Journaling & FIRST Contest

Who of us hasn't journaled at one time or another? I know that I have more than my fair share stuck away in boxes left for my children to giggle at years (and years) down the road!

A couple years ago I was at Northwestern Bookstore and came across a gem of a journal. It wasn't just any other journal, might I add. The one I zeroed in on was called "Books I've Read...A Reader's Journal". I opened the page and knew I was walking out of the store with that book.

Opening the book I saw that Journals Unlimited, Inc. was making my life easier to keep track of the books I've read. I had been searching for a way to keep track of these books and the things I wanted to remember about them. This journal gave me all the "starters" one would need on the first page. Turning to the back of that page you are able to write your thoughts.

What I LOVE about this journal is the fact that I'm able to have all of my thoughts written by my hand. Down the road my children will be able to learn about what books I read and what I liked or disliked about them. They will see the passion I have for books.

Journals Unlimited, Inc. has a wide range of journals. They have 50+ titles in their "Write It Down" series. Do you love sports? They have a wide array for you. I gave my dad the "Motorcycle...A Rider's Journal". Whenever he takes a bike trip, he can write about the spectacular views or the guys he went with, etc. As a book club, we bought our leader the "Books I've Read" journal and she was so happy to have received it! Do you enjoy gardening, teaching, vacationing, camping, or hunting? Journals Unlimited has the journal for YOU! You can even have them personalized if you order through them. If you have a subject that they haven't created, they give you the option of creating your own!

Journals Unlimited, Inc. has a number of other series. One of those series is "Write to Remember"® Series with 10 options and faux leather covers. They also offer 8 styles from their Notepad series. Their "between me and you"™ Series allows you to share your journal with someone close to you. They even have the option of the "Write it Down" series in an array of colors. You aren't limited to size either. They have the full size edition, which is what I own, as well as a mid size and a mini size (kind of a take-along version).

If you would like to view their entire line, you can visit them at their website http://www.journalsunlimited.com/ .

Journals Unlimited, Inc. has been gracious in allowing me to give away a "Books I've Read" journal. Here's how you can enter to win the journal... visit their site and then leave me a comment letting me know which Journal you liked the most or if you could create your own what it would be. I will draw a name on April 7th.

Blessings ~ Mimi

The English Language

Living in Minnesota has given me a new appreciation for the English language. If that weren't the truth, why did someone create a book and play entitled "How to Talk Minnesotan"? Trust me, it's dead on and as they say here, "It's a hoot!"

Isn't the English language funny? Read the following
items and see why English is one of the toughest
languages to learn.
1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more
refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the
desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought
it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to
row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are
present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into the sewer.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow
to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. After a number of injections, my jaw got number.
19. Upon seeing the tear in the fabric, I shed a tear.
20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate
friend?

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger, and
neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins
weren’t invented in England, nor French fries in
France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads,
which aren’t sweet, are meat.
Quicksand works slowly, while boxing rings are square
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea, nor is it a
pig. And why is it that writers write, but fingers
don’t fing and hammers don’t ham?
If teachers taught, why is it that preachers don’t
praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a
humanitarian eat? In what other language do people
recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck
and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet
that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise guy and a wise man are opposites? You
have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in
which your house can burn up as it burns down, in
which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in
which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it
reflects the creativity of the human race which, of
course, is not a race at all. That is why when the
stars are out they are visible but when the lights are
out, they are invisible.
P.S. Why doesn’t Buick rhyme with quick?

Hoping for your children

Are your kids ever in competitions? Even if it's something minor, I think as parents we would all agree we'd love to see our children win. If our children don't typically win...anything, we'd REALLY love to see them win...anything! Yesterday my 8 yr old participated in AWANA's Derby Race. He used the same car from Cub Scouts. The same care that stopped 1/2 way down the track every time. For AWANA he forgot all 3 times to bring his new block of wood to the workshops. So, with a bit of graphite to actually get the wheels to turn, we got him set up with his old car.

The race began, and he won his first set! Wahoo!! He was so cool about winning, like it was no big deal. His second set, he lost. His third set, again, lost. The kid he lost to in the third set gave him the knuckle high five. It was really awesome to see.

So, my son's time this year seemed over. There were no more races left. We just watched the rest of the racers go for the gold. They gave out the trophies for the top four girls and the top four boys. There were four trophies for best design. I thought there could be a slim chance they liked his car...or not. They worked their way up to first place and I was ready to go. "First Place goes to Jacob B.!" WHAT? My friend's were looking at me and I was dropping everything to get my camera out. WHAT? My kid won Best Design?! I couldn't push the chairs out of the way so I hopped over them. Now, this could've been disasterous since I'm not graceful and have a tendency to be a klutz. All I could see was missing out on the photo op! I probably would've shoved some sweet grandma out of the way to get to my son...my WINNING son!

Three seperate Derby's over the last 2 years and he'd won nada! I was so excited for him. It didn't matter that he hadn't won trophies for the races. I was thrilled that he'd had success. I'd have done cartwheels if he'd gotten 4th Place. I hadn't wanted to see the look on his face if he had come home with just another ribbon. Sometimes I think it's good for our kids to win something, anything. Yesterday Jacob did just that!

Apples of Gold by Lisa Samson

This was a wonderful read. A book for every family with a daughter. I would say if you have sons, they would learn from this book how to be a man of integrity as well.

Apples of Gold is a story about purity. Lisa introduces us to two sisters. I think we, as women, can relate to one of them. Liza is the insightful, dutiful, plain Jane sister. Kate on the other hand is a free spirit, doesn't put much thought into her actions, and has much beauty. The Governor has entrusted each of the girls with an apple. They are to care for it during the week until his son comes home. When the son comes home, it will be determined who took better care of their apple. The one who is chosen will serve the Governor's son.

We follow the girls as they go throughout the week from the Governor's home until the ultimate meeting. We see each sister's struggle; struggles that each one of us as women have probably dealt with on some level, especially those with sisters.

When the Governor's son appears at the appointed time, we learn what he believes is important and which sister he has chosen. He explains to each sister why he has chosen or rejected her. Our hearts break for the sister who is rejected and we rejoice for the chosen one. For those of us with daughter's we know we want them to make the right choices, especially in this precious matter. This allegory can help them see the prize that is laid before them. It does have quite the dose of inuendo, which is to be expected and as a mom, I had to giggle at a couple points.

Lisa addresses both the girls and the adults reading this book. She wants this to induce discussions with our girls. I have suggested this book for my daughter's book club. It's a book that can be read in one sitting. The words are large and the pages are short. There are a few illustrations throughout to give us a visual as to what is happening in the story. I'd personally like to thank Lisa for giving us such a wonderful book on purity and how important it will be to or daughter's future husbands.