"Batteries Not Included"

Am I an old fogey for thinking kids can play with toys that don't need batteries and TV screens to function? I know, it's "old fashioned", but I think baseballs and soccer balls and tops and little red wagons and hosts of other items (even Monopoly and Yahtzee) are still fun to use and require more imagination and ingenuity. Of course, I may be wrong. Let me know.

Twenty Tons

A city in Florida is importing twenty tons of snow for its Christmas parade and celebration. Where does the snow come from, and how do they do this? Do you suppose there are tractor trailers even now being loaded with snow from Montana to be rushed to Florida by December 6? They must be refrigerated trucks, otherwise the load would be lost along the way through the still-warm southland. Or do they have enough ice rinks in the Florida environs, so all they have to do is scrape up the shavings from the ice cleaner-offer? (Yeah, there's a technical term for that vehicle, but the word escapes me at this particular moment.)
Anyway, I wish the little Floridians well as they freeze their hands and possibly feet on an otherwise warm Sunday afternoon in December!
(PS....the word for which I was seeking is "zamboni".)

It was What?

Dates mean little to me, apparently. Yesterday was Friday, the 13th, and I didn't even notice it until afternoon. (And, yes, I was out of bed before then.)
As usual, there was no "unlucky" event that occurred. Except that the money counter we got at Goodwill did not work, so Norma and I had to count all the "baby bottle" money by hand. But we had sort of expected to do that anyway.
We got over $100 for the Carenet organization that is the only Christian pregnancy counseling center north of Syracuse. The money was collected in baby bottles throughout the month. There were $15 worth of pennies! And, believe me, that's a LOT of pennies!

Holiday Challenge

The wife/mother/helpmeet is always looking for ways to give to others.
When money is tight, the challenge is to make beautiful things that can be given or sold to make money to buy gifts. It is fun, even though sometimes phyiscally or emotionally exhausting. I have a friend who is making doll clothes so she can buy other toys for her male children. I have another who is creating very special items for many on her giving list. I like to use yarn and a crochet hook to make "soft presents" for children and ladies. It's a lot more difficult to give to men, who seem to prefer "hard" presents that I cannot construct. Those gifts require money. So, we make do with the others in order to give to all.
Thank God for showing us the way to give!

Roadside....

We have seen this in times past, but it always surprises us. Go to www.crossusa.org to see the structure to which I am referring.
Most inspirational.

"Billy The Kid"

In New Mexico, I got a book called "The Modern Daf Billy 'The Kid'". It's by William Bilderback, and it's for kids. I asked the author why he wrote the book, and he said, "Well, I have grandchildren" I think that's a pretty good reason. The sub-title is "The 10-10-10 Lesson". It gives the author's philosophy of money and how it should be treated. The story deals with Billy and how his grandfather advises him to use his money, by putting 10% in long-term savings, 10% in savings for a particular goal, and 10% to be given away. I remember when I was a child, my mother tried to instill similar practices in me. She even supplied different envelopes in which I could appportion my $1-a-week allowance. (Yes, that was a loong time ago!) I still make sure to do the 10% giveaway,usually to my church, but also to other organizations or causes. After all, it's biblical. Malachi 3:10

Operation Christmas Child

My grand-children and I (and their Mom) purchased and filled three boxes to be given to needy children in other parts of the world. They each decided whether to give a box to a boy or a girl. As expected, they each chose their own sex and age for the recipient. They picked out toys and personal items that they would like. It was really fun to see their choices, and to try and fit everything into a shoe box. I think we did a good job, and we will pray that the children who receive the boxes will enjoy them. (I sure hope the little 5-9 year-old girl who receives Lydia's box has long hair, because she supplied at least 4 different hair clips or holders.)
The kids are each sending a picture of themselves and writing something about their own lives. Tim's picture shows him with a long stick and he describes the hike he went on. Nick's picture is of him fishing. We will hope that communication is received and responded to. Even if there is no response, we know the kids who get the boxes will feel the love from the United States.