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Frugal Lessons from The Amish: Mowing the Lawn

In an earlier article, Frugal Lessons from The Amish, I talked about out Amish neighbors and how we could learn a lot about being frugal from their daily practices. Amy, a young Amish wife and mother shared a lot about the things they do that save money. Even though Amy lives on a big farm, she still maintains a front lawn. The lawn is grassy and has a small kitchen garden to one side. It looks like almost any other front lawn in front of a home. While the Amish of Lancaster do sometimes use gas powered tools around their … Continue reading →

Wrong Reasons to Adopt

There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to adopt because you would like to parent a child and provide a loving home. These are typically the same reasons many couple’s conceive biologically. The problem is so many people want to adopt for the wrong reasons—even if their heart means well. Some of the wrong primary motivations for adoption are not wrong as a “bonus”, however to those who find justification in some of the examples provided below, I suggest visiting a local animal shelter instead. Children being placed for adoption often have needs beyond what biological or birth children have. Adoption … Continue reading →

Changing Seasons

Have you ever had a feeling like something in your life was about to change; like a new chapter or season in your life is about to begin? That’s kind of where I’ve been for while now. In the past, prior to knowledge of a move, promotion or placement of a child in our home, I’ve had this feeling too. Maybe it’s just becoming familiar with the first tastes of a new season; like the crispness in the morning as autumn has approached, or the fragrant air of spring. Since I’m not sure exactly what God’s plans are for my … Continue reading →

Adoption: Melissa’s Story

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Unlike many couples who seek adoption, my husband and I didn’t pursue for fertility reasons—at least not initially. We were in our early 20’s and had heard there were many kids in our own state waiting for a forever family. We had love to share and an extra bedroom available. We started the adoption process by attending an orientation at our county’s Department of Human Resources (DHS). Upon hearing about the various special needs of the children waiting in the system, we thought it would be better to wait to adopt. We decided to focus on trying to conceive. After … Continue reading →

Melissa Gilbert: Child Star Shining Bright

Born on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California to a Jewish family, Melissa Ellen Gilbert, also known as Missy, was adopted by actor, Paul Gilbert and his wife, Barbara. She has a brother and a sister, both of whom were also adopted. When she was eight years of age, her adoptive parents divorced and when she was eleven, Paul Gilbert died. She was a child star and one of five hundred young girls who auditioned for the part of Laurra Ingalls Wilder for the television series, “Little House on the Prairie.” Her screen test was the only one sent … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 4

More of the famous people we lost in 2012: June 2012 2 – Richard Dawson – Esophageal Cancer (79) Dawson was a regular on “Hogan’s Heroes” but may be best remembered as the host of “Family Feud” for ten years and as a panelist on “Match Game.” 5 – Ray Bradbury – Unknown (91) Bradbury was one of the best selling fantasy/sci-fi/horror/mystery writers of the 20th century with novels such as “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Martian Chronicles.” 26 – Nora Ephron – Pneumonia (71) Ephron was a screenplay writer and you may have heard of a few of her movies … Continue reading →

Playing Games with Sore Losers

I’ve mentioned before that we like playing educational games as part of our homeschool routine. My thirteen-year-old son loves to make everything he does into a game, and he learns best when there are elements of fun. Most days, it’s tough to get him to participate in school, so I add games into the mix to keep him connected. However, I have two other sons who struggle with the whole winning/losing concept, and while you can modify games to eliminate winners and losers, I’m not sure you really should. In life, there are those who achieve more success than others. … Continue reading →

Is Alzheimer’s a Reason to Get Divorced?

To the shock of many (myself included), last week televangelist Pat Robertson (of “The 700 Club”) made a shocking statement. He was asked about a man who started seeing another woman after his wife had developed Alzheimer’s. Robertson’s response was that it’s okay to get divorced and start all over again. There are two reasons this doesn’t sit well with many people. The first is that Pat Robertson is a Christian, so you would assume that he believes in and follows the scriptures, which clearly indicate that God hates divorce. The second is that out the window go the vows … Continue reading →

The Funnel Cakes are Not Your Friends!

The Atkins diet is not an incredibly difficult diet to follow – until you walk out the door of your home. Suddenly, there are all these foods that are not appropriate for you to eat right now. Spending the day at a Fair can be an exercise in determination, and will test your ability to avoid the temptation to eat foods that you shouldn’t be eating right now. In the time since I started the Atkins diet, I have visited my local Farmers’ Market, and I spent a day at the Renaissance Faire. Each experience presented me with foods that … Continue reading →

Antique Shop Photo Album Returned to Descendant

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A woman, who happened to be a genealogist, found an old photo album in an antique store. She purchased it, and decided to try and discover who the people in the photos were, and where their living descendants might be located. To her, it was an interesting puzzle. To the descendants, it was a priceless gift of family history. A woman named Melissa Corley found an old photo album in an antique shop in Easton, Maryland. It cost $75.00 and was filled with old photos of women wearing elegant dresses that had ruffles or beadwork. The dresses were accessorized with … Continue reading →