A local woman named Pam (a stranger) called me this morning to read me a bible verse for the day: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Nice sentiment, but she seemed quite surprised that I listened and didn't hang up on her.

My youngest son went with me this morning on my daily walk, and we took our cameras with us. He got interested in this "dead duck" when he found it and wondered if we should take it home and try to fix it. The answer was NO. Instead we both took photos of this poor duck lying alone alongside the street.

www.amazon.com/U-Undertow-Kinsey-Millhone-Mystery/dp/039915597X/ref=sr_1_1

I was in the grocery store this evening after another busy day, and I saw this new book out. I got so excited and ran over to buy it. Can't wait to read the next in the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton. Just wondering when I'll find time to read between now and the play performance on Tuesday.

Here is what I'm hoping for tomorrow... a quiet day...

Today three of my sons were phtographed for the local newspaper. First my teenage son met the photographer for the article about his eagle scout project. In the background for his photos, we had 4 of the kids in the play he's producing, including my youngest son. Later in the evening, my oldest son went to dance rehearsal and was asked to stay for newspaper photographs. The photographer recognized our unusual (for the US) last name and asked if he was related to my tenage son. Those photographs are to promote The Nutcracker, which my oldest son will be performing in as the Nutcracker Prince in less than 2 weeks. I'll obviously need to buy the newspaper for the next week to watch for those 2 articles and photos.

Just playing around I made a wordle of the Optmist Creed. That was fun!

Today I went to an all-day training for scout leader trainers. Mainly it felt worthwhile to me to connect with other district scout leaders and help create goodwill for our troop.

In the evening I took 3 of my sons to dance rehearsal. They're practicing for the Dec. 18 Winter show.

The homeschool event that I organized tonight went well. We had 16 performances, including piano, song, violin, magic tricks, jokes and a puppet show. My assistant coordinator was fabulous! She ran the refreshments afterwards and did the best job ever! We had plenty of refreshments and people stayed to chat for a while. I was so pleased with the location we got to use, and for free! My sons were great at helping, too, as they set up the chairs and carried stuff for us all. The only thing my sons complained about was that people showed very little gratitude to me for organizing this event. I got one official "Thanks to Laurina for organizing this." That was all. They think the group should be more appreciative, since our family does so much to help out the group and most others do so little. Otherwise, a job well done.

I really did enjoy myself tonight at the college Family Fun Night! Our whole family was there to help out. My oldest son and teenage son were with the scout troop, building something out of wood and ropes. My second son was working at the automotive table. My youngest son and I sat at the Toastmasters table. Although my youngest son did manage to run to the other booths around us to win candy and prizes. I had 2 other Toastmasters helping me, and they were both delightful! So glad I offered to do this, even though I am currently swamped because of my son's eagle scout project.

Here is one of the hand puppets we made last night. The boys were practicing their puppet skit this morning and had a great time. When we got home my teenage son made a "puppet theater" out of PVC pipe and fabric.

Tonight I sat with two of my sons and sewed three more puppets. These plus the two that I already made are for the boys to use in their short puppet show they're doing at the annual homeschool talent show on Friday night. The boys are going to do the story of the Little Red Hen. One of my favorite folk tales. Tomorrow I shall take my sons to practice with the other boy who will be doing the puppet skit together.

I had a quiet morning until I picked up 2 of my sons from their scout campout. That gave me time to crochet this little Santa for a swap.

My sons had a great time at their campout at the lake, as they swam and canoed. When they woke up this morning, their food had been eaten by a raccoon. The raccoon actually opened my oldest son's cooler bag and took out a burrito and ate it. As for my teenage son's food bag, the raccoon took the whole bag over under a tree and ate all the baked potatoes before leaving the bag there and going to the lake to wash up. Since the raccoon didn't touch anyone else's food, the boys are convinced it is a vegetarian raccoon. Burritos and baked potatoes.

I've decided to exercise my brain cells some more and memorize the Optimist Creed. I've memorized the first 3 lines so far, and I love what it says.Here it is:

Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit
the presence of trouble.

Once I did and completed NaNoWriMo. This year is my second time doing NaBloPoMo. Not only have I discovered there's also NaKniSweMo, but I've also found IComLeavWe. That's right, International Comment Leaving Week is November 21-28. If you're not posting daily on your own blog, you can still show your support to the those doing NaBloPoMO by leaving 5 comments on other blogs and returning one comment that's been left on your site lately. That's six comments a day for a week. Check it out at: http://www.stirrup-queens.com/2009/09/icomleavwe-october-2/

And if you don't know... NaKniSweMo is National Knit (a) Sweater Month... 50,000 sitches in a month. Good luck to those who are doing it.

I finally got around to going to the scout shop to buy a Bear cub scout book for my youngest son, as well as his bear scarf and neck slide. So glad I can get him active in cub scouts again!

This evening I stopped at the Goodwill to shop while two of my sons were dancing. I was so excited to find tons of wonderful art supplies there for very little money. Kind of like early Christmas presents!

Two of my sons were in the Veteran's Day parade this morning with their scout troop. That's my oldest son, the scoutmaster, in the back right. They did a great job with their little float of a tent on a trailer. I was so proud of them all.

My son is starting with publicity now for the play he's producing as his eagle scout project. Here are two notices:  www.yumacalendar.org/index.html   www.eventsinyuma.com/yuma-az/events/show/89284440-the-best-christmas-pageant-ever   Next he needs to contact the local newspaper to get a great article!  Also, he's got costumes and refreshments to organize.  Still counting down...

 I finally found time to run into B & N to buy my day planner for 2010. Mary Engelbreit is still my favorite artist for these. Now I need to find time to start filling in 2010 with all our activities.