start your Thursday with some Joy to the World!
via John Emery
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repost: Matthew’s Begats
This past Sunday as RCC began its new Christmas series, I was reminded of this fun video we put together a few years back…
more about “Matthew’s Begats on Vimeo“, posted with vodpod
friday on my mind…
these are a few of the things that are on my mind this friday…
- I had to have a root canal on Thursday. not too bad but I’m not anxious to do that again anytime soon!
- it was fun to see so many people check out A Few Things I Like this week. Just a fun site I started during November.
- I’m excited that Front Porch Creative is working on some projects with Inner City Mission and Rochester Christian Church.
- maybe it’s me, but the Subway commercials with the office workers with kids voices is just weird.
- Ethan, one of our 4 year olds, is in love with the Christmas lights. He gets more excited with each home in our neighborhood that is decked out.
- started our Advent countdown with the kids that includes a devotional time and then the Playmobil Advent Calendar.
- Christmas music is in full-swing in my iTunes. Enjoying Amy Petty and She & Him. Still need to get Hillsong Christmas. What’s on your Christmas playlist?
Like this:
ways to give back this Christmas
There are a lot of opportunities out there to help others during the Christmas season. But if you’re looking for some unique opportunities, check out these organizations & opportunities…
- Coal for Christmas - a local ministry here in our area, In His Hands Orphans Outreach is partnering with a local radio station to provide coal to heat orphanages. A gift of $15 provides coal to warm an orphanage of 100 children in China for an hour.
- Eat Art – Eat Art is a collection of photographers, painters and designers committed to artfully ending hunger. Purchasing one 5″x7″ image feeds one child for a month. Check out the amazing artwork and apparel that all make great gifts for your friends and family.
- Project 7 – Project 7 offers a variety of goods that make great stocking stuffers. For every purchase of a Project 7 product, some good is done in seven areas of need – Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, Quench the Thirsty, Teach them Well and Save the Earth.
- Bloodwater Mission – Build a solid foundation in Africa by gifting a bag of cement. Bloodwater Mission helps provide clean water to communities in sub-Saharan Africa. A $25 bag of cement is the main component for most of their projects. Their goal is 4800 bags of cement by Christmas.
- Gifts of Compassion - Give a goat or a mosquito net or building materials this Christmas. Your gift to Compassion International will help provide clean drinking water, medical treatment, disaster relief, food supplies and much more for Compassion-assisted children and their families.
Is there an organization that you are supporting this Christmas season? Share a link below in the comments.
advent collection
I love the series of images that The Orchard Community is using for their Christmas series this year. Here is a sampling.
via Scott Hodge.
what have you seen that inspires you this Advent?
the last day of November
it’s the end of November.
and with it, we are two years in with Aubrey and her type 1 diabetes diagnosis. six months for her older brother, Colin.
I know more about T1 that I ever dreamed I would. two of my children have an illness I knew very little about. it’s definitely been a learning experience.
each day is a new adventure. we learn more. we make adjustments. and we help them live as close to a normal life as possible.
I can say that I am so proud of both of them. they are rock stars. they each handle this disease with incredible bravery.
they say we are closer each day to a cure. and with that I am hopeful. and prayerful. for my two kiddos…and the many others out there that live with T1 each and every moment of their days.
this is the last post for diabetes awareness month. to learn more about type 1 diabetes and how you can help find a cure, visit JDRF.
A Few Things I Like
I like stuff. I’m always reading about the latest gadgets, technology, music, books and lots of other random things. Often I tell Lynda about the latest thing out there…she politely shows some interest, but I know she doesn’t share my excitement.
Most of these things I never get to buy…mainly because I’m not made of money and I’ve got 4 kids!
Others I’m able to buy over time and use regularly. And I love sharing my new finds with my friends.
So last month I began a new blog called A Few Things I Like. It’s a collection of the things I’m using as well as the things I’m reading about that interest me. And you’re my friends…so I’m sharing it with you.
Take a peek. Bookmark it. And please share with the nerdy people like me you have in your life.
And who knows, you may find a great Christmas gift for someone special on your list!
giving thanks 2011
another thanksgiving. and I have so many things to be thankful for. some are big, some are small, most are random! so here’s a list of some of the things that cause me to give thanks this year…in no particular order of course.
- date nights
- paying-off a vehicle
- Converse All-Stars
- summer vacations
- Chipotle burrito bowls
- old friendships
- Sharpie Ultra-Fine Tip markers
- babysitters
- finishing a book
- Disneyworld resort
- pellet ice
- Christmas music
- getting the Christmas decorations out with the kids
- the iPhone
- the iPad
- the Apple Store
- dinner alone with Lynda
- good graphic design
- Sonic’s 1/2 price drinks happy hour
- big cities
- singing harmony
- God’s grace
- the beach
- Sixlets candy
- did I mention nights out with my wife?!
- faith
- flying, rather than driving
- 4 kids that make me laugh…most of the time!
- dinner out with good friends and lots of laughter
- Jimmy John’s subs
- a long soak in the hot tub under the stars
- dancing with my kids
- laughing out loud at stupid tv shows
- concerts
- snow days
- naps
- my gracious wife
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Cure Apparel
I’ve been searching for some interesting graphic designs with a diabetes theme – they’re hard to come by.
But I did stumble across Cure Apparel. They make some great tees to promote awareness of diabetes and the need for a cure
those little strips
i find them everywhere.
on the bathroom floor.
on the kitchen floor.
a lone one sits on the dresser.
under the cushions of the couch.
and under the cushions of the love seat.
in the car.
out in the yard when I’m moving the lawn.
and most times when I find one or two or several of them together, I’m annoyed.
annoyed that the kids didn’t throw them in the trash.
but really I’m more annoyed that my kids have to use these strips multiple times each day.
all because of diabetes.
the finger pokes, the tests, the highs, the lows, the injection.
and that little strip reminds me each time I find it what my kids deal with each day.
then, I remember.
without that strip, we’d have no idea how high or low their blood sugar is.
we’d have no way to know the best amount of insulin to give them to help control their diabetes.
and I’m thankful.
thankful for those annoying little strips.
and for the hope we have that with them (and with the use of carb counting and insulin too!), my kids are able to manage this disease.
so I guess I don’t mind finding those little strips all over the house.
but would it be too much to ask for them to throw them in the trash can every once in a while?!
* November is Diabetes Awareness Month. I’m taking several posts this month to highlight and bring attention to diabetes and the need for a cure.
