CHALLENGE

My mother showed this to me the other day and I made a note of it. I found the note in my purse today and looked it up in google. Give it a try and see how many you can find. I will give you one so that you see it is not easy.


Can you find thirty (30) books of the Bible in this paragraph? Actually, there are 31 if you can find the variant of one Old Testament prophet's name.


There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus; there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.

Have fun with it and let me know how many you find. I also saw in google when I looked this up that the answers are there, but I didn't look and don't you either!

Blessings,
Pam

PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

I have spent most of the day shooting photos. I did some for our neighbors and they turned out so cute. Then we did ours in downtown Bentonville. The sun was pretty bright so we were squinting alot, but we got a few good ones I thought.

Coco pretending she is falling into the water fountain....

Quite the little poser! What is she doing. I was using a remote control for the camera so I couldn't really see what I was shooting. I am happy with the way it works, makes it super easy to do self photos without running back and forth to the camera.

We roasted hotdogs and made smores with our neighbors this evening, fun and yummy!

I am looking forward to a very short week. I work Mon & Tues then off until next Monday. Hope to get the house all ready for decorating on Friday. Tradition that we always order pizza and put up our tree on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Blessings,

Pam

JUMPED ON THE WAGON

I have seen many posts about these ornament wreaths. I took myself to Walmart and bought a 50 pack of shatterproof ornaments and waaaa lah

i have a new wreath.

Now where am I going to hang it???? Maybe every door in the house will be decked out! Super easy just take a wire clothes hanger, bend it into a circle shape, unwind at the top ( i put on oven mits to bend and shape), thread your ornaments and wind it back together (might need hubby for this step), tie a pretty ribbon at the top and you have yourself a Merry little wreath!

Cost for this $15.00 for the box of 50 ornaments!

Blessings,

Pam

THE BLINDSIDE

I got out of work a little early so I could meet Scott and Coco to watch the movie The Blindside! It is a wonderful movie and I suggest you all go out and see it as soon as you can. Beautiful story and surprisingly humorous. I have to read the book!!!

Next will be NEW MOON!

Have a great weekend

Blessings

Pam

I WENT TO A CONCERT

While shopping at Walmart last weekend I picked up this CD by Sugarland. I absolutely love her voice. She sounds the same when she talks or sings. I didn't notice until I got home but it has a dvd of one of their shows. Sunday afternoon Scott and Coco went to his mom's and I put the cd in while I cleaned and then decided to see what the dvd had on it. It was a hours worth of their live concert. Very fun show. I felt like I was right there. Oh and times have changed they don't wave their lighters in the air anymore, they use glow sticks........ I didn't have any glow sticks..............

Blessings,
Pam

BEFORE AND AFTER

I want a new couch and I am leaning towards something neutral, unlike what I currently have. I have loved this couch and it took me over a year to find it. I am NOT a impulse furniture buyer. It is showing some wears and tears and Scott says we can't buy a new one until Coco learns to stop jumping on it.

Here is old faithful! It has been good for a many a nap.


And here she is with a new slipcover.

I like the chocolate brown cover but after having it on for a few days it is a pain to keep it all tucked in and the fabric shows every little speck of lint. It does hide the piping coming out and the little tear. I went today to buy some giraffe print pillows that I had seen at Kirklands but they didn't have them in the Rogers store so I will have to look elsewhere or I just thought I maybe can find them online.

Enough about the couch. Are you watching BIGGEST LOSER? I felt so bad for Rebecca tonight but she didn't let being sent home stop her. She looks AMAZING. I can relate to wanting to be the person she always wanted to be. Unlike her I want to be the person I used to be. I couldn't gain weight growing up and when I hit 28 years old the pounds slowly started piling on and now I want to lose 80lbs. I wish I had trainers like that here or could afford to pay one. I am going to print off her photos for inspiration. I also found a Biggest Loser book on clearance at Barnes the other day so I am going to delve into it to see what kind of tips I can use! She is going to be on Jay Leno so I am off to watch her.

Blessings,

Pam

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

Okay all the names are in the bowl................



Coco doing the honors..............................

And the winner is 4 SHEPHERDS!

Congratulations, I know your girls are going to love this tradition! You might have to get 50 books so that they each have a set when they leave home......

Now a little sneak peak at my December Daily Christmas Album. These are all the rage in the scrapbooking world beginning with Ali Edwards, I think. Anyhoo, I have wanted to do one every year and just hadn't gotten around to it. I found a regular photo album the other day with a "C" monogrammed on the front and thought this could be my daily album. Here is what I have so far.

Front page of album or title page

Page 1, I can fill each page with journaling and/or photos, lists, thoughts, quotes, etc.

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Each day will be different. My plan is to print my photos each day and document our December. I will be doing 31 days instead of just the 25. That way I will have a record of the entire month of what we doing in 2009!!!!

Blessings,
Pam

WEEKEND RECAP

We had a wonderful and FULL weekend. Coco and I were alone all weekend due to this....

Sunday Scott decided to take his blind out because it was rainy. He had to set it up in the living room first. That thing was much bigger than I thought but he says he needs a bigger one. Good idea for Christmas.

Saturday morning started out at the gym for basketball practice.

After Coco and I both got haircuts we headed to Springdale for the NWA Boutique Sale at the Convention Center. Also to meet up with my sister Tammy Lou and niece Kaylee.

We went to Applebee's to eat before hitting the craft fair. Very good lunch

Thanks Tammy Lou

This is Kaylee and I riding the thingy mijig at the NWA Mall. I can't remember what it was called but it was like we were on this roller coaster. She was the only brave one to do it with me. Lots of fun, BUT I didn't know we were on a TV monitor outside where everyone could watch us. So embarrassing!

I did some work on a couple of crafts that I will show you later. I also did a big switch er roo on my couch too.

GIVEAWAY TOMORROW

Winner will be picked Monday night. Just leave me a comment telling me what your favorite Christmas story is. See post below to comment and enter.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

WALMART AND A GIVEAWAY

Have you been through the craft department in Walmart lately? Our local Walmarts have all taken their fabrics and lots of the crafts out of the stores. I went through it tonight after work and look what I found.

Sewing kits for aprons. I didn't look close enough to see if the patterns were included but it appears that they are.

Fleece and fabric.

Precut squares for quilting.

A tote bag. The front says everything you need to make this.

Now to the GIVEAWAY! In my last post I told you about our new tradition of 25 days of Christmas reading. While out and about this week I found these 2 books below to add to our collection. I also bought extra to giveaway to YOU! The winner can start their own tradition of reading!

Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas story and I will pick a winner on Monday night! Tell all your friends!!!!

Blessings,
Pam

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS READING

I am starting a new tradition for Christmas this year. I am collecting children's Christmas books to read 1 each day in December. This will be a twist on the advent calendar and will get us in the spirit. I have found 10 in my in house stash but I can't remember if I packed any away with my decorations. I bought most of these at the after Christmas sales last year.

The Donkey's Christmas Song
What is Christmas
One Incredible Moment
Christmas Cookies
Santa's Snow Cat
The Night Before Christmas
A Very Handy Holiday
The Nutcracker Ballet
We Believe in Christmas
Christmas Stories Popup
The Legend of the Candy Cane
A Christmas Carol

I am getting excited and want to read them all now. If you know of a book that we would love to add to our collection please let me know.
Blessings,
Pam

BASKETBALL MOM

That is me. That is what I am now!

I just thought we had a free week. Coco came home from school, telling us tonight was the first basketball practice.

She thinks she will really like playing. I will like having a new sport to scrapbook about and we can be closer for better photos!!!

I even bought myself a little bling to put on a shirt to let the world know my new duties!!!

I will have to show you when I get it done.

I didn't do so hot on my first day of weight loss and exercise. I didn't go to bed until after midnight and then got up late this morning. I did however have a salad for lunch and made dinner tonight. I am happy with our small steps.

I am logging out and going to bed!
Blessings,
Pam

6 WEEKS????

Is it 6 weeks or 7 until Christmas????

I know I am getting excited. I have been buying gifts a little here and there. Coco and I made our wish lists tonight. We are both having a hard time with our lists. Not because we get everything we want, I think we are just happy with what we have. She is at the age between dolls and teenager stuff. One day she doesn't want dolls the next she wants another build a bear!
I have found come cute monogram stuff for her and some games that she told me she changed her mind about. Oh well I am not taking it back.

I have a few Christmas crafts on my list to do and I hope to get started this week! We only have 1 night this week with anything to do. YEAH! I plan to cook dinner every night and we will eat at the table together. We have been so busy the past few months that we ate out most nights . Now I can't stand the thought of another hamburger. I have Wednesday off for Veterans day so maybe I will get to work on some of my ideas.

Scott and I are going to start working on loosing weight. Just going to make some changes like begin exercising and eating better. I would like to lose 15 lbs by Christmas. I know that will be hard with all the parties and events that we do but at least it is a goal, something to work towards. I have seen the couch to 5k site on several blogs, looks like it might be the thing for me. I would love to be able to run a 5k (today I would like to walk a 5k) just saying!!!

I am going to bed early. They say sleep deprivation is one of the things that make you put on weight. Must be something to it because I never get even 7 hours of sleep on a regular basis. That is one of the changes I am making.

Blessings,
Pam

END OF A SEASON

Homecoming today! Only 1 more game after today and we are finished with cheer. Coco has not enjoyed this as much as she thought she would. She needs more action. I think she would rather play football than cheer for them. Some days I have had to force her to go to practice and the games. For now cheer is not her thing! She didn't like ballet or dance either. She is excited to start basketball soon.

It is going to be a gorgeous day! Enjoy it.
Blessings,
Pam

WANT TO APPLY FOR A JOB????

As a Girl Scout Leader!!!!

After tonight and all the issues we had, I am ready to throw in the towel.

A couple of the Moms wanted to host a hot dog roast/ smore making fall fun night. I was thrilled that someone wanted to do that and I didn't have to really do anything. Well, it was cancelled twice and the mom and I talked last week and decided this week would be better weather wise so I said lets do it this week. She said ok. I thought I was done except for enlisting my hubby to bring the fire using our fire pit thingy. He went and prepared the fire for a 6pm meeting time. I called one the mom's at 5:30 to tell her the fire was on and to see where she was. OH she didn't know we were doing it............. What???

So I tell myself if nothing else we will have the meeting around the fire and it will be fun. She and the other mom did show up with frozen buns and hotdogs. They were supposed to call all members to invite all the families to come to. Well, no other parents or siblings came. It all worked out and we did the hot dogs and the smores.

After my initial shock I was ok and then all my girls just went crazy, running all around acting like a bunch of I don't know what. I had to tell them over and over to stop running, put your shoes on, stop tattling, and on and on and on. I was seriously stressed out when it was over. Even a couple of my girls were unhappy with the way things went tonight. I do have a couple that always follow rules, etc. I don't want them to not come because of the actions of the other girls but I don't know what to do. Scott told me I should suspend them from a meeting. I am going to get out my Leader materials and see what they suggest for discipline measures. My only thought at this time is if it continues then I will give the disruptive parties 2 chances and if they don't obey after that then they have to call their parents to come pick them up early from the meeting, meaning they will have to tell them why they have to leave early.

Do you have any ideas? Anyone out there involved with Girl Scouting??? I need help!

Blessings,
Pam

WEEKEND RECAP

I have tried for 2 days to upload photos and blogger is not cooperating. Driving me crazy. That is why I am just now posting about Halloween and our weekend. I have some really cute photos of the family too! :(

Coco was supposed to be Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place. Come Saturday morning it just wasn't comfortable and she wanted to wear our costume from last year. After arguing with me she went in her cheer uniform! I will not be buying a costume next year. She can wear something homemade or not be anything. She said on Saturday this would probably be her last year.

We spent most of Saturday at Mother's, to celebrate Scott and Ethan's birthdays and to help mom get ready for Trunk or Treat at her church. My sister and I made a poster that said "FALLING FOR JESUS" and decorated her trunk with lots of fall stuff. I looked so cute. I also thought about doing a TEAM JESUS theme, like a tailgate party. Wouldn't that be so fun. The event was a huge hit for a small community. She attends church with the sweetest people. I really enjoyed being there with her as a family. I wish we all could attend the same church. I suppose we could but it would be quite a drive for us and my sister each week.

Sunday we celebrated Scott's birthday with his parents. Sandy (mil) always has a beautiful table and the food looks like it is ready to be photographed for a food magazine. She is very talented and she didn't burn anything. This is a long running joke because she usually gets to talking and forgets the bread. I have bought her timers but I have never seen them again. LOL

Your probably thinking we go on and on and on for birthdays. We usually have dinner with each side of the family and we've been known to all get together for some. Next year will loads of fun for Scott because he will be turning the big 40! I need to get a book to start making lists of ideas. I want to make it really special and memorable for him.

I am counting down the days to some time off this month. I will have over 60 hours of time i need to use up before the end of the year plus we get Veteran's day and Thanksgiving this month. I am already using this to get Coco up in the mornings. Telling her she only has 3 weeks and she gets a whole week off. We are counting down at our house!

Blessings,
Pam