our schools. I am not saying that was a good thing, but they both worked full time jobs, and just dealing with life was sometimes too much for them to handle. Now most of us work full time jobs, but we are expected to work after those full time jobs with our kids and the schools. What if we expected the teachers to go to work for us, and teach our children? Think they would still expect so much from us then?<br /> I am all for being involved in my children's lives, in and out of school. I have always helped with homework, attended school functions, I am not so much into PTO, but I do pay my dues. That is not enough anymore, now the kids bring home more homework than they do schoolwork in school. Lord help you if your child doesn't have a computer at home! That is paramount to child abuse! We can't bake cupcakes for the class anymore, now everything has to be store bought. Have you watched the specials about how dirty restaurants, and grocery stores are? They are worried about baking at home, to me that is a joke.<br /> I really didn't intend for this blog to be a rant today, I was just going to catch up on what has been going on the past few weeks, well the best laid plans and all that rot! I do hope everyone has gotten settled in, and that you all survived the summer with few scratches.<br /> Well I am out of here until the next time, hopefully it won't be so long, now that I have all this free time between, between school work, football games, yadda, yadda.........HELP!<br /> Talk to my heart, let me know how you feel about what the schools expect from parents nowadays.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-9888932337767152922008-08-08T21:12:00.000-07:002008-08-08T21:20:31.502-07:00Program for 6th to 9th Graders<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.rightdecisionsrightnow.com/educators_new/graphics/afterschoolkit.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.rightdecisionsrightnow.com/educators_new/graphics/afterschoolkit.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to share this item with my readers. As a parent of 2 teens, and 2 tweens, I feel your pain. How do we keep our children out of trouble, teach them how to make the right decisions? Well when you find out please let me know. I use every resource I can find, and it takes all of them and then some in todays society. I ordered one of these for my children, so we will all find out together how effective the program is. I promise to come back and let you know what I think, if you promise to Talk To My Heart, and let me know what you think about the program, and how your children reacted to it. So TTYL on this one. <a href="http://www.rightdecisionsrightnow.com/educators_new/afterschoolkit.asp"> http://www.rightdecisionsrightnow.com/educators_new/afterschoolkit.asp</a>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-49427946665022619872008-08-07T22:49:00.000-07:002008-08-07T23:18:15.577-07:00New club for Girls and Moms<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.preciousgirlsclub.com/pgcmicrosite/images/pgc_bg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.preciousgirlsclub.com/pgcmicrosite/images/pgc_bg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I was very impressed with a new club that will be starting up on September 2nd. I grew up with Precious Moments figurines, and knick nacs, calendars etc. Well now they have a club created just for us girls, and best of all it helps Moms and their Daughters interact, so that we can teach our girls good moral values. How cool is that? You can preregister and the first 2000, may get a chance for some freebies. Here is the information, I hope you are as impressed with this as I am. Talk To My Heart, and tell me what you think after you check it out. I preregistered all my young ladies, and can't wait until September 2nd!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.momselect.com/registration/pgc.php">http://www.momselect.com/registration/pgc.php</a><br /><br /><table class="overall" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="750"><tbody><tr><td class="main" background="http://www.bsmmedia.com/clients/pgc/background.gif" width="681"> Thank you for your interest in the Precious Girls Club<sup>TM</sup> from Precious Moments<sup>®</sup>!<br />The Precious Girls Club website and companion book series offers a world of joy<br />and goodness created for precious little girls! The series reinforces the values you<br />teach in your own home and most importantly, encourages little girls to be little<br />girls. <p> If you qualify for the giveaway, we will send you two sample copies of the first</p><p> book in the series, <em>A Little Bit of Faith</em>. In the meantime, be sure to check out</p><p> the companion website at <a href="http://www.preciousgirlsclub.com/">www.preciousgirlsclub.com</a>. The site is open for<br /></p><p>pre-registration now, and the full site launches on September 2nd. And since<br /></p><p>your fellow moms are always looking for great new books and toys for their families,<br /></p><p>be sure to share the Precious Girls Club with other moms - we're sure they'll thank<br /></p><p>you for the tip! </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><br /></td> <td class="main" background="http://www.bsmmedia.com/clients/pgc/footer.gif" height="173"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-45272280407494812142008-08-06T10:11:00.000-07:002008-08-06T10:19:29.674-07:00Awesome contest for you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61tEWOFV-hL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61tEWOFV-hL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My friend and mentor has a great contest running right now on her blog, and it's ezypeezey to enter and win. All of us are using more coupons now to help save some nickels and dimes in todays economy, and this contest will make those coupon savings easier than ever. I hope I win one!<br />Heres what ya have to do.........<br /><br /><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>FLBYU IS GIVING AWAY 5 of these THIS MONTH! GOTTA BE IN IT TO WIN IT! ITS EASY TO GET IN JUST MAKE A COMMENT! EXTRA ENTRIES CAN BE EARNED (scroll down for those details)<br /></li><li>all you have to do is comment on this post on my blog for ONE ENTRY!<br /></li><li><br /></li></ul><br /><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.flbyu.blogspot.com/">HTTP://WWW.FLBYU. BLOGSPOT. COM</a><br /><br />GOOD LUCK ! 5 LUCKY WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED VIA RANDOM GENERATOR on SEPT 10th!<br /><br /><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>Holds up to 150 coupons</li><li>Velcro latch quickly attaches to shopping cart</li><li>Pre-printed category tabs make organizing coupons easy</li><li>Best selling coupon organizer on the market today</li><li>Size: 4 3/4"tall x 7 1/2"wide x 1/2"deep</li></ul> <br /><br />This Coupon Organizer is the perfect way to hold and organize your coupons in one convenient place. Our coupon organizer will pay for itself in just a few trips to the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1218042316_0">grocery store</span> because you will easily be able to see the coupons you have. The coupon holder features a black vinyl case with clear pockets that can hold up to 150 coupons in 12 compartments. The coupon organizer also features 24 tabs to help you stay organized, and it attaches to the shopping cart for easy use<br /><br /><br />EXTRA ENTRIES<br /><br /><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li>if you have a blog and make a post about this contest or my site..... you can also send me the link to your post (via comment here) and you will get 2nd entry! DONT HAVE A BLOG? MAKE ONE! ITS FREE <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1218042316_1">HERE</span></a> ON BLOGGER! HAVE 2 BLOGS? POST ON BOTH! <br /> </li><li><br /> </li><li>ADDITIONAL ENTRIES can be made by Posting about this contest or my blog or site on another site / forum/blog and post the link on my blog, YEP another entry!</li></ul> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, add a link to your EBAY ABOUT ME PAGE or YOUR MYSPACE / FACEBOOK ETC and you can get another entry!<br />--<br />Living Lavishly For Less<br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.freelancebyu.com/">www.freelancebyu. com</a><br /><br />As Anjie would say, "Go Get Em"Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-89410493514485543532008-07-29T00:01:00.000-07:002008-07-29T00:38:15.305-07:00And Six Makes Eleven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMrAMs_rp7LnhKZ-HJKmVGrYcuLiAzkxs-pExr7whaBdmIQsl19ddJtzg8EGDA3iUJOzRUp5cbWSE-6XVGPtl94boHssyWUeQyyjj1fZAyMoBbFx-8fCGR8X848x2TS4THuK0HnkadO8h/s1600-h/PA141874.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMrAMs_rp7LnhKZ-HJKmVGrYcuLiAzkxs-pExr7whaBdmIQsl19ddJtzg8EGDA3iUJOzRUp5cbWSE-6XVGPtl94boHssyWUeQyyjj1fZAyMoBbFx-8fCGR8X848x2TS4THuK0HnkadO8h/s320/PA141874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228336659831470290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKko23VacMKpEsDnsRW-Qj-DuFKq8U6QUHNXb0VdxFkq64FPu8Ri-FyN0fbQu_2AVnBgEIYavirb1D4jeOZdWlLH5iVR1CMUngHsaGPlhYHdHB513hkUHasQMyTSl4WTNCgjFkkHie1aZ/s1600-h/PA141873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKko23VacMKpEsDnsRW-Qj-DuFKq8U6QUHNXb0VdxFkq64FPu8Ri-FyN0fbQu_2AVnBgEIYavirb1D4jeOZdWlLH5iVR1CMUngHsaGPlhYHdHB513hkUHasQMyTSl4WTNCgjFkkHie1aZ/s320/PA141873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228336385173157202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii08flxQolTnt1QroTimqFlmQyYGWDC5bBUMDFn6QAnI0yFvTA1Jk7AtY68XLO_hIOBYrLJTM0YBD3U8ThUPB6nKw4ux7A-gulj5Z67qWW1_08ImTp4viYQDhEh1nhfX4Xi9m-T87eCjKZ/s1600-h/PA141856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii08flxQolTnt1QroTimqFlmQyYGWDC5bBUMDFn6QAnI0yFvTA1Jk7AtY68XLO_hIOBYrLJTM0YBD3U8ThUPB6nKw4ux7A-gulj5Z67qWW1_08ImTp4viYQDhEh1nhfX4Xi9m-T87eCjKZ/s320/PA141856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228336058760644818" border="0" /></a><br />As you can see it has been a while between updates, but I have a very good excuse. As you all know I have five children at home, well the past 3 weeks not only have I had my five, but six of my Grand Children, in and out, then a friend of my oldest April. She was with us for 2 weeks, right before the Grands got here. Now for some reason that I just can't understand, I haven't had time to update the blog, (scratches head)?<br /><br />I love having the Grand kids, last year we had them for two weeks, then they went home for two weeks and came back a week, so I think they love coming to Grandmommy and Grandaddys too. We couldn't do much with them this year, you know the deal with stacation, but we still had a good time. They camped in the yard, we roasted marshmallows 2 or 3 times, ate watermelon, stayed up way past bedtime, and got caught up on all the hugs and kisses we had missed since they were here last. On Friday it was the 10 yr olds Birthday, so we had a Birthday celebration for all 3 of the ones here from out of town, since we didn't get to help them celebrate when their Birthdays came around. I baked 72 cup cakes, then spelled their initials with them, and decorated with Barbie colors and decorations, we didn't need to invite anyone, we had ten here then, and then Analise the Grand born in November, and her Mommy came, to pick up Alyssa and Andrew, the two Grands who live locally. So we had our own party going.<br /><br />The three from out of town left Saturday, I sure am missing them already. The house feels empty after having so many here. Now it is just me and Hubby, and four of ours, April went home with my DIL who is local. Tomorrow the other four will leave for their Biological Aunts and Uncles house until Saturday, because hubby has a doctors consultation out of town on Wednesday. We may be gone a few days if they decide to go ahead and do something about his arteries. It is supposed to only be a consultation, but he has had problems this past week, so I think they may want to go ahead and do something while they have him.<br /><br />The rest of my upcoming weeks will be filled with physicals, eye appointments, dental appointments, etc. getting the kids ready to go back to school. All the appointments have been made, so we are set in that respect, with five I have to start early. You know that is a rant I have too. The doctors never want to set all my kids up for the same day on appointments. You would think with gas prices the way they are, they would be a bit more understanding and lenient, but no, those are the rules, tow from the same family in a day. Oh well I guess what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, I should be Wonder Woman by now. Let me see if I can pull up some pictures for you of our antics the past few weeks. Hope I can.....Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-51792281830877152592008-07-21T00:03:00.000-07:002008-07-21T00:09:41.550-07:00Sweet MemoriesI wrote this in response to a discussion on My Lot, which is a discussion site I belong to, as I wrote it I decided I wanted to share my childhood memories here with you. I hope you enjoy them, and then Talk To My Heart and tell me your childhood memories, I would love to read them.<br /><br />Oh the memories you brought back, I'm not much younger than you at 51, my memories are gas at 24 cent, bread 25 cent a loaf, 7 cent sodas. I was in 2nd grade in school when Kennedy was killed, we were all terrified, we thought the world had ended. I remember the days and days of watching all the processions on TV, how sad we all felt. I too remember the first man on the moon, "One small step for Man, One Large step for man kind". I remember The pledge of Allegiance being said in school and the pride I felt each time I put my hand to my heart. I remember prayer in school, and the peace it gave me at the start of each day. I didn't worry about being shot in school, or stabbed, the worst thing that happened in my schools were fist fights, then the next day they were friends again.We played outside like you, we made play houses out of leaves, sectioning each room, using stumps and crates for our furniture. Since we were poor and couldn't afford balls and bats, we played ball with sticks and large rocks, had a good shiner once when I missed the "Ball". I remember laying on the grass and watching for the first star to appear so I could make my wish. Catching lightning bugs in a jar, eating honeysuckle the juice so sweet. Those were the best times ever, and the worst, but they sure do make sweet memories.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-20046439868572433962008-07-19T17:29:00.000-07:002008-07-19T17:40:08.214-07:00Got Healthy Kid's, Thank God , Cause Some Aren't So LuckyI don't normally <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Plagiarize</span> but in this case I don't think my friend Lahaia will mind. Check out what Lahia wrote in her blog, think about what you would do if it were your child, then do what your heart leads you to. Now I realize some people can't afford to donate cash right now, neither can I, but there is something else I can provide, that is my prayers for these children and their families. Here is a copy from Lahias blog <br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">I usually don't do this but, these children are good friends with my children </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">I have been knowing their parents since we were all children ourselves.</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">I'm asking if you wouldn't mind adding this to your blogs as well.</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">Here is a copy from my blog...</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">This benfits children who suffer with cancer in our own area...</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">Thanks Ladies for any help on this topic...</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800000;">Lahia</span></div> <div> </div> <div> <h3><a title="http://tcmds.blogspot.com/2008/07/american-cancer-society-relay-for-life.html" href="http://tcmds.blogspot.com/2008/07/american-cancer-society-relay-for-life.html" target="_blank">American Cancer Society Relay For Life</a> </h3> <div><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sebastian & Sloan Vegas are good friends with my children (The Moon Dogs),</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">they are raising money for </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">American Cancer Society Relay For Life</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">in our town. We are asking if you would please</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">take time to donate a dollar amount to help the children who have cancer</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">for better treatment to heal & get well. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Link below is directed to Sebastian's page </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can donate Online OR print out a forum & mail in your check.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-family: verdana;">The last day for collecting money is </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-family: verdana;"><br />by 4:00pm Central Time on <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Tuesday, August 26, 2008</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 180%; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;"><a title="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeMid-SouthDivision?px=7561341&pg=personal&fr_id=8773" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeMid-SouthDivision?px=7561341&pg=personal&fr_id=8773" target="_blank"><span title="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeMid-SouthDivision?px=7561341&pg=personal&fr_id=8773 CTRL + Click to follow link" style="font-size:6;">Relay For Life Link</span></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;">Thank You All So Very Much!!<br />Any Dollar Amount Is Much Appreciated!!!</span></div></div>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-46181583205036671682008-07-15T02:04:00.000-07:002008-07-15T02:11:15.810-07:00When Life Hands You A Lemon, Make Lemonade (Gods Way)<h2 class="date-header">Tuesday, July 15, 2008</h2> <!-- Begin .post --> <a name="5147642877669724940"></a> <div class="post-body"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />When Life Hands You A Lemon, Make Lemonade<br />(God's Way)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">If you read my blog about what can go wrong, you know that the past few weeks weren't going very well for the Oliver household. </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I want to regress a bit; we bought our home in February of 2007, the house is perfect for my large family. We were living in a 3 bedroom double wide, small bed rooms at that. All 4 of my girls were in one bedroom, in bunk beds and were crunched together with no space of their own. I hated it, but at the time we had no choice.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />When we decided to try and buy, everything was so expensive, and the ones we felt we could afford were no better than what we were renting. My friend Claudia had called me a few months before we moved and told me about this house. Because of financial problems when I had to leave my job and apply for disability, our credit was terrible. We had lost our home, car and just about everything, waiting for the government to approve me for disability, it took five long hard years, and finally an attorney, before I got approved. So we knew what ever we got had to be owner financed, not so easy to come by.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Well I have never been known for being shy when it comes to something we need/want, so when Claudia called and told me her friends Mom had this house and described it, I thought <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OMGoodness</span>, that would be perfect for us. Four bedroom, 3 full baths, LR, FR, Kitchen, Play room, almost two acres of land. A shop/garage combo, so I would have a place to put my hubby, when he gets in the dog house, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">LOL</span>. </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">So I pick up the phone call the lady, and she says "No she can not finance, she needs someone who can get their own financing", well what could I say or do, I just prayed and kept on looking, at that time we didn't have an answer on my disability, and knew it would be a few more months. Now I am not one to procrastinate, I was still looking the whole time.<br /><br />I was finally approved, so I doubled my efforts to find us a home that would have enough room. In January 07 I found a place that i thought might work, it only had 3 bedrooms, but was in our price range, and had a family room, that we could convert to a fourth bedroom, while it wasn't the ideal situation, I felt we could make it work. I actually told the man who had it that I thought we would take it, he said he would draw up the contract, and get back with me. We left feeling somewhat better, we had found a place that would work, with owner financing.<br /><br />When we got home, I still had this nagging feeling like something wasn't right, (God). So I prayed, Lord, you know that if this is what you have for us, I will be perfectly happy, and make the most of it, but Father, you also know my heart, and you know that if I had my druthers, you know my heart is set on the other house, but now I am gonna praise you either way, and be happy with what you provide, I want your perfect will for us. I amened it and left it in His hands.<br /><br />The next day I was sitting in my living room, thinking about the new house and what we could do to make the family room work for a fourth bedroom. My phone rings and I pick it up. It is the lady I had spoken with about this house. She said that she had had the house on the market for a year, and it still had not sold, she couldn't keep making two house payments and had decided she would work with me on owner financing, if I was still interested. Now isn't that just like God? I had never even seen the inside of the house, all I had was Claudia's description, but I knew it would be perfect. We made arrangements for us to come on out and look, so in the car we go.<br /><br />The house was just what I had envisioned, and we agreed on the terms, while we were here looking. The next day I called the other guy and told him, we would not be getting his house, and explained to him why. He was very understanding. I started packing, and we were ready to move in on Feb. 1st.Other things happened along the way, like finding out we could actually get financed, but I won't go into all that.<br /><br />As I said the house was perfect for us, when we moved in I started making the house a home for us, I decorated all the children's rooms just as they wanted them, you know with a rental you can't do that. The girls wanted Disney Princess, our 17 year old wanted "Pink", our son settled for Harley Davidson. They finally had their own spaces. There was one thing i wanted, but had to wait because we ran out of remodeling money, I wanted to do the floors in wood, or false wood, but I knew it would have to wait, and I was fine with that, all things come in good time.<br /><br />That leads me up to the flood, and what happened yesterday. As you know we had a disaster, a couple of weeks ago when my hot water heater had busted lines, the house was flooded in the kitchen, living room, dining room, family room, and in hubby's closet and part of the carpet in our room. I had called the insurance company the day after the flood, I told them the floors were still seeping water, and I would prefer to wait until everything dried out to see what kind of damage we had. Well the vinyl in the kitchen started bowing up in the middle, the carpet is molding, the chair railing turning black, so I knew we were going to have to get the adjuster out here. I called Thursday of last week, they called me back today, and said they would have a company they work with to contact me. The man called me yesterday afternoon, and said from what I had described they would have to replace the vinyl, and carpet, and wanted to know if I wanted him to go ahead and bring carpet samples when he came. Well I decided to go for the gold, I said, "To be honest, if it would be possible I would prefer to have wood flooring, instead of going back with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bur bur</span>" He said <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bur bur</span>? I said yes, he said he had wood flooring, in stock, that was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">comparable</span>, to the price of the Bur bur, and it would be no problem.<br /><br />Now isn't that just like God? When the water heater was shooting water all over the house and me, all I could do was stand and cry, thinking what a disaster, and mess. God saw an opportunity to fulfill one of His children's dreams. Boy am I glad He is my Heavenly Father, and on my side. He always takes the LEMONS, in my life, and makes the sweetest lemonade.<br /><br />Speaking of Lemonade I would like to share a goodie with you, that Anjie over at <a href="http://www.flbyu.blogspot.com/">http//:www.flbyu.blogspot.com/</a><br />Shared with me.<br /><br /><a href="http://olivebranch56.blogspot.com/http//:www.truelemon.com/sample.html/">http//:www.truelemon.com/sample.html/</a><br /></span>We're so confident you'll love True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange, we're giving away free samples!<br />Believe me when I say, you will love True Lemon! I use it in lemonade, tea, cooking, even sprinkle it on fresh fruits and veggies to keep them from turning brown like they do, especially bananas. Use True Lemon just like you would fresh lemon juice. I can't tell the difference, bet you can't either, and it won't cost you a penny to find out. Get your samples now.<br /><br />Talk to my heart, tell me what Lemons in your life, have been turned into lemonade, I just love hearing about good things that happen in peoples lives.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></div><p class="blogger-labels"><a rel="tag" href="http://olivebranch56.blogspot.com/search/label/samples"><br /></a></p> </div>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-8955514344201423292008-07-15T02:01:00.000-07:002008-07-15T02:02:19.399-07:00When Life Hands You A Lemon, Make LemonadeMarilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-6923740247188480122008-07-06T02:43:00.000-07:002008-07-06T03:02:59.131-07:00A goodie for the kids<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.iswsc.org/images/iswsclgs.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.iswsc.org/images/iswsclgs.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My children are collectors, stamps, stickers, post cards, what we call our treasures, (things people give them, or special awards, special BD or other cards), I started a treasure box when my first child was born, and have done it ever since, so when my children saw it, they decided to start boxes of their own. Anyway, back to the goodie........<br /><br /><a href="http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_free.shtml">http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_free.shtml</a> When you click on this link, it will take you to this site. Just follow directions and send for the stamps. Very good Deal for just the cost of an envelope and stamp.<br /><br />What I like most about hobbies like this is that you can work with your children and create lasting memories. Hobbies also teach your children patience, because they have to take their time if they want a nice project.<br /><br />Hopefully I will come across some more freebies like this one before the summer ends, I know if your children are like mine, they are getting bored already, and I am scrambling to find free, or low cost things to keep them occupied. With my crew if I don't they will play Cowboys and Indians , and you know who will wind up the Indian!<br /><br />So talk to my heart, tell me what hobbies your children are into, and any freebies you have found for them.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-35745488993572109892008-07-04T23:19:00.000-07:002008-07-05T00:52:17.666-07:00The Best Laid PlansWe have looked forward to this weekend for a month or more, I had looked up all the special July 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> events going on close to us, (remember the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">stacation</span> article), I found some awesome buys on steaks at our local Food Lion Store, <a href="http://foodlion.adplexonline.com/StoreLocator.aspx?&checked=1">http://foodlion.adplexonline.com/StoreLocator.aspx?&checked=1</a><br />Click link to find your local store and while you are at it sign up for their "Shoppers Companion Newsletter", It comes once a week to your in box, has coupons, whats on sale, weekly contest and much more, I love it. So I buy ground beef for burgers, NY Strip steaks, for half price, baking potatoes, salad mix and then start calling to invite my family for a good old fashioned cook out. Including my family of 7, we had 16 confirmed for the party, and then we were going to all make a caravan to the park for rides, games, bands and of course fire works. I prepped on Thursday, and had everything ready to go for the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>.<br /><br />Well when I called my sister morning of the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> to make sure she if she was going to have any of her Grands coming I couldn't get her, called her hubby's cell only to find out her MS is acting up and she is in bed for the day, I should have know then that Murphy's Law was about to kick in.<br /><br />Everyone was supposed to be here at 3, the first car pulled in at 1:45, just as I was getting naked to get a shower, I told the girls to entertain them until I could get the skunk off, and get dressed.<br />Meantime 3 more showed up at 2:10, my brother and his family, Larry came in to tell me they were here, "good I say, they can entertain each other", Larry was making a quick trip to the store to get the paper plates, I had forgotten. I had no sooner got out of the shower, Larry who was supposed to have already left for the store comes in and says your brother just left, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">OMG</span>! Why, said he was sick, 3 more gone. I have food prepped for 16, now all of a sudden, I am 5 + with Sissy's Grands that are usually hooked to her hip like Siamese twins, she normally has at least two of them with her everywhere she goes.<br /><br />I am thinking what am I going to do with this food, I send my daughter up to my neighbors, would she like to come eat with us, she is leaving for her daughters for a cook out, call my friend who has a family of five, she is going to the same cook out, as she is friends with neighbors daughter. By now I am wishing I had been invited to that cookout. I look out and my grill has not been set up before Larry left for store, so I go get the charcoal in, my 3 o'clock meal plan is gonna be an hour delayed, I take my burgers out to put on the grill, and you would have thought I had added gasoline to the grill, flames shooting up everywhere, I know the coals were right, there was just more grease in the meat than stated on package. So I move my burgers to the holding rack, to wait a little longer. About that time Larry got back from his "quick", hour long trip to the store. I put the burgers back on, and still my grill has dragon breath, so I decide they have enough flavor from the grill and bring them in to finish cooking on my griddle, and put the steaks on to cook, thank God, they cook perfect.<br /><br />Now today just happened to be the hottest day in a week, and by this time, I am so hot, and sweating so badly, I can't see, because my eyes are full of sweat. I finally get the last steak off and come in shaking like a leaf, I had gotten so over heated. I looked at the family and say no way are we going to the park, until later when it is not so hot. Meantime I get everyone fed, including me. Well the food made me sick, because I had gotten over heated.<br /><br />Now we are waiting for the sun to go down a little so we can head out for the park, I am talking to one of my guest, and all of a sudden, BOOM! BOOM! Well the perfect end to Murphy's Law, here comes the rain! Well at least I know it's going to cool off now, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">LOL</span>. I look at Larry, and say, "I'm going to go see if I can find some fire works, Forget this.<br /><br />Well all was not lost, we got a nice pack, started the grill back up, let the kids roast marshmallows, and light sparklers, Larry set off our fireworks and we had a wonderful time, right in our own back yard, one of the neighbor kids came down, and was so happy to get to participate, he even got his own box of sparklers, so I had another happy kid on my hands. We even got our dog Sassy in on the festivities , she got some marshmallows and a big sugar rush, running back and forth like a young pup. It was so funny to watch.<br /><br />So what started as a potential disaster of a day, turned out to be another happy memory moment, for us and our children. Now to see what tomorrow brings, one thing about it, our lives are never boring.<br /><br />Talk to my heart, what adventures did you have for the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> of July, 2008 edition?Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-33930802599752322892008-07-01T21:09:00.000-07:002008-07-01T22:55:13.251-07:00Do You Have Stacation Plans?We have already talked about the price of gas, and everything else going up. Apparently a lot of us are in the same boat this year, enough in fact that someone has created a catchy little name for what we will be doing, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Stacation</span>." I happen to like this name, it makes me feel like I am doing something interesting. Instead of telling someone I am staying home and doing nothing this year, I can tell them, "Oh we will be on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Stacation</span>!" Now doesn't that sound much more interesting? I have already started our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Stacation</span> plans. The children love the great outdoors, fishing, camping, swimming, birdwatching, catching butterflies and lightning bugs and all the things that go along with this fun activity. Well we have all of that and more in our own back yard. We have two decent sized tents, so a few weeks ago when the kid's wanted to "Camp out" I allowed them to set up the tents. They have used them twice since then and as a matter of fact, as I type they are camping tonight. I have decided it makes them so happy, I am letting them make it a permanent fixture for the summer. Swimming? I bought a large 41/2x18 ft pool from Sam's last year, now if my hubby can get the green out, (his current honey do), they will be swimming by the weekend. Fishing is a bit tougher, my Beta who's name is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cleatus</span>, is watching me type, so I have to be careful what I say here, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">shhhhh</span>! Most farmers will not let people fish their ponds anymore, because a lot of people abuse the privilege, leaving trash, or tearing up the fields with their cars/trucks. I guess we are lucky because the children's Aunt has a nice fishing pond, and her sister who lives beside her has one too, so we can go there to fish, and we will be doing that this Saturday, but it does take about 20 minutes to get there, much better than 4 hours to other places though, and straight shot from our house. I am teaching all 5 of them to be good fishermen, they even put their own night crawlers on. The last time we went we caught 70 + bass and bream, then I had fun cleaning them, with a little help from one of my Grand daughters, Lauren. Then we had a fish fry, oh they were so yummy. We use <span style="font-weight: bold;">House <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Autry</span> fish <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">breader</span></span>, best on the market, we think. We have already grilled a lot this year, burgers, steak, shrimp, veggies I love cooking anything on the grill. We have a burning ban here because of the draught, so I came up with a way we can still do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">smores</span>, and roast marshmallows outside. I have the kid's to gather our kindling, and small branches, we put it in the grill on top of the burnt coals, and start our fire in the grill, works just as well as a campfire and no chance of it getting out of control, and burning all the dry grass and such around. The kid's can empty a bag of marshmallows in ten minutes, they love them. The rest is easy, God has provided the birds to watch, butterflies and lightning bugs to catch, and He even throws in the lizards and pill bugs that my 3 youngest love to put in a container to display. We have Bluebirds nesting in a birdhouse on our back deck, and I have three humming bird feeders hanging up out there too. I got hubby a telescope for Christmas, so he and the kids can see the stars up close and personal. When the kids get too hot during the day they can get in their cooling station that I got a few months back, from a Good Deal Alert, from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Anjies</span> newsletter you can join here....<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a href="http://anjie-subscribe@yahoogroups.com/">anjie-subscribe@yahoogroups.com </a><br />It is a big blow up playhouse like thing, that you hook the hose to, and it sprays fine streams of water. It retailed for $129.00, I got it for $9.99, I got my Grandchildren who live here in town one too, now I am kicking myself for not ordering more, but I think at the time I could only get the two. because of my budget. Less than $25.00 for both with shipping, and the kids are loving it.<br />This week is July 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> our very favorite time in the summer. Thursday, we will go to the local park, where they have activities planned most of the day, rides, bands then fireworks when it gets dark. Friday, they will have a parade in the morning, then open the park back up at 12 for more fun, with things going on all day, then more fireworks Friday night. We are having family and friends over on Friday for a cookout, then we will all head for the park around 4 and stay until after the fireworks show. Sat. we will go to the kids Aunts house, do some fishing and cook out again. Then the kids have an invite to stay the rest of the weekend at her house, that will give me and hubby a little much needed time alone. Our house is usually full the whole summer, our 5, then one or more of the kids usually have a friend spending the night, well more like the week, which we don't mind, it keeps ours occupied, helps the other parents out, who have to work and what is one or two more anyway? Then we have 3 of our Grand Daughters coming in on the 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">th</span>, when they get here, the 3 who live here in town will more than likely come too, they all get along so well, because they are so close in age, so then we will really have a house full, it is also possible that our other 2 from out of town will come during that time too. They keep me hopping when I have them all here like that, but I love every minute that I get to spend with them. They grow up so fast, and the ones who live away, only get to come a couple of times a year, I miss out on so much of their lives, so I make up for it in the summer, every chance I get. Now you may think I am just one of those prejudiced Mom/Grand mom's, and you can think what you like, but I have the most awesomely wonderful, beautiful, talented, sweet children/grand children in the world, if you don't believe me, just ask me, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">LOL</span>.<br />That's it for this installment, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk to my heart</span>, tell me if you have any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Stacation</span> plans for the summer, I may need some more ideas before it's over!Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-80504074242891772192008-07-01T11:12:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:28:15.306-07:00Keeping Our Children Safe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cacplano.org/images/clip_image002_024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.cacplano.org/images/clip_image002_024.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cacplano.org/edupublications.htm">http://www.cacplano.org/edupublications.htm</a><br /><br />This link is for publications geared towards 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> graders, to help teach them about abuse. It is Parent interactive, which I feel is very important when we are trying to teach our children about personal safety. I feel it is the Parents responsibility to teach our children about abuse, molestation, predators and sex education. I use tools to help, but I don't want a stranger telling my children, their beliefs, and impressing their moral values on my children. I wish more parents felt this way, and I really feel that if Doctors offices, and other agencies provided parents with tools to help talk to their children, more parents would. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HHHMMMM</span>, Maybe I need to get creative and make some literature, just for this. See I am doing that dangerous thing again, (thinking.) Seems like this blog just brings it out in me.<br />Talk to my heart, comment on this info, or ask me any questions you have on this issue. Have a blessed and safe 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> of July.<br /></div>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-32333057092049071972008-06-30T12:35:00.000-07:002008-06-30T12:51:09.348-07:00Another Goodie and It's FREE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.regmovies.com/assets/images/276x184/FFFF_spotlight_276x184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.regmovies.com/assets/images/276x184/FFFF_spotlight_276x184.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Do your kid's like the movies, well then you're in luck. Regal theaters are showing free movies on Tuesday and Wed. this summer, Detail below, Hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><p class="blackText">When school's out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the <strong>Free Family Film Festival</strong>. It's a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all <strong>it's FREE!</strong></p> <p class="blackText">Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.</p>Click link for times and shows.... <a href="http://http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/freefamilyfilm.aspx">http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/freefamilyfilm.aspx</a><br /><p class="blackText"><br /></p><p class="blackText"><br /></p>Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974377343493975130.post-56657165198948699062008-06-29T21:47:00.000-07:002008-06-29T22:00:20.530-07:00How About $50 To Shop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/images/sm50daysbutton.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/images/sm50daysbutton.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I told you that sometimes I would share good deals with you. Well I have one to share! If you are a blogger you can win $50.00 to spend at WonderBrains, and all you have to do is post. You can check out the contest using the attached link, and I wish you all and myself luck.Marilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134183179608054409noreply@blogger.com0