I meant to mention yesterday and forgot, but my second newspaper column came out last Sunday: Christmas Grief, Christmas Hope. I don’t mean to sound self-promoting, but thought some might like to see it. I wasn’t sure how far the editor would let me go in sharing the gospel, but thankfully he didn’t edit out any of it.

Here are some good reads from round the Web the past couple of weeks:

Celebrating the Excellencies of His Name -Prince of Peace, by Petra Hefner. Beautiful, both in substance and style.

Ladies: Do Not Shy Away From Theology.

A Snapshot of Finishing Life Well. Neat video of 90 year old man caring for his 91 year old wife. “This is what love and faithfulness looks like.”

Finding a “quiet time” in a mother’s life that is far from quiet.

A Game Plan For When You Start to Worry.

Good and Perfect Gifts. Quote: “The little bulldog of a child (you know the kind…you tell them “no” and they stare a burning hole through you as they do the very thing you told them not to do) may, with the transforming power of the Spirit, one day become a stalwart witness for Christ.”

Reaction, Effect, and Christian Shock Jocks.

How to Write a Good Sympathy Card.

25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier.

25 Handmade Gifts Under $5.

50+ Christmas Stocking Stuffers For Men. Can’t endorse the whole list, but there are several good ideas there.

Roses From Ricrac. The instructions are in Spanish, so I can’t read them, but there are lots of photos in the tutorial and I love the end product. So cute!

Canvas Art, HT to Lizzie. Want to try this some day.

Fudge Puddles. Want to try!

Now I am off to tackle my to-do list for today. If only it were this easy! 🙂

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Here are some interesting things seen round the Web this week:

Six Helps for Sufferers from Elisabeth Elliot, HT to Challies.

How to Serve “The Singles” in Your Church.

Read On! by Patsy Clairmont, HT to Robin Lee Hatcher.

Affect Versus Effect. Great tip to remember when to use which. I tend to have to look it up, even when I think I am doing it right, just to be sure. Loved this cartoon at the bottom:

I do believe in using correct grammar, and I believe it can affect one’s readability, credibility, and testimony. But on the other hand, people tend to have no grace at all when they see grammar mistakes in others’ writings. When grading a paper or editing, that’s one thing, but in everyday reading I think we can overlook people’s grammar mistakes just as we would anything else.

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-Ups via e-Mom‘s Pinterest. haven’t tried these, but they look so good.

Free printable Christmas tags from Karla Dornacher.

Crafty stuff:

Stamp Storage System. Seems a little involved, but if you have a lot this might help you keep track of what you have and be able to find it.

Personalized “Happily Ever After” Plaque. Neat idea. Of course, you could put any phrase on it.

More phrases on canvas.

Love Button Wall-Hanging seen on Pinterest.

A simple tree tee — the design was made with scraps of trim.

Saw and repinned a number of neat things on Pinterest, too many to list here, but you can see them there if you like.

And finally, what would Saturday be without a couple of funnies:

For this to make sense you have to be familiar with the LOTR flms as well as the Jared jewelry commercials. It made me chuckle.

Hope you have a great weekend. I’m off to clean and cook for company coming tonight.

Don’t know how many people will be around today with shopping and visiting and such going on, but if you’re looking for a few interesting reads, here are some I’ve seen this week:

When the Battle-Weary Speak, We Listen.

Missionary answers. Great posts soliciting answers from missionaries about how churches can minister to them. Many helpful answers in the contents.

Sending gifts to missionaries, HT to Susan. Very helpful suggestions.

The following are from Pinterest. Love that place!

What to do with cards. Great idea!!!

Pretty organizational center.

Scrabble Home Decor.

Button wreath.

Button clock in embroidery hoop.

Neat idea for Christmas buffet table — cheese, crackers, or veggies in a Christmas tree shape.

Saw the first of these on Pinterest, the rest on Facebook.

Been there. 🙂

So true — those things are horrible to step on.

I feel that way sometimes, too.

Hope you have a great weekend!

I have just a few things to share this week:

Do You See the Warrior? Neat post about training rather than “taming” boys.

Michelle Duggar, Feminist? (No!), HT to Carrie. Quote: “Michelle Duggar is an admittedly extreme example of a lifestyle choice that challenges today’s feminist norms. But can we write off her choice as anti-feminist? Or is that in and of itself a violation of feminism’s first principle: choice?” I’m not up for birthing and mothering 20 children myself, and not advocating that for everyone, but it’s ironic that the feminist community so big on choice would criticize other people’s choices when different from their own.

Thanksgiving Ideas For Kids.

Bunnell Strings, HT to nikkipolani. Nikki shared about this group after they played at her church — five siblings staying together and supporting themselves by string concerts after the death of their parents. Here is a lovely original number:

Neat Thanksgiving veggie tray seen at nannykim‘s

Loved this on Facebook:

And a couple of funnies:

Time for my nearly-weekly round-up of interesting reads around the Web:

5 Signs of Spiritual Maturity in a Believer. I see I still have a ways to go…

Forest? What Forest?

Ten Reasons to Listen to Questions Before You Answer. Amen.

Man Enough to Love a Real Woman.

Make a Bible Timeline and good reasons for knowing Bible history.

A Collection of Rejected Titles for Classic Books. Pretty interesting. All’s Well that Ends Well just doesn’t have the same ring as War and Peace.

Free e-books about writing — today’s the last day.

Craft storage/organization:

Sewing/Craft Room Ideas, HT to Lizzie. Lots of neat, clever ideas!

Get Organized Challenge. Recorded webinars about various craft storage issues.

Craftiness:

Cute button project.

Scrappy Silhouettes.

Foodie stuff:

Homemade Twix Bars.

Cookie Monster Cupcakes. Very cute!

And a few funny pictures seen around Facebook:

Coming from a family of Star Trek fans, this struck me funny:

Have a good weekend!

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning here in eastern TN! Hope it is where you are, too.

Here are a few things that were interesting to me over the last couple of weeks:

Nine Potential Pitfalls of Ministry. Very good, very convicting.

The Lost Art of Meeting a Spouse, HT to Challies. Most single people I know don’t like being “set up,” but there is some good advice here.

Dude, Where’s Your Bride? Good article on the availability of good, godly single women and the seeming lack of corresponding available men.

Idealized Domesticity, especially the paragraph on holiness.

Getting Grace, written in the context of homeschooling but applicable to all parents.

Two Ways the Enemy Attacks Authors, HT to Robin Lee Hatcher. I think the principles apply to others as well. I think whatever we do, we’re prone to crises in confidence on the one hand or “believing our own press” on the other.

Make Your Own Canvas Portrait.

White Monogram Canvas, HT to Lizzie.

This made me smile:

I have just a few links to share of interesting reads from around the Web this week:

Watch, Read, and Imagine. Chris Anderson shares a video of a woman hearing for the first time and encourages us to imagine the reactions of healing in Biblical narratives and the joy in heaven when all disabilities are gone.

Couple Married 72 Years Dies Holding Hands. Sad but sweet.

The Teen Boy Eye-roll.

Middle-Age Temptations.

Beautiful Button Trees. I love buttons — I might have to try one of these.

Robin Lee Hatcher is offering free books just for the price of shipping via Paypal.

Dinner For Six. Carrie asked me to write up how our church’s Dinner For Six program works. If you’d like to know more about it than what I’ve already mentioned, you can find it there.

Ninjabread Men Cookie Cutters From ThinkGeek.

They just struck me funny. 🙂

The next few were seen around Facebook.

My husband would agree. 🙂

This cracked me up:

So did this, seen at ivman:

Very true! There is nothing like unexpectedly stepping on one of those.

And this is just sweet:

And I saw this at Challies. Pretty funny, especially the unexpected parts.

Well, I ended up with more there than I thought I had! Enjoy!

This week seems like it was short somehow! Here are a few things that stood out to me along the way:

Distant or Engaged? Making Your Home a Haven.

The Foundation of Mortification. Very helpful thoughts on what the Bible means when it tells us to “mortify” the deeds of the flesh.

How S. O. A. P. Changed My Life. No, not bath soap or laundry detergent, but a method of Bible study.

The Manly Virtues: What do Noblesse Oblige and Condescension Have in Common?

Women’s Ministry Fall Ideas.

From More Funny and Maybe Not So Funny Signs, one of my favorites:

Craftiness:

Lovely Spaces: Craft Room. I love seeing how other people organize their craft stuff. The first two especially are really cute.

Laminating Love. Neat things to do with a laminator. I got one one sale months ago but haven’t used it yet — this has me itching to get it out.

Foodie stuff:

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins. These look luscious!

Applesauce Spice Cake — only 90 calories a serving, and it sounds really good.

This is so cute. It was going around Facebook with the title “May You Always Sing Like No One is Listening.”

Using a plastic bottle as a light bulb. I wouldn’t want to convert my house to this, but it’s a neat idea.

It’s a nice cool morning here in TN. Unfortunately I woke up at my usual time when I could have slept in another hour. Oh well — at least I can get ready for the day at a more leisurely pace.

Here are a few good reads I noted this past week:

More on Spiritual Abuse and the right way to respond to it.

How to Live in This Economy. “It’s only the field that has had a rest that can yield above the rest.”

How Should We Talk in the Virtual Community?

A Comment Ministry.

Ungraceful Parenting.

Books Every Guy Should Read, Part 3.

If You Want to Write a Book…

Cutlery Tray for Jewelry. Love this idea except I’d want a door on it to keep dust out.

And a couple of fun pictures seen around Facebook:

Hope you have a great Saturday!

Here are a few of the good reads I discovered around the Web this week:

Gender Inclusive Bible: A Good Idea? No, for several good reasons listed here.

“Poor People.” Lizzie shares several thoughtless and insensitive remarks people tend to make about “the poor.”

Spiritual Abuse.

How to Glorify God at Work. First and foremost, by doing your best at your job. If you’re a slacker, no one will respect your message.

Mothering in Hostile Territory.

What Would Pat Robertson Have Done With My Dad?

Divorce Because of Alzheimer’s? This and the above are poignant testimonies against doing such, testimonies of laying down’s one’s life to care for another.

Twelve Essential Films for the Moral Formation of Boys.

Books Every Guy Should Read, Part 1 and Part 2.

Karla Dornacher is offering a free download of “Prayer Changes Things” artwork through today.

A Holiday Craft Along. Neat ideas and tutorials to get ready for Christmas.

Seen around Facebook:

Too cute: two seniors trying to figure out their computer: