Fireproof's 40 Day Love Dare

Thank you Ginger and Charlotte for hosting Spiritual Sundays. Visit their blog for other spiritual inspirations.
Our church recommended this movie so much that they purchased it. Last Saturday they showed this movie after a lovely covered dish Valentine's dinner. If you haven't heard of this movie or the accompanying book, you will.

In the movie Kirk Cameron's character, Caleb Holt, is a fireman who's motto is "Never leave your partner behind." However, he and his partner in marriage are on the verge of divorce. This movie is available on DVD and in the Red Box. Check out the web site for Fireproof. I am not getting any money to promote this movie. It is just very inspirational.

Caleb's father challenged him to the 40 day Love Dare challenge. Every day there is a simple act of love to help you connect with your spouse.

This Love Dare is also a 20 day guided daily devotional book by Alex and Stephen Kendrick.

Whether couples are are having trouble in their marriage or if their marriage is solid and loving. The Love Dare helps couples to understand and practice unconditonal love.

My husband and I have completed one week of the Love Dares. Day 2: Do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness. In addition to bringing me a cup of coffee up to the bedroom that morning, look at what my wonderful husband surprised me with later that day -- a homemade apple pie! He's a keeper.

Lake Placid, NY Ice Festival Ice Sculptures

Please join me in Outdoor Wednesday, which is hosted by Susan of A Southern Daydreamer.

I am sharing some ice sculptures which were created at the Ice Festival in Lake Placid, NY.

Aren't they beautiful. Enjoy, and check out the other outdoor blogs.

Pink Saturday - Quoizel Hurricane Lamp

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound is hosting Pink Saturday. Stop by her blog and check out the other pinkies.

I first saw this lamp at Hallmark in 1979. It was the most beautiful lamp I had ever seen. The glass is a pink translucent frosted glass with beige hand-painted flowers. It matched my pink and beige bedroom perfectly, ... but it was over $100. I wouldn't pay that much for a lamp now, let along in 1979. Every time I went to the mall, I would go in to Hallmark to see if it it was still there and if it went on sale. Hurray! It was reduced, but still way more what I could afford to pay. Finally, it was reduced again to I think around $75.00. The saleslady said it wouldn't be reduced any further. I finally, broke down and purchased it. I never regretted the splurge.

Over the years, whenever I moved, I wrapped her in bubble wrap, placed her in her own sturdy box surrounded in foam peanuts. I then carried her in my arms like a baby. I wouldn't trust my lamp to any movers.

I now have nothing in my house that's pink. Should I keep her in a box in the basement or in a closet or sell her on eBay. What if I should redecorate in pink again? I would kick myself if I got rid of my first inanimate love object. Just writing this now, I realized I never named her. How about Pinky? Have any of you named inanimate objects?

Furry Friends - Themed Thursday

KD at Southern Whimsy is hosting Themed Thursday. The theme this week is furry friends. Check out her site. Thanks KD.

I am sharing a photo of our bichon frise, Caesar.

Here is my husband and Caesar on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. It was so windy his ears were blowing around.

My Rose Bushes

Jan at Rose Haven is hosting Rose Wednesday. Since this is my first post on Rose Haven, I will be literal and share my photos of my rose bushes. These photos were taken last June. They were only 1 to 2 years old. I hope that they will be fuller this summer. Thanks, Jan for giving me the opportunity to share. Check out her site to see what else is posted.

David Austin is an English rose grower. His roses are crosses between certain old roses and modern hybrid teas and floribundas, thus combining the charm and fragrance of an old rose with the color and repeat flowering of a modern rose. The picture above is David Austin's Abraham Darby. I love the cup shaped fullness of this rose with approximately 70 petals. It repeats well, offering other bloomings, especially if pruned in the summer.

This is a Knock Out rose. While not having a lot of petals, I like it because it blooms continously and stays full and leafy all summer. Knock Out roses are easy to grow, do not need to be deadheaded, and need no winter protection. Knock Out roses are the most disease resistant rose on the market. They can grow to be more than 3' wide and 4' tall, if not pruned. They look great planted in mass.

This is a Don Juan climber. It should eventually get 10'-14' tall. The pointed buds open to a velvety dark red bloom of 30 petals. It is a repeat bloomer and is fragrant. Why would you get a rose that wasn't fragrent? It could also be trained horizontally to grown along a fence.

1957 vs. 2007

My daughter forwarded me this email. It's only a joke, but what makes it funny is that there is a lot of truth to it.

Scenario 1: Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged them with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3: Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is moved to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Blue Monday Hurricane Lamp

Smiling Sally is hosting Blue Monday. Please check her site to see others.

I'm sharing my blue hurricane lamp. It was my daughter's, she obtained it used, but when she moved she didn't want to take it with her. So I gladly took it. Isn't it pretty? It has hand painted flowers on the top and bottom. The top holds a regular light bulb and the bottom holds a night light. It's 21" tall. I think it may be Quoizel, but I'm not sure. Does anyone know how to tell?