New Photography Adventure!

I have decided to take up photography.  I always took pictures but with just haste and for the moment.  Now I am working towards a style and purpose.  My goal is to take pictures of children in vintage costumes.  I will experiment with other types of pictures too but want to do this professionally too.  Its another form of art that I have fell in love with.  When you have a goal and vision you look at things with new eyes and look at the whole picture not just the person or thing shooting. 

Dressed up in Papa's duds

Memories in daddy's shirt and tie

Classy lady

Sweet princess with Victorian inspired hat and lace shawl

Blessings to ALL Children-Prayers for all in hurts and sufferings way!

Blessings to ALL children - prayers for ...

  Curated By: EarthLifeShop

ArtFire.com

Jewelry Supplies


"In the spirit of grief and compassion for the of victims of the
 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting and their relatives and friends ... 
and for all children in the world who still suffer... 
may we wake up and understand that we are One Family
 around the Globe and need to care for ALL children EVERYWHERE .."

Biggest Compliment

Just Sunday I got the biggest compliment from my husband. He stated that he realizes how important it is that I don't have a job outside of the home because the family has needs that only I can provide. I feel I finally got recognition that having a home based business and being available for the family is important work.

I, a grandmother, and mother have many times helped take care of the needs of my grandkids when sick,  daughter after surgery, helped with newborn babies, helped take an  mother-in-law with dementia to doctor apts. etc. And I try to work full time on my home business too.

He finally realized that stay at home spouses can do things that others don't have the opportunity to do, but needs to be done. Family has always been important too me and my husband and most of our children's childhood I was a stay at home mom. I did take some time out for college and a few short years to work but we soon realized that it was best to be at home for the children.

I know some families and women don't have that choice because they are single moms but some just desire more things than the time with the children. I respect them all but those who stay at home help their children realize what the most important in life is besides God is them.  After all they are God's gift to us!

Making Children's Clothes Last Longer

I found this cool blog about making children's clothes last longer the blog is called Ruffles and Stuff.

There are several examples like this one pictured above.  It has the cutiest ideas.  I'm sure even making some adult clothes would work too.  For more examples and how to's go over to: Rufflesandstuff.com.

This is a great how to make over clothes blog, check it out for more inspirations.

I found this all browsing on twitter!  Cool!

Look What's Cooking at Heart & Sow!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Beauty of Jacksonville!

I got the opporunity to go to Jacksonville, FL last week. It was a fun and relaxing time. I was in desperate need of some R&R. I went for a walk every morning and was able to enjoy the beautiful river walk along the St. Johns River.

The beauty of the scenic walk along St. John's.

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Bronze runner statue to commemorate the many people who run along the St. John's and the many fund raising runs. And my silly husband competing with the statue for the evening run.

"Our Dreams Live on in Our Children."

Every day there were more boats parked along the river walk.  In the morning the walk would be bare but by noon when the resturants along the landing were open the boats would be there with guests or merchants from the resturants and shops.  Boats were used as transporation for many shops and resturants to go back and forth across the river.  Past the Landing were several business who also had boats for transportation.

At least 4 bridges are along the St. John's maybe more but this was all I saw from where we were staying.  They are like freeways or highways there.  One bridge was for the train to cross over the river.  It would cross at least twice daily with business supplies and UPS delieveries too.  The train bridge was very old and rustic and would raise and lower for train crossing from a horizontal to vertical.  The blue bridge would slide up and down in the middle it, it would always stay horizontal, was an amazing sight to see a bridge move in this new way.

The Jacksonville landing was the local hang out for the down town buisness district.  Resturants and shops surround the center of the landing.  This is the fountain and band stand at the center of the landing.

This is the reason I got to go to Jacksonville, the ICAC team had a training seminar to attend and I went along for R&R.  They do their best to keep our children safe from predators.

Internet Safety Tips for Parents

I just went to an internet safety class last night although my children and now grown I have grandchildren who need to be safe. So I have done research to share with my readers about internet safety.

As a parent you must absolutely play a very active role in your child's education when introducing them to the Internet, and more importantly and use it safely.

Today one of the most perilous threats to your child's online safety are online sexual predators.

The Federal Bureau of investigations recently estimated that with over one million pedophiles online on any given day at any given time, your child has a one in four chance of being approached in an online chat room or through an instant message.

Worse still, if your child has a my space.com account, where they have posted pictures of themselves, the chances of such a contact go up dramatically.

Long gone are the days when parents could allow the computer to be an unsupervised activity. But as a parent, it's not always easy to know the best way to handle certain situations or what guidelines you should lay down for your child to follow. When they are surfing the Internet.

To protect your children, here are some simple guidelines that are easy to follow by both parent and child alike. We call these the top 10 Internet safety tips that you can and should share with your child.

Top Ten Internet Safety Tips

1. .First educate yourself, then your child.
Banning a child from certain sites may only motivate them to spend more time on them, whereas educating your child on how to keep safe will give them the tools they need to navigate their online world without being hurt; from not posting personal information to a site to understanding that people they are talking to may not actually be who they are. If the parents know the dangers themselves, this sets an example to the child to understand them as well.

2. Teach children the obvious identity rules.
Tell your children NOT to put photos of themselves on the Internet or to give out their names, addresses, phone numbers, schools, or other personal information online.

3. Install an Internet filter or family safety software.
Family safety software is becoming extremely advanced and an effective way to filter dangerous content. Additionally, this software usually comes with tools like time management, remote monitoring and reporting, and keystroke recognition, giving families greater peace of mind and manageability.

4. Know the dangers associated with sites your children frequent. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Whether it's MySpace, Facebook or another social networking site, by knowing what people are doing on your children's favorite sites that could put them in harm's way, parents can educate their children and show them the warning signs of potentially dangerous situations.

5. Teach children what to do if they encounter pornography on a home or public computer, such as at a school or a library. In a similar fashion to the fire warning of "stop, drop and roll," you can teach children to quickly turn off power to the computer monitor and go to get an adult. This can prevent a child from attempting to stop the situation by clicking more buttons (and thereby spreading the attack and being exposed to more porn).

6. Manage your children's time on the Internet. Scheduling times when a child can be on the Internet and the amount they can be online ensures that you know when they are on the Internet and how long. By not allowing them to have free reign reduces their chances of being exposed to inappropriate content.

7. Set specific Internet guidelines for your children to live by and consistently enforce consequences, if they are not being followed. Giving your children specific guidelines to follow will ensure they know where they stand when it comes to how they use the Internet as well as the consequences when they breach the rules. If a parent enforces consequences consistently, their children will be more likely to follow the rules.

8. Keep computers out of children's bedrooms and in open areas. With PCs in the open, children will be less inclined to view and access material that may not be acceptable.

9. Create a relationship with your children that is conducive to open communication. Open communication and trust is extremely valuable. By letting children know what is expected from them and that their safety is a top priority, they will feel that if something happens --whether they are approached by a cyber stranger or bully or receive an inappropriate e-mail - they can approach a parent to resolve the issue without feeling they are in trouble.

10. Understand Internet Privacy Policies as they apply to your child. According to the FTC (http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/childrens.html), parents should be aware of the following as it pertains to protecting their childrens' privacy on the web:

What Website Operators Must Do:
Post their privacy policy.
Websites directed to children or that knowingly collect information from kids under 13 must post a notice of their information collection practices that includes:
•types of personal information they collect from kids-for example, name, home address, email address or hobbies.
•how the site will use the information-for example, to market to the child who supplied the information, to notify contest winners or to make the information available through a child's participation in a chat room.
•whether personal information is forwarded to advertisers or other third parties.
•a contact at the site.

Get parental consent.
In many cases, a site must obtain parental consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information about a child.

Consent is not required when a site is collecting an email address to:

•respond to a one-time request from the child.
•provide notice to the parent.
•ensure the safety of the child on the site.
•send a newsletter or other information on a regular basis as long as the site notifies a parent and gives them a chance to say no to the arrangement.

What Parents Should Do:
Look for a privacy policy on any website directed to children.
The policy must be available through a link on the website's homepage and at each area where personal information is collected from kids. Websites for general audiences that have a children's section must post the notice on the homepages of the section for kids.

Read the policy closely to learn the kinds of personal information being collected, how it will be used, and whether it will be passed on to third parties. If you find a website that doesn't post basic protections for children's personal information, ask for details about their information collection practices.

Decide whether to give consent.
Giving consent authorizes the website to collect personal information from your child. You can give consent and still say no to having your child's information passed along to a third party.

Your consent isn't necessary if the website is collecting your child's email address simply to respond to a one-time request for information.

My information is adapted from: Netnanny.com and PC Tatletale.com

More information: Internet Safety

Human Trafficking in America?

Slavery isn’t over; the reality is, nearly 150 years after the abolition of slavery in the United States, human trafficking remains a booming industry around the world. Because this is happening in America and no longer just in other countries its time we Americans wake up and look into ways we can help make people more aware and help those caught up in this terrible crime against humanity.

At the End of Slavery is filmed on location in India, Cambodia, and the Philippines with undercover footage from the front-lines of rescue efforts and first-person testimony of those freed from illegal slavery. The filmmakers hope to expose the atrocious issues of modern-slavery by making the compelling argument that with their success in finding and rescuing victims, and prosecuting those responsible, there can be a viable end to slave trade.

While this film focuses specifically on the slave industry in Asia, human trafficking is happening all around the world – even in the U.S. Also, sex tourism is on the rise; in a recent case, three U.S. citizens were arrested after traveling to Asia to have sex with child prostitutes.

Here is the trailer to "At the End of Slavery"


Much of this information was taken from the Causecast website.

Here are were you can go to help.

This video will be shown locally on December 3rd at LifeChurch.tv at 7pm and will be presented by OSU International Justice Mission

Black Fleece Scarf

Handmade black solid fleece scarf.

It's cold out side and what better way to warm up but with a fleece scarf. It will help keep you warm in any cold weather.

This black scarf is great for men, women, boys or girls. It's 100% cotton fleece and all edges are serged.

Machine wash cold and tumble dry cool.

length: 59.5"
width: 5.5"

Are Fathers as important as Mothers?

This is a really hard question. Fathers are important as mothers but for different reasons. Mothers are the nurturers and fathers are the stability that keeps things together.

When there are two parents in the home there is more security, love and acceptance of all and it helps keep everything in balance and in perspective.

Most people know that in the first five years of a child's life are the most informative and its also where the bonding takes place. I know that mothers are closer too their babies when they nurse than those who do not. But it in no way means that if a mother chooses not to nurse that she doesn't love her child. It's a matter of choice and what is best for baby to some, where as to some mothers they think a bottle is the best and easiest choice.

A child needs the love and guidance of a father as well as a mother. For teens it is known that if there isn't a good strong father or male role model its hard for young men to grow up into good loving fathers and providers. For the young teen girl if she doesn't have a father in the home or doesn't have a good father who shows love to his daughter then she will seek love else where at an early age.

For the young girl a father is the first male she will bond with and if she has a good relationship she will have a better relationship in adult life with men.

Dr. David Popenoe says, "Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring." Fathers have a direct impact on the well-being of their children.

The child welfare Information Gateway states: Children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. A number of studies suggest that fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their infants have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities. Toddlers with involved fathers go on to start school with higher levels of academic readiness. They are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling more readily than children with less involved fathers.

The influence of a father's involvement on academic achievement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents. For instance, a 2001 U.S. Department of Education study found that highly involved biological fathers had children who were 43 percent more likely than other children to earn mostly As and 33 percent less likely than other children to repeat a grade.


Even from birth, children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections with peers. These children also are less likely to get in trouble at home, school, or in the neighborhood. Infants who receive high levels of affection from their fathers (e.g., babies whose fathers respond quickly to their cries and who play together) are more securely attached; that is, they can explore their environment comfortably when a parent is nearby and can readily accept comfort from their parent after a brief separation. A number of studies suggest they also are more sociable and popular with other children throughout early childhood.

The way fathers play with their children also has an important impact on a child's emotional and social development. Fathers spend a much higher percentage of their one-on-one interaction with infants and preschoolers in stimulating, playful activity than do mothers. From these interactions, children learn how to regulate their feelings and behavior. Rough-housing with dad, for example, can teach children how to deal with aggressive impulses and physical contact without losing control of their emotions. Generally speaking, fathers also tend to promote independence and an orientation to the outside world. Fathers often push achievement while mothers stress nurturing, both of which are important to healthy development. As a result, children who grow up with involved fathers are more comfortable exploring the world around them and more likely to exhibit self-control and pro-social behavior.

One study of school-aged children found that children with good relationships with their fathers were less likely to experience depression, to exhibit disruptive behavior, or to lie and were more likely to exhibit pro-social behavior. This same study found that boys with involved fathers had fewer school behavior problems and that girls had stronger self-esteem. In addition, numerous studies have found that children who live with their fathers are more likely to have good physical and emotional health, to achieve academically, and to avoid drugs, violence, and delinquent behavior.


In short, fathers have a powerful and positive impact upon the development and health of children. For more information on the roles of fathers go to http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/chaptertwo.cfm

(the lovely pics are of my son and his daughter who is fighting for rights to spend time with his daughter. He has done nothing wrong just his ex is selfish and doesn't want him to have time with her.)

Fun Party Shopping

Shopping with children can be a chore but when you turn it into a fun adventure its more fun than a problem.


Since we had to go to the party store for the up coming birthday, I decided to let my grandkids try on some costumes so they would behave and not cause me any problems.






LaRyn's favorite character to dress up is a kitty. She tried on several different cat masks.


Christian insisted he was a cheetah in this costume.


One of Christian's favorite characters is a pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

They had lots of fun trying on costumes and deciding what they could be. Since I don't celebrate Halloween, I decided to have a costume party for the October birthday. It sounds like too much fun. I hope everyone wants to participate including the parents.