Help Fight Poverty...At Home and Abroad!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Compassion International

Okay, I know what I'm about to say may seem like a little thing to you, but it's big to me ! Blogging is supposed to be an extension of your life, and to me that is exactly true. I blog about things that important to me. And, I try not to allow things to be important to me if they are not important to God. I want everything that I do to be a ministry - from homeshooling, to Good News Mission and BCM International, to my homeschool reviews, to my family, to Compassion International. It's all a ministry and it's all connected and entwined. That's why it is so hard for me to pick a Topic for each one of my blog entries. Sometimes just one topic isn't enough. I want my post to cover three or four topics.

This post is no different. Although this is a clip put out by Compassion International, it's theme, Poverty, covers so many other areas of my life. Sarah and I work with folks that are in poverty every day. We see it at home through our ministry and we see it abroad through BCM International and Compassion International. So, this clip is much more than a Compassion International clip to me. It covers so much of who I am and what my family believes in and stands for.

This short movie talks about being a Hero to others by sponsoring a Compassion child in another country. Although I would love it if you would get involved with Compassion, I would love it even more if you just got involved! Be a hero where you are and get involved fighting poverty. Volunteer with your local mission. Help in your area soup kitchen. Visit someone in need. You don't have to give to BCM or Compassion or Good News Mission...just give! Give of your time and money to the organization of your choice, but just do it. Don't turn a blind eye to those in need anymore. Step out of you comfort zone - financially and time wise. Do it in Jesus name!

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 

 Matthew 25:37-40

 

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How to Beat the Heat and Help a Good Cause While Doing It!
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: Healthy Chronicles

Finally a cool evening to enjoy. Joshua had football practice this evening and it was for once bearable. Unfortunately we know a lot about heat exhaustion and heat stroke. About a year ago John Allen passed out from dehydration while waiting in line at the concession stand at one of Joshua’s football games. I, myself, have suffered from heat stroke before.  Extreme temperatures are nothing to be fooled around with. I have learned that, as a dad, I need to be aware of the signs of a heat related illness and what to do to help my child if I spot one of those signs.

That’s why I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the “Beat the Heat” blog tour sponsored by Gatorade to help spread awareness of heat related illnesses that can occur during this time of year. With school beginning and sports getting back into full swing, kids are spending a lot of time outside practicing for sometimes hours on end. Gatorade began the “Beat the Heat” campaign to help coaches and parents identify signs that a child may be suffering from a heat related illness and what to do about it.

Do you know the signs of possible heat illness? Take a look at the list below. Some of them were new to me:

• Nausea        
• Headache        
• Weakness        
• Fainting        
• Poor concentration        
• Flushed skin       
• Light headedness       
• Loss of muscle coordination        
• Fatigue 
• Vomiting

Would you know what to do if you saw one of these signs?  Do you know what to do to prevent this from even happening? I have found that good hydration is only part of the answer.  Gatorade can help you fully answer these important questions with their downloadable “Gatorade Heat Safety Package”. It includes great information like: 1. The Four Downs of Heat Safety  2. Tips to Hydrate and Fuel for the Football Season  3. Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses  If you are a coach, download it and read the information so that you can prevent heat related illnesses from happening to your players. If you’re a parent, print out a copy to share with the leaders of your child’s team.  All you have to do is click here or on one of the hi-lighted links above to get to the download page. What’s really neat is that for every download Gatorade will donate $1 up to Beat the Heat charities. So, what have you got to lose except for the health of your child? Download it today and make sure that along with having fun this season you’re also keeping safe! 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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The Old Sioux
One evening an old Sioux told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said "My Son, that battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, fear, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith".

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
...
The old Sioux simply replied "The one you feed"

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For All of Those Families With Special Kids
Mood:  not sure
Topic: General

Two Kids on a Merry Go Round. Very thought provoking. I think the same thing can be said for all special needs kids.

 

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And Now It's My Turn to Present An Award!
Mood:  happy
Topic: General

As I've mentioned in a couple of posts this past week, I have been blessed by a couple of my fellow bloggers with two blog awards. They each come with a few things that go along with the acceptance of the award. The first award that I'm going to focus on is the "Sunshine Award" given to me from a great blogging friend Sheri from Homeschooling on Wing and a Prayer. Sheri actually maintains three or four different blogs and does a great job with each. I don't know how she gets it all done. Anyway, Sheri obviously hasn't seen me lately. Sarah says I have been anything but Sunshiny. In fact, she says that I've been downright grouchy! Oh well. Thanks for thinking of me Sheri! Please click on the link above to Sheri's blog and pay her a visit. You won't be disappointed.

 

Criteria Number 1 - I have to tell you seven unusual things about myself. Okay, here goes.

     ~I play a half dozen different musical instruments. Unfortunately none of them very well.

     ~I spent four years of my younger life in Peru, IN - Circus City. It just happens to be a railroad town where many a circus had their winter headquarters. Because of that many circus performers retired there. About 50 years ago, some of the retirees decided that they wanted to start a community circus. It has been going ever since. Only school aged kids perform. It is a big thing with scholarships awarded and everything. I always wanted to be in it, but, alas, we moved away too soon.

     ~I love to act - no, not act up - to act. I have been in a few rather large productions (at least large for our area). I love it, but don't have time to do it as much as I would like.

     ~I am turning 50 this year .

     ~I didn't get married until I was in my early 30's.

     ~My beautiful wife is 10 years younger than me.

     ~I worked at Disney World for 13 years and, for the most part, loved it. No, I didn't play Goofy! I worked in the shops.

The other part of the award is more fun than talking about myself. I get to present it to seven other deserving blogger. So, here they are:

     ~The first deserving blogger is Penny, my First Mate from last year. Penny was so helpful last year and has since become a great friend. She has a daughter who is autistic and is a wealth of information on autism. Please visit her site, Not New to Autism and tell her I said hello!

     ~On the homeschool crew we have two fearless leaders. Both of them work tirelessly and many times without thanks. What a lot of folks don't realize is that they have families of their own with children that they homeschool, and they maintain blogs of their own. So, in order to brighten their day, I am giving them both the "Sunshine Award" for all of their hard work. First our Chief - Heidi. Heidi is fantastic and takes a lot on her shoulders. Please visit her blog, Reviews by Heidi, to give her some encouragement.

     ~Second, is Brenda. Brenda does a lot behind the scenes as vendor liaison. She is in charge of scheduling reviews and working with the great companies that send us the products to review. She's having eye surgery this Monday, so encourage her by visiting her blog, Garden of Learning, and pray for her on Monday.

     ~Mrs. White has a fantastic blog that you will want to visit. She was a fellow crew mate last year and is a fellow First Mate this year. She has a lot of great ideas on her blog and a lot of spiritual insight. Please check out her blog, The Legacy of Home.

     ~Out of all of the folks that I know in the blogging world, I have known Merit the longest. We actually went to college together. She has a fantastic blog, Mission Possible, that you won't want to miss. Check it out.

     ~I have know Charity for almost as long as Merit. Charity used to go to the camp that I worked at for over 25 years. She and her husband are hoping to adopt very soon and she has a blog dedicated to that, Hodges Adoption Journey, and another blog where she writes about homeschooling. Please visit her blog and encourage her.

     ~Finally, last but certainly not least, is Matt's blog, entitled Matt's Losing It! Matt was brave enough to join the crew this year so I have another male to commiserate with. It's nice to know that there are other men out there that homeschool and blog about it as well. 

 

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