A Final Farewell to N.C. State's Kay Yow and Super Bowl Sunday
Today North Carolinians and many others, particularly N.C. State Wolf Pack, are celebrating the life of NC State Women's Basketball Coach Kay Yow.
She was extra ordinary and she lived a remarkable life impacting infinitly and for eternity. For the record, there were thousands and many turned away from her funeral at Colonial Baptist Church, Cary, North Carolina.
Here's the link: Kay Yow's Personal Farewell. She did not want Coaches and players talking about her at the funeral. Instead, she chose to speak via video about her friend and Savior Jesus and the life she now has.
Time Warner Cable has agreed to re-air the funeral in its entirity - due to popular demand - today February 1, 2009 @ 1pm EST.
Now, we're off to the Super Bowl. And here's our Super Bowl Menu.
M&M Party Cookies
Super Bowl Chili
The Best Guacamole
Warmly,
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Twins Appear In Japan
Over the weekend, I discovered some great fun in US Magazine Celebrity News - The Pitt-Jolie Twins have made their second appearance. They are now six months and are in Japan while their parents are there in business.
Aren't they just the cutest things. They are adorable. Little Vivienne and Knox. What cute names too. Personally, considering how entrenched these the Jolie-Pitt family is in Hollywood, they seem pretty into family and spending time with their children.
According to Brad Pitt: "The Twins Are "Pretty Well Integrated" Into Our Family."
"We have the capability to give a child a home, and let me tell you it's selfish, too, because the reward has been extraordinary," he adds. How sweet!
I just had to share those cute little faces with you this weekend. Have a good one! And hug your Twin Friends because believe me, they are one busy family.
After working on his film, Button, Brad said: "I walked away realizing that time is short," he says. "I don't know if I have a day or 10 days or 10 years or 40 years. Am I halfway or am I close to the end? I don't know, so I have to make sure I don't waste those moments in any kind of pettiness or bitterness or laziness, and that I surround myself with the people who are most important to me."
Wouldn't it be neat to have the opportunity to share an eternal perspective with the Jolie-Pitts. I'd love the opportunity to talk about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which really makes you realize how shore time here is.
Are you a Twins Mama? Friend of Twins? Or just love 'em?
Hope you enjoyed the cuties. Go Twins!
Warmly,
Winner, Winner!
[drum rolllllllllllll...!}
The Winner is Crystal @ Our House. Congratulations!
Here is your random number:
17
Timestamp: 2009-01-31 05:30:29 UTC
Thanks for playing along. And remember to hop over to the Flipflops & Applesauce site and order these up. My guys l.o.v.e them!
Warmly,
Tim Tebow's Story and Other Thoughts
Today I want to share something that was in my inbox last night. I had not heard this complete story and wondered if you had. It's incredible.
**Edited: Just discovered a link up for sick children who are fighting. The Lord must be working in the blogging world today, because the story below was on my heart today and I just discovered a link up for sick children @ "We Are That Family!" Will you join us in praying for these babies in utero that they would be given a chance to fight their physical battles whatever they may be.
Subject: Pam's story, just incredible
More than 21 years ago, she and her husband, Bob, were serving as
missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in a contaminated food or drink. She entered into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discovered she was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damage to her baby. She refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her son would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted.
The doctors "didn't think of it as a life, they thought of it as a mass
of fetal tissue," Pam said. While pregnant, Pam nearly lost their baby four times but refused to consider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with her husband, "If you will give us a son, we'll name him 'Timothy,' and we'll make him a preacher."
Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and,
eventually, gave birth to a health baby boy August 14, 1987.
Pam's youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makes
hospital visits, and serves with his father's ministry in the Philippines. He also plays football. Pam's son is Tim Tebow. Last year, the University of Florida's star quarterback, became the first sophomore in history to win college football's highest award, the Heisman Trophy. Pam's notoriety and the family's inspiring story have given Pam numerous opportunities to speak on behalf of women's centers across the country.
She was the keynote speaker at the Oct. 23, 2008, benefit banquet for two Louisville ministries. A Woman's Choice Resource Center offers such
services as free pregnancy tests, post-abortion counseling, adoption information, and material support. Necole's Place is a companion ministry that provides support services for women in need. Several Louisville-area Kentucky Baptist churches and Long Run Baptist
Association help support both ministries.
A Woman's Choice board chairman, John Schmitt, reported at the banquet that in the 20 years since the resource center opened, 4,500 children have been saved from abortion -- 400 in this year alone.
Speaking of the thousands of lives saved, Pam Tebow said, "That just
blows my mind. Every little baby you save matters."
Check out Tim Tebow on Wikipedia, such and amazing story!
As a young mama expecting twins, I had never heard of 'pregnancy reduction.' We were blessed with a healthy pregnancy and were thrilled beyond measure.
I'll never forget the confusion and blur of life as I sat and here 'if there were more' we would be referred to a pregnancy reduction guru. I don't even know the term. We were amazed and shocked at the concept.
Thankfully, we had chosen a Christian doctor who believed as we did in the life of our babies - no matter 'how many.' Then at the requsite week when they check amniotic fluids, they wanted to 'check ours.' We knew this posed risks especially with twins. We had two sacs - fraternal twins - so the danger was greater.
What would this information do? We opted against any testing that would tell us any problem or not with our babies. We knew God gave them to us and we chose to trust Him with the outcome. We were amazed at the miracle of our twin sons and their healthy lives.
Everyone's story is different, we are thankful and blessed beyond measure for ours.
p.s. We support the Mother of Octuplets and her wonderful decision to birth and mother her children. Another 'no reductions' Multiples Mom.
Tim Tebow Youngest Heisman Trophy Winner
Warmly,
Creative Play - U.S. Children Need More Play
Looking Good
Here is a picture that loves to tell a story. Brothers who love to play together. Furthermore, brothers who love creative play. Creative Play rocks!
In these pictures, I am not sure I even know all that is going on. The biggest kick I get out of it is the tissues they stuffed into their shirtsleeves to show their biceps. One thing is for sure, the boys were having the time of their lives. Simple right.
According to recent studies, "All work no play may be a hazard for some U.S. children." You think?
"The available research suggests that recess may play an important role in the learning, social development, and health of children in elementary school," the research team said in a study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
But today many children get less free time and fewer physical outlets at school "because many school districts responded to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by reducing time committed to recess, the creative arts, and even physical education in an effort to focus on reading and mathematics," they added."
The entire article is here.
The answers are not easy and yet they are. Ourdoor time and creative play is imperative. What with busy school schedules, family life, activities. Yet it is one worth taking note of because creative play is essential in young children. The benefits of creative and outdoor are many.
The MSNBC article ran just before the Holidays: "Experts: Lack of playtime is hurting children." They state:
“Parents are more self-conscious and competitive than in the past,” Thompson said. “They’re pushing their kids to excel. ... Free play loses out.”
These articles remind us of the benefits of letting our children be children. Really we should encourage it.
One of the biggest culprits is pushing our children, over=scheduling them and not slowing down. Do children 'need' lesson upon lesson before, during and after school? And as these articles state, these 'lessons' and 'skills' that we seem to push for - we're pushing the children earlier and earlier.
Here are a few things we do to up the outdoor time:
We usually get out the door for a hike as a family somewhere, most days; make it fun - Mountain Man takes the boys for 'kindling' for the fireplace; We take them to shoot hoops at the gym on the full-court. Talk about a good workout - full-court press with twins. Biking with helmets that fit and are snapped on is a favorite of ours. An alltime favorite and simple way to get everyone moving is an after dinner walk in the neighborhood. We have a pond right at the end of our cul-de-sac, we love to saunter around and enjoy a little extra outdoor time any time we make the effort.
What are your thoughts? Over scheduled? Do you think your children get enough play time at school? Or home?
Want to share your photos and thoughts at Kristen's "Sincerely Fro You to Me" - enter yours and enjoy.
Warmly,
Let's Talk About Facebook
Today I want to talk about the upside and the not so upside of Facebook and what "Works For Me Wednesday" about Facebook in my life.
To know me, I am very social and outgoing. So I communicate naturally weather it be in person, by phone, email, or letter writing. I enjoy all of these means. Because I have written in several mediums all of my life, I love writing letters.
Am not a huge proponent of change so when the internet evolved and email. I was the last to join that revolution because I'll admit I loved my telephone conversations. And I loved my letters - writing them and receiving them.
Eventually I got the routine of email and it was a wonderful thing when Mountain Man and I were in a small town where he was at the University and everyone we knew lived in another town.
Back to Facebook, so when all the 'friending' requests kept coming, I didn't understand why these same friends already were 'friending' me. And by all means, why didn't they just email me anyway.
I did join Facebook and I have to say, it's just public email. Are people better in groups? Are most people better writing to a 'wall' than actually writing a friend. I am not sure. There is something about personal communication that I enjoy. So the whole Facebook phenomenon is a bit anticlimactic.
This isn't to even mention how time consuming it can be to set up your friends, you know, all the people in your email. Even though Facebook is done very well. They make it simple. You 'invite' your entire address book.
Never mind, that all relationships are not one and the same. So you set all of this up and then the "wall-to-wall" -writing back and forth - and there you have it. From there it is instant communication with your whole entire communications list.
So I will share quickly what I love and not so much here.
What I Love about Facebook:
1) Facebook does make it run smoothly, updates, home page, profiles, etc. All are user friendly.
2) It is fun to see where everyone is;
3) You can quickly comment as much as you would like and
4) You get an email anytime something happens on your profile
Not So Much:
1) It seems so trivial
2) All relationships are not the same.
3) Right now it just seems redundant. After all I blog, I twitter, I email, I write, etc. and
4) Therefore I do not see the need to have those same relationships a.g.a.i.n in FB (yes, I know I can set up my Twitter to update on my FB. why? Twitter is not FB so why post it there. And why do people (mostly non-twitters post on FB like it is a Twitter? )
At any rate, for now, I do enjoy checking in on an email I have received and getting updated. It is simple and easy.
However, here's an update, just today I 'narrowed' (okay, deleted) twenty or so contacts from my Facebook. My relationships are not all one and the same and I did not want those communications to be.
And when I had something really exciting to share this week. I picked up the phone and called my girlfriend, another mom, right her in town, talked it all over. Then I blog about the things in life that we blog. And life is good.
Then I went and put it on Facebook. So the jury is out. I am enjoying the benefits, seeing the downside. Until then, it is good to know that my girlfriend's baby is potty training, and my cousin's baby is happy. These things otherwise, would get lost in the mass of Christmas cards and Christmas letters that attempt to convey these things.
I'll admit it, Facebook "Works For Me Wednesday!" Does it for you? Check out Shannons WFMW and share yours.
What's your take? FB or not? Twitter? Do you prefer to keep those close family and friends separate? In the grand scheme of things, I am a blogger, writer and Tweeter ;) who "Facebooks" too. What about you?
Warmly,
Carolina Girls - The Interview
Where are you from (can be as general as you wish)?
Sumter, South Carolina
How did you name your blog?
Well, since I am from the Palmetto State, I thought it would be a proper name. I am a Palmettogirl wherever I may live.
How did you get into blogging?
My sister-in-law started me blogging and now I am addicted! Thanks, Tracy!
What do you wish to convey on your blog?
My blog is a way for me to express and share my feelings from religion, to politics, to family and home life. Maybe in some of my blogging, I can help someone who is going through a similar situation as I am, or connect with someone who wants to share with me, what they are feeling. I also get to write about what it's like to be married to someone involved in professional sports. It's not all a glamorous life, like some might expect.
What is your favorite thing about your blog?
My favorite thing is that I am connecting with some really interesting people. We are all not as different as some may think. I also like visiting with my fellow Carolinians and Southerners. That way I feel like I'm still back home.
What is your favorite song/iTune right now?
I use my IPOD for working out and I always listen to Creed. Their music is Hard Rock/ Christian so I am jamming and getting religion at the same time. I have to have that to get a good workout. I don't really have a favorite song right now and I like a variety of music. I add music to my blog and it could be someone like Aretha Franklin (who's on there right now) to Lynyrd Skynyrd, depending on my mood.
Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? ;)
How about Krispy Kreme? Well, I guess I do got to Starbucks more often. I don't drink coffee, but my husband does. We go for a "date" and he gets coffee, I get hot chocolate.
Please tell us one of your favorite places in the Carolinas?
Charleston is my favorite place. I attended the College of Charleston for a couple of years. I remember riding my bike through all of the alleyways and just enjoying the beautiful homes and history of the place. I loved being in Charleston and planned on living there after college, until I met my husband.
Favorite Food?
I would have to say that my favorite food is Shrimp and Grits.
Thank you Montee. It was wonderful to get to know you more. Everyone go over and thank her in person if you haven't clicked her link above already. Get ready for next week's "Carolina Girls" - the Interview next Tuesday.
See ya before of course.
Warmly,
Flipflops and Applesauce Bloggy Giveaway Fun
Today I wanted to share with you a favorite family and kids websites named Flipflops and Applesauce. Chrissie does an amazing job - everyday of making fun for the children. Here is her take:
"Let the phone go unanswered and let the beds go unmade. Instead, steal those moments to sit side-by-side, play face-to-face, create, read and just be together."
I like her style. Join our awesome Giveaway and your children will Thank You! These would make an awesome and thoughtful gift too! Take at look at the cuteness of the Lowercase Letter Coloring Book:
Flipflops & Applesauce Lowercase Lettering
We are giving away digital copies of all Three Digital Coloring Books:
(1) The Uppercase Letters Coloring Book;
(2) The Lowercase Letters Coloring Book; and
(3) The Numbers 1-20 Coloring Book.
These are darling coloring books for children of all ages!
*** Here's how to enter and get an entry for each step, enter a comment for each step below you complete:
1) Leave a comment here after you visit Flipflops and Applesauce and go ahead leave Chrissie a comment and let her know how adorable her work is.
2) Link to me by posting/linking back on your blog about this great resource and Giveaway I am hosting at Carolina Mama; ';)
3) Twitter this awesome Giveaway! :) with a link to this post. Have fun!
Finally, Good luck! Go Enjoy more Bloggy Giveaways this week!
See you tomorrow for the first ever "Carolina Girls" - the Interview right here! :)
Warmly,
Introducing Danielle's Designs
Carolina Girls interviews are starting this week. So let me know if you'd like to be on the list.
Where are you from (can be as general as you wish)?
I'm from Big Lake, a small town in Minnesota, United States. But I'm no small town girl, my family is big on traveling, and I've been all over the country and also 'across the pond' lol. Second to creating things, traveling would have to be my favorite thing.
How did you get into your business?
My sister and I used to play with polymer clay when we were little, and I recently re-discovered it. I had probably around 100 pieces of jewelry made when I found etsy. I was so happy that I found somewhere where I could sell my creations.
About a month ago I saw a decoupaged bangle on etsy and I really loved it. And when I decide I want to do something, I go full out. I've been listing about one bangle every day in my etsy store since then. I use recycled paper from old magazines mostly. I love making the bangles because they're eco-friendly and gorgeous!
How long have you been in business??
I started my etsy account in august of 2007, but I didn't start selling until May of 2008.
What was the biggest challenge?
I'd have to say just getting established here on etsy, especially getting that first sale!
What is the biggest reward?
For me the biggest reward is when someone loves my work as much as I love creating it. And I love the etsy community. Being able to have a personal connection with the maker of an item is such a cool experience and it makes everything you buy a conversation piece. I also buy a lot from etsy, and I love knowing that I'm supporting an individual artist, and not sweat-shop run corporations.
How did you learn your craft?
In the beginning of learning polymer clay, I checked out a lot of different books from the public library and bought a couple too. For the decoupaging, I learned from a YouTube video! Go figure! YouTube has everything, it still amazes me.
What is your favorite Ben N Jerry's Flavor?
Well, I don't really like Ben N Jerry's particularly. But my favorite flavor of ice cream is Kemps cotton candy. My aunt owns an ice cream/craft shop up north by our cabin and that's the only place I've ever been able to find it. During the weeks up at the cabin in the summer we take a daily trip over there to get cones.
What is your favorite song/iTune right now?
Hmmm, that's a tie there.
I am in love with the song 'Change' by Group 1 Crew. When I first heard it, I thought, this would be a perfect song for Obama's campaign, if political campaigns had theme songs.
I am also in love with the band The Morning Of. I found their cd 'The World As We Know It' on ebay by chance. I was going to buy a different cd, and since additional items had free shipping, I checked out the sellers other items. I thought the album cover art looked really cool, so I bought it. Turned out I love it!!
I really love finding obscure bands like Group 1 Crew and The Morning Of that aren't really mainstream. They are both so quirky and just awesome! Just search in youtube to check them out!
Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? ;)
Well, I don't drink coffee, but I love Starbuck's Orange Mango Banana Vivanno smoothie, so Starbucks!!!
Finally, what advice would you give someone wanting to start a business?
Especially for craft/art businesses, make sure you charge what your item is worth in both materials and how much time you spend. Don't sell yourself short, if your prices are too low, your quality will be seen as low, even if it's not. Personally, when I'm buying on Etsy, if I want something, I want to support that artist, and I'm willing to pay whatever they think it's worth.
Also, get a twitter account! It helps a lot to get views for your product/traffic for your website. Plus it helps you connect with buyers/clients. Here's me on Twitter.
I love new friends! :) Oh and here's my etsy store: Danielles Designs
A hearty Thank You to Danielle for the fun Giveaway last week. Thanks for reading and if you're a Carolina Girl, please email me and let me know you want to be interviewed for Carolina Girls.
Warmly,
Sunday Scriptures - Have a Blessed 2009
Esther 4:14
May we be ever mindful of the fact that God has us here in the great USA 'for such a time as this.' And may I be the child He calls me to be, wife, mama, etc. "For such a time as this."
To Him be the glory forevermore amen.!
Please continue to pray for the family and friends North Carolina and around the globe of Kay Yow.
Warmly,
Carolina Girl Kay Yow Passes Away
Ironically, I was at the luncheon today Welcoming Newcomers to our area. We were enjoying a fun lunch when a girlfriend on the team with me answered her cell phone, I was not listening, but suddenly she stopped talking.
Flip, her cell phone closed shut. It was the only noise in the room. She looked at me and said, "Kay Yow just died." I paused. Even though I do not know her, she was a huge presence in North Carolina as the NC State Women's Basketball Coach - and will so be missed especially by her beloved Wold Pack whom she coached for thirty-eight years.
"A native of Gibsonville, N.C., Yow led the U.S. women’s basketball team to a gold medal in 1988, directed her Wolfpack club to the 1998 Final Four and in 2002, became just the fifth female coach inducted into the James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
"We have lost a great person, coach, leader and friend," said Chancellor James Oblinger. "Coach Yow’s courage, passion for her work, strength and humility despite her personal challenges inspired all of us. She epitomized what a coach and role model should be. Her influence will be felt for years to come. The Wolfpack Nation and everyone who followed her successes on the court and her struggles off the court were blessed by Kay Yow’s life. She will be profoundly missed."
Kay Yow was known for saying:
"If you start to dwell on the wrong things, it'll take you down fast," Yow said in '07. "Every morning, I wake up and the first thing I think of is I'm thankful. I'm thankful for another day."
She was known to live this out in her life and basketball. Another great article here.
Rest In Peace Coach Yow and God Bless!
Warmly,
Hello Saturday Morning!
Am on the way to meet some ladies for a tour of downtown and luncheon. Am enjoying being a part of Newcomers. Any Carolina Girls new to the area?! :) And I have a date with Mountain Man this afternoon. wahooo! Go-go day fortunately, I have a lot of time with the Tigers. Then its just weekend as usual.
Then to Lowe's to check out some Home Improvements items. However, it looks like Designer Plumbing Outlet has the best prices on these items:
Price-Pfister, Danze, Delta Faucet, Moen Faucets.
And I am buying more 'Lowe's tiles' for the "Christmas project" that just keeps giving.
What are you up to this Saturday?
Warmly,
My Favorite Things Friday
Today I am starting a new "My Favorite Things Friday" post series. Today, I am wanting to share this awesome luggage I discovered while looking for more simple travel Luggage. I will admit I still have the overnight bag from my high school graduation which was the hard case Samsonite. Not very current.
Look what I found, love this Vera Bradley Luggage! Beautiful, functional and stylish too. Do I need to say more!
Next, look at this adventure looking Tumi Luggage and I love this practical look and durabilityof the
Hartman Luggage.
These are all nice choices serving different purposes. However, the Hartman wins the least expensive one of the lot. At this point, with my old Samsonite in the attic, I would be happy purchasing any of these choices for Spring Break.
What are your favorite luggage choices?
Warmly,
Hooked on Carolina Girls @ Carolina Mama
The most recent thing I am hooked on at Carolina Mama is Carolina Girls Rollcall. We're at fifty girls y'all! That is great fun. Check out their blogs at the Carolina Girls Rollcall.
Now to announce our next fun thing, Carolina Girls - the Interview will begin next week on Tuesday. Be prepared and come on over and experience the Carolina Girls.
If you have questions you want to ask the girls - what would you like to ask a Carolina Girl? - please comment them. Also make sure I have your URL and a note to that effect if you need to be added to the lovely rollcall.
What is new with you? What are you hooked on today? Check out Hooked on Houses for more fun.
See ya Tuesday - of course before too.
Warmly,
That Will Be The Beginning - Seize the Day
Great Falls National Park
I'll add this one of the Park so you can appreciate its beauty even though I know you appreciate the beauty of the Tigers and me. Here's how breath-taking the park actually is.
We spent time 'bouldering' - rock climbing. They learned so quickly. Back then, the park visits were not as long as today's hour long hike 'on the adult trail.' It wasn't just at the tot-lot or in the kiddy park. These guys have grown.
My days then were full with sippy cups, naps, playtime. I loved it and relished every minute because time does march on. So today as I look back at those days. I cherish the memory because today we're making some new ones.
And I can't quite fathom what these days will be when when I look back. The time when they were 'little guys' because right now, they are big boys, growing quickly.
So in the note - words of Michelle Obama to Laura Bush:
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning." Louis L'Amour
Just as toddlerhood finished and childhood began, so I embrace these stages as we begin again anew. Did I tell you next month the Tigers are "8" years old! That's "8."
What do you seize about today?
Share your photo and memories at "Sincerely Fro' Me To You."
Warmly,
Snow, Giveaway and Our Abe Lincoln Log Cabins
Adding this into the "Not Me!" Carnival as my first ""Not Me!" because believe me, it was "Not Me!" to let the boys just eat this whole Abe Lincoln Cabin as they made them, while they constructed them, and long AFTER they were created.....
The Tigers after a hard day of sledding
Yesterday for Inauguration Day we made these adorable Abe Lincoln Log Houses and learned a lot or history - past and present during the morning of President Obama's Inauguration. (My first time to say President Obama ;)
These are great fun and easy. I set up a table by the fireplace with the pretzels, wheat things, peanut butter and reese cups. Gave the boys water bottles and they had ample snacks for the project and snack time. Then I got to do my craft (I did it, that is another post!) and enjoy the festivities.
Abe Lincoln Log Cabin Kids Craft
Here is another view of one of the cabins. I used two different milk cartons so they had different structured cabins. This was 'cool.' And very 'green' so I didn't but more cartons for this project. 9For some reason the single picture of the tall cabin is not uploading.)
My post Inauguration Day Kids Activities is here and it has all the details. This would be an awesome project for President's Day in February. And it "Works For Me Wednesday!" Check out more ideas @ WFMW.
The Winner Is... Mel @ A Voice For Moms! This is how the number was on random generator. I had Tiger A chose the number this morning. And you can't get more random than that. Congratulations Mel. And Thank You Danielle's Designs for the cute earrings for the Giveaway!
p.s. Editing in for Thankful Thursday because after all of this waiting for snow! We were so very Thankful this Thursday taht we got 4 inches of snow and it is still here to play in right now. :) What are you thankful for today?
Warmly,