I took these pictures April 1st at Kurt’s parents. At the time it seemed as if spring had sprung. Now it seems to have been a bad April Fools Joke. To see what I mean take a look outside my door right now.

Brrrr.

UPDATE: This post submitted to Thursday Challenge under the theme “Garden” on July 12, 2007

Nominated for the Blogger’s Choice Awards in the “Best Blog About Stuff” category, AmyMaxwell of Gentlewhisper.com is sure to prevail. The top contender has only 45 votes, you know we can beat that!

Come on folks and get out the vote! Spread the news and send people to vote for Gentlewhisper. It’s really easy just click on over sign up and vote. Then spread the word and campaign for this superior site, Gentlewhisper.com

Amy Maxwell was blogging before blogging was a word. When it comes to blogging on “stuff” she’s really got the stuff. Musing on a variety of topics she’s built a rather random but wide following. Is she a: A mommyblog? A milblog? A Faith blog, A Chaplain Candidate blog? A tech blog? A pneumablog? A coffee blog? An Army Wife blog? What ever she is she’s good.

I’m moving this back to the top again, I’m still looking for some of you lurkers to speak up.

I’d love to know who’s out there so please all aunts, uncles, grandparents, long lost childhood friends, school mates, co-workers, blog rollers, link-overs, meatball lovers, Australians and all random cyber stalkers please leave a comment and let your self be known. 

Once again in alphabetical order:

Commonly considered issues when considering ones president:
Which ones are important to you?

Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs

Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty

Links to candidates and their stand on these issues.

An (updated) Alphabetical list of both Democratic and Republican Presidential Candidates linking to where they stand on “The Issues”

Hillary Clinton -D
Mike Gravel -D
John McCain -R
Barack Obama -D
Ron Paul -R

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Joe Biden Withdrawn 1-03-08
Sam Brownback Withdrawn 10-19-07
Chris Dodd Withdrawn 1-03-08
John Edwards Withdrawn 1-30-08
Jim Gilmore Withdrawn 7-14-07

Rudy Giuliani Withdrawn 1-30-08
Mike HuckabeeWithdrawn 3-4-08

Duncan HunterWithdrawn 1-19-08
Alan Keys -R
Dennis Kucinich Withdrawn 1-24-08
Bill Richardson Withdrawn
Mitt Romney Withdrawn 2-07-08
Tom TancredoWithdrawn 12-20-07
Fred Thompson Withdrawn 1-22-08

Which issues are important to you?

UPDATE: Welcome searchers. It seems this little list has gained a lot of attention. While you’re here please take a moment to let us know where you’re from and if you’d like tell us which candidate you favor. When you’re done studying the candidates and their issues grab a cup of coffee and come spend some time over here with us at jamileigh.com. Check out the categories for past posts and feel free to jump in the conversation.

FYI: (it’s actually spelled candidates)

Hooray! It’s the big 30! Happy Birthday Amy

So are we “all grown up” now?

Oops…that wasn’t supposed to be password protected…sorry ’bout that.

I’ve been tagged by Moriah, not just tagged but “myspace” tagged. So in keeping my “myspace snubbery” but still honoring the tag I post here “ten, weird, random things, facts, or habits about” myself.

1. I’m always thirsty.

2. I turn 30 tomorrow.

3. I love crowds.

4. I’m craving an omellette

5. I’m not sure how to spell omelet

6. I’m less easily embarrassed than I used to be, maybe thats due to age.

7. I drive a mini van, a silver hail damaged mini van, and I like it. So there.

8. I dance in my kitchen when no one is around.

9. I have an ulcer. Grrr.

10. It’s snowing outside, tomorrow is Easter and it’s snowing outside.

Oh and as a bonus “FYI” when spell checking omelette “towelette” is offered as a viable option. Which is some what helpful as one may need a towelette after eating an omelet.

Now I’m supposed to list 10 people I tag and why. . . I can’t do that right now, instead I have to go make an omelet. I am starving!

I’m not really a magazine kinda woman. Most secular women’s publications today add up to nothing more than junk food for the soul. I’m not willing to feed my spirit with worldly advice and expectations. I find that most subscriptions add up to a waste of time, money and heart. I encourage you to guard your heart and stand firm in your faith. Take a look at the magazines you’re imbibing in, do they meet the Philippians 4:8 model? If not you might consider canceling that subscription.

A few magazines I don’t mind “munching” on are those from the “Taste of Home” series. Full of tasty recipes, beautiful pictures and heartwarming stories this magazine has little or no ads. I enjoy every edition and as a subscriber I have full access to their website.

Every two weeks I pass out a different Quick Cooking (recently renamed “Simple and Delicious”) to each child and let them pick out a few meals they’d like to try. We make a calendar and plan which days we’ll have what then we then go to the website find the recipes and print them out along with handy”grocery list” I like printing the recipes out for two reasons. The first is so I have them handy so I won’t have to go back and look up each recipe again later in the week. The second reason for reprinting instead of just using the original is so I can use the magazine again someday. You see each kid gets to help with the menus they picked out and that often leads to a pretty big mess in the kitchen. I hate getting eggshells in my magazines.

The April/May edition of Taste of Home offered besides their regular features a focus on “Prize Winning Cupcakes”
Here’s a sample of Mary Bilyeu’s “Special Mocha Cupcakes”

Update: When I wrote this post in April I wasn’t yet a Taste of Home Entertaining Consultant. I am now and I can get these magazines at a much lower rate than where the links will lead you. If you are interested in these mags send me an email.

The boys dance as Papa Lee creates a beautiful shower of spring “snow” by shaking blossoms from the tree.