Grace talk soup tune in tomorrow again!

I am so looking forward to tuning in to the Grace Talk soup tomorrow! Even though I know I'll be frantically packing, I can have my phone on speaker phone and nearby. I got tons of clothes to pack! Plenty enough for a 50 min segment!

I enjoyed it a lot last week! I called in a few minutes late because I was busy making 6 loaves of bread and welcomed my friend who ended up listening to the call on my speaker phone! I ended up listening to it again the next day on my iPod after downloading it straight to it. I found it very informative an encouraging.
So, if you have a minute even while working in the kitchen (like I was when I listened to the live call last week), or folding laundry, or cleaning your inbox, or whatever task you can easily do and listen at the same time, may I encourage you do it. Click on the badge on my side bar.

Oh, did you see I added an email me button? I was so excited to have found out how to do it. I've been wanting to for a long time but had not a clue how to. I found out from a very sweet blogger called Something I made and it took me a whole 5 mins to get it on. Thanks so much for being so generous to share the info and the images with us FREELY!
Get yourself one too! Super important for people to be able to reach you (comments have their place too though). Have a blessed day!

You know you are getting old when...

If I knew how to make those cute little buttons I'd make one named You know you are getting old when... and I know I'd have Mr. Linkys with some funny ones!

I've had so many "senior" moments lately I just had to blog about it. Ok, some of you might point out that it's not really a 'senior" moment (since I am only 35), but a condition called BMADD (Busy Mom Attention Deficit Disorder).

This week I have:

• walked out of my gym and almost started crying because I just could remember where I parked. I decided to walk around the parking lot instead of being a sissy.

• then, after I had found the car and dried it up, I drove away from my gym without checking my kids out from the kids' gym. The first and second were connected because if I had checked the kids out I would have been spared the emotional accident of blanking out on my parking spot. Actually I was in such a hurry to be at a softball game that I forgot to check out the playing kid. Thankfully I realized it by the time I got to the first traffic light when I realized no one has spoken to me in the last 3 minutes.
  

• Misplaced and found my phone at least twice, sun glasses once and keys, well never mind, it'll probably happen again next week.

What have you been doing with your mind lately?

Grace talk soup tune in tomorrow!

I am really enjoying listening to this newly found talk show. I added their widget on my sidebard. I really recommend it. It has been such an encouragement to me in my Christian walk. I am listening to the current one right now in the Defending the Faith Mini Series: "I'm a good person, why do I need God?" SOoooooo good. I hope to be able to tune in tomorrow for a new one! I can't even remember how I found these gals! I had it on my ipod yesterday and was on the track at my gym. I loved what I heard while sweating like crazy! I didn't even know I em subscribed. I got an em from them today reminding me about tomorrow's show and decided to check them out again. I am so glad I did!
Here is the info I got. check them out! Sub to them for updates if you like them. Reminders are so helpful in our busy age!

You have been invited by JoJo Tabares to join a live Community Call. Grace Talk Soup (Join in)
Host: Host-JoJo - jojo@artofeloquence.com
Episode: Defending the Faith Miniseries: "Men wrote the Bible, men make mistakes"
On the Menu: For the entire month of May, we will be discussing how to answer 4 of the most common questions and misunderstandings people have about Christianity. Another question from my study Say What You Mean Defending the Faith: http://artofeloquence.com/catalog.php?item=40&ret=index.php This week answers the common issue: "Men wrote the Bible, men make mistakes"
Call ID: 19736

Personal Message from the Host:

We answer the common issue, "Men wrote the Bible and men make mistakes." on tomorrow's Grace Talk Soup show. Join the discussion as Carla and I teach from my study, Say What You Mean Defending the Faith. All this month of May we are taking 4 of the most common questions and misconceptions the world has about Jesus from my study and answering them for you right on the air! We'll not only go through what to say, but most importantly, how to answer and treat each of God's children as an individual while you answer in grace. When: 8am PST/11am EST Where: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736 Or Call: (724) 444-7444 Call ID: 19736 If you miss the live show, you can always listen to the audio recording in the archives: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736 This is a powerful month at Grace Talk Soup so please invite your friends and family to come listen in. Remember that we are giving away a free copy of Say What You Mean Defending the Faith this week for our contest! Just email us gts@artofeloquence.com to tell us where you shared our link and you are entered. The more you share, the more chances you have to win! We'll be picking a winner on Thursday morning before the show! God bless... JoJo (Lucy Linguist) and Carla (Ethel the Editor) http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736

Scheduled Time:

Date: Thu, May 21, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM EDT

How to participate:

Call in:

1. Dial: (724) 444-7444
2. Enter: 19736 # (Call ID)
3. Enter: 1 # or your PIN

Join from your computer:

1. Click here to join the call or just listen along
2. (Optional) Become a TalkShoe member

Facebook user? You can join this Call directly through the TalkShoe Community Calling Facebook application.

Listen to the Recording:
If you missed this event or want to hear previous recorded episodes click here.

I ♥ Faces: Blurb Book Contest - Amateurs

This week I ♥ Faces is doing something a little different. The picture I'm entering today will be considered for a Blurb book they are putting together.

It was not easy to choose just one photo for this contest. But one it has to be, out all the pics I've taken in one year with my DSLR. This pic was taken on a very short( one week) break that my husband was home from working overseas. It was a crazy, super hectic week. But he got a taste of what it feels like to have 4 kids in ball. This day my oldest had no game and no practice (wow, how about that?) but she was watching her youngest sister's game. It was kind of cold for Alabama and she was snuggling with her daddy. I let her borrow my beret and I just had to snap the pic. I love this photo! It gives me warm memories about my hubby who will be home in just a few days! We've been separated for almost a year, wish short breaks in between! We hope and pray to be together from now on, even it costs us a lot of money to fly me and 4 kids to be with dad.

So, here is my only entry into the Blurb Book Cotest at

Aren't they cute?

I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

A very sweet photo bloggie friend came over today (an almost hour drive from her house to mine) and we edited pics together and I was sponging every tip from her!. We had so much fun together. I didn't want to rush her out! I had to take 2 kids to games and 2 to practices.
I loved learning today! The kids played happily, well, most of the time, after we ate lunch together. She also helped my oldest resize her very first hand made dress. My daughter is on cloud nine and will more than probably post it on her private blog. She looks cute as a button in it. I wouldn't have known how to resize a 14 down to a 10! I washed it and dried it in hopes of it shrinking but boy, was it still huge! Live and learn, but sew we did! I'll post her pic in another post! I think we got a ton of stuff done in about 3 hours! WOW! HOmeschool moms can really know how to squeeze a ton of stuff into a small amount of time!

Rosetta Stone Latin giveaway at Jen Ig's

I have personally tried Rosetta Stone a few times in our hsing journey and personally offered RS "help" on the Romanian version because I so want my kids to be able to talk to their grandpa. I don't know why I am not making a point to talk to them in Romanian.
Well, I know for one: I am lazy! I confess that is #1. All the excuses that the kids will speak the language of their peers is legit but it's not enough of an excuse.

• I am scared. I am not just scared of getting a ton more of rolled eyes, and i mean rolled eyes way out there in the back of their head! I am also scared of speaking Romanian in public or hearing my kids. Because of a few 4 letter words that have to be used like every other sentence in order to make a sentence in Romanian. That word is "Fac", which means I do. SO, nuf said here, I guess
  
• I am too busy and too tired of trying. I can't get my kids to listen to me and follow my directions in English. Examples just from the last few hours. Today my oldest dd wanted me to be there to help her finish her first hand made dress (at 9:30 at nite). I told her to stitch 2 rows so we can gather the skirt to match the bodice. She didn't do what I said. She was upset, so she set to do it again. She stitched way too far from the end and way too crooked. I gave her specific directions about both. My patience was fine, hers was wearing thin. You think I'd have patience in Romanian? 2 mins later my only son wants to beat me in a game of chess so badly that he doesn't hear me say: Can I please, make my move tomorrow (we play on line sitting next to each other on the couch, I know it's stupid but we get a kick out of it, besides, it's all recorded and I have proof if I win and I brag about it all over the www). So, I make a dumb move to just get it over and get him off my back and see him grin and think he is the smartest 13 yo in the world. He asks me why I made the stupid move. I tell him that I told him that I am tired and have to go to bed and he didn't listen to me, but kept moving. So, he doesn't hear me again and just gives me his queen as trade for my bad move. Can anyone hear me speak ENGLISH HERE? (and what am I doing blogging now when I was so tired that I couldn't play chess?)
  

Now, back to my topic, sorry.

When we lived in Louisiana the library there offered free access to any language of RS on line with the library card. We were spoiled rotten, I tell ya!Then, they shut that option down. I guess too many people were using it from their homes for FREE. I used it after we moved from the area till the card expired and RS decided it was time to stop the free use for everybody.
Now, I'd love to win any language of RS. It is an expensive program and worth it. So, I just saw this giveaway on my friend's blog and wanted to share it with all of you. Go enter too! YOu might win.

Rosetta Stone is the fastest way to learn a language and has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while — and you can WIN the *all new* version 3 Rosetta Stone Homeschool LATIN program… FOR FREE! This is the first year you can get Latin in the brand new Version III update.

This is a $259 program (and believe me it’s worth every penny!)
This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever! Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress- I love that!), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.

To win this most excellent Latin program copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR link to the contest from your facebook page and/OR email the information to your homeschool support group – Then go to the original page http://Jeneralities.com and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post. And good luck!

Vision Forum DVD giveway

Well, I just had to blog about another giveaway tonite, since it's going to be over tomorrow! It 's giveaway blog night, huh? Oh, but I did post some pics earlier too for the I heart faces challenge! Check it out a bit below. Its theme this week was laughter. Please, let me know if you like them.
So, hurry, if you want a chance, actually 4, if you try hard! My sweet friend Super Angel is offering one DVD from Vision Forum. I already chose mine and pray I win.

Camera strap slip cover giveaway!

Swanky Straps is having a great giveaway for a camera strap slip cover of our choice.

The slip covers measure 22” long by 2” wide. They are all reversible unless other wise noted and padded on either side, for your comfort.! Head over before I win! You get 4 chances to enter! I want a Hot Fire one! So, I'll be a hot mama taking pics! Oh, but now I saw the Tutti Frutti and feel bad. It's got some of my fav colors I couldn't find. Oh well, if I win maybe I can beg for a change!

I heart faces challenge-Laughter

This week challgenge at Iheart faces is Laughter! I had a really hard time choosing my fav pics.
I really am inspired by Iheart faces. It encourages me to get my camera out and take pics. I just love it. NO matter how busy I stay I have to find time to enjoy my hobbies.
For my kid entry I found this precious pic of a friend's daughter I took.

And of course for my adult entry there was no better choice than my very good friend with a gorgeous smile. Her laughter is as contagious as her smile! Back to work now!

Leaving the States and all that we are used to

Oh, I am not going to get into everything we are going to miss after we move from this great little town we grew to love. But, just one small thing I had to get out before my life turned totally crazy (as if having 4 kids playing ball is not crazy enough).
I was digging thru my pics today looking for 2 pics to enter in the weekly I heart faces challenge and just had to blog this pic as a reminder to myself. We will be leaving in a few weeks a place we've called home for over two years. We called home a small apartment in Panama City, Panama last year the whole month of August. The prices for food, imported food, which is everything that is not fruit or veggie grown locally, are outrageous! I am going to miss my favorite spagetti/pizza sauce. Check how much it is in Panama! I didn't want to look stupid taking pics of cream cheese ($3), cottage cheese and even meat! There are no sales there, people, OK? SO, next time you consider complaining about the prices in the grocery stores, just think how good we still have it here. We can clip coupons, order in bulk and shop sales fliers or just go to Walmart and match the prices from all the stores in the area. We have so many choices. Yes, food is getting more expensive here and so are our taxes on everything we buy. But, our salaries are not compared to the people in Panama or anywhere else in the world who have to buy food from the same store to eat! I, for one, am reminded and humbled daily not to complain. I feel blessed. But I will miss my Hunt's sauce for I haven't seen any tomatoes when I lived in Panama to make my own sauce. I'll have to get creative cooking there. I dread it, I'll confess, my friends. So, please, send me recipes without spagetti sauce!

Faith like Potatoes?! Yes, just like that!

Different title for a post, huh? Well, I wasn't the creator of such a witty title. But it took me to finish watching till the end to get the point.
We got the movie from Netflix a week ago and today was the first day we could actually find time in the pm to watch it. Every day of the week there is either games or practices (or both). Ds played Thur and Fri games. His are way long and go way late. I love family movie nite! I actually sat through the whole movie (except the last 15 min, it was getting too long for me to sit still) and cuddled with the girls.
I thought it was a great movie. A bit slow for more than half but oh, the message was so good. I loved listening to the characters' accents as well.

Here is a bit more info on the movie. Sorry I can't write more on my own review . I have a bad headache and need some rest but I just wanted to get this out asap before life gets even more hectic this week. I have to start packing seriously on top of a busy ball week.

So, here it goes. There is even a free discussion guide on the Christian Cinema site. Be blessed!

Faith Like Potatoes is an inspiring true story of a rugged South African farmer, Angus Buchan, and is set in the turbulent hills of the KZN Midlands. Angus' manic quest for material success is slowly transformed into a wild love for God and people, as he wrestles with faith, hope, natural disasters and tragic personal loss.

The DVD is loaded with bonus features, including:

• A fascinating 54-minute documentary on the real life of Angus Buchan
• The behind-the-scenes featurette of The Making of Faith Like Potatoes
• Director and cast commentary

Faith Like Potatoes won the People’s Choice Award at the 2006 Sabaoth International Film Festival and Best Feature at the 2006 Mumbai International FICTS Festival.

Faith Like Potatoes is one of the top 5 grossing domestic theatrical releases in South African movie history.

The winner of my giveaway!

I am so excited to announce the winner of my first giveaway-4 Scripture Sleuth books! Check her out at Seasons of a Godly woman blog and congratulate this fellow HSB!
Thank you all for entering!

Week 17 - Photo Challenge at I ♥ Faces-hats

I couldn't find a picture for the adult category at I heart faces, one of my fav photo blogs, so I will only enter the kids'! there is still time. The deadline has been extended. If I can find an adult hat photo I'll add it tomorrow.

I love this one because it also reminds me when it was taken-on my hubby's most recent visit at home. He took us all to Johny Brusco's (our fav pizza place and it's walking distance from our home(for just another month).
So, my handsome 13 yo munching on some pizza. He knows he is cute already, so I am not gonna feed his pride. He doesn't read my blog though!

Question about blurring the background-is it possible with a point and shoot?

I had a an em from a reader and decided to post it since there are others who might the same question -How does one achieve the blurred background effect without a fancy camera?. I asked my very good friend from Endless Light Creations to help me answer this questions. Thank you so much, dear friend!
Hope this helps!
Bless y'all and happy pic taking!

Rachel asked:

I was looking at your blog about the photos your kids entered into the contest. I was wondering how you add the depth to the photos. I love photography but am new to the whole digital editing. I noticed your kids photos have the depth that has to be added back in but I have never known how to do it. I only have basic free editing software but can't afford the expensive ones. Is there a way to do it with the cheap ones? All I know how to do is crop and adjust the color.

Dear Rachel!
I didn't add the depth of field in post processing. That came about from the aperture setting in camera.

The best way to get that effect with a point and shoot camera is to:
1. Choose the portrait (head) setting.
2. Pull your subject away from the background.
3. Zoom in as far as you can with your camera (just the optical zoom, not the digital zoom.)
4. Step back to get everything you want in the frame.
5. Click the shutter.

Your mileage is going to vary with this method, but it gives you a place to start. Unfortunately point and shoots don't offer the flexibility of settings like an SLR or a DSLR camera does. Sometimes you can fool it into giving the results you want.

If you are more interested in learning about how your camera works, may I recommend the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's complicated, but I read it the first time while I still had my point and shoot. I keep my copy at the library, LOL.

Alien Skin Bokeh Giveaway at I ♥ Faces

This is a great giveaway at my favorite photo blog I heart faces for those who love photo editing software. Head on and comment, twitter, etc for more entries. I hope to win!