The Referral Estimator

If you have not visited the adoption blog Wren’s Story you owe it to yourself to do so. I have been following this inventive and fun loving couple for some time now. In fact, if you are a reader of Rumor Queen you have seen some of Dave’s work he graciously provided to the RQ.

Dave’s little piece of work, The Estimator, is a super tool that estimates referral dates and provides a way for you to make an estimate of your future referral date with an added kick of providing for different variables. You have to check it out. You’ll find the Estimator on the top left side of their blog.

And while you’re at their blogsite, check out Dave’s travel page and by all means take a listen to their “oral history” that chronicles their adoption journey. Way unique.

Managing Money – Bible Perspective

 

Since completing a Crown Financial small group study a few years back, we have stayed active in its principles by leading the study in our local church. Below is a bit of information about the Crown Financial 10 week bible study.

From the Crown.org web site:
Crown Financial Ministries is an interdenominational ministry that uses a remarkably effective Small Group Bible Study to train adults to practically apply the financial principles from God’s Word.
Most Christians have been taught only God’s principles of handling 10 percent of their income the area of giving. Although this is crucial, they do not understand the Lord’s perspective on handling the other 90 percent.

The class does have weekly homework which includes one Bible verse to memorize each week. These verses will give you an idea about the class study for that particular week. It is by far the most favorite small group study we have taken and we would highly recommend the material to any church.

Here’s are the ten weekly verses each new group memorizes:

1. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
Luke 16:11

2. Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength.
1 Chronicles 29:11-12

3. Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7

4. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
Proverbs 12:15

5. You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.
Leviticus 19:11

6. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:3

7. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23-24

8. Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.
Proverbs 21:5

9. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I know how to live in prosperity. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:11-13

10. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul.
Mark 8:36

Once again, this is a great class for adults of all ages to learn the Bible perspective on handling His money. The class can have an especially significant impact on young adults and families just starting out. In this world of credit cards, large debt from student loans, cars and other expensive toys, the class really gets the discussions flowing. Crown also offers material for younger students which we have yet to be involved with.

We continue to really enjoy the fellowship that these classes naturally encourage. We recently completed leading another class, this time at a neighboring local United Methodist church in our area. Here’s a picture of the church leaders and students we had the pleasure of leading in this class.

Congratulation to our newest Crown Graduates!!!

Book Reading – The Heritage

I finished reading the book “The Heritage” by Frances Parkinson Keyes (1968). I found this book in my Grandmother’s house attic during a recent trip to Maine and it seemed interesting.

This author has written many books (over 40). This one peaked my interest as the book jacket review stated it was about a young Irish-American who is heir apparent to an estate in Ireland, romantic and suspenseful, set in a turbulent land around the 1880’s. From my Dad’s genealogy research, we have alot of Irish in us.

The book jacket also had a print of a young couple looking over a pond with swans. Now if you have read our posts about “our” swans you’ll know why I decided to pick up this book.

It isn’t a Jane Austen book but has some of the same social status issues from that era. Not half as good as Pride and Prejudice; just an enjoyable story.

Showing you around the House – BPOH

Shannon and several bloggers are doing a pictorial of their homes. Check her blog for all the links to who is participating (her August 18th message). Can you tell we are trying to think up things to keep our minds off this very long wait? Hope you enjoy the Bloggers Parade of Homes (BPOH)!

I didn’t exactly start when the others did so will put up two pictures: one of the foyer/entrance into the house and the dining room.

This picture is of the entrance to our home. We have a covered porch (about 12 feet wide)that has a metal railing on the sides. Once you enter our home, through the front door that has identical side lights (windows/glass), you step onto a braided rug made by my grandmother, E-E.

As you walk into the house, on your right side, there is a hall closet for coats (not needed here in Florida, so all our winter coats hang there unused through most of the year) and a stack of firkins. On top of the firkins is a topiary tree with fruits that was made by friend LR (her hubby is the person who came up with our second name in case we get offered twins!). We also have a mirror on the wall (from my M and D).

The only really weird thing in our foyer is the silver/metal ball in the corner (in the picture on your left). At work there is a pulverizer that crushes limestone for one of the environmental processes. There are hundreds of balls in the pulverizer which wear so are periodically changed and thrown away. Great work souvenir (from about 15 years ago)! We use it as a door stop.

BPOH – House Picture – Dining Room

Here’s the dining room picture; continuing the Bloggers’ Parade of Homes…..
Several notables:
Starting from the left of the picture, we have two family pictures on the wall, then comes the china closet. The dining room set could be purchased with a larger china closet but I chose this smaller one as the dining area in our home is only 9.5 feet by 9.5 feet. Can you believe such a small area?

The china closet houses my Grammie’s china. This is the china set that Lizzy will inherit. Also, you can see some vegetable bowls on the table in the same pattern I bought on eBay recently.

On the next wall, you can barely see the cup and saucer holders. I have collected depression glassware since I can remember (I think cats, stamps and old fans came first before I started collecting glassware) so when I married DH, we agreed to buy one cup and saucer in every depression glass pattern. We haven’t accomplished that yet, so have our collection of 25 on the dining room wall.

So that’s the BPOH house tour so far!

Grand-Daughter Alivia

Here’s some August 2006 pictures. She’s growing and growing….
We may need a separate blog just for Alivia and Kilee.

Here’s some of Alivia’s latest expressions!!

Sweet Alivia

Happy Wedding Anniversary!!!!

My parents are celebrating their 51st Anniversary. We had a good time in Maine last year hosting a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party (which was also our 20th).
Every year my Dad scours the countryside looking for gladiolus. Every year for 50 years he has presented Mom with a mass of glads for their anniversary.

Every time I see glads, I think of their long lasting marriage and have to buy some! Here’s mine in honor of M&D.

Totally Random Thoughts

Totally Random Thoughts

Johnny’s on a “walkabout”. Taking time to recharge and revive is something we all should do for ourselves. Now, if we would only do it.

Ruby Is Coming is heading off to vacation in Africa with DH. I’d love to slip off with DW to Murren, Switzerland, a few days in Vernazza, Italy and then fly back from Paris after having spent hours exploring through the Louve.

I’m once again making the adjustment to flashing lights alerting me that I’m entering a school zone. SLOW DOWN.

Putting your emotional well being into the latest RQ rumor is akin to planning your day based on a horoscope reading.

We’re entering into “late” summer. How did this happen?

End to a telephone conversation with my son just a few days ago:
Son: “Thanks for taking care of the ***** business for K.”
Me: “That’s what family does for one another.”
Son: “I love you Dad.”
Me: “I love you.”

This is just a glimpse of what many of you have to look forward to. It doesn’t make the Wait any shorter but I hope it reminds you of why it is so worth it.

Is it hotter or do I just think it’s hotter? Reminder to hug my air conditioner.

I wonder if our daughter has been born?

At the risk of scaring away a faithful reader to the blog from Scott City, I keep hoping you’ll leave a comment. You’re like having a visitor from home.

Israel will soon have a new government.

Teachers are underpaid. Have been and always will be. It’s not right. I know what needs to be done to change that but you’ll no more like my answer today than you did some 30 odd years ago.

I miss mom.

Large private company and individual political contributions do not buy privilege. And before I forget; Christmas has been changed to late September.

NPR, Prairie Home Companion & Austin City Limits.

I wish we were in China right now.

You can never have too many random thoughts… Peace.

100th Family – Quilt Squares from Sister M.

100 Hundred different families have sent a quilt square (or more than one) to DH and I. This is so special!!!
We now have 128 different fabrics for the OHGWQ!

I have been waiting on a few more squares to arrive from family. So far I have 26 relatives (family) who have sent to us a total of 33 fabric squares. I never thought back in March that I would have so many!

Here’s two fabrics from my sister. They are lovely with reminders of childhood. One with music notes as we both played instruments growing up and she included music lyrics from two songs: Wind Beneath My Wings and When you wish Upon a Star. She wrote “You are their Star!!”. Yes, Lizzy, you are our shining star even before we knew you.

The other fabric has fans; I collected antique fans while young as my Grandmother E-E gave me my first ones. M. wrote “In Remembrance of Your Great-Grandmother E-E” as she loved the old fans, too.
Thank you DS.

P.S. I have added a few more pictures of quilt squares on the “Lizzy Quilt” Blog (link at right).