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Through It All Andrae Crouch

Well, Andre Crouch was really my first introduction to "Christian comtemporary" music. Hey, he probably "invented" it! I met him in person in Monroe, Louisiana and we all went out to eat after the concert at the Civic Center! I think I was about 13 years old and I was too scared to even speak to him...but I did get his autograph. :) This song has always been a favorite to our famiy and we have called it our "theme song." To ,my brother Lowell, I know that Andre made it famous, but nobody sings it like you do!

Nobody Else Like You: By Andrae Crouch

This was always one of my favorite Andre songs of the 70's (yes, I think so), but it one of the less well known.
ENJOY

Recess or Ritalin?

Cartoon site: http://www.seandelonas.com/)

This MSN article title caught my eye this morning. Since I have worked with several children who are on medication for ADHD I decided to post this link on my blog page for easy referral. My heart goes out to the parents and children who are dealing with this issue. I have seen that with some children, the medication truly makes a marked difference in the child's functioning in the classroom and in behaviors and I am thankful, however for some, it leads to more frustration.

I also believe that nothing replaces the relationship between the children and their parents and/or their guardians. Often I have wondered why we didn't "have ADD/ADHD" when I was in school. Well, I'm sure we did of course but it wasn diagnosed as often for one thing and it a relatively "new" diagnosis.
I might have been on Ritalin myself had ADHD been as commonly known back then. (I still have my report cards and teacher comments.) Reading this MSN article also brings another point to ponder: we have definitely restructured the classroom and school experience since then! Anyone remember when school was fun and recess was the highlight of the day? I am aware that teachers are frustrated and overworked and have heard many of them express their frustration at having to "teach the test" and not having ample time for creativity, play, and "teaching the way it used to be."
Looking back, I don't think there were as many obese children in school either, at least not when I was in school. We have grown into a sedentary society. In the 60's we might have been more likely to walk down to the corner store, (I remember doing this and loving it!), or hey, for some of us it might have even been a long walk just to get to our mailbox or pick up our paper (anyone?). Now, we scramble for the very closest parking spot and drive-through everywhere from Mickey D's to the dry cleaners.
WEll, if you or someone you know has ADD/ADHD here is another interesting site to check out. I had the priviledge to sit in on Dr. Hallowell's seminar in Chattanooga at a CHADD meeting and found him to be caring, informed, and passionate about the subject. Dr. Hallowell and his son both have the diagnosis. He has written a host of books which you can check out on his website about ADD/ADHD. The one currently by my desk is, Delivered from Distraction, Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder.
For anyone who needs more information and family support, First Baptist Church here in Cleveland holds a support group once a month for families who have children with the diagnosis. It is called Journey Group and you can read about it by clicking on the highlighted link. Now that is ministry that reaches out to a real need. Kudos to FBC and Journey Group. One grandmother told me (with tears in her eyes) that she felt so welcomed, understood, and accepted at this group. I think this is what Christian service it all about.

How Observant Are You?

How Observant Are You? (Awareness Test)

This is a great object lesson. How aware are you?

A Peacock in the Land of Penguins

This is a cute little cartoon with a BIG message. Check it out!

More summer highlights......

Lillian enjoying time with Raymond (Pop).

Eloise and Raymond cooking something up.

Sister love!

Wow, I'm gonna miss this for breakfast!!

Mmmm blackberry cobbler, and YES, believe it or not, I made it...homemade with fresh blackberries from the Delano market!

Here are Candace and TJ visiting with some of their "old" friends from their youth group. I sure do love my children and family. It was great having Candace visit this summer. Let me say thanks to Sarah's dad and mom who met us at Coolidge Park this summer and shot a wonderful and professional photo set. These shots were from my camera, Anthony's were of course much finer than these.

Candace, Sarah and I

You can visit Anthony's photo blog here and see his great talent! Call him and he will do some great work for you.

My beautiful children:

My perfect granddaughters, Gabrielle and Isabelle!!

Aren't they lovely?

Mandy, boating "all by herself" and with Emma, (sister of Abigail in the neighboring post), visiting from CO. with her parents Stephen and Rachel.

Well, I can't really explain this....you'd just have to BE there! :)

(Stay away from the bubble jets, sir.)
Who is this masked man?

Stephen and Rachel visited from CO with thier beautiful girls, Emma and Abigail

My, now fall is here.....Where does the time go?

CHEERS!

Another summer has passed.

It is hard to believe another summer has come and gone! We had such a great one. Here are few of the summer highlights: Raymond with Eloise and Lillian at The Grand Beach, Point Clear, Alabama.
Yes, "Life IS Good", Lillian!
Mmm...... Beignets and coffee at Cafe DuMonde in New Orleans, LA!
Aaron assists Mandy (yes, she's in there) in a boat ride across the pool!
Summer guests from Colorado. Mandy the dachshund and Abigail Brannen.

Exercise and pain!

Memorable quote: (The source is highlighted.)

"Exercise relieves stress. Nothing relieves exercise."

Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata

I'm finding this quote amusing and true today since I spent the majority of last night wide awake with joint and muscle pain. This, following an "invigorating" aproximate 4-mile bike ride with Raymond and a jog in the park with Dandy Mandy, my loyal dachshund. (Just think of all the stress I'm relieving though!!)
This is my new bicycle that I got this summer. First one I've had in MANY years. AND that--->>>> is my first injury just a few days after I got the bike. OUCH!...I'd forgotten what that felt like.

Did you know that if you go really fast in the rain and turn sharply into a wet, newly paved Lee University parking lot, you can sliiiiiide right across that parking lot just like it was ice?! True, but I don't recommend it though.

Does that look swollen to you?