It has been very dry here in Dallas this week.  And for the first time my daughter has licked the area under her lips until it is chapped.  You see kids all over with the "chapped beards and mousetaches."  It hasd to be painful, not to mention unattractive.

Does anyone have a fast cure?  I know Txgrl had asked me and I remember hearing about something on a talk show, but of course I can't remember.  Vaseline seems to help and it has no yummy flavor to attract more licking.  let me know your remedies.

At a time when money is very tight around our home, it's amazing the hidden talents you find that you have that can bring in a little cash.  It's very difficult for me to say I am unemployed this week.  In the last month I have tutored children in reading, painted  about 6 canvases for children's rooms,made drapes for a friend and I just finished reupholstering a large arm chair and have a couch on the way.  And tomorrow I am teaching a staff development for 25 teachers.

I have decided that out of all of the above, I love doing the paintings the most.  It gives me an opportunity to be creative and not worry about being perfect like you are when you sew.

Any creative jobs you've done lately to help earn some extra dough?  KEEP IT CLEAN!!!

ok after Christmas vacation, and finally getting our computer up and running I am back.  Mr. nash has committed to not blogging except on saturdays until he loses weight. I'm not sure it would be so nice of me to blog if he can't.  Although he never reads mine, so he may never know....  Just kidding.

I was watching Blues Clues with my Daughter yesterday morning.  The topic was the Holidays and the characters' favorite things.  One said the tree, the next the star, the next the menora.  They spent 3-5 minutes talking about the menora and the miricale of the oil.  My initial question became, " OK are they going to talk about the nativity or is the only christian part of the holiday going to be the mention of christmas.  This happens often, especially in the schools.  We teach the menora out of cultural duty but cant mention the nativity because its religious teaching.

Much to my surprise the little character who had picked the star as her favorite continued to explain that the star is a reminder of a miracle too.  That it was so bright it lead shephards and wise ment to worship the birth of baby Jesus.

Way to go BLues Clues!!!  At least there was inclusion of the Christian reason we celebrate Christmas.

I hope every parent is actually watching some of these shows that are on TV for kids during the holiday season. Sunday night, my 3 year old daughter and I found the Grinch movive on tv.  Since she was too little when it came out, I thought that it would be fun to watch it with her.  It was the middle of the movie when we started.  I was sitting with her addressing Christmas cards while she watched.  Suddenly my ears perked up and I couldn't believe what I had just heard.  Did I really hear the B**** word?  having DVR, I rewound it and sure enough!  Why????  In a kids movie!!!

About a week earlier we were watching Cat in the Hat.  A few of the initial scenes were "Bathroom humor" and I wasn't really comfortable with it.  Within the first 15 minutes the Cat cuts off his tail and says "Son of a B**** " and they bleep over it.  Whether they bleeped it or not was the last straw.  The intintion was there and so was the lipreading.

WHY Do filmmakers put this language in KIDS movies??

I hope you are sitting with your kids as they watch these programs on ABCFamily channel!! 

If you have read my hubby's blogs, you know that we have a now 6 month old son.  After his birth we decided that it would be a good financial decision for me to stay at home with him and our 3 year old daughter. It will also be good for them to be raise by their mom and not a sitter, although we had an AWESOME sitter! 

I had spent the past 8 years teaching in very specialized areas, with Oral Deaf children and in Reading Recovery which is an intensive reading program for kids who had great potential for never learning to read.  Teaching was very rewarding to me. I can point to several students and say, "I made a huge difference in that kids life."  With this came LOTS of praise and compliments from parents, professional peers and administrators.

Staying at home is teaching me many lessons, but the one to focus on today is there's not so much of that immediate reward and praise." I made a huge difference in that laundry pile."  It just doesn't fill me the same.

But then there are the praises "Mommy, Shanks(thanks) for helping me."  and "Wow, Mommy.  Your picture is beautiful."  Those are great rewards. I know that the rewards and praise and compliments will come down the line,when we are rewarded by the advanced learning and the compassionate heart that will be a result of staying home and teaching Sarah.   And I am able to point out all kinds of things in our environment that are examples of God at work.  Even the best babysitter wouldn't be able to do that! 

I absolutely believe in the power of prayer!  My God is a Big God and He can do what He says He can do!!  I often pray for my children, but the last two nights I have prayed OVER Ian asking God to bless him and help him sleep.  And even if he doesn't sleep that God would give me an alert attitude with him and our 3 year old daughter. ( It is so easy to be grumpy with others when you are exhausted!)  The first night I specifically prayed this I got 3 1/2 hrs of sleep.  BUT I had a wonderful day with my daughter!  Only by the grace of God!  And The last 2 nights I have prayed the same and Ian has slept wonderfully.  I was up less than 2 minutes last night !!!HURRAY!!!

It may seem like a small miracle, but nevertheless, it is a miracle, an answered prayer.  My last Bible study called these "God Stops.": Opportunities that we need to stop and recognize God at work and give Him the credit. 

Had any God Stops lately?  Actually the question should be: Recognized any GodStops Lately?

For about a year I have been watching my husband fall prey to the addiction of blogging.  I keep asking him " What is so important about Blogging?"  I don't really get it.  Here are his top excuses:

1. I can keep in touch with people from St. Louis.  Ok I do kind of get that one.  It is fun to read what friends from the past have to say.

2.It's like being a journalist.  This was his most recent reason.  He enjoys finding interesting articles or happenings, reporting them to the world and getting comments.  That's all fine and dandy, i just wish he was getting a journalists salary for it!

3. " But Honey, I'm number 24 in the ranking."  He does strive to be high on the list.  He will often choose controversial topics or attention getting subjects to get more comments.  I guess that's his competitive spirit.

4.  Sometimes my comments are a witness to others. Ok again I won't argue with this one.  If his comments may heelp others come to know or learn more about Christ I am all for them.

I know I harass him about blogging,but it really is harmless.  It is a much better computer outlet than a lot of other sites he could be visiting!  And since he is still very attentive to myself and our children, I really can't complain.  As long as he's not blogging about me!!

So after watching him blog now every evening, I am deciding to join in.  I may not last very long, but at least I can say I tried it. I won't make the top 50 list and my entries won't be nearly as intriquing. It will be nice to here from friends that are scattered around the country.  Who knows, maybe I will be the next addict!