May is National Foster Care Month and there has never been a greater need to bring attention to children waiting for forever homes.  More than 463,000 children are currently in foster care and 123,000 children are waiting to be adopted.

Children in foster care are loving children.  They are children like Shaquane and Edlina and Albert.  Every child deserves to have a home with caring and supportive parents.

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the thousands of children and youth in the U.S. foster care system.  The National Adoption Campaign in partnership with the Children’s Bureau, AdoptUsKids, and the Ad Council raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

Through the dedication of advocates, child welfare professionals, elected officials and support groups around the country, the total number of children waiting for a safe and permanent family has decreased from more than a half million to 463,000 between 2003 and the end of 2008. These numbers tell us that, together, we can make a difference for children in foster care.

But there is still so much work to be done, as there are more than 123,000 children waiting to be adopted.

For more information about National Foster Care Month, go here. Or watch this video. “Children in Foster Care’. Find out how to get involved here. And join us May 27 at 2 p.m. EST on Twitter for an #AdoptUsKids one hour chat to get the message out about National Foster Care Month. You can also visit the Facebook page.

I’m a member of Global Influence and we’re trying to spread the word about Foster Care and Adoption. Help us spread the message this month to reach all Americans and teach them about the love and joy that foster care adoption can bring to your life. Visit www.adoptuskids.org to learn more about fostering and adopting.

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According to a press release by Focus on the Family, an international Christian organization located in Colorado Springs and led by Dr. James Dobson, college football star Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, will appear in a commercial paid for by the organization during the Superbowl. The mother and son will share a personal story centered on the theme “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life.”

So what’s got the media buzzing and the feminists outraged? Apparently, Pam Tebow was overseas when she was pregnant with Tim and contracted a disease. She was advised to abort, but because of her faith, chose to carry the child to term. And look at what the world would have missed if she hadn’t done so — one of the most celebrated college football stars ever. So, will the story shared in the ad deliver anti-abortion messages? Not directly. According to CBS, the ad doesn’t encourage or discourage any action, it simply shares the story and allows the viewer to draw his/her own conclusion. CBS is, thus far, standing by the decision to run the ad. Wow. The First Amendment applies to conservative, Christian viewpoints, too. Whodathunkit?

What do you think?

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We’ve had three deaths in our extended family since Jan. 2, my computer was eaten alive by a trojan virus and our furnace quit working on the same day the temperatures hit the teens and the windchill took the mercury below zero!

Now let’s back up the truck and I’ll give you more details.

My husband’s uncle died on Jan. 2 from injuries he received in a horrible car accident just after Christmas. He lived in Kentucky, so my husband and his parents made the eight-hour drive from St. Louis to Kentucky late Monday night, returning on Wednesday. It was particularly hard on my mother-in-law, who is close to all of her siblings.

My great uncle also died on Jan. 2 after being ill for some time. He lived in the St. Louis area, so I was able to attend his wake Tuesday night (Jan. 5), but only after arranging carpools for my older children and only with my toddler in tow. It was a challenge, but I’m glad I went for my Mom, who is very sad, and to see lots of family that I seldom see.

On the same day as the wake, my brother’s father-in-law died after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. I knew this man before I even knew his daughter, who became my sister-in-law, because he had been my boss at my first teenage job at the Florissant (MO) K-Mart. He was a kind man who my brother had come to love and who was loved dearly by his daughters. His wake and funeral this weekend will be very sad and it will be hard to watch his widow, my brother and sister-in-law and their boys grieve the loss.

Certainly less important, but significantly disruptive, has been the destruction of my computer by a trojan virus. (Remember, I’m a freelance writer/communications professional who MAKES A LIVING AT HOME WITH A FUNCTIONAL COMPUTER).  This happened Dec. 30 and my poor husband has spent countless hours attempting to salvage it (amid all this other craziness), but we finally gave up. It is my intention to save the money to buy a Macintosh — I AM DONE WITH PC’S. But, as a Band-aid (and after more than one three-hour conversation with Microsoft support professionals on the other side of the globe) we’ve purchased a new computer. Now, I’m waiting for my dear husband to get home from work and “make it so.” In other words, I want him to restore all the crap off the back-up external hard drive, and set up all the other systems and processes I need to work. I am tired of working on a slow laptop that doesn’t like me to answer work emails, open attachments, save anything to the hard drive, open more than two Internet windows, blog, update my site, etc. So, if you’ve noticed a lack of writing here, or a slowing of contests/giveaways, etc., please know that I hope to be back up to speed SOON!

In fact, I should have been back up and running YESTERDAY but the supplier from which we ordered my new computer failed to deliver it yesterday as was promised. We were told it was “backordered” and they could not tell us when it woudl arrive. Unacceptable. We canceled the order and began shopping elsewhere. While doing that, we noticed it suddenly felt very cold in our house. “No honey — that’s not ME being ICY because I’m mad about my computer not arriving. It really is cold in here.” Hhrummpf! Like I could be enough of a witch to lower the temperature of the house!

Anyway, that’s when we discovered that the furnace wasn’t working. Guess what? Heating and air conditioning dudes are really busy when it gets super cold outside and the weather guys are predicting six inches of snow! To spare you boring details — our furnace is “temporarily” fixed while we wait for a part to be ordered that is due next Tuesday. No guarantees it will keep heating the house until then. Just a “let’s hope so” from the furnace dude.

Surprisingly, I haven’t had a complete tantrum yet. I’ve had a few “almost tantrums,” but no complete tantrums. My Beth Moore Bible Study is helping — this week’s lesson was on waiting/patience, neither of which are my strong suits and both upon which I needed desperately to focus. I was reminded that God’s in control, not me. And THAT gives me some peace. So, I’ll stay on the merry-go-round of life and be grateful for it.

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I admit, I probably didn’t form this question in my mind without the help of the song by Mark Lowry, “Mary, Did You Know?” It’s one of my favorite Christmas songs.

So think about it. Angels told Mary she would give birth to a child who would impact the world. And she experienced the miracle of a virgin birth. But the text of the Bible doesn’t indicate that she was told “You will give birth to this baby. And you will love Him like any other mother loves her baby. You’ll watch Him learn to walk, and you’ll comfort Him when He’s scared, and care for Him when He’s sick. You will raise Him and love Him more and more everyday and watch Him become a man. But not long after His 30th birthday, He will give His life for the rest of humanity, cleansing the rest of us. And those who choose to believe in Him will be restored our to Heavenly Father through His sacrifice.”

I don’t think she knew. But as a Jew, she’d been taught about the prophesies, so I think she may have suspected, especially near the end.

We, on the other hand, have the privilege of knowing what that virgin birth meant to mankind. We have all the evidence we need. As we celebrate Christ’s birththis year, let us not forget what His birth, and then death and resurrection, meant for us all. Consider the words of the song:

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding is the Great I Am.

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She is the youngest in the class, because the kiddos were technically supposed to be 2-years-old when it started in September, and she wasn’t 2 until late October. Thus, I enrolled her knowing it might not work.  But each week as I’ve peeked into the class, she was participating right along with her slightly older peers — although I don’t think she follows directions as well as some of the  others.  However, in the past few months, the class has been preparing for a little Christmas program, so Miss Tammy has been inviting the Moms into class to watch in hopes of giving the girls a little experience performing before a group. My toddler refused to even stand on the line with her peers (much less dance) every single time I came in to watch. She either sat in my  lap OR ran out of the class. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I attended what was a much bigger “recital” than I had anticipated yesterday. Check out the video AND slideshow! I’m one proud Mommy!


 

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I LOVE the YMCA — especially MY Wildwood YMCA. Did you know the YMCA doesn’t turn people away for inability to pay? This generosity is accomplished through their partner campaign, and all the money donated via the campaign stays in the community through which it was donated, helping friends and neighbors who have fallen on hard times enjoy amazing programs like this dance program for toddlers. So, if you live in Wildwood and would like to contribute to the Wildwood Family YMCA, click here. If you’d like to donate to a local YMCA in your area, go here and enter your zip code to find one close to you.

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I haven’t been to Branson since I was about 10 years old, so I didn’t know what to expect, short of all the stories I’d heard about the traffic and the cheesy shows. The traffic was real, and there were plenty of “cheesy shows” from which to choose, but we a memorable family experience that I will always cherish.

We were fortunate enough to be the guests of the Chateau on the Lake, and I can’t say enough about the property. This was one of the finest hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, and it’s location– off the main strip in Branson, atop an Ozark hill, overlooking Table Rock Lake — was one of the pluses.

Here are just some of the things I loved about the Chateau:

Our check-in was seamless and was our first glimpse of the Chateau’s commitment to service. Everyone went out of their way to help our family get situated. Our luggage was delivered to our room within five minutes of our arrival, and the Bellhop who delivered it also gave us a rundown of the offerings on the property, as well as some tips and suggestions for enjoying Branson and avoiding the traffic. (That came in very handy when we realized we’d forgotten not one, but TWO pieces of luggage at home — our toddler’s suitcase and my vanity bag. Another story altogether.)

The inside of the hotel was even more impressive than the outside, decorated in beautiful holiday splendor. The exterior donned the expected Christmas lights, but also a full-size sleigh, which was perfect for posing my kids in for pictures. Inside, Santa hung from a rope in the middle of the hotel’s 11 stories of rooms overlooking the lobby. The middle of the atrium-inspired main floor included a life-sized nativity scene at the corner of the indoor waterway, three enormous, extravagant gingerbread houses, two bird cages, larger-than-life wooden soldiers, decked-out Christmas trees and lights galore. The photo opportunities were endless, much to my teenager’s dismay.

Our rooms overlooked  Table Rock Lake and had balconies that we were able to enjoy because of the 60-degree weather that blessed us on Saturday. The rooms also had all the touches that make you feel like you’re on vacation, plus a few extras. There were chocolates on the pillows, oversized, plush towels in the bathrooms, a large flatscreen television with in-room movies available for purchase, and not one, but TWO bags for dirty clothes in the closet. (Sounds like a small detail, but one I really appreciated). The welcome letter was a delight that helped set the tone for our weekend stay. I will include it in its entirety at the end of this post, but here is an excerpt: “We hope God will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.” What a nice touch!

As expected, the Chateau on the Lake offers lots of amenities, including:

• Award-winning fine dining and casual dining at two restaurants, a deli and a  sweet shop/coffee shop (we enjoyed a meal at the Atrium Cafe, and it was top-notch).
• Plenty of opportunity for physical activity– a well-equipped fitness center, a hotub and indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a marina, tennis courts and walking trails.
• An in-house kid-friendly theatre, free wireless Internet, a full-service concierge desk, a lobby workstation with a printer, an on-site ATM and a pet-friendly policy.
• Special holiday offerings.

While we could’ve kept busy at the Chateau for most of our visit and it was hard to leave its santuary, we were commited to”experience” Branson. To our way of thinking, that included seeing the Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and visiting Silver Dollar City.

The Dixie Stampede had flipped the switch to its holiday show, so we enjoyed a performance full of Christmas music and tributes to the true reason for the season. If you’re like I was and you are unfamiliar with the show, here are the basics: It’s a dinner show that includes an opening act in the Carriage Room, followed by a dinner in the main theater (served without utensils!) while you watch action-packed horse-riding and stunts designed to get the audience participating. My teen thought it was cheesy (no surprise there); my tween thought it was funny but didn’t like the lack of utensils at dinner; my toddler LOVED it; and my husband and I think it’s something everyone should do once (although we were surrounded by folks who had been there multiple times).

Silver Dollar City was worth the visit simply for its ability to get us into the holiday spirit. The lights and decorations were absolutely beautiful. You really feel as though you’ve walked back in time as you enter the park.  Everything — from the food and live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, glass blowing and candle making to the shows and entertainment — make this destination a perfect place to bring your family. My older kids enjoyed the rides, although they wished there more of them, and my toddler enjoyed the few attractions that were geared for the younger set.

I’m very glad we made this trip for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which was the time our family spent laughing together. Our teen resisted going because she had to miss several swim practices and had no desire to visit “hickville” (her words, not mine). I briefly considered allowing her to stay home with Aunts who offered to keep her. I’m grateful I didn’t do that. By traveling to such a family-oriented, Christian-rooted place as Branson, I was reminded of the importance of time together as a family. The traffic that slowed our progress through town slowed our “pace.”  We listened to our toddler sing and were touched when she named her doll after her big sister. We laughed at all the signs for Elvis impersonators. We ate fudge and shared ice cream. We re-enacted skits from Saturday Night Live and shared political humor. And, we had this photo made on the Branson strip! It was a hoot, and just look at how adorable my toddler is with her her hands folded in her lap and her fat little foot sticking out from under her saloon-girl dress.

———–

Note from Chateau on the Lake to Guests:

In ancient times there was a prayer for the Stranger within our gates.

Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not soley a money making organization, we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you are under the roof.

May this suite and hotel be your “second” home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be comfortable and happy as if you were in your own home.

The reasons that brought you our way may vary. May the tranquility and the simplicity of the Ozarks add to your joy. When you leave, may your journey be safe.

We are all travelers. From ‘birth till death’ we travel between eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you  meet , and a joy to those you know and love you best.

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Dean Mandis, a father of two students in the Rockwood School District (also the school district of my children) addressed the district’s school board last week regarding his concerns that his daaughter was being taught the concepts of B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era) as alternatives to the dating system that has been in place for HUNDREDS OF CENTURIES!

“Introducing B.C.E./C.E. in conjunction with B.C./A.D. in the classroom is to deny the historical basis of the dating system and ultimately leads to confusion,” Mandis told the board. Mandis said this teacher’s decision was “irresponsible” and possibly “a dangerous and slippery slope.” (quoted from Tim Townsend’s article in the Post and on stltoday.com.)

Apparently, according to a source in the article, the movement to use C.E. and B.C.E. in western academia began in the 1980s. When something similar happened in Kentucky in 2006, Christians fought it and the effort to use the new dating system disappeared. Gotta hand it to you, KY! (that’s for my husband and his relatives.)

Not surprisingly, the same textbook companies that have been re-writing history for the last few decades to make it more politically correct and less offensive are at least partially to blame for this effort. Craig Larson, Rockwood School District superintendent, wrote this explanation  on his blog:

“Within the last 10-15 years, CE/BCE has started to appear in student textbooks, usually along with AD/BC and sometimes with just one or the other mentioned. Teachers make sure that students are aware of both designations so they are literate when they encounter either notation.”

I understand the textbook companies desire to sell textbooks. When I was a newspaper reporter, people used to accuse us of writing things “just to sell newspapers.”  I’d say, “We need to sell newspapers, folks. This isn’t a not-for-profit operation.”  But that didn’t mean we had license to write things that were false. I understand that you can probably sell more textbooks if your books are vanilla enough to not offend ANYONE, that doesn’t make them accurate.

I’ll never forget when my oldest came home from kindergarten telling me that the pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving to thank the Native Americans (see, I can be PC) for helping them survive in the new country. Seriously? While the pilgrims may very well have owed a debt of gratitude to any Native Americans who helped them learn to live in this untame land, it was NOT the Indians who they were thanking that first Thanksgiving. Still, when I investigated, that was the message of the book my daughter’s teacher was reading to her class. No mention of thanking God on Thanksgiving — just the natives.

As Larson pointed out, Rockwood School District doesn’t write textbooks, and the district has a responsibility to help our students understand dates in any way they may be presented. But I’m with Mandis — it’s a slippery slope. I think the district should reject any textbooks that teach an inaccurate history of Thanksgiving, and then the textbook companies won’t print falsities about that holiday.

Our dating system shouldn’t offend anyone. B.C. doesn’t stand for ”Before Christ, the one true God, Son of Man, Risen Savior.” And the newer system of dating doesn’t change anything — the calendar is still measured in terms of the birth of  Jesus Christ. So let’s stop erasing God from our history.

Larson says the school district doesn’t have a “policy” on dates. Maybe we should have a policy and that policy should be that we will continue to teach our children the principles upon which this country was founded in regard to everything, including the dating system. If you are a Rockwood parent and you feel strongly about this, a group of parents have started a petition on the topic. You can sign it here.

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Tiny Baby Jesus offers a fresh look at the Christmas story as it talks about Jesus in terms of his very human condition. Plus, it’s a perfect book to share with my toddler, because she loves the idea of identifying Jesus from his head to his tiny toes.

As you read this book to your children, they will discover the wonder of hands that develop into those of a carpenter and swaddled shoulders that grow to carry the weight of all mankind. Readers can share in the humble birth of tiny baby Jesus while remembering the life and teachings of the grown savior. The book’s messages are simple yet profound, and the illustrations are beautiful.

You can purchase this book on Amazon, but three lucky Lipstick to Crayons readers can win a hard copy for free by entering the contest below. 

Giveaway Guidelines:

Leave a comment below telling me why you want to win the book.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook
8. Enter my GE appliance giveaway here.

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Nov. 24.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winners will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winners do not claim prize by Nov. 27, 2009, they will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

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First, it’s helpful to watch this video because it does a much better job explaining things and it’s a really cool video:

So, you ask: What exactly IS Advent Conspiracy? It’s a movement to help us do four things to make sure Christmas continues to change the world:

1. Worship Fully
2. Spend Less
3. Give More (and give relationally, as in your time)
4. Love All

Here is the AC history: Four years ago, three pastors asked one question: What happened to Christmas? What should be a time focused on celebrating the birth of Jesus has become a season consumed with stress and debt. They created the Advent Conspiracy, a movement that encourages people to return to the holistic worship of Jesus during Christmas by pushing back on over-consumerism, giving more relationally, and supporting those who really need help. What started with three pastors is now a worldwide movement that has raised millions of dollars for charity by thousands of churches and business leaders in more than 17 countries. And it all started in my hometown — St. Louis.

So, Moms and Mommy Bloggers — I’m inviting you into the story. I’m asking you to do two things: 1) Conspire to change Christmas in your own homes and in your own communities by participating in Advent Conspiracy in your own way, small or large (keep reading to find out how);and, 2) Spread the word about Advent Conspiracy via your own blogs, on Facebook or by word of mouth. (Please send me links via comments or to lipsticktocrayons@gmail.com, so I can promote your efforts in future posts!)

I plan to offer you more information soon, hopefully a Q & A interview with one of the creators of the amazing video I shared with you, as well as some stories of people who have “entered the story” and some posts on ideas of how you can “give more” while “spending less.”  In the meantime, if you’d like more ideas on how to get involved, you can do any number of things:

• Visit the Advent Conspiracy Web site.
• Become a fan of the Advent Conspiracy page on Facebook.
• If you live anywhere near the St. Louis area and are an educator, church leader (pastor, youth leader, team leader, secretary, etc.), an educator, journalist or blogger and would like to attend an event designed to help you get started, go here. Greg Holder, the lead pastor of The Crossing and one of the people who started AC, will share more about this movement and how you can integrate it into your season planning. Plus, Albert Pujols will share his passion for The Pujols Family Foundation and how it’s making small steps for big change with children both locally and globally.
• Buy the Advent Conspiracy book (authored by those three pastors mentioned above). There also is a DVD. You can purchase both of them here or on Amazon. I’m reading the book now and even though I’m already familiar with the conspiracy and I’m already “on board” with the idea, the book is helping me form ideas in my head and helping really focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I can’t wait to celebrate the birth of Christ this year. Advent Conspiracy is helping me to embrace the holiday with my heart and I hope it will help you do the same.

So, as the video says: “This is the new tradition. This is YOUR new tradition. This is how the story gets told. Love all. Spend less. Give more. Worship fully. Tell the story of Christmas. Tell the story of the newborn King, who came to Earth, and changed history, power, humanity, intimacy, hope, everything! This is Christmas. This is our story. This is Advent Conspiracy.”

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It’s apparently part of a public campaign in Australia.

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