Callings and Cupcakes

Last week my little one and I went to a park near the girls’ school. Just one other little boy and his dad were there, and also a bunch of teenagers. I was a little wary about them being there — I don’t know about you, but when I’ve been around teenagers at the park (or store, or restaurants, etc!), we usually hear lots of swearing and other things I’d hate to hear my little one repeat!

But then I noticed that the teenagers were from the girls’ Christian school! So I figured we’d be safe!

And it was so sweet: a couple of the boys were talking to the dad who was there with his little boy … and then the kids from the nearby preschool came out for recess, running and screaming all over the place.

My little one got nervous, so she and I were sitting on the picnic table watching them!

A couple of our school’s teenagers started playing tag with the little kids … and it was just so sweet to watch! They were having a lot of fun, and played with the kids a long time! The kids loved it, and even the stressed-out recess monitor was laughing at them!

And I thought, “This is what a difference the Lord and a Christian school makes!” Just think of the witness those students were to the little kids, and the parents watching … just a bunch of sweet, wholesome teenagers … something hard to find nowadays, unfortunately! You just know Jesus was looking down and smiling too. And it made me so thankful for our Christian school, and the things that it teaches our kids, and the other students and families that they’re surrounded by.

“Huge dogs coming … Huuuge!”

How to Love Your Dog: A Kids Guide to Dog Care
If your kids are dog-lovers like mine, this site is a must!

National Geographic Kids
You’ll need to monitor this site for statements about evolution, but otherwise it’s a fun place for kids to learn about their favorite animals, experiment with science, enter contests or make neat nature crafts.

Star Wars Kids
Another must-have site for the Jedis in your life!

Funschool
Lots of fun and educational online games for kids.

Cool Math for Kids
“An amusement park of math and more — especially designed for kids and fun!”

RIF’s Reading Planet
Games, activities, polls and contests from “Reading is Fundamental.”

Create Your Own Snowflake
It’s fun, even in the summertime!

Games Kids Play
Your kids will be the hit of the playground when they come to school with ideas from this web site!

Juice Bottle Jingles
Kids can tap out music on virtual bottles, or learn to make their own!

Virutal Lite-Brite
All of the fun of Lite-Brite, without the mess!

BrainPop!
Makes science fun!

What are some of your favorite web sites for kids?!

More cat pictures

I know it’s Mother’s Day weekend and all, but I just need to share one of my favorite new songs, “I’m Still a Guy,” by country singer Brad Paisley! It’s got lyrics like, “You’re probably thinking that you’re gonna change me, In some ways, well maybe you might. Scrub me down, dress me up, but not matter what, remember — I’m still a guy.” You can listen to him singing it with Hank Jr. here:

Pretty cute, huh?!

And so this Sunday, on our special day, ladies, let’s not forget our husbands, the father of our children … who make it possible for us to be moms. Who make our job so much easier just by walking through the door. Who make sure the kids respect us. Would give their lives for their families. Open up their hearts … and stubborn jar lids! Who love to cuddle their kids but would still ‘mix it up’ with someone who messed with us! Pray for us, love us like Christ loves the church, model God’s love to our children and go to work for us every day. Who will hold our purses at the mall, spend more time than they’d like to in the card aisle, picking the one that says just how they feel, and still come home to take out the trash and teach the kids how to throw a ball.

We love ya, guys!

Oh, and here’s a nice article about being Godly-men and manly-men at the same time. You’re a blessed woman if you have one of those!

And lastly, but most importantly, please go here to read about some brave American men everyone should know. May God bless them!

Our favorite adventurer for Christ is back with all new episodes of Man vs. Wild!

This is one of the few shows (along with Drake and Josh, and The Dog Whisperer!) that we can watch together as a family. I love the true awe and wonder of God’s creation that Bear conveys during every show — no matter where he is. And hey, you’ve gotta love any show that teaches you how to figure out how much daylight you’ve got left! (Put your hand sideways up to the sun, with the sun just above your hand and fingers spread. Count each finger down to the horizon — each one is equal to approximately 15 minutes of daylight.) We learn an interesting tip like that every time we watch!

Last week on Man vs. Wild, he went to Zambia, where he parchuted over the world’s largest single waterfall, and then rafted down its river on a boogie-board! Watch that here, in case you’re thinking you might like to try it on your next vacation or something!

This week he heads to Namibia, one of the hottest, emptiest, driest places on earth. Check here for a full TV schedule.

And click here to read an inspiring article about how much Bear’s faith in Christ means to him.

Bear also has a new book out this month, Man vs. Wild: Survival Techniques from the Most Dangerous Places on Earth.

And finally, to discover if Bear would rather be stranded plenty of water but very little food or very little water but plenty of food, click here! You’ll also find out if he’d rather eat slimy maggots or crunchy beetles … and lots of other interesting tidbits!

… Just some pretty awesome things you might never have known. The world has been so blessed by Israel, and it seems like the grand ole U.S. of A is its only friend these days … may we always be friends!

I love what the Lord says about Israel in Jeremiah 31: 35-37.

This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar — the LORD Almighty is his name:

“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.”

This is what the LORD says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the LORD.

The CBS Early Show recently ranked the smartest and … least smartest … dogs. What do you think of their results?!

Let’s start with the dumbest, bless their hearts!

10. Basset Hound
Okay, but don’t tell that to The Pioneer Woman! Charlie might lick you to death.

9. Beagle
What about Snoopy?!

8. Mastiff

Okay, this one I can vouch for! Most of the time Bruiser looks like he doesn’t have a thought in his head. BUT! He has a very smart heart! And that’s important too, right?!

7. Pekingese

Awww, how could you insult that little face?!

6. Bloodhound
They might not have brains, but they have the best noses in the business!

5. Borzoi
Borz-who?

4. Chow Chow
If they’re good enough for Martha Stewart, how bad can they be?!

3. Bulldog

I don’t know … he looks pretty offended.

2. Basenji
Second dumbest? But they can yodel!

1. Afghan Hound

Okay, anyone with a hair-do like that can’t be too bright!

And now let’s list the smartest!

10. Australian Cattle Dog
Also known as Queensland Heeler, I guess. My husband had a queensland when we first started dating … Chance used to nip at everyone’s heels constantly! Hence the name!

9. Rottweiler
The rottweiler might have a bad reputation, but for every scary story, there are stories like this one, about rotties’ heroic tendencies!

8. Papillon

“Why yes, I am quite smart actually,” this papillon seems to be saying.

7. Labrador Retriever

See more cute dogs and puppies!
No wonder they’re the most popular dog in the country!

6. Shetland Sheepdog
From Wikipedia: “Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert on animal intelligence, says that the Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dogs, ranking 6th out of 132 breeds tested. His research found that an average Sheltie could understand a new command in less than 5 repetitions and would obey a command the first time it was given 95% of the time or better.”
That’s better than my kids!

5. Doberman Pinscher
Dobermans have been used extensively as guard dogs and military dogs. They were especially used at the Battle of Guam in World War II, where 25 dogs were specially trained by the U.S. Marines to search out the enemy hiding in the bush, detect mines and booby traps, alert troops in foxholes at night to approaching Japanese, and to carry messages, ammunition and medical supplies.

4. Golden Retriever
I don’t know … my in-laws have always had goldies, and they’ve never seemed that bright to me. But any breed that knows the heimlich maneuver has to be pretty smart!

3. German Shepherd
German shpeherds are often used in various roles such as police, guarding, search and rescue, therapy, service-dog, and in the military applications. One of our friends trains these dogs in Iraq to sniff out IEDs and other bombs. Any dog who helps protect our soldiers is tops in my book!

2. Poodle

This dog? Number two? Really??

1. Border Collie
This one I can believe! We’ve been to the sheep dog trials at our County Fair, and the border collies are simply amazing! They run and stop and crawl and turn … all at the sound of a whistle! Just like Missy here:

What do you think of the ratings? Share your thoughts in our comments section!

The other night, it was our little one’s turn to pray. She took prayer requests, folded her hands and said:

“Thank you for Sissy’s party, thank you for Daddy feeling better, thank you for a good night sleep, thank you for no bad dreams …”

Her sisters were giggling quietly because instead of actually praying for things, she was thanking God for them.

And I was thinking, that is probably what Jesus meant when he told us to have the “faith of little children.” She didn’t need to ask Jesus to do those things — she thanked Him because she knew He was going to do it!

Jesus told us in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

I pray that He will give me the faith of my little one!

I love this video clip! It’s hilarious … this poor girl! But at least she’s a good sport about it! (And it really could be me … what a dork.) Watch this video clip when you’ve done something clumsy or really embarassed yourself … and then be thankful that at least it won’t be seen by millions of people! I promise, you’ll feel better!

I just love Ashley.

P.S. I heard that they ended up giving her the trip anyway, just for being a good sport!