101+ Ways to Praise Your Child

101+ Ways to Praise Your Child

WOW WAY TO GO SUPER YOU'RE SPECIAL OUTSTANDING EXCELLENT GREAT GOOD NEAT WELL DONE REMARKABLE I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT I'M PROUD OF YOU FANTASTIC SUPER STAR NICE WORK LOOKING GOOD YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT BEAUTIFUL NOW YOU'RE FLYING YOU'RE CATCHING ON NOW YOU'VE GOT IT YOU'RE INCREDIBLE BRAVO YOU'RE FANTASTIC HURRAY FOR YOU YOU'RE ON TARGET YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY HOW NICE HOW SMART GOOD JOB THAT'S INCREDIBLE HOT DOG DYNAMITE YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL YOU'RE UNIQUE NOTHING CAN STOP YOU NOW GOOD FOR YOU WONDERFUL I LIKE YOU YOU'RE A WINNER REMARKABLE JOB BEAUTIFUL WORK SPECTACULAR YOU'RE SPECTACULAR YOU'RE DARLING YOU'RE PRECIOUS GREAT DISCOVERY YOU'VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET YOU FIGURED IT OUT FANTASTIC JOB HIP, HIP, HURRAY BINGO MAGNIFICENT MARVELOUS TERRIFIC YOU'RE IMPORTANT HOW FUN PHENOMENAL YOU'RE SENSATIONAL SUPER WORK CREATIVE JOB SUPER JOB FANTASTIC JOB EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE YOU'RE A REAL TROOPER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE YOU ARE EXCITING YOU LEARNED IT RIGHT WHAT AN IMAGINATION WHAT A GOOD LISTENER YOU ARE FUN YOU'RE GROWING UP YOU TRIED HARD YOU CARE BEAUTIFUL SHARING OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE YOU'RE A GOOD FRIEND I TRUST YOU YOU'RE IMPORTANT WHAT A BIG GIRL/BOY YOU MEAN A LOT TO ME YOU MAKE ME HAPPY YOU BELONG YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND GOOD IDEA YOU MAKE ME LAUGH YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY I RESPECT YOU YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME THAT'S CORRECT YOU'RE A JOY YOU'RE A TREASURE YOU'RE WONDERFUL YOU'RE PERFECT AWESOME A+ JOB YOU'RE A-OK NEAT YOU MUST BE SO PROUD OF YOURSELF MY BUDDY YOU MADE MY DAY LOVELY YOU'RE THE BEST THAT'S MY GIRL/BOY GOOD EYE BALLS A BIG HUG A BIG KISS YOU'RE SUCH A BLESSING I LOVE YOU! YOU'RE THE BOMB (thanks Carol) YEAH YOU (me, I forgot this one)

Feel free to add your own in the comments section & I'll put it on the list.

The Gracie girl's been sleeping through most of the night in her own bed (AKA crib mattress with cutie bunny sheets). This, folks, is SUPER! But a little sad, too. But I'll get over it. So the N & S and I are headed to Ikea today (kid free) to buy a new bed for Gracie. It's her princessin bed~extendable, grow with you bed. Reminds me of my grandma's bed or somebody elses grandma bed. Except grandma didn't have the cotton candy sweet pink netting flowing all around the bed with ribbon strands cascading down to softly embrace the Grace while she slumbers. I love the scroll sides that serve as a guard when the bed is in the shortest position. So that's what's on the agenda for this weekend.

EDIT: Maggianoes was superb! Ikea - bed out of stock...bummer. But I did pick up a cutie pink flower light for the Gracie girl. :o) Plus, a night out with friends is always just GRAND!

Oh, and did I mention that we are eating at my FAVORITE Italian (stateside) restaurant??? Maggiano's here we come~

Things have been busy...my practicum has begun - love it! My final course-Audiology-is officially underway and I'm already behind. Not a good start. I've had madatory training for my part time job and meetings for my less than full time but real job. :o) I've been helping out the N & S a bit watching the Emily. So, a bit busy. Oh, I forgot...jury duty. I had jury duty this week on top of everything. So, yeah - busy. :o)

PLUS, there's was a big snow this week. Gracie and I went sledding down the hill behind our house/neighbor's house. Wheeeeeee~ Gracie had a blast...I did as well, except for that little scare when I stopped just shy of the river....yeah, about 1 yard from the RIVER. So much for that pile of leaves stopping me. WHEEEEEEE~~~ We're finding a new hill the next time. :o) This pic is of Gracie play in the little snow...too much fun sledding for pics in the big snow.

Chasing Lions~

From Mark Batterson, author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Grab life by the mane. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!
2Sa 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

2007 Manifesto for the congregation of Mark Batterson, author of "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day". It's too good not to share. Read it slowly; enjoy it thoroughly; live it courageously per pastor Jerry, inspired by Batterson's book. Sounds like we're gearing up for a series based on the book and I can't wait~


Currently Reading
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars
By Mark Batterson

I Am Free

Wow, the past few days have just flown by. We're almost back in our at home routine after holiday travels. Some work to catch up on but we're getting there.

AWESOME time at church yesterday. What a way to begin this new year & just what my heart needed. Time to shake off the dust of 2006 and embrace the new things God has for me in 2007.

Seems I've been carrying around a rather heavy weight the past couple of years. Carried it so long, it was just a part of me and I forgot it was even strapped to my back. Obviously, I really didn't forget because nearly daily, I felt the heaviness in my heart, in my spirit. And oops, there it is messing around in my emotions as well. I just wasn't giving credit where credit was due.

In a culmination of spiritual and right here-right now circumstances, I had a choice to make about this weight strapped to my back like a parachute pack. What I thought would save or help me was anything but helpful.

Let's just go with this parachute analogy. So this week, I've been preparing to pull the chord - to finally execute the plan, navigating a difficult life situation. It's a route that many have taken and in most cases it's the appropriate course of action. I acquired the chute legally & it was mine to use when I needed. Except this little bitty piece...God told me no. Well, He didn't say "no"...He lovingly said "It is not what is best."

So that was about 2 years ago, maybe a bit more. Though I didn't activate the parachute, I held on it just in case despite what God clearly told me.
A very difficult year followed that conversation. Reality of situations set in and it was time to ready my safety device. So here we are a year later & I'm ready to jump - anytime this week for real. Funny, I was hard pressed really early early Sunday morning to make clear my plan & intentions, but I just didn't have the mind at 3 AM to clearly articulate or understand all the ramifications. Better talk about it after a good nights rest. So glad I waited...God had a word to say about it.

He reminded me that He is well able to keep that which I committed to Him. He is big enough to hold the heaviest heart; loving enough to fill the deepest cavern. He asked me yet again to trust Him; to release this false sense of security & my own pursuit of justice. He is my provider, defender, judge, healer, keeper of my heart and my source.

This is what He said; clear as day: "It is impossible to please me without taking a risk to do what I told you to do." Thanks Pastor Jerry. I love it when you preach.

Trusting God isn't always easy, but it is the right thing to do. He has my best interest at heart. So, I unstrapped that thing & threw it up to heaven; releasing this burden I've carried. Now I'm free to run. I'm free to dance. I'm free to live for you. I am free. I am free. This song burns in me yet again~

Now for some fun~ I got this from Nicodemus42

What Fantasy Archetype Are you?
The Pillar-of-Strength Love Interest You are the Pillar-of-Strength Love Interest! You're like Arwen (Lord of The Rings), Guinevere (Arthurian Legend), Princess Leia (Star Wars), Door (Neverwhere), Ginny/Hermione (Harry Potter), and Kahlan Amnell (Wizard's First Rule). You are the protagonist's love interest and you almost invariably love him too. You are strong, resiliant, caring, loving, loyal and virtuous - but you often have to make hard decisions between love and the Right Thing. You and The Mentor usually go way back, and keep your eye out for betrayal of your love from The Traitor. Also, keep guard, you are the favorite hostage of The Totally Wicked Villain.
Take The Quiz Now!	Quizzes by myYearbook.com

And even more fun from Gr8tGrace, fellow xanga blogger:

More Emotional You have: 62% SCIENTIFIC INTUITION and 85% EMOTIONAL INTUITION

The graph on the right represents your place in Intuition 2-Space. As you can see, you scored well above average on emotional intuition and above average on scientific intuition.Your emotional intuition is stronger than your scientific intuition. Your Emotional Intuition score is a measure of how well you understand people, especially their unspoken needs and sympathies. A high score score usually indicates social grace and persuasiveness. A low score usually means you're good at Quake. Your Scientific Intuition score tells you how in tune you are with the world around you; how well you understand your physical and intellectual environment. People with high scores here are apt to succeed in business and, of course, the sciences. Try my other test! The 3 Variable Funny Test It rules.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 45% on Scientific You scored higher than 94% on /b>Interpersonal

Link: The 2-Variable Intuition Test written by jason_bateman on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Happy New Year~

Wishing you & yours a very happy & blessed new year!







We are home after a great trip to Missouri, visiting family & like-family friends. :o) Here's a special shout out loud to Mildred in Robertsville! Thanks for keeping up with us! Always a pleasure...

Gracie enjoyed horsie rides, papa time, rough & tumple time with Uncle George & tractor play with Haddon along with all the Christmas surprises found here, there & everywhere. :o)
Here are a few pics from our recent visit as well as catch up photos from our 1st hair cut at Orlando Lyn Salon - yeah...free 1st hair cut from Nick. YEAH! AND one good pic from Christmas Presence with stow away Grace in the Jingle Bell sleigh~