Taking a break from the iPad

Yes, this Christmas my hubby and I got an ipad.  Yes, we entered the world of being technologically cool.  (well, at least until apple comes out with a new gadget)  I read they had some convention that introduced all the new tablets, basically every other company's version of the ipad.  All reviews said that all the other company's don't even compete.  They are really all competing for second place.  The ipad, in all its splendor, can do so much BUT I am noticing one thing...it can consume your time.  I have had my ipad for a month (I got it a few weeks before Christmas because that is when I celebrated Christmas with my side of the family) and I am already having to put boudaries on that thing.  When you dont have anything to do the easiest thing to do is pick up the ipad.  Why not waste your time surfing the net once agian, why not play angry birds, why not find a new cool app?

A guy wrote an article about taking his ipad back because of this.  His thought was in the moments of boredom creativity comes out....great thoughts come.  I agree!  What about taking the time to think?  What about taking the time to help someone out or even just do something for yourself?  -HAve you ever had a computer/ipad 10 minutes?  Where you get on the internet for 10 minutes and you look up and its and hour later?  I promised my sweet dog a walk and then I surfed excercise time away from her!

Okay, I am not taking my ipad back but I am determined to use this thing for all it can do but also not use it all the time!  I need to put it down, walk my dog, and think!

Here are my favorite thing to do on the Ipad

• My husband really likes angry birds.  It gets old to me.
• I like ipaper.  Its a toilet paper roll game where you touch the screen as fast as you can get the toilet paper roll to unroll.  Its hillarious.  Its fun to challenge people in a group.  I can do it in 7 seconds.  Lees' cousin Stephanie can do it in four seconds!
• Pulse News - I can put all my blogs/news that I watch and they all pull up in a film strip.  If there is a new post I can see it and click on it.
• The ESPN app.  I can pick my team and it pops up whenever my team is playing and what the score is!  Perfect for OU basketball.  There are so many games that I could never keep up.
• Netflix - We don't have a t.v. in our room but now we can watch a movie as long as there is internet...aiport, car (my phone can be used for internet!)  Its way better than any portable DVD player.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Well, it snowed last night and I forgot my camera!  My phone couldn't get a good picture kamp in the snow.  It didn't snow much but enough to make kamp look white!  I am hearing across the country that alot of people got snow days today.  I am wondering if you are getting to stay home today.  Some of you will get to stay home tomorrow.  Here are my top ten things that I love to do on a snow day.  (I didn't get one by the way...I had to fight the snow to get to work.  Well, it wasn't that much of a fight.  The roads were clear.  Anyway, here we go...

Top Ten Great Things about a Snow Day

#10 - Sleeping in.  I loved hearing the news cancel school when I was your age.  I headed straight back to bed.

#9 - Drinking Hot Chocolate by the fire. - My family always had a wood burning fire place.  We would get that thing going.

#8 - Snuggling up and watching a movie.- There is something fun about watching a movie when you should be in school.

#7 - Making Snow Ice cream. - Need the recipe?  Click here

#6 - Reading a book. - I never get to read so why not when you are given time to!

#5 - Making a snow man - Check this creative snowman.  Do you think you can outdo this one?  I guess its not a snow man, but a snow train!

#4 - Sledding or Skiing - Be careful though...you could get hurt doing this!  Don't be like these people

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#3 - Snowball fights. - One time when I was on K-Life staff my K-Life co worker played a funny joke on me.  I had two doors that went out side my first floor townhouse.  He spent hours rolling up two HUGE snowballs (it came up to my waist) and put it in front of my doors.  I couldn't get out.  Well I could but I had to hoist myself up and over the snowball (or should I say Iceball)  It was too heavy to move on my own.  I had to wait until it melted but I ended up having to move it from my doors so the melted snow wouldn't flood into my house!

#2 - Eating Chili.  I love chili.  And my husband is making his tonight.  And guess what...He was a trip man at kamp so his chili kind of tastes like the soup version of those yummy trip sloppy joes.  YUMMMM!!!!

#1 - Watching the news all day to find out I have yet another snow day tomorrow and I get to do 1-9 all over again!

Have fun and be safe!

Talents that Amaze Me

Yesterday Michelle posted on my blog about a street performer that she way performing at the Belvedere Castle where my husband proposed.  She gave me the link to this video for me to see.  I was amazed. I had to share it with you.  Then my mind went to many questions.  How do you learn this skill?  How did someone discover that this was possible?  Can you play any song or just that one?  How many times do you accidentally cut yourself on the saw?

Then I thought about my engament story and how my husband had to politely ask some bird watchers if they wouldn't mind moving so he could propose in the location he wanted to.  (click here to see where)  What if she was there that day, in that spot, instead of the bird watchers?  Would she have moved?  Or if she was there but not in that location...would I have been distracted by her talent?  These are the thoughts that go through my head.  Enough rambling by me...check it out.  Thanks Michelle for commenting.  I love getting response back!  I wish I could get her to come and perform at our annual Kanakuk K-1 talent show.

Broadway, Times Square, New York.....You and Your Mom?

"Start spreading the News"...(come on everyone imagine me in the Rockettes kickline right now as I sing this song.) 

"Im leaving today".... (well, not really but it could be fun)

"I want to be be apart of it...New York, New York."   - The fact is I have been apart of it!  Yep, one of my dearest friends used to live there AND I got engaged in New York!  Yep, my husband sent me on a scavenger hunt that started in Branson and ended up in the big city.  Here is the place in central park where Lee proposed.  Its called the Belvedere Castle.

See the place where the people are standing.  That is where Lee and I were standing when he got down on one knee!!!!! Lee had to ask to people bird watching if they didn't mind leaving for a few moments.  Funny story for another time.

Anyways, enough about me.  Lets talk New York...... Whats not to see in the city that never sleeps?  (I always had to sleep when I was there...you walk everywhere!)

Broadway Plays....

The Statue of Liberty.....

Ellis Island......

China Town... ( i like to get purses for cheap!  They also have the best icecream place. It has lots of weird but good flavors)

Times Square.....

Awesome Street Performers....

The famous Piano at FAO Schwarz

You and your mom? (Dont know who they are...couldn't find one of me and my mom.)  Thanks google!

Kanakuk?

Yep.  That's right.  Kanakuk has a Mother Daughter Retreat THIS April.  If you are 12 years old or older you and your mom can sign up to go to New York City and see it all!  The dates are April 14th-17th.  Kay Holiday is your tour guide (she goes every year so she know it well) and you will have a blast spending time with your mom! I am trying to figure out how I can get Kay to let me go.  Hmmmm, Chaperone?  No, moms are there they don't need another chaperone.  What about China Town Purse finder?  Or maybe trip luggage carrier?  Maybe best street performer finder?  Ooooo!, I know....Today show sign maker!  I probably wont get to go but you can think of me if you vist the Belvedere castle in central park.  Oh, and you have to buy a traditional I love New York T!  (logo above)

If you are interested tell your mom and tell her to email tracy@kanakuk.com for more info.

A Little Decor for You

I love to check blogs and I found this fun blog that gives you great ideas for crafts.  I don't have time to check every single blog that is out there.  (really, that would consume my entire day) and this one is nice becuase whoever the author is checks the blogs and posts a highlight list everyday! The blog is:

http://www.oneprettything.com/

Anyway, I found this on her blog.

 

Its a fun printable that you can print out and frame for your room.  What's cool is that its the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians!  Its modern, fun and could be a great way to get God's Word in your heart.  If you see it everyday it your room I am sure you will get it memorized :)

Click here for the original post.  You will have to scroll down and the author tells you how to download it.  Once its downloaded you can print it out on your printer from your printer.  If you want the color you must have a color printer.  If not, print it in gray and put it in a really fun colorful frame!

Above all the purpose is to remind you to have the fruits of the Spirit.  We should strive everyday to have love, joy, peace, patience (same as long suffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

My itunes card

I got an itunes gift card in my stocking this year so I decided to use it the other day.  One of the things that I wanted to purchase was Lecrae's new album.  Its awesome so I thought I would share it with you.  Rest assured that lots of these tunes will be played at kamp.

Here is one of my favorites



LOOK KAMP's THEME SONG MADE IT ON THE ALBUM!!



This is a fun upbeat one


This is a little lower key but I like it.


So, maybe if you got your itunes gift card this Christmas you can put them in your playlist.

My Holiday Break

I am back!  Sorry it has been so long since I have posted.  I took two weeks off for Christmas.   I don't get to see my family a ton because of my job at kamp so I wanted to give them my undivided attention.  Here was my Holiday Break:

• I had my first round of the flu in a long time.  I missed my mom and wanted her to feed me chicken noodle soup! I hate getting the flu!
• I got better and drove 15 hours to Pittsburgh PA and then 15 hours home to branson a week later.
• I cheered for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• It snowed every day while I was there.
• I ate a greasy philly cheesesteak sandwich, lots of carmel popcorn, and tons of Christmas food.
• I got to meet Lee's cousin Randy who I have never met before. He has Cerebel Palsy and is in a wheel chair.  I have never met anyone so joyful.
• I got to go to a Christmas Display where I learned about all the Santas in the world.  Who knew there were so many!
• I went to a Christmas Eve service in an old beautiful church.  We got to sing songs by Candlelight.  That was neat.
• My family tried to take a serious Christmas picture.  It took a few times but I think we got a good one.

• I learned of a new Wii game.  Just Dance 2.  We played it all break.  If you want to see a funny video of my Husband and brother-in-law playing the game check out my facebook wall.  Its pretty funny
• I made a new headboard for my guest bedroom.  I will post pics.
• I played on my new ipad.  I must admit it is addicting. (thanks Dad) 
• We played Christmas bells with the family.  (its a fun game where you have to play Christmas music together with bells.  I laughed alot)
• I tackled the furniture store Ikea. That place is huge.  I am trying to figure out how I can live in it for a week. (the literally set up living spaces. to showcase their stuff.  I think its possible!)
• I got to sleep in!  I love sleeping in!

Now I am back.  I am ready to blog again!  Can't wait to see some of you in 6 months!  That's right, once Christmas is over and the New Year begins....that means Kamp is around the corner.