$200 for Zambia

It seems these days everyone wants our money.  We have to be very selective in whom we choose to donate to.  The Zambia Scholarship Fund helps send children to school and pays the teacher for teaching.  For $25 a month we fund a student's education and $35 pays the teacher.  $200 will buy a sewing machine or woodworking kit to teach vocational skills. 

I decided to raise $200 to help the cause, since I have been contributing for several years.  A yard sale was the result of this motivation earning $150.  Collecting aluminum cans all summer brought in $60.  I am sending a check this week for my part to help this great cause. 

Want to know more?  Go the thezambiascholarship.org for information about this nonprofit originating with Peggy Rogers of Tremonton, Utah.  Order their book, Foreign Flowers, or a video. Share them with friends to get more people helping this good cause by paying it forward.  It feels so good.

Walking Down Memory Lane With These Walls

Every month when we Home Teach at this assisted living center, I admire these wall decorations.   Now why can't I do that? I ask.   The items around the fireplace make for a classy look.  Perhaps I will enlarge the photo enough to cut out these things and hang them above my fireplace.  Yeah!

Between these framed prints are old aprons hung on rod iron hooks.  What a friendly and great reminder of each of my grandmothers kitchens.  They both wore aprons religiously.  I'm sure they felt under dressed without them.  A walk down memory lane for sure. 

Perfectly Poised

Believe it or not, I took this picture.  To me it is or should be in a magazine, on a calendar, or framed.  The setting is rustic.  The early morning lighting is luscious.  The background is amazing.  Everything is perfectly poised, centered and balanced. 

This picture is worth a thousand words.  Need I say more.  Perhaps I will enter it into a contest.   

I Only Hollered When I Had To

 The Orange Rhino blog talks of a young mother that set a goal to go holler free for one year. That is 365 days of hard earned goals, but blessings unmeasured. I look up to any woman that works to better herself.




Did I holler, scream or shout at my children? Yes, some. I don’t do it now. Is that because the stimuli stepped out or my anger has been allocated? Maybe they just grew up, quit making messes, and pushing my hot buttons. Who knows?

My mom hollered and so does one of my daughters. I probably did, too. I try not to now. The result of being hollered at is low self esteem, unsure actions and lack of confidence. Ultimately, we all suffer.  Walk away, count to ten or step outside to blow-up the experts say.  

Think: "I can't do this, but I'm doing it anyways."  The longer we can go between eruptions, the better we become and it feels so good. We can succeed.

Spending Time with Siblings

Some people pack gum, cash, goodies but I pack a camera.  It really comes in handy when all the siblings are together, which doesn't happen very often.  Snapping a moment in time to enjoy years later.  The posterity likes to reminisce about the good ole days, asking, "What year was that?' or "How old were they?"  "Who is the oldest?" 

We are actually lined up according to age starting with Sandy, Jim, me, Paula and Julie.  Nile passed away in 2000.  I'm happy to say we all get along great and hope to always.  Love you all, family. 

Leap of Faith

We are thinking of down-sizing or other sizing in the near future.  Maybe not quite this small or temporary.  It certainly would make life alot simpler.  Okay, this is really considered homeless, but always a possibility.   Utilities would be nonexistant saving at least $300 per month. 

Shared bathrooms might be a bit uncomfortable.  Allan's snoring would be the least of my worries.  This means I had better get busy dejunking or having that yard sale I have talked about for the past year.  Sprucing up the homestead would be moved to the top of the list. 

We better get busy NOW while the market is good!!