YOB: #2 The International Spy Museum (Part 2)

By Beth

What red-blooded American girl doesn't love her some spies? I mean, come on, if your heart doesn't go pitter patter for at least one of the many James Bonds, there's something wrong with you. Some of my earliest movies included the 007 ones, those and Star Wars. I fell in love with James Bond (but not nearly as hard as I fell for a certain British bad guy, if you have to ask who you obviously haven't been following my stories). My favorite Bond as a young girl was Roger Moore, Sean Connery was too hairy and Timothy Dalton was just…odd. I know there were more but they did not earn a place in my memory as these few did. Pierce Brosnan was good too but I had my reservations when Daniel Craig was announced to play James several years back. Really? A blonde Bond? But after seeing the first movie he did, I was hooked. I guess you can technically argue that Bond isn't really a spy in the strictest sense of the word, but that's really besides the point. My love for spies and covert activity was born and will never die.

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One Word At A Time: Strength

By MAD21

If you are a parent, you have probably found yourself praying for strength every morning (perhaps every moment of the day?). Even if you aren't a parent, you have probably prayed for strength a lot in your life. Whether it's job stress, health issues, friend issues, family issues, it's never ending. But what exactly are we praying for?

You or a loved one get a cancer diagnosis and you pray for strength to get through it, but do you have a choice? It's not like you can tell the cancer to go away. You are forced to go through it whether you think you have the strength or not. The same goes for any situation you may find yourself in.

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What Can God Do Through You?

By Pat

In Mark 5:1-20, we learn the account of the demon-possessed man who encountered Jesus. We read about the classic battle of good vs. evil, and that, of course, Jesus triumphs over evil by sending the man's evil spirits into a herd of pigs who rush down a steep bank and are drowned.

I have read this story many times, and the overriding theme to me has always been the great healing power of Jesus, and His ability to overcome evil. But this morning when I read it, a point I had never noticed before stood out to me. The grateful man, now free of his demons, begged Jesus to let him go with Him, but Jesus said no. He had other plans for the newly freed man. He told him to go and tell everyone what Jesus had done for him, and the man obeyed. It wasn't what he had in mind, but never the less, he did what Jesus told him to do.

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Life Is Funny: Not-So-Welcome Surprises

BY MAD21

Imagine yourself in your garage, looking for something that rolled under a cabinet, only to find more than what you are looking for. You think to yourself, "What is that?" And then, uuuhh-it moves...

What is worse than finding this:

Is finding THIS...

No worries. We got him out unscathed (him and US). He is now residing in the forest across the street... I hope he stays there...

And... at least it was two feet smaller than the one I found a few weeks ago in our front yard...

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.

Fingerprint Fridays: Sisters

By MAD21

My youngest got out of school a few weeks before her sister. Preschool has a shorter school year than Kindergarten. It was good to have some time alone with her. Not that we don't have enough time together, she only went to school two mornings a week, but still, it was a much more relaxed few weeks.

Our favorite library has a little playground behind it with a path to an awesome pond. We have played on the playground a few times, but had never walked the path all the way to the pond. So one day while we were waiting to go pick her sister, my youngest and I decided to go and investigate. It was so beautiful. The lilly pads were everywhere and were in full bloom. While we were enjoying the view and listening to the frogs talking to each other, I looked down in the water at what I thought was a rock... until it moved.

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