What we're reading this week...

I think many of my friends in Texas will have plenty of time to do some reading this week! It seems as if most of the city of Houston has shut down until at least Wednesday. Many folks are without power and water and some have been told that it may be 3 or 4 weeks before power is restored. Please continue to pray for the folks affected by Ike. He did, indeed, do lots of damage!

So, on to what we're reading this week...

Happy Reading!

(Click on the images to link to Amazon's website for review and/or to purchase.)

Jason's reading...

This book is a MUST read! 

It's a true story and moving to say the least. 

You can read more about it here.

My reading...

Emily's reading...

Ben's reading...

(sticking with the animal theme, I guess)

Abby's reading...

Today was a great day!

We participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure today. This is the first time we've participated in something such as this, most likely because the Texas heat was a deterrent, who knows! Anyway, we overslept this morning and almost didn't go. However, thanks to Jason's persistence, we followed through with our commitment and went, and I'm glad we did!

Today was a rainy day, but the rain couldn't stop the thousands of folks who showed up today, putting aside whatever one normally does on a Saturday morning to come together in downtown Cleveland for a common cause; a cure for breast cancer. Many folks really got into the spirit of the day; lots of women and men dressed for the cause; everything from matching team shirts to fancy decorated bras worn on the outside to silly wigs and costumes to men's t-shirts complete with references to saving the ta-tas. 

Little did I know that today's event would be so emotional for me! I learned from a conversation I overheard that the women in pink are breast cancer survivors. As we looked for our team, Team Laurel, I felt time stand still as I saw women and men and children wearing names of family members or friends who had been affected and defeated by this horrible disease. Mix that in with the many, many women in pink, and my eyes were moist most of the day. (And, let me tell you, these women in pink were all ages, not just gray on top.) As we found our team and were greeted by those we knew, a knot formed in my throat as one of our very own stood there wearing pink!

We will be participating in this event every year! 

Oh, and, my new favorite color is definitely pink!

From there, we joined some nice Laurel folks to visit the West Side Market, which was so cool! Rows and rows of produce, meats, cheeses, breads, bakeries, etc... Jason and I had our first Gyro. After a mental exercise with each bite of overcoming the thoughts of the cute little lamb that followed Mary to school one day, it was actually very tasty! 

Praise God that our family and friends seem to be safe and ok as Ike passed through in the wee hours of the morning. What was once projected to be a Category 4 actually hit as a Category 2. 

All in all, today was a great day!

Pray for Texas!

Hurricane Ike is on the move and is projected to hit Galveston early Saturday morning. I've been watching the news websites in Houston today and it seems as if the town has shut down for tomorrow in preparation for Ike's arrival. I know all too well the restless anticipation of storms and watching the news wondering if predictions will come true. Please pray for the safety of all those in Ike's path!

My child is a genius...

Don't you love my title? Isn't it annoying? Sorry... I have to brag on Abby's latest accomplishment. She will be 2-1/2 in almost 2 weeks. She is able to name by sight all her capital letters and also tell me the sounds of about 80% of them. Now, before you begin to praise me for being such a great mom and working with her, I must reveal the secret. It's not by anything I've done, but it's this amazing video...

It's a cute video, well done and about 35 minutes long. Abby probably watches it a couple of times a week and has for several months. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that she was starting to point out letters and call them by name and then go on and make the letter sound for some of them. So, I thought I'd "quiz" her and see how much she knows. I'm telling you...it's amazing what she's learned from this simple video.

So, we just added this one to our library...

It's a little advanced for Abby, but Ben loves watching it and in just a couple of times seeing it is understanding how letters "glue" together to make words. Ben is also at that exciting stage of beginning to read and recognizing words. I love this stage! He is so proud of himself when he recognizes a word or can read some of the words in our bedtime stories. Such a precious stage!

A Day of Celebration!

Today is indeed a day of celebration! Today is our friend, Alexis's birthday! Alex is our friend who was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of '07. She is now cancer free! Alex is coming over to play this afternoon. I thought it only fitting to have pink cupcakes for an amazing and brave little princess! 

Happy Birthday, sweet Alex!

What we're reading this week...

Jason and I are still reading the same books as last week. School schedules and work schedules make for two sleepy folks at night! I'm lucky if I get five pages read before my eyelids close...

Happy reading!

(Click on the image to link to Amazon's website for reviews and/or to purchase.)

Jason's reading...

My reading...

Emily's reading...

Ben's reading...

Abby's reading...

This one's better...

I like this one better!

 

New look...

In anticipation of fall, thought I'd change my background. So, I'll set aside my pink for now, but it will most likely be back in the spring...unless pink becomes a winter color this year. This website has free backgrounds for your blog...lots to choose from and loading them onto your blog is easy as pie!

Looks can be deceiving!

Now that we are back in school, I have pulled out the Crock-Pot and dusted it off. I tried a new recipe last week and it was very tasty! I must warn you, though, it's not a beautiful dish and my family (except Abby, who is still at the wonderful age of oblivion) turned their noses up and said, "What is this?" However, as they began eating, lots of "mm's" and "wow, that's good" resounded around the table.  I promise it's good. We had the leftovers last night and it was great leftover as well as the meat had absorbed the sauce and was so tasty. I served it over rice. The sauce was great with rice. I didn't thicken the sauce for time's sake, but if you prefer a thicker sauce and have the time, go for it!

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork

(from Allrecipes)

1 (16 oz) can cranberry sauce

1/3 cup French salad dressing

1 onion, sliced

1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin roast

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the cranberry sauce, salad dressing, and onion. Place pork in a slow cooker and cover with the sauce mixture.

2. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or on Low for 8 hours. 

Enjoy!

Tagged!

So, I was tagged by my friend, Laurie, to write 6 interesting things about myself. It's taken me a while to come up with some things...I think I have had a boring life! Here are the rules to being tagged:

1. Post the rules on your blog.

2. Write 6 random things about yourself.

3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

4. If you are tagged, DO IT, and pass along.

So, here goes...

1. Most of you know that I'm a musician and have taught music as well as lead music in churches. You probably know that I play the piano and sing. However, most of you probably do not know that I can play the recorder. While that might not be too impressive to you, did you know that I can play it with my nose? 

2. There is a town in Texas named after my mom's side of the family: Schwertner, Texas. Claim to fame: cattle! Moo!

3. Jason and I, along with our friends, Mitch and Rhonda, met John Denver when he was in concert with the Houston Symphony. Thanks to Mitch, we had backstage passes and met him. He was very pleasant to meet. Two weeks later, he was killed in a plane crash.

4. I was born in Abilene, Texas and went to college in Abilene, Texas, but lived in another town all the years in between.

5. I met my husband the summer before our senior year at Hardin-Simmons University. We were both seniors taking freshman English in summer school. Can we say procrastinators?

6. And last but not least, I have NEVER had a brain freeze! Top that!  

Now, I'm supposed to tag 6 people. I don't really know that many folks who blog, but I know some folks who SHOULD blog, so if your name is on the list and you read my blog, maybe it's time to start your own!

1. Kate W

2. Claire G

3. Rhonda O

4. Elliott S

5. Ann S

6. Tori C