Our piece of the Prairie

Video Seminar on how the new CPSIA Law will effect children's products.

 There is a lot of people confused about the "new" CPSIA law that was passed last Aug.  Until the last few months most people had not heard of it at all. 

A blah of a start

Well this new year has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start . . . .  Not that I had any wonderful stupendous plans but hey, for a lack of a better word:
Blah.
My Bah Humbug isn’t for Christmas it’s for the New Year.
It didn’t start with a bang but more of a wheeze- the whoosh of that last bit of air going out of my sails.
Pffffftttt.
So I sit here thinking perhaps I should postpone New Years until February. Just skip the whole month of January . . . . .
Lovely thought.
Not reality but still . . . .
This isn’t how I wanted things to start off . . . .
‘Course how we ended 2008 wasn’t exactly according to my grand plan either . . . .
Ah well.
You know what they say- God laughs when we make plans.
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9
So, I guess it was the Lord’s determining how these things are progressing rather than my own.
And that is, of course, for the best.
I am determined not to let the joy suckers of my life suck me dry.
My joy comes from the Lord and He never runs dry.
So what’s a girl to do?
Well for starters- I need to finish putting away Christmas. I love putting it all up but I simply dread taking it all down. Even more so this year.
And: Start boxing up some old youth ministry books and making room on the shelves. I’ve got two bookcases full of youth ministry books here at my home office and I know I won’t be using it all in the next 4 months—so its going to get boxed up and stored in the youth room @ church. I’m pretty sure this will make me feel a bit better.
I don’t like clutter- I like order and to see space between things.
Perhaps it will all feel like more of reality if things start “going away”.
Know something funny?
I’m thinking up and writing some great youth lessons right now- I haven’t been this “on” in a long time. Probably comes from the freedom of knowing . . . .
Last week I took my paper shredder in . . . . . I proclaimed it Good Riddance Day and had the youth fill out a paper with all the things they hated/disliked about 2008. All the hurts and pains etc. I had them write it all down- give it over to God and shred it! Say: Good Riddance to bad rubbish!
I then handed out papers that said “HOPE” and “Shine in 2009”. We read verses about our real hope being found only in Jesus and in maintaining a relationship with him and then each youth wrote at least one thing they hope for in 2009- not an item like a new snowboard or car but something they need- something they need to hope in. I.E: I hope to get along better with my family. I hope to spend more time in the Bible. I hope to keep up my grades. Stuff like that.
It was an excellent study. One we all could do . . . . .
Do you have some things about 2008 you would like to say “Good Riddance” to? Why don’t you do it- if you don’t have a shredder- how about just setting the paper on fire?

It seems I am beginning to find my way again and blaze a trail . . . .
I must say it is a bit more than a trifle exciting!

swim & gym

Swim and Gym was great! We all get use of hte facilities for $25 for 5 weeks (on Friday)! I wouldn't go more than once a week anyway and we'll take Feb off cuz of our vacation. Since Joey moved from red necklace (which is hte I still wear floaties and am contained to this one small area) to the yellow necklace (which must be the I can't swim, don't wear floaties but will let you know if I"m drowning stage), I can leave him. The lifeguard today was VERy attentive and actually stood right by the area that JOey was in. This means that another mom and I can WALK in the gym while they swim! My boys really didn't get out of the pool (I didnt' figure they would) and it's totally contained. Plus another HS mom stays in the pool area. Mat's a green necklace (those are the only 3 colors) and has run of the pool.

After that we went to a store that I heard was closing. I was BUMMED to hear that! Well, I was REALLY bummed at the Y cuz I was told that it was already closed! I went anyway and it's not closed. Then to get Mat's crickets and then to the McDs. I ordered a med french vanilla capp like I always do and the total was outrageous! Turns out they have the new McCafe line. My sister warned me they were awful, but I tried them anyway. BLECH! I even sent an email to McDs!

So now we're home and Mat's friend is here and I'll put the chops and au gratin potatoes in the oven soon. His friend doesn't eat pork so we'll have supper after they are gone.

WAHOO!

Ok, worked out and balanced the checkbook and entered Mat's school for basically the rest of the year! WAHOO! HE'll be done w/math in a month and SHOULD be done w/LA nad history by the time we leave for FL!!!!!!!!

I need to get going tho. We're doing swim & gym for the next 5 Fridays. It's from 11-3 (but we won't get there until noon) and it's $25 for 30 days (how you get 5 Fridays). I think it'll be great this winter for them to do that AND there is a lifeguard and maybe 10 kids show up so I think I can walk in the gym while they swim!

Then one of Mat's friends is coming over while his mom goes to an appt (unbelievably a massage therapist about 3 miles from us!LOL).

Not Feeling Well...

I will get back to posting in a day or two. I'm not feeling well enough to compose a full length post. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

For those who are concerned about the new law coming in Feb 2009....

As soon as I heard about this here on-line Monday, I started to look into it. By yesterday, I know the best thing to do was contact a tv station in Memphis, Tenn. who is known for getting to the bottom of things.

The reporter called me this morning to ask me a few questions. He let me know that he was already starting to look in to this and would be reporting what he could find out this evening.

Reported By Andy Wise
ASK ANDY: New Lead/Phthalate Testing On Kid Products
Updated: Jan 8, 2009 05:44 PM CST
BREAKING NEWS:  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission just exempted yard sales, consignment stores and resales from this new law.  Click here to read the commission's official release.  
More >>

If you follow to this link:

http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9641384

You will see what else he had to add after the commission came out with this update after his report.

The reporter then called me back this evening, to make sure I had heard and read the report. I will post about anything new that comes with this. The reporter has my phone # and will stay in touch with me.

Just a brief hello

     Much has happened since the last time I blogged.

     David's mom passed away five days after Christmas and we had a very nice funeral last Saturday. She was only 72 and had a variety of illness that she had been dealing with, but we didn't anticipate her death so soon. What a comfort to know that God doesn't make mistakes.

     We have also had the first real Montana winter in 20 years, making me very thankful for 4 wheel drive just to drive around town.

     I need to get the library opened, but I wanted to say hello. I will compose a longer blog soon.

                                                           Denise (prairiemom)

The ramifications of the CPSIA law

The dog and the deer

A Lamp Unto My Feet

" Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. "

                          ~ Psalm 119:105 ~

  I recently purchased this lovely Bible at a local Christian book store. Isn't it lovely? It looks old but it isn't. 

God's word has become very near & dear to me. It has seen me thru many a storm and many a tearful moment. In it's pages are words of hope, words of comfort and beautiful promises from our Lord.  Truly the Word of God lights my path and is a lamp unto my feet. Like water to a parched soul, and bread to a hungry heart is God's word.  

May we all treasure up the Word of God and hide it in our hearts,

~ gloria ~