What are your thoughts on the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon? Here is an article from the Huffington Post to describe it for you are in the dark.
Personally, I think it is Creepy (yes, with a capital “C”). I have had an elf doll since I was a little girl and I don’t even put it out at Christmas any more!
Whatcha think of that?
Blessings, gail
I am feeling the need for a break. Happily, the College of Prayer is conducting a module this week in a church not so far away.
What is the College of Prayer? I can’t explain it. Oh, how I wish I could but it is more of an experience than a pen to paper, lecture time.Their home page states: “We’re here to train those who want to get back to the basics of where a vibrant Christian life filled with the presence of Christ starts. We’re here to mentor those who are working too hard, and praying too little. We’re here to equip those who desire tools to further their intimacy with the living God. All of this starts with a simple, but honest plea … “Lord, teach us to pray!” (Luke 11:1)
When I am feeling drained, it means I need to spend more time in prayer; in God’s holy presence. The College of Prayer states that it is for leaders but all are welcome. We will all, if we want to grow in Christ and in His Spirit, lead someone in some way.
Take a look and see if they have a campus by you. I promise you won’t regret it.
Blessings, gail
In this age of E-Readers, there is nothing, and I mean nothing like holding a paper and binding book.
Truth be told, I am still a bit electronically challenged. I have had a tablet for a couple of years and haven’t begun to understand all it might have to offer. Loading books is easy but just doesn’t cut it for a cozy sit down. Oh, and it has to be charged! Not my paper and glue copies.
The love of reading is a legacy in my family. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom with her nose in a book. She gifted me with a membership in Reader’s Digest Books for Young Readers. Jane Eyre was a favorite by the time I was around nine. Had I tried to read the unabridged version at that age I probably wouldn’t have gotten through it.
Hardcover, paperback, e-book, magazine, cereal box, thrillers, mysteries, textbooks, anime….what is your favorite reading material?
Blessings, g
Of course! Autism is part of our regular life as our ten year old granddaughter is autistic. We spend time with her nearly every day.
You will hear a lot of talk of “lighting it up blue for autism awareness.” May I ask that you don’t? Light it up blue, that is.
You see, this campaign was started by a group called Autism Speaks. The problem with this group is that it does not speak for our girl nor does it speak for autistics in general. The blue is representative of the fact that the majority of the people with autism are male. My girls prefers pink.
Notice I did not say “children” with autism. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. Autism Speaks doesn’t speak to that.
Also, Autism Speaks wants to “cure” autism. Have they ever asked adult autistics if they want to be cured? Where does their voice come in?
Jess over at A Diary of a Mom explains this so much better than I can. This blog post speaks specifically to the reasons why Autism Speaks no longer speaks for us.
Why don’t we light it up purple? Doesn’t blue plus pink = purple?
Blessings, gail
Xenophobia, intense dislike or fear of people from other countries, seems to be growing in the United States.
Our southern borders are porous. Deported criminals keep returning to commit more crimes. Citizens on the Texas border are disappearing without being heard from again. Some groups are entering quietly and doing who knows what…
It is said that “good fences make for good neighbors.” What do you think?
I learned today that cursive is no longer going to be taught in our schools. Thank you very much, common core…not.
Cursive is an art. It brings connection of thoughts. Without it, one will never be able to read the writings of the founding fathers, grandma and grandpa’s love letters, Mom’s recipes, and so much more I am not able to think of right now.
Common core has some good points to it but it is going too far too fast. My niece is a teacher. When she and her fifth grade teaching colleagues took the practice tests, they each came up with different answers to the math questions. Oh, by the way, my niece is certified to teach math.
I still have four and a half hours to finish the challenge. Ugh. It wasn’t until today that I realized I had written two “U” posts!
Yup, once again, I am under the wire in finishing this A to Z challenge. Hey, I was doing well until I got sick!
Even in college, I was a last minute person. I planned out a paper in my mind before I wrote it out. I have read that this is one of two kinds of people. The other takes their time, writing it out as they go along with a lot of time to amend and correct. I already amended and corrected in my mind.
One area that I have changed in this last year is in preparing for my small group. Being a leader, it would be unfair to the people I am mentoring and discipling to cheap out on my preparation time.
It is true that people who teach learn as much if not more than those they teach. Good stuff, eh?
No matter how old I get I still can not believe the indecency of humans against other humans.
Bad things happen. They have been happening since Cain killed Abel. In what world does injustice make it right to hurt innocent bystanders? To steal from your community? To stop first responders from putting out fires?
When I went to Costco today, I wondered if I would be safe. No, I am nowhere near any of the rioting and demonstrating going on around the country. But maybe it is just a matter of time. What else can you expect from a country that has murdered over fifty-six million innocents in the name of convenience.
As was mentioned by a friend of mine, if things don’t change fast, it is going to be a long hot summer in the United States. God help us all.
gail's Great Atlantic Northeast 