I’ve come across some links I don’t want to forget about and you might want these too.

Borders “Double Dog Dare” summer reading program for kids. Print out the form found at that link, list the 10 books (any books) your child has read and fill out the form. Take it to Borders so your child can pick out a FREE book!  There are 10 titles to choose from I’m planning to do this for my oldest.

Pizza Huts’ Book-It Reading program. Since I am planning to homeschool my soon to be First Grader in the fall I was able to enroll him in the program.  The kit is shipped in September and covers 6 months of the new school year. If you’re child is enrolling in online school or going to another school environment you might not be able to enroll your child. The school itself may have to do the enrolling. Some Pizza Huts in Canada and Puerto Rico do offer this program as well. Click here to find out about the Summer Reading Program that will give kids a chance to win a prize and some other fun stuff like printables and more!

Are you a homeschooler or just want to do some fun educational activities with your children this summer? You have to know about CurrClick! I love this site! They offer very affordable and many free notebooking/lapbooking type studies that you buy online and download to your computer. Then you can print what you want to use. You might be able to buy some hard copies but you can explore the sight for more info. I’ve scooped up many many free studies and bought some affordable ones too

And for more Homeschooling resources click here!

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We were just friends among friends in the singles group at church in the late 90′s. A bunch of us living in Stark/Summit County, driving south to Tuscarawas County to go to church where discipleship and awesome biblical teaching was happening. It was worth the 30+ minute drive 2-3 times a week. A bunch of us became friends, connected by our church and our geographic locale. We hung out together, carpooling to church together,  some of us dated each other…and a bunch of us married each other! Joel and I were one of those couples.  We tied the knot 8 years ago! Happy anniversary, babe! I love you

When I was pregnant with Brendan I received a really nice book as a baby shower gift. God’s Little Devotional Book for Moms by Honor Books, Inc. (Thanks Mary Clare ). Lately I’ve been reading the short inspirational stories in it and came across one that I just decided to make as my Top 10 Tuesday post.

I really believe that praying in detail for our children, husbands and others is vital in life. Vital to “their” lives, yes, but prayer changes the one doing the praying also.  This particular short story I read gave 10 points we should consider praying about for our children.  I didn’t realize there were 10 things until I wrote them out  (they weren’t numbered).  I’ll  share the list with you here in black font and the tweaking I gave them in blue.

Ways to pray for your children:

1- For their physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

2- An abiding sense of safety and security. Hedge of protection from all harm.

3- Courage to face the problems of each day.

4- A calm spirit to hear the voice of the Lord.

5- A willingness to obey. To obey God, us-their parents and authority in general.

6- A clear mind, both to learn and to recall.

8- Wise teachers, mentors and counselors.

9- Unshakable self-worth and personal dignity.

10- Eternal salvation and a home in heaven one day. Being saved IS eternal (though it starts immediately here on earth) and automatically includes a home in heaven- they are unseparable! We are a new creature in Christ right away    Are you saved?

Look for more Top Tuesday posts at www.OhAmanda.com

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I’m just polling around (or is it called trolling around) for some advice. I like to see the view from other people’s eyes and I believe it can help make better decisions at times. So here goes.

Do you send out birthday cards to everyone in your family and that of your spouses, if you are married?

Doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? Well, just on my side of the family I have 8 siblings, 7 in-laws, about 20 nieces and nephews, a husband, 2 kids and my grandma.  My husband’s side is much smaller.  I didn’t start to do cards for everyone till I got married almost 8 years ago and the card-doing ended sometime after I had my first child. It was just a burden at that point- not to mention an expense for cards, stamps and time. I think I felt pressure too with trying to keep up with who’s birthday was next and would I be late? I even tried making my own cards- it was soon after that trial that I quit.

My feelings are that I don’t want to give some cards and not others. Like the smaller family and not the larger just because it might be easier to manage or cheaper in the long run. I don’t want to offend anyone that way. I know it would look like I’m playing favorites and I wouldn’t be.

Now- just to be sure I cover this base, back when I did cards for others I did receive some back when it was my birthday. After I stopped doing cards, almost everyone stopped sending me cards too.  Understandable.

My dilemma has nothing to do with me wanting birthday cards for myself or my family actually- but rather its about doing it for others to please them and to meet their expectations. Even at risk of raising my blood pressure over trying to keep up with about 46 birthdays a year. Now if we are going to a birthday party we will take a gift of course.

How would you handle this? I really want your 2 cents or I wouldn’t have poured this out in a public post!

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Well, I need another freezer cooking day to happen at my house. My deep freeze was really getting bare but I did buy some hamburger and chicken on sale recently- and  a few other things. But now I need to cook. Problem is I just feel like I hit a wall with ideas.

Your probably thinking,  “goodness, girl- get a cookbook or for pete’s sake search online!”  Okay, fair enough. I have cookbooks and I know how to search online but I’ve learned something about myself. When confronted with a bizillion choices, I feel like the deer staring at headlights and I just kinda freeze up. I also don’t like to read a bizillion words and try to process them into pictures in my mind. And then there are the questions…”will my family like this? Whats that? Hmmm, wonder what they tastes like?” Ugh.

Meat, cheese, pasta, bread, …vegies, fruit.

Picky eaters.

So, I’m on the hunt for some new twists on the old standbys.  My husband and boys do not care much for the majority of vegetables it seems but I want them to eat healthier. The boys are almost 4 & 6 yrs old.  What would you suggest?

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In honor of  this time of celebrating the truth that Jesus Christ (God in flesh) died for my sins and yours and rose again triumphing over sin and death I want to share some freebies.

* Do you know for sure where you will go when you die? Statistics show that 10 out of 10 people will die. You owe it to yourself to know the facts. Afterall, you spend a lot of time “knowing” other things, right? You can request your free copy of Mark Cahill’s book One Heart Beat Away delivered to your home. (I got mine awhile ago.)  Request your copy here or read for more info www.OneHeartBeatAway.org .

* Get  the free book Jungle Pilot delivered to your home, the story about Nate Saint, one of the missionaries to the Auca’s killed while trying to reach them. Click here to request your copy (I’m waiting on my to arrive now) www.MAF.org *Note- the page is being updated now so you may have to check back to request it!

* Want free real, sound biblical Bible studies to listen to online and print notes for? I mean the “good stuff” here folks. Check out what FBCJ.com has to offer at their website!  To go directly to their Mp3′s and messages click HERE.

* Are you good enough for heaven? Take the Good Test HERE.

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Thank you to my sponsors! I know some of them will not be continuing on with me, some will and I’m adding new ones   I still have a couple openings if you have a family friendly business and are looking. See my About & Ads page for more info.

Tiny Dimples,  Work At Home United/Brandy,  Kirsten’s Tupperware,  DIY Design Shoppe,  Melody’s Watkins.