It is free to register. If you think you might enjoy the place and want to sign up, I would be pleased if you used this referral link.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Did You Hear About My New BlogEvolve Blog?
In the past couple of days I have established a blog at Blog Evolve. It seems like a small community of bloggers/writers that enjoys interacting with each other. I am going to give it a try as a possible refuge for my Familyfunandfaith blog, in case the doors at Writing Up do actually close. I do not know if the place will be as attractive to others as it is to me, but you might like it too.
It is free to register. If you think you might enjoy the place and want to sign up, I would be pleased if you used this referral link.
It is free to register. If you think you might enjoy the place and want to sign up, I would be pleased if you used this referral link.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Did You Hear About My Poetry 5?
Archie Brown entered this in a poetry challenge, in which the rhyming words were provided by other participants:
If we were to meet Believin
Submitted by familyfunandfaith on Fri, 2006-02-10 14:55.
If we were to meet Believin in person
would we find her demure or a tempter?
She has gotten this poetry to flying
though most of mine need some mending.
My outlook for the day would worsen
If not for this fun little poetry maker
On which to participate I have chosen.
It has become an oft visited port,
that I will be back is surely a given,
and probably before the days has ended.
It is not a matter of destiny or fate
that has seen become a poet pretended,
certainly when against Ethan I'm measuring,
I see clearly I am not the poetry sort!
If we were to meet Believin
Submitted by familyfunandfaith on Fri, 2006-02-10 14:55.
If we were to meet Believin in person
would we find her demure or a tempter?
She has gotten this poetry to flying
though most of mine need some mending.
My outlook for the day would worsen
If not for this fun little poetry maker
On which to participate I have chosen.
It has become an oft visited port,
that I will be back is surely a given,
and probably before the days has ended.
It is not a matter of destiny or fate
that has seen become a poet pretended,
certainly when against Ethan I'm measuring,
I see clearly I am not the poetry sort!
Did You Hear About My Poetry 4?
Archie Brown entered this in a poetry challenge, in which the rhyming words were provided by other participants:
Can't stop now!
Submitted by familyfunandfaith on Thu, 2006-02-09 22:50.
To stop the game now would be cruel,
when so many of us have weighed
in and added to the fuel
of this post, that's stayed
for a week as the number one hit.
For a long time I have prayed
that I could develop such wit,
& my blogs would appear lunar;
Then everyone would stop by and remit
and I could afford a brand new tuner.
But I seem unarmed in this duel
So I'll give up, later or sooner!
Can't stop now!
Submitted by familyfunandfaith on Thu, 2006-02-09 22:50.
To stop the game now would be cruel,
when so many of us have weighed
in and added to the fuel
of this post, that's stayed
for a week as the number one hit.
For a long time I have prayed
that I could develop such wit,
& my blogs would appear lunar;
Then everyone would stop by and remit
and I could afford a brand new tuner.
But I seem unarmed in this duel
So I'll give up, later or sooner!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Did You Heart About the Poetry Challenge--3?
Here is the next of the poems Archie entered into the poetry challenge on another blog site.
I'm not Believin, I don't have her grasp,
so to tie the two sets of words, I'll need a clasp.
I will not get too close to the edge
as I try to cross this verbal ledge.
I am very seldom a man to take a gamble,
but when writing a poem, I often ramble.
This verse will be reasonably priced,
I'll soon see if it is properly spliced.
If I can venture the truth
and avoid obvious lies,
This poetry writing spoof
is binding us with silk ties.
This blog causes much wonder,
often lifting us from grief.
Avoid Believin? It'd be a blunder
worthy of a place in a legal brief!
I'm not Believin, I don't have her grasp,
so to tie the two sets of words, I'll need a clasp.
I will not get too close to the edge
as I try to cross this verbal ledge.
I am very seldom a man to take a gamble,
but when writing a poem, I often ramble.
This verse will be reasonably priced,
I'll soon see if it is properly spliced.
If I can venture the truth
and avoid obvious lies,
This poetry writing spoof
is binding us with silk ties.
This blog causes much wonder,
often lifting us from grief.
Avoid Believin? It'd be a blunder
worthy of a place in a legal brief!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Did You Hear About My Poetry 2?
Archie Brown entered this in a poetry challenge, in which the rhyming words were provided by other participants:
When I went out today my car was damp,
but like a responsible male
I went to the jail, tramp, tramp, tramp,
I had to go post my brother's bail.
I remember when he played ball and I would root,
It was especially fun to watch him on cable.
He could dribble and pass and especially shoot,
But his aim for stardom alas was a fable.
When I went out today my car was damp,
but like a responsible male
I went to the jail, tramp, tramp, tramp,
I had to go post my brother's bail.
I remember when he played ball and I would root,
It was especially fun to watch him on cable.
He could dribble and pass and especially shoot,
But his aim for stardom alas was a fable.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Did You Hear About Book Discussions?
About a year ago one of Archie Brown's favorite bloggers began a Book Club Discussion group. She has moved to her blog and her discussions to blogspot and all of us who participate would like to have you come by and put in your two cents. The book in focus this month is The Mists of Avalon.
Did You Hear About My Dad Being a Prophet?
Archie Loves to recall old family stories:
The school I had chosen to attend was about four hundred miles from home, so on the day I was to leave, my dad and I planned to leave early. He would drive me there, and then return home that night. In those days the expense of a hotel was not something our family would consider, especially with the cost of college looming. And Dad was too smart to stay in a dorm with a bunch of college boys.
As we were backing out of the drive way, my mom was standing there, in her terry cloth housecoat, waving goodbye and crying. I asked my dad, “Why is she crying? This is what she has wanted me to do for as long as I can remember. She wanted me to be the first in our family to go to college and I am doing that.” After a brief pause and a glance at me, Dad said, “You will understand it better in about twenty years.”
Twenty years later, almost to the day, my wife and daughters and I took our oldest to school, over five hundred miles from home. Everything went smoothly; we got her situated in her dorm and went out to the car to head home. As we pulled away from the campus, I had a flood of thoughts--our daughter was already engaged to be married the next summer—she will never be home again—my mom standing at the end of the drive way in her terrycloth robe, waving and crying.
I had to pull the car over because I could not see through the tears.
The school I had chosen to attend was about four hundred miles from home, so on the day I was to leave, my dad and I planned to leave early. He would drive me there, and then return home that night. In those days the expense of a hotel was not something our family would consider, especially with the cost of college looming. And Dad was too smart to stay in a dorm with a bunch of college boys.
As we were backing out of the drive way, my mom was standing there, in her terry cloth housecoat, waving goodbye and crying. I asked my dad, “Why is she crying? This is what she has wanted me to do for as long as I can remember. She wanted me to be the first in our family to go to college and I am doing that.” After a brief pause and a glance at me, Dad said, “You will understand it better in about twenty years.”
Twenty years later, almost to the day, my wife and daughters and I took our oldest to school, over five hundred miles from home. Everything went smoothly; we got her situated in her dorm and went out to the car to head home. As we pulled away from the campus, I had a flood of thoughts--our daughter was already engaged to be married the next summer—she will never be home again—my mom standing at the end of the drive way in her terrycloth robe, waving and crying.
I had to pull the car over because I could not see through the tears.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Did You Hear About The Acorn Wars?
Archie Brown wrote this on another blog a few weeks ago:
A few years ago our neighborhood association came up with an idea that we would have arches, made of pvc pipes and wrapped with red tape to make them look like candy canes, put up at each end of every street in the subdivision. The arches are also wrapped in lights, and they so make quite a display during the holiday season. The traffic on our otherwise quiet streets really increases near Christmas.
Last week the arches were dismantled by the volunteers in the association and left in the yards of the homes in which they would be stored for the next 11 months. Our house is one of the chosen for the arch that graces our lot. So the grandboys and I were out in the yard gathering the pieces of pipe and moving them to the garage. But we got distracted.
Our oak tree produced 40 tons of little acorns this season and they are all over the ground now. While down rolling up the strings of lights, I picked up an acorn and chunked it at the 7 year old, hitting him on his noggin. And the war was on!
For the next 10 or 15 minutes it was all out acorn slingin’ and duckin’. The 6 year old is not a good pitcher yet, so he would gather up a handful and come in for a kind of Kamikaze attack! The 7 year old was whooping like an Indian firing away. I was able to hold my own, and we had a ball.
We eventually got our chore done, the boys had a story to tell their cousins and I had something to blog about!
A few years ago our neighborhood association came up with an idea that we would have arches, made of pvc pipes and wrapped with red tape to make them look like candy canes, put up at each end of every street in the subdivision. The arches are also wrapped in lights, and they so make quite a display during the holiday season. The traffic on our otherwise quiet streets really increases near Christmas.
Last week the arches were dismantled by the volunteers in the association and left in the yards of the homes in which they would be stored for the next 11 months. Our house is one of the chosen for the arch that graces our lot. So the grandboys and I were out in the yard gathering the pieces of pipe and moving them to the garage. But we got distracted.
Our oak tree produced 40 tons of little acorns this season and they are all over the ground now. While down rolling up the strings of lights, I picked up an acorn and chunked it at the 7 year old, hitting him on his noggin. And the war was on!
For the next 10 or 15 minutes it was all out acorn slingin’ and duckin’. The 6 year old is not a good pitcher yet, so he would gather up a handful and come in for a kind of Kamikaze attack! The 7 year old was whooping like an Indian firing away. I was able to hold my own, and we had a ball.
We eventually got our chore done, the boys had a story to tell their cousins and I had something to blog about!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Did You Hear About My Midlife Crisis?
Archie Brown remembers his midlife crisis:
I not a big car buff. I have always considered cars a tool. I usually drive relatively inexpensive cars. In 1984 I had a 79 Malibu four door sedan. It was fine for a 35 year old family man.
The auto makers reintroduced convertibles into their lines, after several years of moratorium. One day, while I was out running errands, I stopped at the Ford dealership so look at the new Mustang convertibles. I ended up buying one. That day! It was black, with gray interior, and a 5.0 liter engine.
I went by to show a neighbor and friend who also had a teenage daughter. Our girls played basketball together. While on a test drive, Bill said, “Let’s go by the high school and peel out!” We did!
Later I went to the school to pick up my daughter. When I pulled up, with the top down, she was standing in the same spot as always, talking to the same girls as always. She looked at the car, but did not recognize that it was me driving. When I honked and waved for her to come on, her jaw hit the sidewalk! She rushed to the car and got in. She was shocked that I had bought a car, especially a cool one.
My wife quietly shook her head in disbelief when she saw the car. She laughed when I decided that an afro hairdo would keep my hair from being wind blown while driving sans roof. But she said that it was a good thing that my midlife crisis led to an unexpected purchase of a Mustang convertible. She said a blond would have cost me a whole lot more!
I not a big car buff. I have always considered cars a tool. I usually drive relatively inexpensive cars. In 1984 I had a 79 Malibu four door sedan. It was fine for a 35 year old family man.
The auto makers reintroduced convertibles into their lines, after several years of moratorium. One day, while I was out running errands, I stopped at the Ford dealership so look at the new Mustang convertibles. I ended up buying one. That day! It was black, with gray interior, and a 5.0 liter engine.
I went by to show a neighbor and friend who also had a teenage daughter. Our girls played basketball together. While on a test drive, Bill said, “Let’s go by the high school and peel out!” We did!
Later I went to the school to pick up my daughter. When I pulled up, with the top down, she was standing in the same spot as always, talking to the same girls as always. She looked at the car, but did not recognize that it was me driving. When I honked and waved for her to come on, her jaw hit the sidewalk! She rushed to the car and got in. She was shocked that I had bought a car, especially a cool one.
My wife quietly shook her head in disbelief when she saw the car. She laughed when I decided that an afro hairdo would keep my hair from being wind blown while driving sans roof. But she said that it was a good thing that my midlife crisis led to an unexpected purchase of a Mustang convertible. She said a blond would have cost me a whole lot more!
Did You Hear About The Year Santa Came Early?
Archie Brown loves this family story:
I cannot remember if our first born was 3 or 4 years old. The little house we lived in had a garage that apparently had been an addition after the house was built, because there was a window by the dining room table that looked out in to the garage. We had a curtain over the window so it would not be our constant view.
Anyway, that Christmas our daughter was getting a swing set from Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, my brother and I decided to put it together in the garage, in the afternoon, so that all we would have to do later was move it out into the yard. We were doing great, almost finished in fact, when we looked up and saw my daughter looking excitedly out the window at her new swings.
We told her that Santa had left it early so that we could have it together for her on Christmas morning. She accepted that, and we all lived happily ever after.
I cannot remember if our first born was 3 or 4 years old. The little house we lived in had a garage that apparently had been an addition after the house was built, because there was a window by the dining room table that looked out in to the garage. We had a curtain over the window so it would not be our constant view.
Anyway, that Christmas our daughter was getting a swing set from Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, my brother and I decided to put it together in the garage, in the afternoon, so that all we would have to do later was move it out into the yard. We were doing great, almost finished in fact, when we looked up and saw my daughter looking excitedly out the window at her new swings.
We told her that Santa had left it early so that we could have it together for her on Christmas morning. She accepted that, and we all lived happily ever after.
Did You Hear About Penny Rock Peak?
Archie loves some of his family's traditions!
When our girls were all still at home, we took some really special vacations. We went to Yellowstone Park, Estes Park, and the Grand Tetons one year. We went to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. We made a trip to the D.C. area for the Bicentenial. We visited Civil War battlefields on another trip.
One of the little serendipities/family traditions came from the time in Yellowstone. The girls and I decided to climb a pretty steep hill. It was an exhilarating achievement for us to reach the top. To mark our accomplishment, we decided to place a penny on little ledge in a position it would not likely be found easily. We dubbed our landmark “Penny Rock Peak.” My oldest called the hiding place of the penny “Lincoln Ledge.” We enjoyed that so much that we made a point to find a Penny Rock Peak wherever we visited. There are Lincoln Ledges in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, The Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert, Trafalgar Falls in Dominica, and Red River, New Mexico.
We saw lots of awesome events, historical sights and memorials. But Penny Rock Peaks have a place among our favorite moments.
When our girls were all still at home, we took some really special vacations. We went to Yellowstone Park, Estes Park, and the Grand Tetons one year. We went to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. We made a trip to the D.C. area for the Bicentenial. We visited Civil War battlefields on another trip.
One of the little serendipities/family traditions came from the time in Yellowstone. The girls and I decided to climb a pretty steep hill. It was an exhilarating achievement for us to reach the top. To mark our accomplishment, we decided to place a penny on little ledge in a position it would not likely be found easily. We dubbed our landmark “Penny Rock Peak.” My oldest called the hiding place of the penny “Lincoln Ledge.” We enjoyed that so much that we made a point to find a Penny Rock Peak wherever we visited. There are Lincoln Ledges in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, The Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert, Trafalgar Falls in Dominica, and Red River, New Mexico.
We saw lots of awesome events, historical sights and memorials. But Penny Rock Peaks have a place among our favorite moments.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Did You Hear About My First Ever Poem?
Archie Brown got involved in a poetry writing challenge. The rhyming words were assigned by the previous writer. This is Archie's first entry, his first attempt at poetry ever!
I loathe the chief cockroach.
Though he seldom takes wing,
he can often my goodies poach.
I am certainly glad he can't sing!
He will climb on my glass,
he will foul my chicken,
with utter lack of class,
he contantly gives me a lickin'
I loathe the chief cockroach.
Though he seldom takes wing,
he can often my goodies poach.
I am certainly glad he can't sing!
He will climb on my glass,
he will foul my chicken,
with utter lack of class,
he contantly gives me a lickin'
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Did You Hear About Writing Down?
Archie Brown has a friend who has been blogging on Writingup.com for more than a year. He's enjoyed it immensley, and made some good virtual friends in that blog community. The site has had all sorts of difficulties in the past few weeks, causing a migration away from the site by a number of the writers. One of them, known as Keywoman 1, has begun a new group on Myspace to try to recapture the magic of our community. It is called WritingDown! Here is a link to check it out: WritingDown
Monday, April 23, 2007
Dad Was Lost After Mom Died
Archie Brown remembers when how his mom's death affected his dad.
When Mom died, Dad wandered around aimlessly--figuratively speaking. My brothers and sister all did all we could to include him in what we were doing.
I remember the Friday after Thanksgiving, in my front yard, he and I were watching the girls play. Mom had been gone for 3 months. I made some remark about wishing I knew what to do to help him feel better. His reply, "Ralph, you can not be my buddy. You are my son and you are exactly what I want in a son. But you cannot replace what I had with Betty!"
I was caught off guard, and though I did not want to admit it, I knew it was true. I was thinking like a 35 year old who wanted to protect and defend. It was that day I realized that there is a different perspective in every relationship. It was that day that made it acceptable in my mind when Dad said he and Melba were going to get married. It was that day that made me seriously consider what I would really do if my precious wife were to precede in death.
I can not imagine making the adjustments of a new mate. But I hate to be alone. I would be as lost and aimless as my dad was, if I had no companion to help me see things clearly, and support me in the endeavors of life. I would not settle for just any wife, but I am relatively sure I would want to find a friend to spend the last of my life with.
I have a younger sister who was not happy that Dad was remarrying. She felt he was being unfaithful to Mom. The day before the wedding, she came to my house to tell me she had just come from meeting with Dad. She had told him that she did not want him to get married. He had said, “Yes you do, because you want me to be happy and this is going to make me happy.”
She said a few more things in anger and left to come to my house. She asked me what else she could have said. I told her she had already said too much. Dad has now been married again for over 20 years and we all love Melba, including my sister. We are all very glad Dad has a partner to share his life and fill his heart.
When Mom died, Dad wandered around aimlessly--figuratively speaking. My brothers and sister all did all we could to include him in what we were doing.
I remember the Friday after Thanksgiving, in my front yard, he and I were watching the girls play. Mom had been gone for 3 months. I made some remark about wishing I knew what to do to help him feel better. His reply, "Ralph, you can not be my buddy. You are my son and you are exactly what I want in a son. But you cannot replace what I had with Betty!"
I was caught off guard, and though I did not want to admit it, I knew it was true. I was thinking like a 35 year old who wanted to protect and defend. It was that day I realized that there is a different perspective in every relationship. It was that day that made it acceptable in my mind when Dad said he and Melba were going to get married. It was that day that made me seriously consider what I would really do if my precious wife were to precede in death.
I can not imagine making the adjustments of a new mate. But I hate to be alone. I would be as lost and aimless as my dad was, if I had no companion to help me see things clearly, and support me in the endeavors of life. I would not settle for just any wife, but I am relatively sure I would want to find a friend to spend the last of my life with.
I have a younger sister who was not happy that Dad was remarrying. She felt he was being unfaithful to Mom. The day before the wedding, she came to my house to tell me she had just come from meeting with Dad. She had told him that she did not want him to get married. He had said, “Yes you do, because you want me to be happy and this is going to make me happy.”
She said a few more things in anger and left to come to my house. She asked me what else she could have said. I told her she had already said too much. Dad has now been married again for over 20 years and we all love Melba, including my sister. We are all very glad Dad has a partner to share his life and fill his heart.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Did You Hear About The Escaped Gorilla?
Archie Brown's friend of mine told me he read this story in the Houston Chronicle on Sunday the 15th. If it was in the Chronicle, we can believe it!
A gorilla escaped from the zoo at in Washington D.C. The search took several hours, but the ape was in the Library of Congress. On one side he had an open Bible on the other side he had opened a copy of Darwin's Origin of the Species.
When they asked the gorilla what he was doing, his reply was, "I am trying to determine if I am my brother's keeper, or my keeper's brother!"
A gorilla escaped from the zoo at in Washington D.C. The search took several hours, but the ape was in the Library of Congress. On one side he had an open Bible on the other side he had opened a copy of Darwin's Origin of the Species.
When they asked the gorilla what he was doing, his reply was, "I am trying to determine if I am my brother's keeper, or my keeper's brother!"
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Did You Hear About Identifying and Developing Talent in Young People?
Here is another Archie Brown favorite story:
I have a friend who was the editor for Church & Family Magazine. His name is Dr. Howard Norton. He has been a missionary, a minister, & a university professor. I met him on the campus where he was teaching when my middle daughter was in college. She also worked in the office with Dr. Norton.
He and I have had something of a mutual admiration for each other. He has spent time in my home and is aware of my work and the amount of time I spend working with teenagers. And he has had contact with several young people that I have tried to help be spiritual, even in their youth.
One day, a year or so ago, I got a call at home from Howard. He told me he had an idea for an article for the magazine, and he thought I was the guy to write it. He said "can you tell folks how to identify and help develop talents in young people?"
I told him that was an easy question to answer. He said something like, "okay, lay it on me." I said "spend a lot of time with them and love them while you are there."
After a pause, Dr. Norton said, "put that in 600 words and send it to me." So I did, and he publihed it.
How would you have answered the question about how to identify and develop talent in young people?
I have a friend who was the editor for Church & Family Magazine. His name is Dr. Howard Norton. He has been a missionary, a minister, & a university professor. I met him on the campus where he was teaching when my middle daughter was in college. She also worked in the office with Dr. Norton.
He and I have had something of a mutual admiration for each other. He has spent time in my home and is aware of my work and the amount of time I spend working with teenagers. And he has had contact with several young people that I have tried to help be spiritual, even in their youth.
One day, a year or so ago, I got a call at home from Howard. He told me he had an idea for an article for the magazine, and he thought I was the guy to write it. He said "can you tell folks how to identify and help develop talents in young people?"
I told him that was an easy question to answer. He said something like, "okay, lay it on me." I said "spend a lot of time with them and love them while you are there."
After a pause, Dr. Norton said, "put that in 600 words and send it to me." So I did, and he publihed it.
How would you have answered the question about how to identify and develop talent in young people?
Eskimos Hunting Wolves!
Archie Brown read a story about how Eskimos hunt wolves. It was a graphic story. Archie was drawn to using the practice to apply it to moral issues or bad habits, or you name it. But he wanted to verify the practice was accurately related in the story. When he did a Google search, he found that Paul Harvey has told the story on the radio, so it must be true, right?
The way Eskimos kill wolves is ingenious. They will coat the blade of a sharp hunting knife with blood. The blood will freeze on the blade. Then the blade will be coated again, frozen, and repeated till the blade is completely hidden by the frozen blood. The hilt of the knife is then planted, with the blade sticking up.
When a wolf smells the blood, he will begin to lick the lethal popsicle. As he proceeds, the blood melts and eventually exposing the sharp edge. The lust for more blood drives the animal to lick faster and faster, never realizing he is now licking his own blood. In the end, the wolf bleeds to death on the snow and the Eskimo has his prey.
Can you think of ways humans participate in destructive behaviors?
The way Eskimos kill wolves is ingenious. They will coat the blade of a sharp hunting knife with blood. The blood will freeze on the blade. Then the blade will be coated again, frozen, and repeated till the blade is completely hidden by the frozen blood. The hilt of the knife is then planted, with the blade sticking up.
When a wolf smells the blood, he will begin to lick the lethal popsicle. As he proceeds, the blood melts and eventually exposing the sharp edge. The lust for more blood drives the animal to lick faster and faster, never realizing he is now licking his own blood. In the end, the wolf bleeds to death on the snow and the Eskimo has his prey.
Can you think of ways humans participate in destructive behaviors?
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