This couple adopted... EMBRYOS!!

This GREAT Blog, "3,2,1" is dedicated to embryo adoption. For more information... visit it!

Its been a while

Hello all! This is my post (like many a post on other blogs) that is to say... I haven't disappeared. I'm actually still here. Surprise!

Let's see: TWITTER is a good thing. Maybe its due to my short attention span, but I LOVE the quickness of Twitter! That's the avenue my kids' hilarity, the link to my favorite item of the moment, an urgent prayer request or just random thoughts are most often shared.

However, I just signed up in a Blogfrog community and put my blog address... how sad that I couldn't even remembered the last time I posted. Way back when, there are actually some great posts lurking beneath the surface of these last ones. You know the kind... ones that were actually from me/ my heart/ original thoughts... not just replications of someones else's good thoughts.

Time to return to that. Hooray for all! JoAnna is returning to blogging!

In the midst of dealing with deaths, in the midst of pain, in the midst of confusion: God is good and I choose to be a worshiper.

HP TouchSmart 600 - FOR FREE??!!

Actually, kind of the same one! There are in fact a total of FIVE HP TouchSmart 600 PCs being given away in blog land.

Kelly's Korner is giving one away!

BooMama is giving one away!

Nie Nie Dialogues is give one away!

MckMama is giving one away!

A Year of Slow Cooking is giving one away!

Check out the links and enter away!! :)

and now a little something about a MckContest!

It seems that MckMama is having a little contest right here for a SWEET touch computer. And, seeing as how Zack and just happen to be in crazy need of a computer right now... this would be perfect timing to win! Isn't it nice how the timing works out? I thought so too. :)

This little post is my 3rd and final way to enter the contest. You may enter too, just follow the little link above and then give the computer to me when you win. There, now we're all happy.

The Call Crisis from Lou Engle:

Urgent Call to Prayer & Conference Call:

TONIGHT November 6, 2009 8:00pm EST

We have entered into a time in American history where the Church no longer has the luxury of peace after great victories. Today we celebrate, with humility, the stand for traditional marriage that the people of Maine made. We believe the prayers of the saints and the votes of conscience helped turn the tide. ABC news made this statement “The tide of extending marriage rights to same-sex couples - which has swept across New England in recent months - has stopped at Maine.”

We Face a Crisis

But now, two days after this moral victory, we face a crisis that many believe could be the turning point from a society of free men and women to a society under the economic and moral control of a government hostile to Christian values. Nancy Pelosi’s healthcare bill, according to Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, “Is a 1,990 page monstrosity that will mandate healthcare coverage penalizing those who choose no coverage, pay for abortion change the tax laws giving benefits for same sex partners and create more than 111 new boards, bureaucracies, commissions, and programs. This will cost at least 1.3 trillion dollars.”

Monthly Abortion Premium

Yesterday, U.S. House of Representatives Minority leader, John Boenher, presented a clear statement on abortion being federally funded in this healthcare bill – Section 213
“A monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan, as well those who select plans that have abortion coverage through the Exchange. The premium will be paid into an U.S. Treasury account and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.”

Pro-Choice to Pro-Life

At the same time, a Planned Parenthood Director in Texas has experienced a radical conversion from pro-choice to pro-life and her story is being heralded all across the nation on the news. In addition, the national public opinion has shifted dramatically across the board to pro-life. It seems ironic that this administration is preparing to inject abortion into the very veins of our whole economic and healthcare system.

Contact Congressman and Senators

Nancy Pelosi is seeking to drive this bill to a vote on Saturday. What can we do? Planned Parenthood Action Fund President, Cecile Richards wrote to her supporters rejoicing that, “every version of the bills out there right now is free of the dangerous amendments anti-choice members of congress tried to attach to healthcare reform.” She claimed, “more than 18,000 phone calls” for Planned Parenthood contacted Congress. EVERYONE MUST CONTACT THEIR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS IMMEDIATELY AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS TO THIS PROPOSED HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION.

Divine Intervention

This crisis demands divine intervention. We must pray and fast. Esther’s fast gave a king a sleepless night and the Persian death decree was changed in three days. People across America fasted in some measure for twenty-one (21) days for the vote in Maine. Was God involved in the victory in Maine? With all our hearts we believe the answer is yes. Some reporters in Maine were saying in the last moments that same-sex marriage was upheld, but a “sudden change” took place. If we pray, God could give wavering pro-life Democrats and Republicans a sleepless night or a dream and turn their hearts for LIFE.

Night of Petition

The Bible shouts to us across the ages “we have not because we ask not”. Therefore, on November 6th, we are calling a Friday “Night of Petition” prior to the potential vote on Saturday November 7th. Join Mat Staver, Ron Luce, Tony Perkins, Lou Engle, and other key leaders at 8:00pm EST with thousands of concerned believing citizens for a national prayer conference call to cry out to God for mercy and ask for the restraining of this unrighteous legislation.

Conference Call Dial in number: 218-486-1400 218-486-1400

Participant Pass code: 67107#

Time zones:
8:00pm EST
7:00pm CST
6:00pm MST
5:00pm PST

Lou Engle
The Call, Inc.

65 Questions You've Probably Never Been Asked (From Facebook)

But before I get to that... While I haven't exactly been faithful to update this blog lately, my Preserving a Generation blog rarely misses a beat! Go ahead and CHECK IT OUT!

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
Face

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
tan sweater

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Um.. yeah! And again, and again, and again...

4. Do you plan outfits?
You mean, BEFORE I'm already late for whatever event I'm going to?

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Intrigued

6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red?
coctail ring

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
The one that springs to mind was about how most of the major christian leaders are UTTERLY ignoring the CRISIS number of children needing to be adopted and cared for AND God's very clear mandate to do so! The result in the dream was that the children died, and did NOT get saved... thus implying that by NOT CARING FOR THE ORPHAN (again, as VERY clearly mandated in scripture), many of them will go to Hell.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
Not yet.

9. What are you craving right now?
nope, full.

10. Do you floss?
yep, but then have to brush again.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
green & purple

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Golleee! Wouldn't biting it hurt YOUR teeth?? LICK.

15. Do you like your hair?
Post 2 pregnancies: its curly. FUN!

16. Do you like yourself?
Yeah. Why not? (before God did MAJOR things with my heart, I hated myself though)

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Sure. Unless I would be in eminent danger, I would love to a chance to get to know anyone!

18. What are you listening to right now?
Link & his friend playing with the puppy

19. Are your parents strict?
YES, they were, but I am very grateful!

20. Would you go sky diving?
Maybe. - not while my kids are so little, though

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
its okay

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
depends on who you count as celebrity. Misty Edwards is about the biggest in my eyes, and yes.

23. Do you rent movies often?
rent- when checking them out from the library is FREE???

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
my wedding ring! and a bracelet

25. How many countries have you visited?
i'm thinking 4?

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
yeah.. in 6th grade

27. Ever been on a train?
yep

28. Brown or white eggs?
don't care

29. Do you have a cell phone?
only

30. Do you use chap stick?
no, nuetregena lip gloss is WAY more moisturizing than any chap stick I've ever used... and I've used a lot!

31. Do you own a gun?
water

32. Can you use chop sticks?
yeah

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
who ever shows up at church

34. Are you too forgiving?
can you really be TOO forgiving??

35. Ever been in love?
many times over if you count husband, children, friends... and how many times I've fallen in love with my Savior

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
prophetically mothering, interceding & being an amazing wife (Christy)/ encountering God & introducing Him to everyone she meets (Carrie)

37. Ever have cream puffs?
yep - and they're the best when dipped in warm chocolate!

38. Last time you cried?
last time I begged God to do what He said and turn the hearts of the fathers toward the hearts of the children & raise up Godly parents to adopt these hurting little ones!! (that would be daily)

39. What was the last question you asked?
Where the "IHOP friendly" churches are that she knows of in my state - @Tracie Loux

40. Favorite time of the year?
um- is "all of them" an appropriate answer?

41. Do you have any tattoos?
nope. nose ring, though

42. Are you sarcastic?
sometimes, but only my mom and a couple of good friends recognize it and think I'm funny

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
i think.. maybe pieces of it? wasn't impressed.

44. Ever walked into a wall?
sadly, often

45. Favorite color?
green or red (they have to be the right shades on the right objects though)

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
yes.

47. Is your hair curly?
before children? stick straight. curlier with each pregnancy though...

48. What was the last CD you bought?
uh? you mean album on itunes? Cory Asbury's "Let Me See Your Eyes"

49. Do looks matter?
I haven't met a person that wasn't beautiful in some way.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
yeah.. after forgiving though... then what?

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
no, its exactly what it should be

52. Do you like your life right now?
heck ya!!

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
the TV comes on?

54. Can you handle the truth?
yes, and I expect it.

55. Do you have good vision?
sure - just not if i'm looking far away.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
no

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
as often as i need to.

58. The last person you held hands with?
Zack

59. What are you wearing?
gouchos & a tshirt

60.What is your favorite animal?
probably an iguana


61. Where was your default picture taken at?
blogger - bathroom, facebook - dining room, everything else - Bodega Bay, CA

62. Can you hula hoop?
for a little while

63. Do you have a job?
several

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
spray paint

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?yes!!!

Flying with Kids

A few tips learned while flying (alone) with young children:

(While its still fresh on my mind... just got home this morning, at 1:30am)

- Pack snacks, some fun & some with protein

- Take EMPTY sippy cups

- Put all metal objects they (and you) would normally wear (jewelry, watches, belts, etc..) in one of the carry ons. Let them put objects on AFTER going through security... Same with jackets.

- Go through security at YOUR pace. You can only do so much. After all, a mom and two children is THREE people... not just one with a lot to do.

- DON'T sit and wait calmly at the gate for your plane to arrive! This is the perfect time to find an empy row (or gate, or spot) and have the children race to see who can do 20 jumping jacks first, run in place, spin, stand on one foot, etc. The other waiting passengers may give you strange looks now, but they will be exceedingly greatful when your children are happily sitting still for the 3+ hours on a plane!

- Bring entertainment: coloring, small quiet toys, a game, soccer ball (for those empty spaces at the gate), homework, game boys, etc...

- Bring favorite sleepy toy (teddy bear) and blanket - those planes get cold & these give extra comfort.... and help with naps! :)

- 15 minutes before bording time is not the time to stand in line. Its time for a bathroom break! Avoiding using the plane bathroom is a good, good thing.

- Unless you can find a family bathroom, go a head and use the handicap stall. Its not worth the risk of something happening to your children because you can't get right to them. Not to mention the speed of having everyone close together taking turns with the toilet. (And, it is perfectly acceptable to keep taking your boy with you in the ladies' room even after he turns 4 or 5 or in my case 6!

- As soon as you get through security, buy the biggest bottle of water you can find and fill up those sippy cups.

- Offer snacks and drinks as plan is taxiing to take off. (Swallowing will help with the ear pressure as you take off & and again while landing.)

- You might want to prepare your children for the differences in people that they will see & hear... so they don't giggle and point it out loudly like mine! "Look! Look at the little adult!" -The man, just a head taller than my six year old was standing directly behind us in line. Keylor wasn't making fun - she was delighted... but still, the incident was embarassing. Thankfully, the gentleman was wonderful and just laughed & talked to the kids!

- Explain, explain, explain. Children do MUCH better (in any circumstance) when they know what to expect and what you expect of them. Be matter of fact, answer questions and keep your cool. Kids look to us and take their emotional cues from us. If you show you are scared or insecure - they will act that way. If you remain calm and smiling - so they will be... mostly. ;)

- Understand that traveling is hard on them. Give grace for yucky behavior, reminding them gently of what you expect, while maintaining consitancy with discipline when needed.

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- Don't forget coffee & entertainment for mom!

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- If child is congested in the least, bring out the sudafed! Take off and landing pressure is miserable (and instant screaming kid recipe) when you already have a stuffy nose!

And last, but not least:

- DO NOT get on the plane as soon as possible. I don't know who came up with the "parents with young children bording first" idea, but I'm guessing it was NOT a parent of young children! Wait until they do final bording for all passengers, then get in the end of the line. You will have plenty of time to find your seats and get settled... and your children have that much less time on the plane to be bored!

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Having flown with babies when they were 8 & 10 months, respectively (only one at a time though) and small children at ages 3,4,5 &6 (two at a time) - I can tell you these things work. We have experienced scary plane rides, major delays in schedule and other things. My kids still love to travel... and even more remarkably: so do I!

SWEET CD! (just a little promo)

EXCELLENT.

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Find it at itunes, IHOP or check out his myspace page.

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Watch Cory share his thoughts: