Our Favorite Reads for June

KAREN'S PICK: Mistaken Identity by Don & Susie Van Ryn & The Ceraks

One Family's Anguish is Another's Joy

This book is the non-fiction account, written by the families involved about the mistaken identity of their college daughters. One daughter was killed in an accident and the other survived in a hospital in a comatose state with multiple serious injuries and brain damage. Five weeks went by before the parents realized a mistake had been made in identifying their daughters at the accident.

Both were Christian families who lived their faith. The book is full of how the families relied on God's strength to help them deal with this tragic situation. In this day and age when lawsuits are so frequent, the families did not sue over the huge mistake that was made and caused so much anguish to both families. I applaud them both for this!

I especially enjoyed the view of Whitney, the girl who survived but who wasn't quite the same after her recovery, which was miraculous! This book is co-authored by both families which made it very personal, although it really didn't make me feel any strong emotion which surprised me. It's a very good book that emphasizes the use of scripture and praise to God in coping with a tragedy.

GERARD'S PICK: Please Stop Laughing At Me by Jodee Blanco

If you were picked on in high school and grade school like I was, this book brings back all the painful memories that you NEVER EVER forget! I'm so sorry you had to go through all this, Jodee. I was right there with you! So glad you wrote your book. I wish I had. God bless you, Jodee. Hope you enjoy great success in your life. Can't wait to read the sequel. Jodee is right. Teachers do nothing. Parents do nothing. You are on your own! I finished this book in just two days.

My First Blogging Award!

I never expected to get an award for blogging, but I did! One of my new blogging friends is Jewels of Being Number 5. She also writes the Arduous Nincompoop blog which I enjoy as well and entered pictures of my cats in her 4th of July contest. She is one of my nice blogging buddies who has an interesting blog about her life.

Thanks Jewels, for including me in your special group of recipients of the Arte y Pico award. (HUG)

This award was created and to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a "special honor". Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to 5 others."

What a wonderful way to show some love and appreciation to your fellow bloggers!!!

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to. (This is the hard part--there are just so many good ones around it was diffcult to choose just five.)

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. http://arteypico.blogspot.com.

Here is my list of recipients:

Jazmin's blog: More Than Just Cat
This is a humorous cat blog that is so interesting for cat lovers because there is interaction by interviewing cats of other bloggers.

Banji's blog: Lesson in Life
This is a very good site for learning a lot of useful information. It's so interesting that I spent quite a bit of time on this blog. I think you will too if you check it out.

Melissa's blog: Learning Activities For Children
This blog has many, many different learning activities for all ages of children. It is a wealth of ideas.

Tony's blog: Seeking Things Above
This is a wonderful Christian blog by a family man that has a lot of good articles on it and many interesting things. Definitely one of the better ones I've come across in the spirituality category.

Guardian Angel's blog: Happy Family Matters
This blog contains effective parenting tips, successful marriage tips and other family issues, as well as news and views on how to maintain a happy family.

Organizing Tip of Week 2: Keep Things Handy

Keep things handy that you use often. For example, since I teach Sunday School every Sunday, I have a bag (actually 2 bags) that contain all my Sunday School class supplies that I take every week so all I have to do is grab it. I keep my keys on my dresser, pens near all my phones, litter near the litter boxes, coats near the door, etc.

We Miss You, Omar!

Omar Vizquel was my favorite all-time Cleveland Indian and I was absolutely angry when the Indians let him go. Omar is indeed an all-around player! I even read his biography which was pretty interesting and funny.

Omar was just amazing at shortstop. He made very few errors and had a great range. He could go way deep in the hole and still throw the runner out at first. He could go to the right of second base and make the play or he could go way over by third. I was always confident that we'd get an out when the ball was hit to Omar. Omar wanted every ball. He would even run well into left field to catch a high pop on occasion. (Unlike now, when I hold my breath every time it is hit to short.)

Not only was he outstanding in the field and very fun to watch, but also was fun on the bases. He was very fast and stole often. I always enjoyed his skill at putting down a surprise bunt and beating it out.

At the plate, Omar was a good clutch hitter. With runners on, there was no one I'd rather have up to bat. You could count on him for a hit or at least a sacrifice. It was so exciting when there was a runner on third and he would put down the perfect bunt for the squeeze play (as he did last night but for the Giants now instead of us). Omar loved to play and it showed.

I also liked him because he was a clean-cut guy. He didn't wear his hair goofy to get attention or do a lot of strange extra motions getting ready to hit. He was all about playing the game and having some fun.

Omar Vizquel was and is a truly great ballplayer! He's pretty old now, but can still outplay many, many other younger guys any day!

Why Smoke?

After reading this post at Mama Flo's Place,MamaFlo's Place: Why can't I quit thinking about smoking a cigarette? I thought I'd write my two cents worth about smoking.

Smoking is one of those things that some people do that really puzzle me. Why anyone would start smoking is a mystery to me. There are absolutely no benefits to it and no upside that I can see. But many reasons not to such as the following:

1) It does great harm to one's body and is quite expensive as well.

2) The smell gets into everything and is just very unpleasant.

3) It annoys other people. I even cough from just being near someone smoking--it gets into my throat and yuck!

4) Fires happen when people doze off holding their cigarettes.

5) It becomes addicting very quickly and is hard to stop.

Here is the only good reason that I know of that anyone would smoke:


(That's right, there is none!)