I must admit I sometimes watch the History Channel (since we have basically 6 channels to choose from on our cable package). I have caught myself watching a few of the shows listed in the following article, half laughing, half wondering about the things discussed. It is truly sad that the producers at the HISTORY channel count themselves as prophets…

Great article here:

http://www.pluggedin.com/upfront/2009/DisastrousDocumentaries.aspx

Gotta love mixing Beethoven and the Muppets…

Watch the violin…

I came across this great little article the other day about our Christian response to Halloween. I admit, as a parent it is hard not to get excited for my girls who want to dress up like a fairy or princess or, in this year’s case, a bride (AHHHHH!!!). But I have struggled with how to keep their mind “set apart” from the norm in the celebration of this “holiday.”
Steve Russo, the author of “Halloween” gives a nice little history of the holiday as well as some suggestions for a Christian’s response to the day. Have a look:

http://www.pluggedin.com/FamilyRoom/articles/2008/WhatShouldWeDoWithHalloween.aspx

Great skit from SNL. Very funny… VEEEERRRY Funny….

The original video (better quality) can be found here:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/obama-address/1163263/

Ok, this is a little scary… especially Frankenstein!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/CG8vV3UZwpIMi01q

There is a Builder in Holland, Johan Huiber, who is currently attempting to build a full-size replica of Noah’s Ark, based on Biblical dimensions. It is very interesting reading about his project and how he has put together this massive floating testament to Biblical truth. You can check out the website of the Ark here:

http://www.arkvannoach.com/index.php/en

Also, Answers in Genesis has a lot of great proof and information on how Noah’s Ark could have really existed. Check it out here:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n2/caring-for-the-animals

BOB&TOM TV: “Obama Man” by Greg Morton

I love the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original, of course), but I won’t be singing “The Candy Man Can” the same way now that I have seen this video…

She's off!

Well, we sent Child #1 off to her first day of school (kindergarten) this morning. I got her out of bed and we did breakfast, Keys for Kids, got her dressed, brushed her teeth, and loaded her in the van to take her to school. (We are not brave enough parents to send her on the bus yet…)

I have been joking a lot lately that I am not ready to send her to school for another 20 years. Well, I made it through the drive to the school, walking her up to the door, meeting the teacher, saying good bye, and walking back to my car. But it hit me like a TONS of bricks when I sat in the van and realized my baby girl is now gone for the day. Yeah, I fought the tears like a real man, but I already miss her and it has ONLY BEEN AN HOUR!!!!

How do other people cope with this major milestone in life? Does it get easier with each child? Or is the last hardest? How will I deal with Coll… Coll…  I CAN’T EVEN TYPE IT!!! I think you can prepare a child for their first day of school, but I don’t think there is any way to really prepare the first-time parent…

Lonely Goatherd

Ok, I admit it. I am not ashamed to say so. I grew up on it. I can quote many of the lines. Even sing all the songs. I enjoy The Sound of Music. And my girls think it is great too. On our Friday Night/Movie Night, it is one of the DVDs that is reached for more often than most. The Girls LOVE the Puppet scene (“The Lonely Goatherd”),  “So Long, Farewell,” and “My Favorite Things.”

But I also like to get the real scoop since I know Hollywood has always tended to embellish a little with their stories to sell tickets. I have always wondered things like, “where did they go after crossing the alps?” and “did Maria and Georg have any children of their own?” and “did the nuns really know to pull the distributor and wires on the cars?”

So I did some digging and found a pretty cool article from the magazine of the US National Archives, the Prologue, that gives a great detail of what really happened to Maria, Georg and the kids. Check it out:

http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/winter/von-trapps.html

I found this interesting little “quiz” that is supposed to help you figure out where you “really stand” politically. It actually surprised me where I was placed. Not sure how only 10 little questions can tell you what you really are, but I guess I better start voting a little bit differently… (“Green Party,” anyone?)

http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html