Be Nice to Spiders

The other night Melissa and I noticed this.
In the kitchen, high on the wall between the table and the kitchen sink,
there was a tiny spider web. It was so small, I didn't even notice it....
Until I found it had caught this wasp.
When I first noticed it, the wasp was still alive. It was moving, trying to get loose.
I thought to myself, "I will do a little science fair experiment here."
"I will leave the wasp right where it is."
It didn't get loose.
In fact, the next morning, it was either paralyzed or dead.
I left it there while I went to my job.
A little later, Melissa called to tell me that the spider had returned to the web.
It was eating the wasp! She said it looked kind of neat.
When I got home from work, it was gone.
I left it there again.
The next day I was able to catch the spider hard at work, eating his dinner.
I took this picture.
I know some people are afraid of spiders, but I'm not.
This spider is an inspiration to me.
Just imagine if someone said to this tiny spider,
"For dinner tonight you can eat an insect that moves a thousand miles an hour
and is 10 times your size."
Do you think the spider would have believed it?
Would he have thought, "I can't do that!" ?
Heavenly Father sometimes asks us to do things that seem insurmountable,
but he gives us all the tools and abilities we need to do His will.
All we have to do is recognize our inner strength and utilize the gifts he has given us.
Be Nice to Spiders (like the book says).
Take a lesson from them.
"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and
nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Matthew 17:20

Julie Byington sent me this email that she had received:

One Light Bulb at a Time
A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshoper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American.Good idea . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China . The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA . Start looking.In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value. " I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio .So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . . . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada . The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA ! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!(We should have awakened a decade ago .. . . . . . )Let's get with the program . . . . help our fellow Americans keep their jobs andcreate more jobs here in the USA

women's shoes size 6 1/2

I have tons of women's size 6 1/2 shoes that were so graciously passed on to us. If anyone would like them before I pass them off to goodwill, please let me know. They are cute and stylish shoes....a lot of high heels.

Link to Entire City Council

They listen to our input --

Here is a link to the entire city council and mayor if you want to speak up about the budget cuts. (You can cut and paste and send the same thing to everyone) There is a work meeting tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. at city hall. You can sit in, but not add input at this meeting. But on Sept. 1, they will present the budget at the city council meeting. At this time you can speak for 3-5 minutes, if you desire.

It is kind of hard to find on the website. They don't make it easy for us....

http://www.cityofcarrollton.com/index.aspx?page=191

Thomas Pool Closing For Good / Budget Cuts

The city wants to close the pool permanently to save costs. They have spent a lot of money renovating it in recent years, but the redesign was not well thought-out, resulting in a pool that was less fun than before. During the renovation they removed the diving boards. Nothing took their place for the whole first season. When people went to the pool there was nothing to do! Also, they did not renovate the bath house, which is kind of old and dirty looking. They have not promoted the pool and people have kind of forgotten about it. It is a great pool that has a lot of potential to become a moneymaker, if handled properly. I sent an e-mail to the city council, hopefully it will be forwarded to you by Gretchen. Please read it and send an e-mail to them too, if you agree with me. A brief note saying "Thomas pool is worth saving," will do. The city council really does listen to the citizens. There will be a work session budget meeting discussing this matter by the city council on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Anyone can come. E-mail them as soon as possible so they will have something to discuss. Debi Whitley

Shoe Sale

Still need shoes for back to school? Found an awesome coupon online through the pinching your pennies site. Payless is having their BOGO sale (buy one get one 1/2 off) and I got a code that adds an additional 20% off. You have to buy them online, but they offer free shipping to your local Payless store. I got two pairs of tennis shoes for my girls, the total before the sale was $29.98, after the sale and coupon it was $17.99. I almost got one pair free!

Use this link: Payless.com
and this 20% off coupon code: 28228

Then go over to Pinching Your Pennies and sign up to receive regular updates on sales and new coupon codes.

Happy Shopping!

children's summer activities

School days are almost here! I am so not ready....I usually have all these plans and not enough time to finish them all. This year has been the first that most of them are getting done. Wanted to share, so you can get things done, too:
**1st week of the month, we focused on teaching cooking skills. We make all kinds of things. The children even got to make 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner. How nice!
**2nd week of the month, we focused on scrapbooking. We leave all the scrapbook material out on the table all week long and the children have fun cutting, pasting, and writing. Sure saves me!
**3rd week: we focused on sewing. We pulled out the sewing and serger machines and had fun sewing little projects from blankets to bags, to pillowcases, and hopefully some mending.
**4th week: we focused on building/painting. We built us some marshmallow shooter guns, worked on a better, more economical bunny cage, and such.
All throughout the summer we had an opportunity to go to Sister Johnson's home and learn how to crochette...it's been a lot of fun for all the older 3. All the older 4 have been taking piano lessons right from Mom. This has kept us busy and yet still have time to play with friends, and to be together.