Prayers through a mind of confusion...

My heart is heavy. 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
~Matthew 5:4

Festive and Tasty

I know we've posted pics of red velvet cookies before on our blog here as well as our recipe blog.  However, apparently cooking camp is paying off....at least in the minds of the kids occasionally, anyway.  They were actually the ones who suggested we add a little green food coloring to the icing for some real festive Christmas edition red velvet cookies!!  Great idea...in fact, I think we'll carry this on for other holidays....blue icing for 4th of July....any other ideas from you guys??

A look at the Real Blindside

If you loved the book, or movie, or both, or even if you've never heard of THE BLINDSIDE, I just wanted to let you know ABC 20/20 has a look into the life of the real Michael Oher and the Tuoy family that will be aired tonight. 

And if you haven't read the book or went to see the movie....well, what in the world are you waiting for???

Here's to you and yours....

Hoping your Christmas was Merry and Bright!!

A few favorite highlights from Christmas....

Did you have a Merry Christmas?  We certainly have....in fact we're still celebrating, visiting with friends and family at our home and elsewhere, watching movies, making memories, eating....and more eating.  Because that seems to be a constant theme....to eat...where-ever, when-ever.  But anyway, I could talk of food straight into 2010, instead, I'll just offer a few photo highlights from the last few days. 


 

Middle Child loved his balancing bird....an old school toy.    I remember them from my youth......do you?

Once the first cold chill arrives, and he travels to the attic to find his winter attire, my brother in law is notorious for wearing the same, Alabama red clay colored (translate drab), well worn (translate ragged), age old, you could even call it dated (translate it's in prime condition for the goodwill drop box) sweatshirt....EVERYWHERE.  It has a picture of sporting dogs on it, maybe labs, not sure, and it was given to him as a Christmas gift over a decade ago. And I do mean he wears it EVERYWHERE.....to every family function from Halloween to Easter....he's sporting it proudly at least one day of each of those weekends we gather together.  And who knows how many times he wears it each week while he's home??? 

He sent me an email sometime mid-October to let me know the "dog sweatshirt was being brought out yet again this season, as it still had some wear in it left to be had". 

I had all I could take....so I took matters into my own hands this year and came up with this nifty gift for him.  Useful and attractive.  Practical and exciting.  All in one box.  What more could you ask for?

I bet you were wondering if he liked it?  Look, he did.  In fact, I think he's worn it everyday since opening it.   And it may go down as the most coveted item that was unwrapped this season.  What?  You got something better?  Well, don't tell him, he thinks it's the greatest thing since....since that other sweatshirt gift so many years ago.

All the grand kids.....now that's one crew that knows how to have fun.

One of my favorite memories of my Christmases growing up is of my PawPaw and MawMaw coming over to our house every year on Christmas morning.  They would arrive and PawPaw would love to look at all our gifts and play with my baby dolls and make me squeal by calling them some silly name I hated...but he always arrived with a pack of bubbalicious gum to give me every single time.  (That was a big deal back then).  They would stay to eat breakfast with us and it makes my heart melt to think about him still today, that big barrel chested man who gave the best hugs ever.....not just on Christmas morning but every day. 

We are blessed that my parents are able to come and see our kids open gifts on Christmas morning.  I hope they have these same memories when they get my age....remembering their PawPaw playing with them. 

The photo tradition continues on Christmas morning.....we always make the kids stop on the staircase for the "anticipation" picture before rushing into the family room for Santa and gifts.  It's going to be so much fun comparing these through the years.....here's the 2009 Christmas Morning photo captured.

Great times, with great family, making great memories. 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve may just be my favorite holiday, ever....

We've just finished having my parents and my brother and his wife (and my nephew) over for Christmas Eve dinner. (My only regret is that my sister and her husband don't live closer so they could join us.)   It has become a small tradition for our home, a tradition that I love.  Obviously I enjoy cooking, I adore getting to use my Christmas china, my Waterford glasses, my Lenox holiday serving bowls and crystal platters.   It's all lovely, the lights even seem to twinkle a little brighter on the tree when family is all gathered in our abode.

We enjoyed London broil tonight, my husband's specialty.  It's divine.  I hate you weren't here to enjoy it with us.....but I don't intend to share the leftovers....I love you and all, just not enough to give up my London broil for lunch tomorrow.  Alongside that divine entree, we shared twice baked potato casserole (a new favorite of mine from a Southern Living specialty cookbook....I'll have to post that recipe sometime soon), rice pilaf (because the boys don't love potatoes like we do, I offer another starch), baked beans (don't ask, T5 loves this with his London broil, and as my mama said, "well it is Christmas, you should fix them for him"), grilled asparagus (oh my lands, this was the BEST THING EVER....found a recipe online and even my Dad and Temple said it was delicious), and a Romaine/Bosc Pear/Gorgonzola Cheese salad that was out of this world (if I do say so myself).  Plus we had an assortment of goodies platter to munch on for dessert. 

I can't tell y'all when I've been happier (and no, Kevin, it doesn't involve the glass of red and white wine (my liquid buspar) I had with dinner this evening).  We ate, we talked, we ate some more, my Daddy threatened to take back half the "stuff" he found while walking around my house tonight that is supposedly "his".  For instance a few very old decanter bottles located in my dining room.  At any rate, he and mom took a look at our Christmas tree, the boy's Auburn tree, Baby Girls' colorful tree and all the Christmas decorations, even the many many Christmas Cards that I have hanging all around the entryway.  We reminisce about folks from our family, friends from other cities we've lived in, college roommates, etc.  It's SO HEARTWARMING. 

Then as a special treat tonight, Middle Child played a TON of Christmas carols on the piano for us before dinner, during dessert, and afterwards an encore.  Even Elder Son trapsed in to the parlor to play us a few tunes.  Middle Child played my mama's favorite, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas".....from memory.  He only learned it 3 weeks ago.  He amazes me.  I wish I had their talent.  I wish you could hear him play.  I wish you were here with us tonight.....it has been divine.  Absolutely divine.  And we aren't even through with Christmas Eve yet.....

We're down to just our core family of five.  We've bathed our beloved labrador, Sadie, because another tradition is that she gets to sleep inside the house on Christmas Eve...in the bed with the boys.  They LOVE it!   We've washed all the dinner dishes.  I'm gearing up to get started on the sausage squares for Christmas morning and cut up the fresh fruit. The kids are nestled in front of our crackling fireplace (even though a fire isn't needed, it's still a Christmas Eve tradition) and they are watching A Christmas Story (classic if there ever has been---"You'll shoot your eye out!").  Before bedtime, T5 will have read from Luke 2 and we'll have talked about our glorious Savior.

Yep, it's an enchanting time of year.  A time of traditions, a time of family, a time of a lowly manger birth. We are savoring every moment.  I pray all of you are savoring every moment, too. 

We wish you a Merry Christmas, straight from deep in the heart of House of Bowling, to you and yours.

Christmas Card '09

I absolutely love receiving Christmas cards....it is one of my favorite parts of the season. I save them all, photo or not, and put them in a scrapbook each year.  It's fun to see how families grow through the years.  I enjoy reading the letters and notes people send.  I enjoy putting all over our entryway to the living room, covering every square inch, and walking through every night looking at the new ones we've added, and perusing the others all over again. 

Every year I make our Christmas cards....and this year may be the last time I go to that trouble!  After assembling 208 cards this year, (and yes, the list was narrowed down, people were left off, crossed out due to lost addresses, haven't heard from them in years, etc.etc.) I am beginning to think I'll just order me some fine and dandy ones online next year!  We've received so many cute ones from friends and family this year!  Of course, I say every year is the last to do them myself, but then fall victim to some pretty ribbon and the whole process starts all over again.  I have some weird fascination with ribbons....just ask T5...he just rolls his eyes when I show him a new spool I've recently bought....to add to the 4 crates full of ribbon I currently own.  :) 

Anyway, here's the card....in case you weren't one of those who received it in the mail, Merry Christmas from us to you!!  ....it's probably only because I didn't have your address! Email it to us! :)  That would give me an excuse to go out and buy some more ribbon!!! :)

If only I were younger, like really younger (think 8), I'd get us matching Christmas outfits.

Our friend, (and first ever baby sitter for House of Bowling who has now, 12 years later, grown up to become a mommy herself, with a family of her own) anyway, she made Baby Girl some of the cutest ever fall outfits and Christmas clothes for this season!  She amazes me....I call her up and say you do whatever you envision, work your magic, ship them out, and I'll mail you a check.  It is like a dream come true....especially considering I don't really care for shopping that much. Really, it's true. 

Anyway, aren't these two outfits just the cutest? She also made a cute T-shirt with a Christmas tree on it for Baby girl to wear with her green zebra pants for another outfit---you can see it and other items on her website, The Well Dressed Child.

Ornaments from the heart....

                                    

Each month, to all the H3 members, I mail out a small reminder of the scripture we are memorizing.  Just the printed verse on some pretty linen paper with a colorful ribbon attached.  My thoughts are that after a few months, some of these scriptures may be harder to remember over time, but it may help joggle the ol' brain pathways to have a "picture" to go with the words.  The picture being the reminder card. 

Because it is Christmas, I couldn't resist also sending a little something else in the mail this month.  My intention was to paint each and every member (we have 23 who've let me know they were participating with us in this scripture journey--but there is always room for more....so what are you waiting for?....join us!) an ornament at a local paint your own pottery place (All Fired Up).   That would have taken a good bit of time, painting and then waiting to have them fired before I could ship them out. 

Plus, the devil has been wearing me out these last few weeks, most notably with Baby Girl being so sickly, but also because I am certain he doesn't like the thoughts of us H3--Hiding His words in our Hearts.  Reading, studying, talking about and learning the Lord's words gives us an edge....the devil hates it when we get an edge.  But even so, time & energy were not on my side for this project.  So, I had to give in to plan B. 

Such is life....it has taken me a sweet forever to realize that sometimes you just have to roll with it.  Which, thankfully, is where I currently reside....the stage of "just rolling with it".  

I gathered a few boxes of clear ornaments.  Then transformed each, one at a time, with one lady in mind.  Regretfully, I had inquired about their favorite colors too late in the game to get them all matched up.  But I sent what I had made anyway.  (sorry if you didn't receive one that was your favorite color of choice) And I pray they all arrived without being shattered!  :)

They weren't hand painted ornaments, all matchy-matchy like I had envisioned.  But they were heartfelt.  And in the end I liked this idea better.....(God works like that sometimes, making you use your plan B because it was actually his plan A all along).

We are all so very near the same, and yet each unique in our own way.  God made us all....similiar but different. And he adds to us each day....through trials, tribulations, joy, sorrow, peace, mercy, grace, forgiveness, love....the list is endless with the Lord we serve.

You see, with God's hands, we're kind of like these glass ornaments....changed, adorned. 

And I, for one, am enjoying this journey with Him....praying daily to be a little more in His likeness. 

Calgon, take me away....far, far away!

I have a request....if someone is willing to grant it, I would be ever so thankful.

Here's all you need to do:

Pull on a steel-toed boot of some sort, rare back with all your might, and just kick my shin as hard as you possibly can. 

Why?

Because it would, at least momentarily, take the pain away from my migraine of a headache that has been hanging on to the back base of my skull for 3 days (which I'm sure is stress induced (stress??? this time of year??? really???), or I've caught the MONO from Baby Girl).

That's all. I may even resort to putting it on the top of my Santa list.    

H3--this month's scripture revisted....

If you are new around the blog...H3 stands for "Hiding His words in your Heart".  We began it on our blog last fall  as a monthly scripture memorization/discussion/learning tool.  This month's verse is Romans 4:7-8.  And it speaks of the greatest gift we can ever hope to receive....  you can read this month's H3 verse and the thoughts I posted by scrolling down to December 3rd's post or just by clicking HERE.  Want to join in....please do....leave a comment or email bowlingfamilymoments@yahoo.com

I have a good friend, and member of our H3 group, who has so kindly taken on the job of seeking out words in our verses each month and studying the Hebrew & Greek for a better understanding.   She emailed to tell me that normally one word or a phrase has been jumping out at her but that this month's verse was FULL of good stuff.

Kind of like my stocking on Christmas morning!! (Hint. Hint.  If you're reading this Santa.)

So....here are some further insights for our verse to study on!  And a big hearty THANKS to kp!   

Romans 4:7-8

Blessed are they

whose transgressions are forgiven

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man

whose sin the Lord will never count against him.

blessed- blessed, happy, "oh how happy are they"



transgressions-
1) the condition of without law (being ignorant of the law or violating the law)
2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

forgiven- to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit, to keep no longer; to let go of a debt by not demanding it

sins
a) to be without a share in
b) to miss the mark
c) to err, be mistaken
d) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
e) to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin

covered- to cover over, to cover up so as not to come to view, pardoned


count against
1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
2) to take into account, to make an account of

So....with all that wonderful Greek filled verbage....let's read our verse from Romans 4:7-8 once again...


~~~Oh how happy are they whose debt from lawlessness and wickedness is kept no longer, whose mistakes and wanderings from God are pardoned and covered so as not to come into view. Oh how happy is the man whose sin the Lord will never reckon, count, compute, calculate or count over against him.

Y'all...I couldn't be more in awe of how wonderful our Savior truly is....from a lowly manger birth to a cruel death on the cross, and he was thinking about you and me the entire time. He was giving us himself, his forgiveness, as a gift.  The perfect gift.  Those we receive on Christmas morning wrapped in shiny paper, tied with a bow, can never compare.  

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

After thinking we had a jump start by getting our big tree up the week of Thanksgiving, I tricked myslef into thinking we were ahead of the game.  Now, it's mid-December, and I still don't have every room decorated!!!  However, here's a sampling of what is already out and about....

Our snowman greeter on the front porch

Glass trees in the dining room

My favorite Nativity Set

Our Living Room

This little Santa suit hangs where else, in the laundry room, of course.

Kitchen Chandelier and Advent Buckets in background

I painted these cute small plates at ALL FIRED UP....a paint your own pottery shop. Each family member has their own and in the extra spot at our table I painted one that says "Friend".

This is my favorite Christmas plate/dish/platter/decoration type thingy.....I love it's southern sentiment!! :)

Maybe if I am unexpectedly alotted more than 24 hours in a day this week I'll get around to posting pics of the kid's trees and such.  Right after I go out and buy some new ornaments for the boys tree....because the sun slap faded their blue ones to a horrid looking grey.  Who knew??  I should have, especially since the sun had also slap faded their curtains the year before. Why would I go spend money on more ornaments to fade this year???  Good question...and it's because during the spring I forced their father to finally mount the blinds in their room....after living with stark morning light in the wee hours, for 5 years.  Just like these Christmas decorations, everything in due time, folks. 

Hey, it makes them appreciate it more, or at least I think that's what their father would say. :) 

Christmas Cake....that tastes as good as it looks.

A few days ago I found these cute Christmas spatulas....aren't they the cutest??  And I had to have them for my kitchen.  It was a need....at least that's how I explained it to T5.  Anyway, those spatulas sparked the desire to begin Christmas baking.  Time has been our enemy...field trips, doctors visits, and the running back and forth of Baby Girl to school....she can only stand to stay a few hours at a time because of her sickness. Mono is a real energy zapper.  So....it's cut into our baking sessions.

However, after looking at the cuteness every day, I could stand it no longer....so we baked something:

Something quick. Something easy.  Something festive.  Something yummy.  Something merry and bright. Something that SCREAMS -- WE LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!  Do you think we hit the mark on that one? 

And then because all I really wanted to do was use the cute spatulas....and we certainly did not need to eat to all that cake....nor could we ever...it was two boxes of cake mix, people....plus 2 1/2 packages of cream cheese for the icing.

So what to do with all that cake?  We sliced it right up first thing this morning and Baby Girl pretended to be Santa's elf.  She delivered 14 pieces.  What? You didn't get one?  Sorry....take it up with Santa, apparently your name missed the list....and yes, we checked it twice. :)

Blessings in the Snow.....

Do you have any of this in your life?  Sin, not snow.   Unless your initials are J.C. and your name is Jesus Christ, you have sin.  Only one has ever resided on this earth and lived a sinless life....and only one ever will.  It is a title that HE alone can hold, his record can never be broken, it will stand the test of time....far into eternity.  

I told you the other day we received a sprinkling of snowflakes here in Small Town, USA...which happens to be located in the deep south. You know, where it doesn't snow, even a smidge.  It was beautiful to look out our windows early that morning and see a blanket of white covering our lawn....no animals or any of our munchkins had yet to walk through it...thus it was pure, unscathed.  I decided to take off from an idea of a friend back during the summer (LL) and do a little blog about the snow in relation to our sin.  It goes perfectly with our verse we are learning for December.   

Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven
whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him.

Dear friend, HE covers our sin.  We ask with a repentent heart for forgiveness...and he offers it. Every time, without holding a grudge---without making us wait for it---without having to count to 10 to calm down---without holding it over our heads for weeks, months, years on end---without sitting on it for a while to stew about it---without doing it half-heartedly---

HE forgives. Bottom line.  And that, is the greatest gift any of us could ever hope to receive, any time of year. Not just this season....but every day HE gives us breath.

Snow Buddies....

Sure it was only a dusting....but hey, here in the deep south, we take what we can get of the white stuff.....any amount, any time.  As the old addage states,  beggars can't be choosers....and that applies even to snowfall---depth and duration.

Middle Boy and Baby Girl stared out the window for a while, admiring the view of the white yard before them.  However, they lingered a bit too long on getting all bundled up (I'm certain Northern folks laugh at our thoughts of what designates "frigid" temperatures)....and thus, hey, here in the deep south, the snow, it doesn't last long.  Because in reality....the temperatures aren't really so "frigid". 

It was cold enough that Baby Girl looked at me and said, "Mama, I'm not going to do a snow angel for the picture."  

Just as well....it really would have only been a slushy grass angel at best this time around.

Anyone need a good gingerbread tree maker???

 I have several qualified personnel at my house, 3 actual professionals, that can be hired out.  Please have extra candy on hand for consuming purposes....not decorating.  And if you schedule this activity properly, you could just skip out on having to cook supper. 

However, I'd just like to add...a meal based entirely of sucrose and food coloring is a small price to pay for this beautiful tablescape.

H3 (Hide His words in your Heart)--December's verse.

What do you think of when people say "Christmas"?  I know you think of Jesus, or at least I hope you do.  But what wordly things does that word bring to mind?

Many people see, hear or feel Christmas and think of beautiful decorations, twinkling trees, fresh baked goodies, candy cane wishes, Santa Clause letters, Elves toyshop, gingerbread houses,  snow covered roof tops, naughty or nice, hot apple cider, Dasher and Dancer, wrapping paper, stockings, and let us not forget what people most often associate with Christmas time....the GIFTS.  In fact, I already have many presents wrapped up nicely under our tree.

This month, I'd like for us to really focus on that topic.  What? You're serious? You want us to spend our time and energy on the gifts? 

No, my dear friends, I want you to spend your time and energy focusing on THE gift.  THE, one and only, gift.

For weeks now I had assumed I would use a traditional "Christmas-y" verse to share with you for our H3 scripture memorization in December. Maybe a classic like those found in Luke 2, where we hear about the joy in Christ's birth, the peace He brings. And it all sounded good. In fact, I thought that right up until just hours ago before this post was scheduled. But something kept holding me back from writing it down, sending it off, and going to bed. (And I need sleep, y'all--it's been days since I've really rested.)

The Lord just kept telling me to keep searching....there were even better "glad tidings" to be found than just a verse announcing the Savior's birth. And so, as He always does, He laid it on my heart to share something...but it's not from Luke 2 like I thought it was going to be.  Like I was planning for it to be.  Because if there's one thing I've learned, most often I've learned it the hard way, my ways and the Lord's ways are not always the same....but HIS ways are always right. In fact, we only need "child-like" faith....and so, I found our verse while reading in one of my kid's bibles.  :) 

So, let me just say, the verse will seem a little different at first, and not related to your usual Christmas type scriptures.  But read it and then continue on to read how we are going to use our verse this month....and hopefully it will make sense in the end.  Are you ready??? 

"Blessed are they

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man

whose sin the Lord will never count against him." 

~Romans 4:7-8

Now you're probably scratching your head thinking....why in the world did she pick this verse?  Here's your challenge for the month.  And it should physically only take you a few minutes to accomplish....but mentally, I hope it is a reminder to you all during this Christmas season......and spiritually, I pray it will bring on a lifetime in eternity!

God gave us the perfect gift.  It didn't come in a size 6, it wasn't made of the finest cashmere, you can't store all 1,479 of your absolute favorite songs on it, it wasn't bought in a jewelry store, or shipped from a famous toy factory.....none of those are truly the "perfect gift".  The perfect gift could have only arrived via the perfect Savior.  God gives us salvation.....as his gift to us.  And when someone gives you a gift, you accept it and say "thank you". 

Get an empty gift box, or extra box of any kind you may have around the house. Big, small, it's up to you.  Write the scripture from Romans 4:7-8 on a piece of paper and put it in the box.  You may want to do this as a family activity and talk about the REAL gift of Jesus.  Maybe you want to print it out on special paper in an elegant font from the computer.  Maybe you want to let each family member take turns writing a portion of the verse. 

Now, after the verse is placed in the box, wrap it up like a Christmas gift.  Stick it under your tree.  Put it out as a decoration in your bedroom.  Decorate it to match your kitchen.  Where ever you want to put it...go for it.  Maybe you want to make a few to place around your home....to put in certain eye-catching spots for family to see. Maybe you want to make a small one to take to others, someone you know needs to hear from the Lord that they are forgiven....to offer them this small "gift".  

The importantance is to look upon that gift wrapped box as a reminder that God has forgiven you.  God has forgiven me. 

Gifts....it's what everyone is thinking about this season.  Only now, you can focus on THE real gift.  The ONE and ONLY gift. 

So, what do you think? Ready to be blessed?  Ready to bless others?  No need to max out the credit card.  Share Jesus with them....the greatest gift of all.  It's not an empty box....it's filled with all the goodness and mercy that comes with his words.  Hide them in the box.  Hide them in your heart.

Merry Christmas! 

P.S.  Don't forget if you want to join us in scripture memorization I'd love to hear from you. I try to mail something out each month, a little verse reminder for you to have.  Please email me (bowlingfamilymoments@yahoo.com) and let me know if you're interested!  The more the merrier!

Because I refused to pay $48.95 for it....

While looking on Garnet Hill's website, I found this adorable advent calendar of sorts that used small buckets.   I thought it was cute.  A great idea.  But for $50?  Nope.  I can buy too many boxes of Krispy Kremes with that much cash. :)

So I decided to get crafty and make our own little buckets of joy advent calendar. When the kids were really younger, T5's Mimi, would always send us one of those Advent calendars with the little paper doors or windows that you could punch out each day and find a little chocolate treat inside.  Did y'all have those?  Or do you get them for your kids?  It's just so fun to count down the days until Christmas!!

Of course, after several rounds with the hot glue gun (because I know not how to sew) I was ready to call it quits!  Let's just say if I had a cuss jar set up in the kitchen nearby, we could have all retired by now.  I could have paid for my kids plus the Duggar kids (all 18 of them) to attend college.  At an Ivy League school, no less.

See these nice little balls of dried up glue mixed with charred flesh?  Yep....I'm telling you, the hot glue gun is of the devil. Luckily, I survived, and no one heard the nasty words that spewed forth during the making of the buckets of JOY. And I promptly packed the glue gun away.  No more crafty projects for me without a glass of vino before, during and after.   

Of course there has been much drama with the decision to see who would get to start with the first bucket.  Middle Boy was chosen.  As he is usually always in the second spot whether we go from youngest to oldest or oldest to youngest....hence the name Middle Boy. He deserved it.  I also had to inform the kids that I wouldn't be filling the buckets all up until the accounted for day, because they are kids....who peek....and would topple the buckets on day one just to see what would fall from all 24.  Life at House of Bowling is never dull....just ask the lady with the hot glue still stuck to her fingers.

Here's hoping you have BUCKETS OF JOY this Christmas season.

Kind of like a carpet burn, except on your fingertips.

Don't you love the wallpaper Baby Girl made me with one of her doodle apps?

So, my dear T5 surprised me with an iphone for my birthday.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that I am technologically challenged....the iphone...it's a techno gadget.  See my dillema?

Yes, I am probably the last foreigner to arrive at the Planet of iphone, but am glad to be here anyway.  I love visiting new and exotic places. Even when I look all touristy and helpless and CANNOT SPEAK THE NATIVE LANGUAGE.  Which is where I am, here on Planet iphone.  

Lucky for me, I have munchkins that tag along where ever I may go....and the munchkins know how to speak the iphone language.  Which was rather alarming at first, as I was unaware my kids were so bilingual.  After having it less than 12 hours, Middle Child came running into the kitchen to show me something on the screen.  It was playing a video highlight of Auburn's running backs through the years.  I threw down my spatula and said, "Middle Boy, where did you get that, how did you do that, did you mess up my phone, oh, we're gonna be in trouble now."  To which he replied..."Mama, I just went to youtube and looked it up."

That was my awakening moment, when I realized the iphone was not just for calling honey to say we needed him to stop for milk on the way home.  No, Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore.  It was also the moment I realized I would have to rely on my kids to help me work the darn thing.  A sure sign you are getting old.  As if I needed anymore signs.

So, here's my question for you....all you savvy little leaders on Planet iphone.  Tell me what you've found that's really neat, the stuff that you use often.  What apps do you really love?  What apps do I really need?  The must haves, the fun, the interesting, the FREE ONES :), the games, the secrets, etc. Remember I may be a girl, but I also still love sports, especially college football. I'm clueless to this foreign land and it's language so instead of relying on an 8 year old, I thought I'd reach out to you folks for help. Otherwise my iphone will soon be filled with all manner of dress up Barbie games and doodle pads.  With the occasional web page collection of collegiate helmet designs from the 10 year old. 

I must say a big thanks to a dear friend who AGES ago, (she was a premier veteran on Planet iphone), let me play on hers, and I found a word game that I loved.  She was kind enough to text me it's name, WURDLE. (Thanks Jillian) 

Now would be a great time for me to be fingerprinted by the FBI and then go out and commit a crime, rob a bank with no gloves, or what have you.  Why?  Because I have no skin left on my index finger from rubbing it around as fast as I can on the screen.  Seriously.  I thought I saw it smoking one night and decided that was enough.  Whether I had beaten my high score or not, it was time to put the phone down.  Gently, of course. Ever so gently.