Fingerprint Friday: Snowdays

By MAD21

We love snow in our house. Ok. Let me rephrase that... the people in our house love snow. I'd prefer the snow not actually be in our house. Our kids love the snow not just because of the days they miss school, because they are too young to really understand snowdays off from school. But really because it's a opportunity when we can have time playing together as a family playing that may include throwing things at each other without getting hurt or in trouble.

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One Word At A Time: Love

By MAD21

I read a book a long time ago called Love is a Decision. It had a significant impact on me at the time, and many of it's lessons still stick with me today. I highly recommend the book for everyone, married or not.

It's most important lesson, I believe, is in its title. That love is a decision. Not always a feeling. Many of us have people in our lives that are difficult to have relationships with, but it's important that we get along. Whether they are family, spouses of good friends, people we serve in ministry with, or people we work with, we have to choose to behave lovingly toward them all. Why? Because that's what God does for us. Even with all of our bad choices and behavior, he still chooses to love us. And we must live by his example the best we can.

Sometimes I think the hardest time to make this decision for love is when it's your immediate family. The ones you interact with everyday. I think we have different expectations for them. Emotions run strong in a home, deep love, or deep hurt. Spike Jones once sang, "You always hurt the one you love." Why is that, do you ever wonder? There are things I see my family doing to each other that they'd never do to a co-worker or classmate. Why does it seem to be ok to treat each other so poorly sometimes?

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Works For Me Wednesday: Breakfast Shortcakes

By Alan

In our household, a Saturday morning tradition is that Daddy makes breakfast for the girls, while Mommy tries to sleep in. The favorite version of breakfast is based on a simple recipe that appears on every box of Bisquick: Strawberry Shortcakes. (Disclaimer: No, we aren't affiliated with Betty Crocker or General Mills, and we get nothing for this recipe from them.)

Since we're making breakfast shortcakes (think big gooey cookies), and not a fruit dessert, we changed the recipe considerably.

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YOB: #8. Go To Ireland (Abridged)

By Beth

How does one go about writing a short article about a trip like Ireland? Even as short a trip as we took? Well, all I can really do is give you the highlights and try to be entertaining while I do so.

We should start by saying that I was very nervous about this trip. While Lara is an experienced international traveler and has done so on her own, I have not been on an international trip where I was the one responsible for getting me to my plane, hotel, etc. I have been overseas several times, just with family, or a group though. As we were planning this trip, it felt like there were no grown-ups going with us. Obviously Lara and I are both adults; I have 2 children, we both have good jobs and responsibilities, but somehow, I still felt as if this trip would solidify my adulthood! Lara thought I was funny. Looks aren't everything though!

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Life Is Funny: Toy Packaging

In the spirit of opening gifts with our kids on Christmas, and having to figure out how to get the toys out of the packages the nice companies afix them to, I bring you: Toy Packaging by Sara Groves.

My friend and fellow blogger Wendy at Weight..What? has a fun carnival at her blog called "Life is Funny." Every Monday we talk about something in life that we find funny. Be sure to go visit her blog to read her post along with links to other blogs who are participating.

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