If you are a size 14 and up, this is a great contest for you! If you’re a plus size woman, shopping for clothes that are fun and not dorky is a downright frustrating experience. Alight has a lot of fun styles as well as conservative ones. They have dresses, tops, jeans shrugs, maxi dresses and skirts. Their prices are quite reasonable but if those are high for you, check out their sale page with tops and dresses, currently up to 75% off, and steals under $15.
Frump no more!
Do you ever get tired of plain old hamburgers? Want to kick them up a little notch? Try making meatloaf burgers!
Place the ground beef in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix completely with your hands. Form the mixture into two meatloaves.
Run the skewers through the center of each loaf. Heat the grill to medium high. Place the loaves on the grill and cover. Cook 20 minutes turning over half way through the cooking time. (Alternatively, you could shape them into patties.)
I love the Gulf because this is the place where we go to the beach. My children have grown up going to Fort DeSoto and Fred Howard Park.
My earliest beach memories were in Far Rockaway, NY. It was dark, cold water. Forbidding, dangerous jetties stuck out into the water and I was continually warned how dangerous it was to walk on them. We couldn’t go in until at least after Memorial Day. I loved to “jump the waves” and ride them in. As an adult, I frequented Coney Island. While the boardwalk had great pizza, knishes and strange people to watch, the beach itself was disgusting.
So after 32+ years in New York, the beaches of the Gulf were a bit of a shock. So clean, such a light blue and no waves. I immediately fell in love with the glorious sunsets. When my kids were little they would cry “So long sun! See you in the morning!” My favorite spot on the Gulf (so far) is the beach off Venice. The blackish, strange sand contrasts so beautifully with the light water. We spent hours and days picking up shark teeth here.
I don’t know what the days and months ahead hold. What will the upcoming hurricane season be like? Will the beaches I love be there in the same way for my children and grandchildren? Will oil be lapping at the shores of Tampa Bay?
“We have too long treated the natural world as an adversary rather than as a life-sustaining gift from the Almighty. If man has the genius to build, which he has, he must also have the ability and the responsibility to preserve.”
Gerald R. Ford
remarks at dedication of National Environmental Research Center, July 3, 1975
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Lord, we pray for all those who have special needs, and for all who love and look after them. Grant them a special measure of your grace, and give us eyes to see not only how we might help and care for them, but what you have to teach us through them. In Jesus’ name, amen. (courtesy of Sojourners)
and I was zoned out from Benadryl. I don’t like to take the stuff during the day but we were out of Zyrtec and the ragweed’s been elevated around here. One of my big frustrations with Nicolas has been with his lack of play skills. He just never played appropriately with toys. I believe much of it had to do with his ADHD. I know many people poo-poo meds but after years of wrestling with diets and everything else, I was just about ready to try anything.
I’ve noticed a small, but noticeable increase in his attention and focus. I moved a wire rack with baskets into the living room and filled it with puzzles and fine motor activities. I set about spending some time every day trying to get him to engage in some of these activities.
Today, he completely initiated it on his own! He is 9 years old and has never done that before. He got out his puzzles and asked me to play with him. Tired and cranky mom just wanted to veg on the couch but I got down on the floor and helped him.
I’ve read a number of posts recently from moms in the special needs community over the past few months who have had to leave their churches because they were unable receive the accommodations they needed for their children. This is so troubling for several reasons.
Families of these children are under unimaginable stress most of the time, from financial and marital stresses, the emotional wear and tear of caring for their children, extra doctor and therapy visits, behavior challenges and navigating the education system. They desperately need the respite and spiritual refreshment that comes from having an hour to spend in worship while knowing their children are cared for and learning about Jesus in a way that they can understand.
Here are a few links I’ve come across…please pass them along to someone who needs them!
Key Ministry’s mission is to equip churches to welcome and include children and families affected by hidden disabilities in all aspects of the life of the church.
The Inclusive Church is dedicated to helping churches successfully include children with special needs.
Adapting Your Bible Lesson for Children with Special Needs addresses making Sunday School curriculum accessible for all children.
Special Needs Smart Pages by Joni and Friends – “Children with special needs often don’t fit into typical children’s church programs, resulting in frustration for parents, children and the churches themselves. And yet it is crucial that all children are given the opportunity to meet Jesus as their Savior and Lord. In Special Needs Smart Pages, Joni and Friends meet this vital need by providing churches of all sizes a comprehensive resource to help them reach out to individuals with different kinds of special needs, including autism, cognitive brain disorders and physical disabilities.”
Here’s a link to dozens of apps, organized by category to use on iPhones and iPads for special education. They are organized according to type: Communication, Organization (ooh, wait, I could use that one!), Reading, Writing, Math, Music, Song, Art, and Game Accessibility. I have a serious case of COVET right now. I hope they drop the price of the iPad, and I’d also like to see them develop a more durable surface since in our house anyway, things get dropped.
What is it about this weekend? So many things going on I can’t possibly attend them all. My oldest daughter is graduating tomorrow and Nic’s birthday is on Sunday. A surgery postponed from last week was done yesterday. It reminds me vaguely of a c-section but I am recovering quickly. I stumbled in yesterday, nauseous from anesthesia and pain meds to hear Lucas talking about “bacon encrusted chicken with a strawberry balsamic reduction.” I really didn’t see the humor of it until today. I spent this morning on the couch watching Julie and Julia. The same son sat and watched it with me, even though it was a “chick flick”.
Tentative summer plans are in place to do some teaching with Rebekah and Nic. I’m not one to have days all planned out. It is summer, after all. But since we don’t have a pool anymore and we hate the FL summer heat, I will need to keep them busy.
I have nothing to write about today and so I’m sharing this article about Regular vs. Special Needs Moms.
“Moms, a stranger walks among you. We look like regular moms, but we are the hybrid to your standard engine. Our child’s disability altered us, enhanced us. Many words describe us: resilient, creative, protective, emboldened, sympathetic, fierce and determined. We are special needs moms. How do our lives stand apart from your own? Take a look under the hood and see for yourself.
by Dawn Villarreal, One Place for Special Needs, May 2010
