The Forgotten Verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner” | Dictionary.com Blog

The Forgotten Verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner” | Dictionary.com Blog

The Writer's Journey: Reviews Do Help (and Hurt!) Authors

The Writer's Journey: Reviews Do Help (and Hurt!) Authors: When you hear the word review or feedback, often you might think of a product you purchased online at eBay or other auction sites. Perhaps y...

April Showers bring May Flowers...unless we have no April showers then we get May Haboob's

Hi everyone;

Yes, we are anxiously awaiting rain. We are as low on water as we were during the dust bowl. I am going to hand a sign in my house "you may touch the dust, please don't write in it." With the promise of rain and hail this week (today and tomorrow) I have kept my baby plants under the carport. We just had a hint of lightning last night.

I am balancing so many manuscripts right now, sometimes it is very hard to concentrate. I participated in NaPiBoWe, (National Picture Book Week) and managed to start 7 new books. Now is the time to polish them and put them on story board.

Like I had nothing else to do, I signed up for the sketchbook project. The sketchbook will live in the NY museum of art. The books go on tour in the US and we got to choose what sort of theme they will have. I picked West Texas Icons. The first focus will be on Buddy Holly. Did you know that Peggy Sue is still alive and living in Lubbock? Let's see: horny toads, Tech, Famous singers from Lubbock, KDAV radio station, walk of fame, wind mills, Jackrabbits or Jackalopes, cottonfields, sunsets, dirt, cowboy boots, horses, beer, putting it together will be so much fun!

New Direction for the blog

I feel like I need to make mention of the new direction I am going to take this blog. Alexander Graham Cracker has two pages and a facebook. You can now follow him at www.facebook.com/alexandergrahamcracker ; you can see him on AlexanderGrahamCracker.blogspot.com, and the web page at http:/www.grahamcrackers.net

The new focus on here will be of history, political viewpoints, and guest bloggers. I feel like our country is sliding into Fascism and our history is slowly being erased. We need a record of what is going on in our country so people who come behind us will know the truth.

Alexander Graham Cracker Goes to the Moon book trailer

Thanksgiving 2013

Well, here we go. Another Thanksgiving and I am so thankful for my life, husband, family, etc. I can't count them all. Yes, there has been negatives this year, but the blessings far outweigh them. It is 1:00 am and I am still up cooking for tomorrow. Today was Jacob's 12th birthday and I didn't get to see him or talk to him. We will celebrate his birthday next week. I am making him a chocolate chip cheesecake with Minons on the top. We have already celebrated Benny's birthday on the 18th with Minions cupcakes. I took them to Chuy's bar and the bar tender and the waitress gave me a free margarita for cupcakes. They boys were so excited that MomMo made such cool things for them. They took the rest home. The only reason I'm making cheesecake for Jacob is because it's his fav.

Tonight I almost finished the dressing, it's waiting for AaBi's contribution, I finished the yam's, the pumpkin cream pie, and now I am making Trace's Turkey Cookies. This makes me very happy. Momma Jean made these for Trace since he was in the 2nd grade. I have taken up the gauntlet and the original cookie cutter and he had to have two before he went to bed tonight. I feel like she is here, watching over us and smiling. I hope I dream about her tonight. I miss her so much. She made me very happy and we had such a connection. Trace told me she "fell in love" with me and I did with her. If anyone reflected God's light, she did. When she died, I was awed by the amazing comments people made about her. There wasn't an unkind word. Ever. It is so wonderful to have two Mom's. They both are so different but I love them both. Taking care of her during the last year or so of her life was amazing. This woman took on Alzheimer's with courage and valor.  BTW the turkey breast and the chicken legs are in the crock pot. AaBi's bringing green bean casserole and oyster's for the dressing. I can't wait until we are playing games tomorrow and eating until we burst!

Today I realized that when my Mom passes, (not for a long time) I will become the matriarch of the family. It scared me. I need meds to deal with that one.

For tomorrow, as mentioned above, I've already started some of the feast. Tomorrow morning we will put up the winter clothes and pack the summer clothes. Mop the floors and clean the bathroom. Set the table with Blue Willow dishes and beautiful Autumn  Table cloth and a candle in a Chianti Wine Bottle. Trace will make his fabulous mashed potatoes. I have chilled wine and I suppose Mike will bring his beer. The sad thing is that the children won't be here. So it will be the four of us trying to make light of the fact we are childless. I almost cannot wait till Christmas.

Anyway, while all this is going on, I am crocheting hand gloves, making sock monkies, and mailing out signed copies of my book. Next week I need to get busy on making homemade Christmas presents so I can get them mailed. I don't think any of the kids will be here except for AaBi and Mike and Possibly Jessica. She is moving back from Austin. I will be so happy to have her here. I wish the other kids could be here as well despite WWIII starting.

I miss my sister and brother so much. Even Mom. I love the fact that I am the head of my family, but I need my Mom and family too, sometimes. Especially since Tracy's parents are gone. (oh, that means that Pam is the matriarch of the family...scary!)

God, Bless my efforts to promote my book and book sales. Bless the books that I am working on now. Bless Trace's business as Bella Vita. Please help us and make us a profitable business. I also pray for Dr. Williams. Her Mother just passed away and she was in the hospital with lungs full of blood clots. Please help her with her health and cure her. Let her have a long life in your service. Thank you letting us find a place to worship and adore you.

I love you Lord,

LaNell Koenig-Wilson

Perspective of Christian Mothers

Christian Perspective of Mother’s Role in the Home                                                                620 words

 

Christian Mom’s at Home

 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord Our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk with them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6: 4-8

 

As Mom’s we have an awesome responsibility to instill our children with God’s love and teach His Word. God commands us to impress His Words upon their hearts, when we sit down to talk, when we walk, before going to bed and in the morning. This isn’t too difficult a task when our children are younger, but what if they are middle school and high school? Sometimes it’s hard enough to get them to look up from their smart phone and acknowledge your presence let alone talk. How do we break through in this new “season” of parenting?

Prayer, Persistence, Purpose.

Cover your children in prayer. Have friends you can call on for a prayer chain. Let God help you impress His Word upon their hearts. He didn’t say you had to do it all by yourself!

Be persistent in talking with your children about God. They are at a crossroads in their lives. The decisions they make now can affect them the rest of their lives. They need God’s Word more than ever. Memorizing scripture can be very helpful when they are faced with temptations and character choices.

 

 

It’s amazing what words God will bring to mind when they need that prompting to make the right choice. We want them to know the Truth and be fully equipped to make wise decisions throughout life.

You have a purpose. God has given you a set of plans to develop your children’s character and a love for Him. As a Mom, you set a shining example of a child of God for your children. They watch carefully every move you make, your choices. Everyone is given freedom by God to make choices about how they will use their will. We can’t control their every move or even the direction of their hidden thoughts, nor would we want to.

Be sure you have God’s Word impressed upon your heart also. You don’t have to be perfect, just truthful and open. You are the beacon that guides your children home, teach them to find comfort there and in God’s amazing word.

“Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise, apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have them ready on your lips.” Proverbs 22:17, 18

“She is clothed with strength and dignity;

She can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Proverbs 31:25-28

        As a woman and Mom, we are created to have a positive impact on people around us – husbands, children, parents, friends, the stranger in the checkout line…being a wise, strong, dignified woman of God blesses others as well as your family.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30