DISCRETE VS. DISCREET

Is there a difference between the words Discrete & Discreet? They look the same, sound the same and have the same letters. I don’t think this will be a question that’s asked often. I only happened to chance upon the word discrete as I was reading an article with the word discrete in it in relation to learning to read. I thought it didn’t “fit”, so I looked it up. When I did, this is what I found:

USAGE The words discrete and discreet are pronounced in the same way and share the same origin but they do not mean the same. Discrete means ‘separate, distinct’ (: a finite number of discrete categories), while discreet means careful, judicious, circumspect ( you can rely on him to be discreet ).

Main Entry: dis·crete

Pronunciation: \dis-ˈkrēt, ˈdis-ˌ\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin discretus

Date: 14th century

1 : individually distinct
2 a : consisting of distinct or unconnected elements

— dis·crete·ly adverb

— dis·crete·ness noun

Main Entry: dis·creet

Pronunciation: \di-ˈskrēt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French discret, from Medieval Latin discretus, from Latin, past participle of discernere to separate, distinguish between

Date: 14th century

1 : having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech

— dis·creet·ly adverb

— dis·creet·ness noun

* Not that many will be asking, but here’s the answer if someone does.*

Classroom Strategies From Reading Rockets.com

Classroom Strategies

I subscribe to this newsletter, Reading Rockets. It is so full of resources for parents, teachers and others interested in education. It is one of the best resources I have come across. Do yourself a favor & subscribe.

This is taken directly from the Reading Rockets website: Our classroom strategy section is designed to share with teachers what research suggests are the most effective ways to build fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills.

When using any teaching strategy, teachers should (1) help students to understand why a strategy is useful, and (2) describe explicitly how the strategy should be used. Teacher demonstration, modeling, and follow-up independent practice are critical factors for success. Student discussion following strategy instruction is also helpful.

Each strategy in the library includes:

• Instructions on how to use the strategy
• Downloadable templates
• Examples
• Recommended children’s books to use with the strategy
• Differentiation for second language learners, students of varying reading skill, students with learning disabilities, and younger learners
• Supporting research

My Summer Reading List

Hello dear readers. I am compiling my annotated summer reading list. I will post it very soon.

Build-A-Bear

Phillise & I went to Build-A-Bear. I love that store & the concept. Getting to build your own bear is one of the best things ever! Well, Phillise had been wanting to go for the longest time, but I couldn’t make myself spend $50 for a teddy bear. But, my baby’s big eyes won me over. So, here’s some pics:

Here’s my baby @ the Build-A-Bear naming her baby- a Lavender teddy bear with a fancy pink dress & fancy pink high heels.↓

I am having technical difficulties. All of my pictures came out sideways & I don’t know how to turn them. Can someone help????

Leimert Park Village Book Fair

Music and Arts – Exhibit

Date:	Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time:	10:00am – 6:00pm
Location:	LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE
Street:	4310 DEGNAN BLVD (43RD AND DEGNAN BLVD)
City/Town:	Los Angeles, CA

The Fourth Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 in Los Angeles.

The Book Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Leimert Park on the Vision Theatre Back lot, located at 43rd Street and Degnan Boulevard. The family-oriented event is held in the heart of Leimert Park, which is considered the center of the African American arts/intellectual scene in Los Angeles.

The Leimert Park Village Book Fair is produced by Exum and Associates in partnership with 8th District Councilmember Bernard C. Parks and Eso Won Books, along with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Leimert Park Merchants Association, and the Leimert Park Village Business Improvement Association.

This annual Book Fair has become a much-anticipated cultural tradition in the community. It provides authors an opportunity to promote their newest work as well as to meet some of their fans up close and personal.

The Fourth Annual Leimert Park Book Festival features:
Children’s Village with interactive activities;
Nationally known authors and poets; panels and thought provoking issues;
Reading and performances at various venues throughout Leimert Park Village;
Culture, food, and beautiful people enjoying and promoting literacy in our community.

Come out and support this one of kind event!

Literacy Milestones (Birth to 3 Years)

Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com

Literacy Milestones: Birth to Age 3

By: Andrea DeBruin-Parecki, Kathryn Perkinson, and Lance Ferderer (2000)

Identifying a reading problem is a challenge without a sense for what typical literacy development looks like. Find out what language accomplishments are typical for most children at the following age levels: birth to three, three to four, age five, and age six.

Most children learn to read by age 7. Learning to read is built on a foundation of language skills that children start learning at birth — a process that is both complicated and amazing. Most children develop certain skills as they move through the early stages of learning language.

The following list of such accomplishments is based on current research in the field, where studies continue and there is still much to learn. As you look over the list, keep in mind that children vary a great deal in how they develop and learn.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress, talk with your child’s doctor, teacher, or a speech and language therapist. For children with any kind of disability or learning problem, the sooner they can get the special help they need, the easier it will be for them to learn.

From birth to age 3, most babies and toddlers become able to:

• Make sounds that imitate the tones and rhythms that adults use when talking
• Respond to gestures and facial expressions
• Begin to associate words they hear frequently with what the words mean
• Make cooing, babbling sounds in the crib which gives way to enjoying rhyming and nonsense word games with a parent or caregiver
• Play along in games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”
• Handle objects such as board books and alphabet blocks in their play
• Recognize certain books by their covers
• Pretend to read books
• Understand how books should be handled
• Share books with an adult as a routine part of life
• Name some objects in a book
• Talk about characters in books
• Look at pictures in books and realize they are symbols of real things
• Listen to stories
• Ask or demand that adults read or write with them
• Begin to pay attention to specific print such as the first letters of their names
• Scribble with a purpose (trying to write or draw something)
• Produce some letter-like forms and scribbles that resemble, in some way, writing

Mama Elizabeti by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Mama Elizabeti (2000), written  by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen & illustrated by Christy Hale is the follow up to 1998’s Elizabeti’s Doll which I recently reviewed.

I liked this book because it celebrates sibling love. In this sequel to Elizabeti’s Doll (1998), Elizabeti has a new sister named Flora. Now that her mother spends all her time taking care of Flora, Elizabeti needs to help take care of her little brother, Obedi. She soon finds out that taking care of Obedi is so different than taking care of her doll, Eva. Elizabeti goes through trials & tribulation as she tries to find a way to take care of her chores & responsibilities and take care of Obedi. How will Elizabeti get everything done & take care of Obedi???

As with the last book, I would recommend this book for big sisters. It tells the story of sibling love. I also love that it shows children helping parents, and a different culture. I will review the follow-up to this book (my most recent purchase), Elizabeti’s School, also. I love this series and its’ celebration of family & sibling love. I would recommend this book to young children when a new sibling is born. Also, I would even go so far as to say this book should be read to middle school girls for a sex education class. It definitely shows how much work taking care of a baby is.

As always, pick it up @ your local library or bookstore.

Sitton’s Appleseed Newsletter

Taken directly from Sitton’s Appleseed Newsletter:

Word Walls can be an excellent teaching tool and resource to support your students across the communications curriculum.

Some basics about best practices with Word Walls:

Word walls should be built collaboratively:

Literacy leaders consistently emphasize that word walls should be built collaboratively with students. These word collections should serve as artifacts of literacy learning. Teachers should choose the type of word wall that best supports the developmental needs of their students.  Types of word walls might include those organized around spelling patterns, phonics, vocabulary, word analysis, the alphabet, concepts, and language conventions. The possibilities are endless!

1. Inviting students to color code words, illustrate a symbol for words, or even write out a situation explaining the meaning of a word will allow opportunities for student choice, engagement and ownership.

Word walls are always a work in progress:

Word walls should develop over time, as concepts are taught and developed in the classroom.

For example as sounds are introduced in a Kindergarten classroom, students may pick a word or name that begins with that sound to add to the wall. This wall will continually grow.

1. At a higher level, a 7th grade group exploring Greek roots might choose a word to represent the root being learned. They might underline the root and add a symbol or color that helps the group make associations to the root’s meaning. A collection or these roots built over time will be invaluable to students as they write.

Word walls should be part of the learning of spelling, vocabulary and language skills:

1. By building word walls in context, students have another strong association when they refer to them. Whether words come from a phonics lesson, a literature unit, a science chapter, or a writing assignment, they should come directly from the lesson. That way, students will be able to look at the words and associate them with the many other words that have a significant relationship to the one represented on the wall. For example, 8th graders studying the Latin root press might collect words using the root, adding pressure to the “Roots Word Wall.” Knowing the Latin root can help them understand other words made up of it.

Word walls provide opportunities to practice the real-world strategy of using a reference:

1. Isn’t it frustrating when students misspell word wall words that are clearly visible to them?
   Literacy experts emphasize slowly building a collaborative word wall in the context of real language experiences. These best practices have proven to vastly increase the likelihood that students will actually use the word wall as a reference. Of course, students need to be taught how to use this reference. Model referring to the word wall in your own writing demonstrations. Hold students accountable for using the word wall as a spelling, vocabulary, or reading reference. Get them into the habit of referring to the word wall as they proofread and revise their writing.

Things I Simply Refuse To Do…

I was talking to my husband yesterday about being a good teacher. I don’t like to brag, but I do toot my own horn when it comes teaching. There are not many things I consider myself excellent at, except teaching & being creative (crafts).

I refuse to:

• water grass that’s already green. By this I mean giving the “good” kids attention. I’m not saying I ignore them. I’m just saying they get enough attention from being “good”. The “bad” kids are the ones that need positive attention. They need that to stop being the “bad” kid. I “water” them. I make sure they get the positive reinforcement they need; whether it’s a high-five for not disrupting the class for 5 minutes; or a gold star for completing a task. For all intents and purposes, they are brown, wilting grass. They are the ones that need watering the most.
• disrespect a child & treat them as if they don’t matter,
• treat a “bad” kid like they are bad,
• not give my all,
• be content with second best,
• let a child out of my classroom without higher self-esteem, higher test grades, etc….

It is my job as a teacher to do all of this and more. Here’s to putting this into place @ my next job.

Rediscover Your Public Library

Taken directly from the Reading Rockets website. Here are 9 reasons to visit your public library.

1. Free programs and activities: From author visits to puppet shows to family films, libraries offer programs with kid appeal after school, on the weekends, and during the summer. Ask your librarian for the schedule of upcoming events.
2. Story times: There’s nothing like hearing a good story read by someone who loves to read aloud. Libraries are terrific settings for story times which often include finger plays, games, songs, and crafts that can be learned and enjoyed again at home.
3. Workshops: Many libraries offer workshops that can help enrich your life as an adult and support you as a parent. At many libraries, it is possible to learn to knit, prepare your taxes, update your résumé, gain computer skills, or improve your parenting skills.
4. Books: Librarians are happy to make recommendations and most public libraries have a special section just for children’s books.
5. Audiobooks: Listened to a good book lately? Most libraries have a collection of popular adult and children’s titles available for checkout on tape or CD.
6. Movies: Your public library is a great source for free access to the latest blockbusters, family movie classics, documentaries, or favorite TV shows.
7. Music: Want to introduce your children to Beethoven or the Beatles or new children’s songs? Check to see if your library has a collection of music on CD.
8. Magazines and newspapers: Introduce your child to some of the magazines designed just for children. With bold photographs, poems and a joke or two, magazines are another reading choice for beginning readers. Or catch up on the news in your community and share a smile over the comics.
9. Computers: Most public libraries offer free Internet access, computers with educational games for kids, and valuable online resources for teenagers.

Graduation Season

I’ve been very busy this week. I’ve had four graduations this week; two nieces & two nephews. First, it was my nephew Christopher’s High school graduation, then it was my nephew Randall’s graduation from Middle school, lastly, it was the twins, Brooke & Ashley’s High school graduation last night.

Randall is going to a local private school; Brooke & Christopher are going to the local community college; while Ashley is going to a college in Arizona.

I am so very proud of all of the graduates. Two of them overcame great difficulties. Brooke became a mother @ the beginning of 11th grade, but still managed to graduate with extra credits. Christopher had a rough time & ended up falling behind. He’s a year older than Brooke & Ashely & was supposed to graduate last year. However, he pulled it together, started going to Adult school & managed to make up all his credits he was lacking. He graduated on Monday, so he still ended up graduating before the twins. Albeit it was only two days before, he still kept his rightful place as the big brother and graduated first.

Hats off to all the Graduates. I’m so proud.

HERE’S TO 2010!

Dial-A-Story Volunteers Needed!

Dear Readers,
I have a favor to ask. I contacted Mary @ Dial A Story to see if the list was
up to date for a post I was writing. She responded that it was, but she had a simple request. She
wanted to know if there was anyone who wanted to help keep the list updated. The process is really
simple. When you notice a story that needs to be changed, simply look-up the correct ISBN “book number”
at a library web site, or at amazon.com or bn.com. We will then enter the correct ISBN and the have
the information updated automatically.
So, if you would like to help, periodically visit the page @ dialstory.com & help keep the
list up to date.

Thank you,

Leila

HERE’S TO 2010!

How Can Something So Small…

Taken directly from Diva Zone Magazine.com:

I get this magazine (Through snail mail & e-mail) that one of my sisters-in-law writes for. I love it. It’s full of great articles.Well, today had this fantastic article. I loved it so much because I have vertigo and have been experiencing crises of faith. This article spoke to me so much. I hope it does the same for you.

-Leila-

How Can Something So Small Have Such a Big Effect?

A few weeks ago I started suffering from dizzy spells. If I got up too soon or turned around too fast the room would spin and completely disorient me. I could not walk a straight line and appeared to the human eye to be inebriated! I would fall down or end up in the closet trying to walk to my dresser. I went to the doctor and he said I had vertigo. That is something that causes your equilibrium to be off balance. He told me I had a small calcium deposit (a small stone) in my inner ear and when it moved or I moved a certain way that’s what caused me to become dizzy. I thought to myself you mean to tell me something as small as a grain of sand can throw my whole body completely out of whack?! Wow! But it also started me to thinking about how Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can say to this mountain to move and it will!! A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds there is, but it produces one of the largest plants. Because of this small stone in my ear I have to learn to do things differently. I have to be aware of how I move, especially when driving. Lord, how can something so small have such a large effect on my life?

Well, I was determined to find the lesson in this experience. And this is what God has shown me. There is an old saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” Honey sometimes the small stuff is all you need to accomplish the big stuff. You only need a small window of opportunity to build a legacy. Small steps lead to big strides and yes even the smallest amount of faith (mustard seed faith), can produce big miracles and big blessings! You don’t have to sweat the small stuff… but don’t overlook the small stuff either. It can either throw you off balance or you can learn to work around it, or use it to accomplish bigger things!

Love, Peace and Hair Grease! (Royal Crown)

Valerie Davis a.k.a. Ms. Val

Arts & Entertainment Driector

The DIVA Zone Enterprises LLC

CONGRATULATIONS LOS ANGELES BLACK BOOK EXPO (LABBX)!

Well, it’s seems as if congratulations are in order for The LABBX. We’ve just won Literary Event of the Year by the African Americans on the Move Book Club. Here’s the link: http://aambcvoting.blogspot.com

Eight Ways To Get Your Child To Read For The Summer

Taken directly from The New York State Library website.

Eight Ways To Get Your Child To Read For The Summer

1. Get your child a library card @ your local library.
2. Sign your child up for the Summer Reading program @ the local library.
3. Read with your child every day. Take advantage of “waiting” time to share books: on trips, @ the doctor’s office, at the grocery store.
4. Take a basket of books for reading breaks for the sun, water, and sand at the beach, lake, or pool.
5. Read on your own & talk to your child about what you’re reading. Families who share reading experiences have children who read well.
6. Visit the library every week and bring the whole family. Need books in languages other than English? Ask a librarian.
7. Use the closed captioning during TV shoes so children see the words as they hear them.
8. Keep a list on the refrigerator of the books everyone has read during the summer.

For more information, visit: www.summerreadingnys.org

LOS ANGELES BLACK BOOK EXPO 2010!

***ATTENTION***

The Los Angeles Black Book Expo has moved from the Expo Center near USC. It will now be held @ the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near L.A.X.

WHAT: The Los Angeles Black Book Expo

WHEN: Saturday, August 21, 2010

WHERE: L.A.X. Sheraton

TIME: 12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Taken directly from the LABBX website: The Los Angeles Black Book Expo (LABBX) will be held August 21, 2010 at the Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel. We will host a full day of activity featuring authors, storytellers, spoken word and poetry performances, musicians, exhibitors, children’s book authors, emerging writers, publishers, booksellers, panel discussions, editors, book reviewers, and others.

Elizabeti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Elizabeti’s Doll (2002), written by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen & illustrated by Christy Hale is the cutest little book. I would recommend it for little girls ages 6- 9. Phillise is 8 years old and she loved it.

“This is the best book, Mom,” she said. So, I asked her if she wanted to watch it on the Scholastic Treasury Collection (Is Your Mama a LLama?)  that we have. She did, so we watched that after she read the book. She was a little disappointed that it wasn’t animated like some of the other ones, but she liked it just the same. I would definitely recommend this book to little girls who are about to be big sisters, or for those who just want something to call their own.

This book, set in Tanzania, is inspired by the author’s own experience from her time spent as as Peace Corp volunteer in Tanzania. Elizabeti, the heroine of the book, is a cute little  5 or 6 year old who decides she needs a doll she can care for the way her mother cares for her new baby brother. She finds the perfect doll that she names Eva. Elizabeti cares for Eva as well as her mother cares for her little brother, Obedi.

When Mama gives Obedi a bath, Elizabeti gives Eva a bath. When Mama fed and burped Obedi, Elizabeti fed Eva, but Eva was too polite to burp. Mama changed the cloth wrapped around Obedi’s bottom and it was very messy! Elizabeti was very relieved that Eva’s bottom was still clean.

When Mama did her chores, she tied Obedi onto her back with a bright cloth called a kanga. When Elizabeti did her chores, she also tied Eva onto her back with a kanga. Mama had to help a little.

The trouble begins when Elizabeti sets Eva down so she won’t be lonely while she perform her chores. She can’t find her. What is she going to do? I guess you’re going to have to read it to find out. As always, visit your local library or bookstore to find it.

I thought this was the cutest little story. It’s especially appropriate for any little girl whose soon to be a big sister. Even though Phillise is not a big sister (and never will be), she still loved the book.

** Although the list price for this is $12.95, I purchased it for $5 @:

Smiley’s Bookstore

20220 S. Avalon Blvd., Suite D,

Carson, CA, 90746

(310) 324-8444

There’s a small used book section, where I purchased a couple of Magic Tree House books & one A-Z Mystery books. Check it out!

How Do I Determine the Reading Level of A Book?

How Do I Determine the Reading Level of a Book? Well, that’s a good question. I wondered that very question aloud in a classroom where I worked as an assistant before I became a teacher. The teacher was very knowledgeable. As so often happens when you’re around very knowledgeable people, a question is rewarded with a very knowledgeable answer. She showed me where it’s printed on the back of the book. If you turn the book over on some books, you may see something like RL 2.6. This stands for Reading Level for a child in 2nd grade, the 6th month of school.

Because of my experience, I can automatically look @ a book and tell what the reading level is. I know that not everyone can do this, so I’ve compiled several different ways of determining the reading level of a book.

• First, there’s the 5 Finger test method. As your child mispronounces a word, hold up a finger up. If you have put up all your fingers by the time your child is through the page for a longer page or a paragraph for the whole book, it’s too hard for them.

On the same website as above, there’s a test that I’d never heard of called the Goldilocks test. When you think about it it makes perfect sense. By asking yourself or someone else a few simple questions, you can determine if the book is too easy, too hard, or just right. Here’s the link: GOLDILOCKS RULE.

• eHow: How to Determine the Reading Level,
• Hoagie’s Gifted Education Page,
• Fry’s Readability Graph on Wikipedia & Readability’s Formula.com (very understandable),
• Yet another wonderful resource @ Genoa Schools.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but should be very helpful!

HERE’S TO 2010!

EDUTOPIA Leadership Conference

I received this e-mail from Sabrina Smith, Marketing Director @ EDUTOPIA regarding a leadership conference being held next week, June 18, 2010.

This day long workshop, a collaboration between the Educational Leadership Program at the Kalmanovitz School of Education Saint Mary’s College of California and Edutopia, will bring together inspiring leaders and experts who have had success in making a difference in the lives of others.

Among the topics and speakers:

• What is Working in California Schools / Gavin Payne, Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Designing Transformative Schools / Bob Lenz, Chief Education Officer and Co-Founder of Envision Schools
• Transforming our Schools / Wesley Sever, Ed.D., Principal, John S. Walsh Elementary; recipient of the Terrel Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership
• Working Effectively with Adolescents / Michael Riera, Ph.D., Head of School, Redwood Day School; one of the country’s foremost authorities on understanding children and teenagers.

We hope that you will spread the word about this exciting program. The cost of the workshop is $25, which includes breakfast, lunch, and materials. To register, go to www.stmarys-ca.edu/SLI.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Proehl, Ph.D.
Director, Ed.D. Program
Saint Mary’s College of CA, Kalmanovitz School of Education

Sabrina Smith
Director, Marketing & Communications
Edutopia, The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Busy, Busy, Busy!

As the title states, I am busy, busy, busy! I am busy putting my children’s pictures in albums that I made with my Zutter bookbinding machine. I am so ashamed to say that I’ve lost some of their school pictures. But, I’ll improvise with some of the pictures I have. I’ll post pics when I finish.

HERE’S TO 2010!

R.I.P. John Wooden (1910-2010)

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. **
~John Wooden~

While I was watching E.S.P.N. early this morning with my husband, I heard the news about the passing of one of America’s greatest treasures, Mr. John Wooden (1910-2010). He succumbed from natural causes just shy of his 100th birthday. This is odd to say, but I expected him to live for another couple of years. His passing was like George Burns’. I know he was up there in age, but whenever I watched U.C.L.A.’s basketball games, I enjoyed seeing him and expected to continue seeing him.

I, of course, did not personally know him, but I still admired him.He was loved by all. What I liked most about him is that no one spoke ill of him. Everyone loved him. That is some feat. I know it was because he treated everyone from the shoeshine boy to the billionaire with the same respect.

GOOD-BYE MR. WOODEN. You will be truly missed!

** I had a hard time narrowing down which one of his quotes to use.

HERE’S TO 2010!

The Importance Of Summer Reading!

Summer reading is soooooo important.  Obviously, children aren’t in school for the summer. For most, that means no structure. Read: If they don’t have to read, they don’t and/or won’t. But, you have to get your children to read by any means necessary. According to research on summer reading loss, if your child doesn’t read during the summer, they lose information. However, if they do read, they not only retain information, but gain points on their standardized test scores. This is why I am an avid proponent of reading, especially summer reading.

If you’d like to read it yourself, here’s the ERIC link: SUMMER LEARNING LOSS. Check it out!

HERE’S TO 2010!

Dial-A-Librarian or Dial-A-Story

I love the Public Library System. They have so many services available. They have definitely stepped up their game & stepped into the 21st century. They have this great feature called Dial-A-Librarian or Dial-A-Story. Your child is able to call up the number and hear a story over the phone.

I called the libraries and you do not have to live in their area. The only thing you have to worry about is your long distance bill as some of the numbers are not local. Here are a list of numbers of the librarians that participate in the Dial-A-Librarian program:

City of Santa Clara- (408) 241-1611.  (http://library.santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=1600)

Toronto Public Library- (416) 395-5400 (http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/spe_ser_dialastory.jsp)

Salina Public Library- (785) 823-3333 (http://www.salpublib.org)

Marin Public Library- (415) 499-6051   (http://www.marinlibrary.org/kids/dial-a-story/index.php)

I found another huge Dial-a-Story list (Thanks to Phone Phun), complete with pictures: (http://dialastory.highachievement.org). I called a couple of the numbers. The list is not current, but other stories are still available.

I have used the Dial-A-Librarian service. It was when Purplicious first came out & I wanted to know if the book was any good before I bought it. Sure enough, I was read the whole story and decided to buy it. So, check out this service. It’s nice!

HERE’S TO 2010!

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD!

Mediation: From this day forward…I will listen for the voice of the Lord to speak to my heart and MOVE when HE tells me to MOVE.  I will not block my own blessings with my limited thinking and finite logic.  I will TRUST that GOD is NOT confined to man’s rules and respond by MOVING in FAITH when it looks impossible because faith without works is dead!  In Jesus’ Name!  AMEN!

(From Diva Zone’s Daily Dose: divazonemagazine.com)