Historical Treasure

The American Patriot’s Almanac is a beautiful testimony to the history of the United States.

In school, history was boring and tedious. Not with this book. It would make a great history book for students and adults alike. It is filled with historical stories and they are linked to the each day of the year. It can be an additional devotional to your library.

An American History Parade of events is included in each story. The story brings history to life. It represents real people, real events, real meaning to Americans today.

I have fond memories of President Ronald Reagan. On June 12, 1987, he insisted that Mikhail Gorbachev tear the Berlin Wall down. By his persistence, it happened less than three years later. This freed millions of people.

Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Before he signed it, his words were, “I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing the right than I do in signing this paper.” Slaves were finally free. From this day forward, January 1, the beginning of a New Year, will bring new meaning.

The authors do not stop at historical facts and wonderful true stories. They expand the book to include: Prayers for the American People that were said by Harry S. Truman, The Reverend Peter Marshall, and Abraham Lincoln among others. Songs and poems are shared.

The United States wouldn’t exist as it is today if it weren’t for the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Bill of Rights, Gettysburg Address, The Pledge of Allegiance, The Emancipation Proclamation, and much more is included in this wonderful beautifully written book.

I am proud to be an American and I thank the authors, William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb for writing this book. I will treasure it.

To own a copy of this wonderful book, here's a link to the The American Patriot's Almanac Thomas Nelson product page.

Are You Being Watched?

Do you ever feel like you are being watched?

Lucas a.k.a. Humpty infiltrates himself among ceilings and other public places for the specific purpose of watching them. He imagines stories about each one and collects special momentums or totems. Each totem has a special meaning to him for which he cannot explain. Living out of his backpack, he thinks he’s alone. Lucas, The watcher, becomes watched.

He is caught by another who appear to be like him. He is not alone. There is a Creep Club and he’s invited. No one is safe from the club members. No one can be trusted. Humpty is thrown into a series of events that he cannot escape. He wants it to end but it’s all he’s ever known. He feels the pull to keep doing it and moving from public to private places.

I read the book thinking I knew how the book was going to end. Wrong! There are situations and events that happen that make no real sense except to Humpty.

At your next meal or work day, look around. Could there be someone watching? You will think twice after reading this book.

T.L. Hines weaves an incredible tale and creates a satisfying ending. To learn more, check out:

Thomas Nelson product page.

What In The World Is Going On? By Dr. David Jeremiah

Ever wonder about the end times? How does it relate to our world today? Dr. David Jeremiah answers these questions and more.

There is much confusion on The Rapture of the Church. I admit I was baffled. This book puts things in a clear perspective. Yes, there are troubles in our world.

How does Israel play a role and why should we care? This important topic is addressed. As Americans, we’ve been extremely blessed. Being an alley to Israel is part of that equation.

Knowing that we are in the end times, how should we respond? Dr. David Jeremiah makes it perfectly clear that we are to watch for Him but not put our lives on hold. We have a purpose on this earth. We are to work for Him until the day comes. Keep working. Keeping watching.

People who kill in the name of God are not beyond God’s grace. It’s easy to think they are doomed to hell. But are they? No, they are not. Have you ever thought to pray for them rather than condemn them?

Yes, the time is coming that the Antichrist will rule the world (or so it seems). Christians have a choice. They can opt out and believe in the One and be spared from the horrors that will come. Sound harsh? Not at all. Read this book. Be inspired. Be prepared. Prepared to spend eternity with Jesus.

Want to know more? Click the following link:

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=078522887X

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

Thump...Thump...Thump...Thump

Forgot to Breathe…

Wow! I literally forgot to breathe. I could hear the thump of my own heart. Serious.

Darrell Brooke, Novelist – King of Suspense has come a cross a major stumbling block in his career after an auto accident. His estranged granddaughter pleas for his help. Can the murderer be stopped?

Brandilyn’s book is a magic mountain ride. You hold on for dear life. Truth blends into reality. I heard noises. Jumped when the phone rang. Grateful for my home alarm system. What was that noise was amongst the walls?

If you enjoy a thrilling, heart-stopping novel, buy this book. Lock your doors. Read it. Hold on. If your heart stops, don’t blame me. I warned you.

Out of Her Hands by Megan DiMaria

I've had the wonderful privilege of reading Megan's book. If you want to read about real life problems with a Christian theme, read this book.

Linda Revere is a delightful character. I laughed out loud starting with page one. It kept me up past my bedtime. I kept telling myself, "just one more chapter."

No emotion is left untouched. In one minute, your laughing. Then in another, your angry or crying. It spans an entire generation and how the dynamics of the situations affect each character. My favorite character, Linda, wears many hats. Watching her balance many hats is a lesson we can all learn.

I learned through this book to pray. Pray about everything. Pray for people that haven't even come into your life yet. Pray without ceasing. Pray whether you feel like it or not. Watch the power of prayer enter your life.

It's been a joy to read Megan's book and I look forward in reading more.

Mozy Solution

How reliable is your computer? If there are weather woes, I will completely shut my computer down to make sure that my data is not lost.

Computers crash from time to time. You can save it on a thumb drive or external hard drive. In fact, I do have those. Mozy is a security blanket. It takes care of me when life is busy.

I’ve found the perfect solution through http://mozy.com . It will work behind the scenes and save your work. You will be notified when a new backup has been completed. It’s like having surgery and waking up. You ask the doctor, "is it done?" In this case, not only has it backed up, the user doesn’t even realize that it started. In the event that your data is lost, log-in and restore your data files. It’s that simple.

The best part is you can get started for free up to 2GB. I was able to save my pictures and documents with that amount. If you need more, there is a small monthly fee.

Mozy on over and check it out.

Kids in Church

This was forwarded to me in an e-mail and it was too cute not to share :-).

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3-year-old Reese : 'Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen.'

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A little boy was overheard praying: 'Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am.

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After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.'

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One particular four-year-old prayed, 'And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.'

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A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, 'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?' One bright little girl replied, 'Because people are sleeping.'

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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. 'If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, ' Ryan , you be Jesus !'

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A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. 'Daddy, what happened to him?' the son asked. 'He died and went to Heaven,' the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, 'Did God throw him back down?'

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A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, 'Would you like to say the blessing?' 'I wouldn't know what to say,' the girl replied. 'Just say what you hear Mommy say,' the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said , 'Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?'

Write it Down!

Writing is so awesome.
I couldn't stop if I wanted to.

It's a passion that will not fade.

Writing is not the end result.

It's a process...

a process that must be enjoyed....

each step of the way.

It's the power to create.

To create from within.

One day I may hate what I write.

The next day I can't believe I wrote it.

It's a release.

It heals.

It gives me strength.

It is in my SOUL.

I cannot fight what my soul desires.

I can try and run from it.

But it's always right there.

No matter where I turn.

It's there.

It's in my mind.

The ideas, stories, and thoughts...

keep coming.

It's a great idea.

No, it's not.

Yes, it is.

I write it down.

By Mara Kim

Extra! Extra! Limited Time Offer!

Do you love to play games? Do you wish that you could get paid to play?

SimplyFun is a direct selling company and I am privileged to be a consultant for them. They sell games, puppets, and puzzles for ages 3 to 103.

The starter kit (see picture above) is only $169.00 + tax. Products and business supplies are valued at over $300. For a limited time only, you can start your own business for less than $100. If that’s not enough, I can help you get started for 0$. Yes, you read it correctly. Your cost is $0.00. Too good to be true? Not with SimplyFun. Not sure? Tell you what. Have a catalog party. Sell $400 of wonderful—and I do mean wonderful products. I will chip in the cost of the rest of the kit. Please note: this offer is only valid for July 2008.

Live across the US? This past weekend, I attended our annual SimplyFun conference. To say it was a blast is an understatement. I met some fabulous friends and am looking forwarding to developing a relationship with them. During the conference, we were given not only free games but unsurpassed training. We have corporate power up calls each week. I will walk you step by step on SimplyFun, how to conduct a party, party follow-up, and how to succeed. The key to any business adventure is persistence. If you are interested, click on the SimplyFun link to the right. Read through our wonderful mission and our company. Send me an e-mail with your name and the best time to call.

Can you say Aloha? Yes, our annual incentive trip is Kauai, Hawaii. The clock starts ticking now on earning that trip for free. Personally, I’m going for a trip for two so that my husband and I can have a fabulous vacation for free. Want to join?

If you love to laugh and play games, I would love to have you on my team! Let’s chat!

Qrazy Quandaries

A friend and I have a blast playing Qrazy Quandaries (since it's at work - we have to make up our own).

Qrazy Quandaries is the third "Take Your Pick" game available to purchase from SimplyFun.

Take Your Pick between two tough choices! Would you prefer to wake up with floppy dog ears or a fuzzy bunny tail? Wear the same outfit or eat the same meal for a year? Have one wish granted today or three granted in ten years? Packed with 125 questions, this game will have your family and friends "Qracking" each other up!

My friend asked me this question - sunny outside or a good book on the couch with a cup of cocoa.

Here's my answer:

The book called, I’m In A Quandary, jerked her into reality of what if? What if I had a choice between it being sunny outside or a good book on the couch with a cup of cocoa?

I hate cocoa but love books. I hate when the sun blinds me. I love the warmth of the kiss of the sun on my cheeks. I have decided to think outside of the box.

It’s decided. A book that transforms fantasy into reality is the dream. I dream to be pulled into a book so engrossing that you forget whether you are sitting on the couch or not.

Yes. That’s it. A good book sitting on my couch with the sun kissing my cheeks is my decision. As I cradle my Starbucks mocha in one hand, I swallow the words in my right. It’s my final answer.

5 Things (For Sarah)

5 things I couldn't live without for under $5:

1. Books (they are free at the library!)

2. Pen and Paper

3. Aleve (well the small bottle)

4. Starbucks Mocha

5. Sarah's Popcorn Bags


5 favorite movies:

1. The Guardian

2. Waterhorse

3. The Notebook

4. Chronicles of Narnia

5. Message in a bottle


5 baby names I love, but won't use:


1. Mia

2. Joshua (actually I would if I had another boy!)

3. Carly

4. Kersten (A long time ago I picked this name. No-one knew it. Then my sister had her first daughter and named her Kearsten. I promise she never knew.

5. Kim (obvious reason... Kim Kim.. )


5 songs I could listen to over and over:


1. The voice of truth by Casting Crowns

2. Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle

3. Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew

4. This is the air I breathe by Hillsongs

5. Mary Did You Know by Michael W Smith



5 people that have influenced my life in a positive way:


1. Jesus

2. 5th grade teacher Miss Ask

3. Sarah - full of wisdom!

4. My husband and son

5. Jill


5 things that stay in my purse at all times:


1. Checkbook

2. Starbucks Card

3. keys

4. Cell Phone

5. Aleve


5 moments that have changed my life forever:


1. Getting Married

2. Adopting Dominic

3. Discoverd that my best friend Jill is my cousin!

4. Working for the school.

5. Discovering Starbucks.


5 obsessions that I have right now:

1. Starbucks

2. Dominic - Always trying to be a better parent.

3. Reading

4. Writing

5. Starbucks - oh did I already mention that..


5 Places I would like to go:


1. Florida

2. Cannon Beach

3. SimplyFun Conference

4. Heaven :-) when I turn 101

5. Starbucks


People who's top 5 I would like to see:

1. Jill

2. Nora

3. Kristin (yes you!!!)

4. Jeannette

5. Fun Rene' at SimplyFun

Game Night is...

A Blast!

For those of you that love games, you'll have to check out my SimplyFun website by clicking on the link on the right.

Dominic is playing Walk the Dogs which has won awards such as Major Fun for Kids Award, The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and GAMES Magazine Family Game award. This game includes 63 cute miniature dogs. It teaches probability, risk and reward, and strategy. The object of the game is to take dogs from the front or back of the line and end up with the most points at the end of the game. Or, if you are able to line up five dogs in a row, you automatically win! It's not as easy as it sounds.

This month we are having a special opportunity for others to give to others. It's called the Play It Forward Host Opportunity. It's simply this: Have a $400 party in May and SimplyFun will make product donations to the organization that YOU choose. It could be a school, an organization, church, etc. For example, for a $400 party, you would receive $80 worth of free products for you and your family to enjoy. Then SimplyFun will match that amount. In this scenario, $80 would be donated to an organization of your choice. SimplyFun will deliver the products in your name! If you are interested, let me know.

My friend, Sarah has decided to be a part of the program. If you are interested in making a single order, let me know. I will be more than happy to add it to her party.

Let's Play!

Coincidence?

Our family went to the beach to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.

On Saturday night, Dominic and I headed for the pool. I didn't have any swimming gear so I decided to watch. He brought his horses to swim with him. About 5 minutes later, a dad and his son came to swim.

The boy around 3 years of age seemed rather tiny even for his age. He jumped right in the pool head first. His Dad was right there to watch him. Dominic shared his horse with him and they played.

His Dad was quiet and didn't say much. He left his son in the smaller pool holding onto the side while he did a swim lap. That pool being 4 feet was still quite a bit over his son's head. The way he splashed around in the pool earlier, I thought he could swim.

I watched the little boy go under water and push himself up by flapping his hands and legs. I quickly realized that this boy was in the process of drowning! Water was in his mouth and his face was red. He couldn't swim and he was in a state of panic. Without a thought, I walked straight into the pool fully clothed. I lifted him up out of the water and set him on the edge of the pool. He coughed up water and began to cry. At this point, his Dad didn't see a thing. He was swimming his way back from the other end of the pool. It wasn't until he popped his head up that he had the wondering look on his face. I explained that his son was bobbing up and down. It was then that he admitted that his son was learning how to swim but couldn't yet.

The question remains was it a coicidence or not that I was at that pool at that specific time? There was no-one else around. I can tell you that the previous week, Satan was whispering in my ear that maybe I didn't have a purpose on this earth.

That day, God showed me that I do have a purpose in this life and so does that little boy. Some may say it was a mere coincidence. For me, it was God.

My sheep hear My voice,
and I know them,
and they follow Me.

John 10:27

Lukewarm

Our Pastor referred to Revelations 3:15-20 (NIV) in church today. This verse strikes a chord. In the verse, there's the following passage:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Ouch! I know how easy it is to set aside God. No time. No time to read the bible, attend church, or even minister to others. I believe as a Christian, I am called to live as Christ would live. I have learned to listen to His small still voice. When He says to make amends or apologize, I like to pretend that I really didn't hear it. He has a way of nagging me until I do. But listen! If you ignore Him too long, the voice may disappear. The most amazing fact is He loves us so much that he's waiting for us to come back to Him. But let's not wait too long.

When Dominic woke up this morning, he went straight to my computer to listen to East to West by Casting Crowns. He absolutely loves that song. We found a video on http://www.youtube.com/ that I would like to share. We watched it at least three times.

Here it is - Enjoy!

YouTube - East to West by Casting Crowns

Voice of Truth

I love the song the 'Voice of Truth' from Casting Crowns. If you haven't already, I hope that you take the time to listen to the words. Whenever I'm doubtful, I remember those words.

Since I love to write, I thought I would post a little bit of reflection of how I see myself and how God sees me.

Experiencing life through Christ is the best thing that's ever happened to me. It's too bad it took be several years to figure this out! With that being said, I like to think of it this way. I imagine a large staircase. At the top of the staircase is Christ. His arms are outstretched. I'm weak at the awesome sight of His presence. I'm filthy. My heart is full of sin. Although I do not deserve Him, I cannot help be drawn to Him. His glorious beauty draws me to Him like a magnet. I notice that as I take each step, I feel different. My ragged clothes begin to fade to white. I keep walking.

A mirror flashed before my eyes. I see the reflection of a beautiful woman, but I don't recognize her. She seems to radiate with love. Then I hear a whisper, "Come to Me." I look up into Jesus' face. He holds me. It's the day I've been waiting for my entire life. It's here. I cannot contain the joy that I feel. He says, "look to my right." As I turn, I'm speechless. It's the mirror. I realize that I'm the beautiful woman.

I see now that each time I have taken a problem to Him on earth, he has been slowly making me pure. I am transformed as I look into His eyes at this moment....a moment to be treasured in eternity with Him. My first pure true love has never given up on me. I'm finally home.

I'm so glad that that living on earth is not the end.

Dominic

What can I say? My son is one cool dude!