Thursday, October 30, 2008

Doomed.

Found a recipe on one of the blogs I read (see the sidebar - Laudem Gloriae) for mulled wine.

I am so very doomed. I must now obtain the ingredients and try it!

Maybe this weekend...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Day Out with Thomas pics

Pictures! Yep, it's Thomas. And the kiddos. Yes, Patrick is wearing a Thomas jacket, shirt, jeans, and shoes, LOL. It really was rather disorienting seeing Thomas so big, when you're used to seeing him on DVDs or as toys, LOL. He didn't bother the kiddos at all, though.



On the other hand, Patrick wasn't so sure what to make of Sir Topham Hatt. I really wasn't too surprised by his reaction, LOL.



Kiddos loved riding the train. Something must have been noisy at the time, or Patrick was still expecting the whistle to sound as loud inside as outside.



I like this picture.



And of course, there were trains to play with. There were also tables set up to color and do stamps at, and Calla did some of that, but the toy trains made for more colorful pics. Look at how serious they both look!





They REALLY had fun. It wasn't until I got home that I realized we could have went out there without having purchased tickets for the train ride. I thought they'd check them at the entrance or something before being admitted to the area at all, but nope. Of course, there's no way we could have skipped the train ride - there would have been some serious distress by the kiddos, and I can't say I'd blame them. But it's nice to know you could go for free. I also really thought it was a strange idea to have a video area at the event - I mean, the kids come out here to see the "real thing", not watch DVDs, right? Heh - it was a FANTASTIC idea to have it there. The kiddos needed a place to be able to relax for a bit while we waited to see how the pictures taken by the staff turned out (they take your pics with Thomas and with Sir Topham Hatt, but tell you that you're welcome to take your own as well. Theirs didn't turn out that great, unfortunately, so we didn't buy them).

It was fun. The kiddos had a blast at the other areas as well - the petting zoo and bounce house, specifically (apparently these other areas vary depending on what the location hosting the event has access to). Had a hard time getting Patrick out of the bounce house, LOL.

It was definitely worth the ticket; the kids loved the train ride, and really loved the activities and such.

Friday, October 24, 2008

A Day Out With Thomas

The kiddos LOVED it.

I am really, really tired. But it's nice to know it's from spending a day at something the kiddos had so much fun at, instead of just putzing around the house or something.

Pictures and more info later. I'm going night-night.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Monday, October 13, 2008

Friday, October 10, 2008

Giveaway!

Go take a peek at Handbag Planet!

For their website launch, they're giving away 24 handbags - one each hour that day (Oct. 15). You'll only need to supply your first name and an email address. Go enter! Even if it means less of a chance that I'll win one, LOL.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The (most common) Fatima Prayer

(or, and now for something completely different)

When on a (largely) Catholic message board, you are going to read Catholic prayers. I have no issue with this at all - though I'm not Catholic, I have a number of relatives who are. I've been in some vehemently anti-Catholic churches, and I've heard enough "Whore of Babylon" sermons to last my whole life. So no lectures - I'm not posting this to hear how wrong they are, that the Pope is the anti-Christ, or anything of that nature.

Now, all that being said, one of the prayers I've seen on the board is the Fatima prayer - "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen." That last half of it really struck me as being an incredibly powerful statement.

(No arguments on "not everyone will go to Heaven". I know. This isn't about stating that everyone will, any more than praying for any particular thing is a statement that you know you'll get it. I am *not* a prosperity gospel/"Claim that Mercedes in faith" type. It's expressing a desire that everyone would/could - even though we know, unfortunately, that's not gonna happen, as scripture states that there will be some cast out - the sheep and goats parable, for one.)

Most Christians of any type can say the Lord's Prayer from memory, and know the "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" part (or debts/debtors, etc.). And forgiving *is* a profound thing to do. Yes, it can be done in the wrong spirit - the gleeful "heaping coals on their heads" type of thing - but properly done, it can be extraordinarily difficult, especially when forgiving those who cannot or will not ask forgiveness.

But.

I think that last part of the Fatima prayer takes it another step further - in a sense, it shows complete forgiveness - wanting that person who has wronged you to be able to experience heaven as well.

The example that comes to mind is Jeffrey Dahmer. It's said that he converted in prison - or perhaps it was more of a reconciliation - but regardless, that he came to what most Christians would recognize as salvation, including baptism. It's one thing to (as unimaginably difficult as it would be) come to a point of forgiving him if he had killed a loved one. But to honestly pray that you hoped to see him in heaven? That, as I imagine it, is forgiveness perfected.

Definitely something to be learned from that prayer.