Check out this post by Sandy Rios:

THE UNFASHIONABLE BUSINESS OF MARTYRDOM

Google just announced the availability of many classic books for full viewing and download. There are piles of out-of-copyright books just waiting to be discovered. Or should I say rediscovered.

I clicked over to Google’s Book Search to see what I could find. I didn’t know where to start so I decided to search for one of my childhood favorites: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

To my surprise there it was ready for the reading, Ok Mom no excuses about finding that old book in storage now you can read it online! Upon further investigation I found another of Alcotts classics: Little Men. While I was browsing the virtual library I found many more of her books. Apparently there are sequels to both of these favorites as well as many more in the series.

Next I stumbled upon the lovely series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Have you read Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea,
Anne of the Island, or
Anne’s House of Dreams?

To girly for you? How about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or give ole Huckleberry Finn another read.

If only it weren’t so late I could think of some more exciting jewels to search for! If you find any of your favorites please share them with us.

(Yes, I know I recently ranted about people putting google ads in their posts. You’ll have to forgive me this once. The thousand hits GoogleBlog has sent my way today has broke my resove in this issue, but only this once and only this post. You all still love me though, I know you do!)

I’ve got to mix things up a bit. Too much to do and to much previous procrastination to get it done in time. Therefore I’m going on a blogging break till next Tuesday. With exception to any preposted pictures that may POP up on occasion I shouldn’t be here for a while.

I know I announced the barely noticed naming contest and it is still in effect only not to be decided till Tuesday.

Oh, yes theres still the issue of the prize. Let’s see.
To the winner I will send a grab bag full of goodies, thats right I’ll dive into my treasure trove of gifts and find a big bunch of something good. Now thats not too descriptive but trust me it will be stuffed full of fun stuff. So there you go, get to naming.

Oh, and Jessica if you’re here leave us a comment so I can introduce you to the rest of my readers.

Until Tuesday, Know you are loved!

I’m working on a members only section. It will include a group calendar, chat, private posts, email and various other features. What I’m looking for now is a name.

“Fellowship of the ____________________”

“The______________________Sisterhood”

how about “The _________________Society”

or “The_______________________Alliance”

Any Ideas? I’m looking for a name that exudes humor and sincerity, something that relays the cherished cleverness of its members. Something. . .well something different. I’m serching for something I have yet to put my finger on. I need help your help. Hmmm what’s the best way to insight creativity? I know a contest! Post your ideas and we’ll have a “Naming Contest” Awh yes, but with a contest we need a prize. What to give. . .what to give. Maybe a hug? No that won’t work. . .hmm money?. No I can only spare $3. I’ll still have to think on the prize. Start working on and posting your ideas and I’ll let you know tonight or tomorrow what the prize will be. I think we’ll hold the naming open till Thursday @ 9pm. By Friday I’ll have things set up and I’ll be open for sign ups.

A few of you may have already received email notification of your membership; I was testing things out and used you girls as the guinea pigs. As of now you can only access the calendar, the rest will be up and running soon.

I received this in via Email this morning and decided to share it with you.

Pakistani teenager barely escapes death at the hands of her family!

Diana grew up in a strict Islamic family in Pakistan. Her life was pretty typical until she met a girl named Mary who was a Christian. Now Diana is also a Christian and on the run.

It was then that Diana’s uncle noticed an extremely poisonous black cobra swimming in the canal. Believing he could escape any prosecution for his niece’s death, he threw her into the path of the cobra. He also knew she could not swim.

Diana miraculously escaped from the canal and is in hiding today. She is a new Christian but has already learned what it means to suffer for Christ. She recently told The Voice of the Martyrs, “Jesus was crucified for us. Can we not endure some of the same for Him?”

Every month The Voice of the Martyrs reports on what is really happening around the world where our brothers and sisters are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Now you can receive a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs award winning monthly newsletter. You will be inspired, you will learn to pray and even discover practical ways to get involved.

Subscribe today!

Click here for more information.

Look at my drama free post.

Ungrit your teeth. Breath. Relax your shoulders. Turn your head from one side to the other. Stretch your arms up to the sky. Return your toes to their previously uncurled position. Sit up straight and smile. There you go, now go back to your regularly scheduled life. No I take that back, don’t have a regularly scheduled day. Do something to make today count.

You heard me! I have a few especially “Ugly” friends and I love everyone of you! What am I talking about? I think I’ll let Jules explain it for you:
UGLY FRIENDS

Come back after you’ve read her post and tell us all about your ugly friends.

To my regular readers you may be surprised when I say I generally keep the address to this my huble online abode a secret. I’m not sure why, I guess I prefer either close friends or complete strangers to read. I guess thats not completely true, I even have some really good friends I haven’t shared it with. It’s when I get visits from new aquaintances or in-laws and such that I get a little timid. Kurt often passes the address out and assures me I have no reason to be embarrased and yet I am a bit self concious of my writings. Not nervous about my random rambles just of my occasional attempts at writing something of value.

So my little spot here has remained mostly hidden. . .until now. I had a little oops a minute ago. You see I have http://jamileigh.com as my automatic signature on my gmail account, whenever I send a mass email I generally delete that. I know, I know it’s crazy but I do it. Till a little while ago when I sent out a quick little email and forgot to cut it.

So in come the new visitors. Welcome!
Please note that the posts at the top of the page may not be my best they are just my most recent. Now that your here feel free to browse around. Click on the categories and other such links, my favorites categories are “A Mother’s Life” and the ones on “Faith“. I also enjoy all the “photos”.

Please if you do find me here let me know, theres nothing more uncomfortable to me then sharing a story with an aquaintace in the grocery store only for them to tell me they already read it on my blog, and in fact they come here every day. I don’t mind the visitors, I love them in fact. (you all know I do) I just like to know who knows me.

So with that welcome!

I’ve been busy of late. What’s new right? Well I thought I’d catch you up on family happenings as well as a little bit of random tidbits.

First of we’ll talk about the kids:
Kaleb is in the 3rd grade, he loves school and loves to read. I do wish he would make a friend, he seems a bit lonely. Please pray about that for me.

Charleigh is in the 1st grade she too loves school and is quickly learning to read. She on the other hand has loads of friends, she’s simply magnetic and makes a new best friend each time we enter Wal*Mart. She’s really concerned about her big brother, she says she can see him at recess and he’s always alone. She cries about it each night. Last year they got to play together at recess but this year they are on separate parts of the playground.

Joshua is loving that school has started! Last year he cried each day as the kids went off to school with out him. This year instead of crying he turned to me and said “It just you and me Mom!” He loves sending them on their way each morning. He’s figured out that he gets a lot more time alone with Mom, Grandma and Papa when there are no big kids around.

Janae is expected to have Mattie any time now. She’s not due for a few weeks but we’re getting in the baby frame of mind.

Speaking of Nae, her mom, Rose, recently had a lung removed and is need of continued prayer. Please add her to your prayer list.

Sarah’s half way to her next little one, still no word on if we should be buying pink or blue.

I also have two cousins expecting babies. Busy times around these parts, I guess.

Nicole and Stan (dinglemunch) are in wedding planning stage. I never did get around to announcing there BIG engagement. If you’ve somehow missed it check out their new Wedding Blog I recommend starting at the bottom so you can read their story from the beginning.

I just signed up to take a course from the Blue Letter Bible Institute I’m anxious to get started and see how it goes. Have any of you had any experience with them? I’ve used there Bible study tools for a few years now. I like being able to search the various versions as well as take the verses apart and study the original Hebrew words.

I’ve got a few new recipes for you all to try. Quick and Easy Ravioli Lasagna is coming soon as well as a Mexican Lasagna.

Charleigh’s been trying to read her Bible each night but her reading level is just not up to NIV levels. I ordered her a new one from Christianbooks.com we chose the NIrV, it’s supposedly set at a third grade reading level and I’m hoping it will be easier for her.

I’m curious as to what’s your translation of choice and why.

Oh and one last tidbit. I’m cleaning out my feed reader and tossing a few blogs that seem to be dragging me down. Any of you out there lurking around with a blog of your own? Let me know who you are and I’ll check you out. Just leave your link below. I also know of few of you regular commenters have your own secret blogs and just aren’t telling us about them. Nows the time.

Here’s a quick pic of our kids with the Rubios. The kids had a terrific time. This was taken right after we got done ice skating at the Jones Center for Families What a fabulous place and its free!