Another great poem by Taylor Mali now with kinetic typography.

 This is short but EXCELLENT. My older kids are taking Speech and Debate
this year and I had them watch and listen to this video. They loved it!
Just had to share.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Christmas and the holidays are much on my mind these days. We are heading north just before Thanksgiving to visit Cory's family. And then back to Boise for Thanksgiving with my side of the family. So I would like to have much (if not all) of my extended family shopping done by then. But, of course, what to do for everyone. That is always the question.

And I have especially been considering trying to make gifts using some of my photos since
A. I already have them and
B. They bring back such great memories.
I've been perusing some digital photo album websites and trying out different software just to see if there is something quick and easy AND looks great (more like a scrapbook and less like a photo album). Haven't found the perfect thing yet but I will keep looking.

One year we did custom photo calendars through Costco for Cory's family and our German extended family and they turned out great! They were quick and easy and only about $10 a piece.

And I did get this idea in my email inbox and I might try to make one of these photo notepads and see how truly easy or difficult it is:

http://photojojo.com/content/diy/photo-cover-notepad/

It looks cool.

I thought the kids might like to each have one of these in their stocking this year. And I already have the photos and the paper and glue. So, we will see...

Grandma Rose's obituary

Here is Cory's Grandma's obituary. She lived a long life. Cory flew up to Coeur d'Alene this morning to be with his family for the funeral and burial this weekend.
(And, of course, while he is gone the battery died in one of the vans. Why do these things always happen when he leaves town? Funny, huh?)


Nita Rose Witherup, 95



Nita Rose Witherup, 95, of Post Falls, Idaho, passed away Sept. 9, 2009, in Post Falls. She was born Feb. 3, 1914, in Slater, Mo., to James and Catherine Allen.

As a teen Nita moved to Kansas City, Mo., where she met and married Mervyn, the love of her life. She followed him west when the Hanford project was birthed and spent many happy years in Richland, Wash. In 2000 she moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to be near her daughter and son and live independently until 2004.

Nita was an avid tennis player and an accomplished bowler. She enjoyed pinochle, gardening and baking. She spent most of her years as a homemaker but in mid-life worked in retail sales in the music, jewelry and clothing industries.

Nita is survived by her children: Sandra Hankins (partner Ted Granger) of Seattle, Wash., Mervyn Witherup Jr. (wife Linda) of Spokane, Wash., and Connie Isakson (husband Ron) of Post Falls, 12 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Nita is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Mervyn; son William and five siblings.

The family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers and friends at The Loyalton in Coeur d'Alene, Moran Vista in Spokane and Life Care Center in Post Falls. You are truly our kind of heroes and heroines. She felt very loved and "special" throughout her years of assisted living and skilled nursing care.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, at Life Care in Post Falls and graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, Wash.

Please sign Nita's guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.

Our Momentous Week!

I just had to share a few highlights of our crazy, busy week with you:

While Liz and Kendall have been enjoying their MCT drama camp this week, Mariel has begun vision therapy for her eye focusing problem and I have driven Phillip around to a haircut, job interview, and finally to get his Driver’s License!!! (He only missed two questions, so he beat Jenny’s score—which is really all that matters right? Ha! Just kidding.) We also got Phillip’s Congressional Record book in the mail to D.C. for his Silver Medal which represents almost 250 hours of voluntary public service on his part.

And then…..Phillip just received a phone call from the library, where he interviewed, and they offered him the part time job!!! Whoo Hoo! And Praise the LORD!!!

Now, in a couple of hours I get to traverse the city in my van (once again) to go pick up 5 of our summer-reading refugee girls so they can attend Liz’s play with our family tonight!!! I think it will be as much fun to watch their faces glow as to watch the play. There were dozens of them that wanted to come along but I only had so many extra seats in the car and so much money for tickets. I will take some pictures and pass them along later.

We have barely been home, the house is trashed, the young girls are bickering, and I am tired but rejoicing in what has been accomplished.

Just had to share the joy,
Angela

editorial note: The 5 girls dwindled into 3 when it came time to transport them to the play but they all had a great time and we were able to get a refund on the 2 unused tickets.

My Blondstar Moment

If you need a chuckle then do I ever have one for you. Here is the email I sent my family yesterday describing my latest faux pas:


Well after you hear what I managed to do, you may not want to claim relation any longer.

After driving around for several weeks with an electronic window stuck in the halfway down position (in rain and hot sun) Cory finally gets some help from a body mechanic friend to get it fixed before Grandma comes down for the weekend. The only day we could work it in was today (yes, Phillip’s 16th birthday). So, After three hours of taking the entire door of the Toyota van apart, our friend discovers that nothing is really broken after all. I had simply pushed the ‘child’s safety lock’ that I didn’t even know I had and “locked” the window in that position!!!

I guess my only consolation is that neither Cory nor the car-mechanic friend thought to try the button lock either.

I just amazed myself sometimes!
Unbelievably yours,
Angela

Just Questions

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

This verse keeps returning to my mind and my question is:

1. Am I letting the word of Christ richly dwell within me?

And

2. How am I letting the word of Christ richly dwell within me?

I don't have any answers yet, just questions.

Anyone else with answers is encouraged to share.
Your prayers are appreciated also.
Thanks!
Angela

20 years and counting...

Well, February this year has already come and gone, but I do remember thinking sometime during that month that it marked my 20th year of walking with God. Twenty years, wow.

I am so thankful that the Father, in His infinite grace and mysterious ways, reached down and redeemed my life; my mistakes for His forgiveness and my sins for His righteousness. It certainly wasn’t a “fair” trade; thank the LORD! I’m glad this world is not always fair or my life would have been radically different these past 20 years had I gotten what I deserved instead of what I needed. God is truly Great and Wonderfully Good.