Six Word Memoir Meme

I saw this meme at The Sleepy Reader today and loved it, largely because I'd just recently read about this Hemingway anecdote when we were studying him in American Lit. Here is the meme, which originated here at Bookbabie:

As I read yet another book review of a memoir this weekend, my husband told me that I should write one. I said that my story would be much too short and rather boring so when I ran across the following book I decided it was just my speed. A six word memoir! Written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Expecting: Six Word Memoirs by Famous and Obscure is a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn. There’s a video on Amazon with examples from the book, it sounds like a fun read! I’d like to start a six word memoir meme and here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4 .Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

And so, here is mine. Let me just say, this is really hard to do, especially if you start looking at what other people have done. How to create a memoir in just six words? It is terribly daunting. But after many tries, I've come up what pretty much sums it up:

Delighting in an extraordinarily lovely life.

Wanna play? Go ahead. Directions above. (Hey, that works for a 6-word memoir, too! Maybe I like that one even better!)

Monday Memory: Flips and Such

Backward, turn backward
O Time in thy flight
Make me a child again,
Just for tonight!
(Elizabeth Akers Allen, 1860)

Do you ever have those days when being a grown-up is just really not fun? Those days when you have to talk to crazy people; when you have to be all serious and responsible with your teenager; when the cat and dog try to trip you everywhere you go; when you have to fold laundry, wash dishes, and feed the kids? Sometimes I just don't feel like doing it all. See this picture above? That's what I want to be doing: climbing on a rickety ladder onto a rickety swing set with my childhood friends Kim and Karen. Watching my brother Stephen flip over the bar. See that first tree in the yard--the one with the nearly horizontal trunk? Probably next we were headed over to hang out in that tree. We spent a lot of time in that tree. We weren't thinking about all the things we had to do before we could go to bed. We were mostly wondering if we should play house or baby dolls or Barbies. At the worst, we might have been wondering if Dawn McNamara was going to come and throw our Barbies in the creek again.

This is what we have to make sure of: that our children have a solid store of good memories on which to draw. That they can remember the smell of a wet day and the feel of a tree trunk on their palms. That they can look at an old photograph and almost remember the comfort of that very ordinary day.

To Test or Not To Test?

February 22, 2008

On all the homeschooling lists in Tennessee, a proposed bill HB2795 is making headlines.
Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) has introduced HB2795 which will require all students whether public, private or home schooled to submit to state testing. You can read all about it on Kay Brooks' blog. She's a Nashville homeschooler who is also on the school board, and is always on top of the latest proposals.

So this bill brings about the question: to test or not to test? Apparently, Hardaway wants to take this decision out of the hands of parents. In our state, one most register in one of three ways in order to be compliant with the law. In extremely simple terms,
* you can register with your school system as an independent homeschooler. With this option, you must have your child tested at the school in grades 5, 7, and 9.
* you can register with Church Related School (CRS) and follow their requirements (Some require testing every year.)
* or you can “attend” a CRS and educate your child at home, which is a satellite campus. (Testing is usually not required.)

We fall into the Option 3 category, although we were Option 1 until our oldest reached 5th grade. As our choices indicate, we don’t participate in standardized testing. I know the arguments for testing among homeschoolers and I think they are valid—for families who choose to test. Some of them include:
* Achievement tests will give you an overall picture of how your kids are doing
* Tests will help the parent to see their strengths and weaknesses.
* Tests can help you to track their progress over the years.
* Tests can also provide practice and confidence for other tests, like college entrance exams and placement tests.
* Test scores can be shown “as evidence” to grandparents or other family members who disapprove of homeschooling.

And I know lots of arguments against standardized testing, including:
* The primary purpose of many tests is to rank students, teachers, and schools. Some will be labeled as successes and others as failures, and the vast majority will be labeled mediocre. The child learns that the purpose of learning is to get a high score.
* Testing is based on the public/private school's idea of what a child should know, and when he should know it. Standardized tests tend to narrow the curriculum to what will be tested. Obviously, this is a problem for those of us who don’t follow their state’s scope and sequence.
* Standardized tests tend to focus attention on what students don’t know and can’t do, in situations unlike daily life. Poor test scores can decrease the confidence of both the parent/teacher and the child.
* Testing is superficial in that it doesn't really test the things (qualities) of highest value in a child. The child learns that thinking is not valued; getting the 'right' answer is the only goal.
* In order to properly prepare for tests, parents, like typical classroom teachers, might spend inordinate amounts of time teaching-to-the-test. In my opinion, this is a terrible waste of time before high school. Unless, of course, your kids enjoy taking tests and practicing for tests. I have a daughter who wanted a test prep workbook because she thought it would be fun.

Speaking of fun, I’ve heard lots of parents say that their kids think it is a holiday when they get to do their testing at a local umbrella school. Conversely, I know of kids in public schools who have ulcers—actually ulcers that require medication—partly because the emphasis on testing is so stressful.

And that is a great thing about having the freedom to choose to test or not to test. How many of us really believe that a child's intelligence, achievement, and competence can be represented adequately by standardized tests? Most homeschoolers who have their children tested find the tests to be merely a source of academic feedback or a simple way to notify the state that the children are being educated according to their standards. Most homeschoolers who choose not to use tests see standardized testing as unnecessary.

On a personal level, my ninth-grader is currently preparing for his first standardized test, the ACT. At this age, he knows that this is merely a step in the college entrance process. He understands the purpose of this standardized test and is preparing for it by taking on online course. I’m glad we had all those years of sitting on the couch reading and making dioramas instead of learning how to fill in bubbles (yes, he actually did this regularly when he was in public school for first grade).

So we've opted out of standardized testing before high school, but that is our choice. Like in all aspects of homeschooling, there is not one right answer for every family. In the words of Dr. H., hike your own hike, Rep. Hardaway. And let us hike ours.

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Comments

Saturday, February 23, 2008 - loved this

Posted by bestsister (69.159.87.91)

thanks for this. I too often wonder about testing. You get in the frame of mind that you need it to *prove* to doubting relatives that we are really doing okay and that our kids aren't imbeciles. However, like with all things 'home', it really shouldn't be about what "they" think, but about doing what the Lord is calling our family too, and making the right choices for our circumstances. Thanks for the perspective check!
Barbara

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Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Testing and NCLB

Posted by recon77 (24.159.146.71)

Smallworld is right, there is basically no NEED to test. Every state school teacher I know (and I know a lot) is against the testing of students as mandated by NCLB. Why then should homeschoolers be "required" to be tested when the precious state schoolers are trying to escape it???

No, this is all about power and control and, guess what? The children belong to the parents and God, NOT to the state. Children are NOT in the jurisdiction of the state at all, not in the slightest. Resist Tyranny!! Everyone write their state congressmen immediately. Give them no sleep!!!

NO TO TESTING....and go Ron Paul!!!

Edited by recon77 on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 3:34 PM

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Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Hi Friend!

Posted by Anonymous (69.137.79.222)

We haven't tested our dc either. That's not to say that we won't down the road but I don't think it's one of those pressing issues. Testing would only tell me how they measure against their ps counterparts who in turn are calculated with those across the state and national levels who use state regulated curric. Whew, that's a mouthful.LOL. So I would perhaps do testing at some point just to see if they are on track of what's expected from others on that level. It does give you an outlook of where you stand. I dont thnk state should make testing a requirement for hs'ers. We had a similar bill brought up in my state and hsers acted upon it quickly. It quickly died.

Thanks for sharing.
Kysha
http://humblemama.blogspot.com

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by lcourtneymom (208.104.159.212)

"In the words of Dr. H., hike your own hike, Rep. Hardaway. And let us hike ours."

Agreed! I am not from Tennessee. In SC, we are not required to test. I have had my two oldest do it in 1st grade at our local Christian school because I wanted the information for my personal benefit.

But, this decision should definitely NOT be mandatory. I was a classroom teacher before I had kids, and I KNOW standardized tests are not always an accurate measure of a child's ability.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - stopping bye

Posted by kkzemadamson (72.147.1.93)

thanks for your post on testing, I've been really struggling with weather "to test or not to test". Like you, I see both sides, and because lately I"ve felt lik a failure to my children, I almost want to test them so that I know they are learning something. But then I come back to trusting God and letting him take care of them.

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United States Geography Unit

February 21, 2008

I'm teaching a K-2 class I call "Great States" for our enrichment class program this session. Our classes run for 10 weeks (1 hour/week), so I've been able to divide the sessions into the seven geographical regions, plus an introductory week, a closing week, and a whole class on Tennessee. I realized after the first week that I totally forgot about Washington, DC. Good grief! That's what it gets for being a district, whatever that is.

I'm having a great time with this class. My goal is to have a brief discussion of each state in the region, with some fun facts (like that toilet paper was invented in NYC); read a short book; have a regional snack (e.g., dried blueberries and cranberries for New England); and then either play a game or do a craft. I had visions of being able to play games like Great States or Scrambled States of America, but that was an ambitious thought for this K-2 crew of 10 boys and 4 girls.

A huge amount of the fun in planning classes for me comes with the research. I love finding books, especially, and the abundance of information on the internet is astounding. In fact, the amount of information on the internet is overwhelming frankly, so I tend to stick to a few solid books. I go to the library each week to find the story books, but I have a few geography books at home that I use each week and would recommend for any U.S. geography program:
* Trail Guide to U.S. Geography (this one is great because it has separate lesson suggestions for beginner, middle, and high school levels)
* Maptime....USA
* and my favorite, The United States Cookbook. The cookbook has a recipe for every state, but it also has interesting food facts and other tidbits.
* I also use a book by Frank Schaffer called Learning About U.S. Geography (grades 1-2), but it is out of print. This one has great black-line reproducibles, but these are easily found on the internet.
* There are other books that look fabulous for teaching U.S. geography, like Kids Learn America and The State By State Guide and Smart About the 50 States, but I've found plenty of great stuff with the books I already have plus the internet.

Of course, the very best site for all things geography is Enchanted Learning. I use this extensively. Each week I copy and paste the map of the state plus its nickname, capital, flower, tree, etc. Enchanted Learning has a lot of great crafts, too.

For books, I just go to the library and search the U.S. shelves and then do more searches for easy readers. For example, we read Gail Gibbons' Surrounded by Sea: Life in in New England Fishing Island during our New England region day. One series that is absolutely phenomenal is called Discover America State by State. Our library carries all of these, and they are fantastic. From Y is for Yellowhammer for Alabama to C is for Cowboy for Wyoming, this series hits the highlights and often little known facts of each state in over 50 gorgeous books (some of the states have counting as well as alphabet books). The website on the link above lists all the books and has a free downloadable student activity guide for each book. The books are amazing enough, but these guides are a really great resource. Unfortunately, the books are a bit too long and detailed to read in a class setting with wiggly kids. At home with an elementary age child, the books would be totally appropriate, however.

We have a traveling bear named Sam that goes home with a different child each week, along with a notebook. Each child has a chance to write about (or dictate to mom or dad) some travels they have taken with their family. The next week, we read their travelogue first thing. I put a big map of the U.S. up on the wall and give all the kids a U.S. map placemat (available at Walmart for less than a dollar). They can follow along on their classmate's travels on the map. The kids really look forward to taking Sam home, and it's fun to hear about where the kids have been.

I love geography, but I've always put it in the "we'll do it if we can get to it" pile of our homeschooling, pretty much with things like Latin, speech memorization, art and music history, and math. (Kidding on the math!) Teaching a class at co-op has insured that my youngest is at least getting a good survey of the states. Now if only my oldest could remember whether Chicago is a city or a state.... (kidding. sorta.)

Monday Memory: Happy Birthday

February 18, 2008

Since yesterday was my birthday, it seems only appropriate that I should post a birthday picture or two.


So here I am at age two. My brother Stephen would have turned four just 5 days beforehand. I bet my mother, after four boys, took pure delight in making that pink heart-shaped cake.



And here I am, 40 years later. My precious mother, who is nearly 81, still baked my cake. My brother turned 44 five days ago. And I am smiling at my youngest son. I have everything I ever wished for upon every birthday candle, and much, much more.

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Comments

Monday, February 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BChsMamaof3 (207.102.204.120)

Happy Birthday! The photo of you and your brother is so cute :) You have one special mom still baking your cake to! Have a wonderful day,
Rosina

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - not everything ...

Posted by onfire (206.132.56.141)

I have yet to meet these wonderful parents of yours.
there is so much of my life with you that has yet to come into fruition.
you are sooo beautiful in these pictures. no wonder randy has such an easy time of loving you all.

missing you on this day, as always.

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - I suppose...

Posted by anotherblogonthefire (206.132.56.141)

if you can't fit 42 candles on your cake, one candle that is 42mm in diameter could do.
(do I need to translate that for you?)

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (67.53.76.58)

Happy (belated) birthday!!!! Love the pic!

My mom used to make me an angel food cake almost every year for my birthday. Her birthday was the day after mine. She passed away last July. :-(

Hope you enjoyed that cake!

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (67.53.76.58)

That last comment was mine. :-)

Eileen
http://booksandhooks.blogspot.com

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.215.191.3)

Happy Birthday, Sarah! How special that your mom made your cake for you. :)

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.215.191.3)

Ack! That last comment was mine, LOL.

Heidi @ Mt. Hope
www.mthopeacademy.blogspot.com

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Monday, February 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (216.249.75.230)

What a sweet, sweet post! Loved it all, especially the last sentence. I hope my girls will still like a baked cake from me several decades from now. You look beautiful in that photo, btw.
Cindy

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jimmie (222.85.173.58)

Well, happy birthday to you! I love your post of the books from the stages of your life. The books and the quotes are fascinating! :-) I've moved so much that I don't have any of those books from previous eras. (Can a 30 something use eras like that?) It seems that you're reading many of the same US historical fiction we will be reading soon. Nice to see your positive reviews.

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - Happy day to you!

Posted by Lindsay (24.216.187.89)

Happy, happy belated birthday Sarah!

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by skdenfeld (66.220.116.110)

Happy belated birthday, Sarah! Hope it was a good one.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - Hi !

Posted by Anonymous (69.137.79.222)

Happy Birthday!! How sweet! I didn't know you were the youngest of four boys. I guess you can really sympathize with Hip Rider. LOL

Kysha
http://humblemama.blogspot.com

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Thursday, February 21, 2008 - Happy Birthday!

Posted by lcourtneymom (208.104.159.212)

I love your two year old photo!

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Sunday, February 24, 2008 - Belatedly...

Posted by ComfyDenim (72.192.71.2)

Happy Birthday -- and I love your smile in your b-day picture.
Fantastic..
May all your dreams come true!!

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - Happy birthday!

Posted by RedwallReader (206.132.53.166)

Sorry this is kinda late, but I hope it was a good one. You look happy in the picture... By the way, is The Kraken (Kracken?) still on that shelf that is finally up?('finally' was about 2 months ago) Maybe you should update with Dunkin Donut's motorcycle dude. By the way, did you root for the Giants or the Patriots in the Superbowl? The Patriots TOTALLY should have won.

Reading Through the Decades (My Birthday Edition)

February 17, 2008

At 2:
Raggedy Ann and Andy and nursery rhymes

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
— Emilie Buchwald

"You may have tangible wealth untold.
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be –
I had a mother who read to me."
— Strickland Gillilan


At 12:
Nancy Drew, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Judy Blume, and the Happy Hollisters


She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain. --Louisa May Alcott

A book reads the better which is our own, and has been so long known to us, that we know the topography of its blots, and dog's ears, and can trace the dirt in it to having read it at tea with buttered muffins. ~Charles Lamb, Last Essays of Elia, 1833

The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression, and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cast out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived. ~Howard Pyle



At 22:
Vietnam, Vonnegut, and Vast Volumes of Literature and History (AKA, my senior year of college)



A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. ~William Styron

A book must be an ice-axe to break the seas frozen inside our soul. ~Franz Kafka



At 32:
Motherhood and Graduate School


I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen,

Far more seemly were it for thee to have thy study full of books, than thy purse full of money. ~John Lyly



At 42:
Books by Day for Them, Books by Night for Me


The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. ~Mark Twain



And some profound advice for the next decade:

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. ~P.J. O'Rourke

And the Results Are In...

February 15, 2008

I have to say that I absolutely loved running this Tell Us Your Love Story contest! Each and every one of these stories was absolutely fabulous. If you haven't read them, you must:

Lizzie
Debbie C.
Angel
Carole
Debra
Sarah T.
Kathi
Kysha
Kristina
Neal
Joy
Cam
Heidi
Melissa
Heather
Ann
Karen
Kim
Leah
Lindsay
Barb
Mine
Lauren (in my comments)

There were two components for this contest: a love story and a goofy picture. The love stories were purely spectacular. I am pretty sure I got all choked up at some point with each and every story. And each story contained something of the profound, some nugget of wisdom. And the photos: wow. That is really all I can say. I have to say that the one that made me laugh the hardest was of Neal and Kristina, not only because of the paint-by-number Jesus between them but because of Kristina's pursed lips. Hilarious.

But this was always meant to be a random drawing, and so....


The contestants....



The drawing (that's Laurel picking the name)...



And the winner! Congratulations, Angel!

I liked Angel's story particularly because, like me, she told her beloved that she didn't need a ring and then received, as did I, "a simple, inexpensive, amethyst ring." And also, her picture cracked me up. She is sobbing not because of wedding jitters but because " I'm sobbing because my d*emon-possessed maternal grandmother just disturbed me in my dressing room."

Thanks, everybody, for playing! This was so much fun that I'll have to think of another contest run again soon. I wish I could send you all prizes, but I'm not rich, people. Angel, however, will be receiving an amazon.com gift certificate in her email box soon.

Post A Comment!.....

Comments

Friday, February 15, 2008 - Well, thanks!

Posted by anotherblogonthefire (216.221.68.123)

Thanks for running the contest and laughing at our picture!

I have to say that I believe I won out of all of the boy entries, though... congratulations to Angel anyway!

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Friday, February 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by EEEEMommy (74.132.33.166)

Wow! Thank you very much!!! :)
This was a great contest. I don't think I'd ever written out our story before. I'm glad for the opportunity to do it while I still remember. :)
I've also enjoyed reading everybody elses, and the goofy picture was a fun twist!

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Saturday, February 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 3rsandahug (72.19.177.137)

I loved this contest. It was a great idea!

Congratulations to Angel!
Karen

In case you were wondering...

February 14, 2008

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

Valentine's Day

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
                                   i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

--e.e. cummings

Valentine's Day Contest: Tell Us Your Love Story

February 14, 2008

OK, so Valentine's Day has never been a huge thing in SmallWorld; in fact, we would likely forget all about it if it weren't for the kids (and the aisles of red and pink in every store). But this year, this year, it's going to be different. This year I am going to be richly inspired to delve into the spirit of the season. Valentine's Day is, after all, about sharing love, right?

And so, here's the contest. I want to hear your love stories. How many times are you actually asked to share your story? I want to hear how you met, why you broke up, why you got back together, why you broke up again, why you got back together again, why... (what? not everyone did that over and over?).... This is an opportunity for you to write your love story on your blog (or in the comments).

But there's more: since these may tend toward sappiness, I insist on a further step: you must include the goofiest wedding picture you have. I don't mean a picture where you look adorable as you goof around; I mean those wedding photographers' specials: the picture where the flowers surround your head like a wreath, or the one where all the groomsmen are kneeling in front of the bride in a strange, beseeching sort of way. Or a picture when you look miserable. If the best that you can do is show that your wedding dress was truly goofy, that'll be OK. Just post a ridiculous wedding picture.

And so to participate in SmallWorld's First Ever "Tell Us Your Love Story" Contest:
1. Write a post that tells the story of how you and your spouse got together. You know you love to tell it, but how often to you get to tell an extended version? You absolutely MUST give details. You will be disqualified for a post that merely states, "We met in college and I knew he was the one for me and then we got married." That is boo-hiss. I want drama and details. An interesting anecdote or two. Remember, the purpose of this contest is to inspire us all to truly appreciate a holiday totally devoted to L-o-v-e.
2. Post your story on your blog and then put the link in the comments here at SmallWorld. If you don't have a blog, you can post your story in the comments.
3. Include your absolute worst wedding picture. If--and only if-- all of your wedding pictures were absolutely perfect, you can instead include the most hideous photo of the two of you together. Anyone posting adorable pictures will be eliminated, unless there is a big cheesy factor in the adorableness. If you don't have a blog, you can email a photo to me and I will post it on my blog for you.
4. Tell your friends! The more the merrier!

I will be magically, randomly, with a team of experts, be choosing the winner on February 13th. Cupid will deliver a $15 Amazon.com gift certificate to the lucky winner.

Stay tuned. I'll post my own entry tomorrow, although of course I won't win anything (unless I am magically, randomly chosen by a team of experts.)

So, get started! Get remembering! And get writing! And I've changed to closing time/date of the contest. I realized that I won't be around at all on Valentine's Day to tally up the entries and randomly pick the winner, so the contest is open until midnight on Valentine's Day!

***********************
Contest Entries as of Feb. 13:
**NEW**Angel
**NEW**Carole
**NEW**Debra
**NEW**Sarah T.
Kathi
Kysha
Kristina and Neal
Joy
Cam
Heidi
Melissa
Heather
Ann
Karen
Kim
Leah
Lindsay
Barb
This is mine and in the comments, you can read Blogless Lauren's! (I may have to go find some wedding pictures for her so she can have her own post!)

Tell us your story! There's still time to play!

Post A Comment!.....

Comments

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - Up for the challenge

Posted by Lindsay (24.216.187.89)

I'll have to think about this for a few days. To be honest, I don't know where any of our wedding photo's are since we moved or for that matter, any of our photo's are since we moved. I'll peruse my online photo's since that may be the best I can do. It may be spring in Tennessee but it's winter in the midwest and my garage isn't heated. Therefore - I will not delve into boxes in search of pictures until Spring

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by chickadee@afamiliarpath.blogspot.com (69.128.130.235)

i'll be back to participate! sounds like fun.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (216.249.75.230)

Great idea!! :) You're so fun.
Cindy

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 - Hi !

Posted by Anonymous (69.137.79.222)

Alright, since you seem just as nutty as I am. I entered it. LOL! Here I am
http://humblemama.blogspot.com

Kysha

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Friday, February 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.223.141.74)

All of my pictures are in storage....to bad...'cause they're doozies...

Emily
thelearningneverstops.blogspot.com

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Friday, February 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by skdenfeld (66.220.116.110)

Count me in, Missy. It should be up sometime tonight.

Up and running: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/cutterbug

Edited by skdenfeld on Friday, February 8, 2008 at 10:01 PM

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Saturday, February 9, 2008 - Good idea!!

Posted by HomeForHim (74.130.206.113)

Okay, I'm in....my only challenge will be having to go through the old picture album and get them put on cd so I can get them on my computer. But, I have a little time. I'll be sure to advertise this too.

Thanks!!
Deb

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Saturday, February 9, 2008 - I did it

Posted by onfire (206.132.56.141)

I posted my love saga. thanks for the fun.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onfire/477534/

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Saturday, February 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by anotherblogonthefire (206.132.56.141)

Are boys allowed?

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Saturday, February 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by cammiemelisabray (72.14.120.95)

OK....I am game....although, I must warn you...I have a strange story.

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Saturday, February 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by anotherblogonthefire (206.132.56.141)

My story is up now...
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anotherblogonthefire/477578/

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Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by joyunspeakable (24.141.198.172)

I love telling my love story. Not enough people ask. Every so often I systematically go through every last detail in my mind just so I don't forget anything. :)

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Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Great idea!

Posted by Jennifer in OR (69.88.229.219)

If I can pull it off in time, and locate pictures and scan them, I'll do this! If I don't get to it, I'll still be around to read all the great stories - I love the stories!

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Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by skdenfeld (66.220.116.110)

You guys okay out there? It is mighty quiet on your blog.

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Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.215.191.3)

I finally got my story posted on my blog. I'm sure I will be disqualified for the decent photos, but it was either that or nothing. :)

http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2008/02/hope-to-bliss.html

It was fun to think through our story after all these years! Thanks for the prompt.

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Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Hey!

Posted by Anonymous (69.137.79.222)

Hey, that's not fair. You hadn't posted your pic and story yet. LOL Hmmmmm.waiting.

Kysha
http://humblemama.blogspot.com

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by chickadee@afamiliarpath.blogspot.com (69.128.130.235)

Here it is!

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - Our love story

Posted by Heather (68.115.188.186)

I saw your contest and had to do it! Come check it out! http://redmay323.blogspot.com/

~Heather

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (198.146.153.206)

OK....I wrote....here's the scoop!
http://mamachef99.blogspot.com/

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - Sorry!!!

Posted by Anonymous (198.146.153.206)

I probably COULD have explained who I was when I commented earlier! I'm a dork! haha!!!

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - Sorry!!!

Posted by MamaChef-Ann Tolbert (198.146.153.206)

And that's me with the anonymous comment above...again...dork painted on my head! :D

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 3rsandahug (72.19.177.137)

This is a fun contest. I posted mine at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/3rsandahug/478801/

Hope the wedding picture meets your criteria!
Karen

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Monday, February 11, 2008 - My True Love

Posted by momunscripted (24.216.180.167)

http://momunscripted.wordpress.com/2008/02/11/my-true-love/

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - Our story

Posted by Lindsay (24.216.187.89)

You've heard the expression "You can take the girl outof New York, but you can't take New York out of the girl?" That explains me. I, too, went to Milligan College (I'm pretty sure there's extra voting points awarded to Milligan students - because we excel!) I lived in the same dorm as Sarah and Lauren. I know the window Sarah refers to when she says she watched Randy with other said girl. It's fun to see our stories intertwine.

I was a freshman, non atheletic, picked last for every team in gym every time, kinda girl. I was also from New York and that was my point of reference for many things in my life,

Scott was a senior, captain of the tennis team, from the midwest, and quiet until you got to know him. He also was divorced and had a son. I never thought I'd ever meet his son, let alone marry Scott!!

My friends from New York and Scott's friends from the midwest were all friends, most of them dating. Scott and I ended getting to know each other by default. I had a boyfriend back home (didn't we all?) But I wasn't coming to Milligan to get my "MRS" degree. I wasn't one of those girls. Nope, I was going to graduate, get a job, live in New York in an apartment, as a young single person. And just where was the midwest anyway? Tennessee was enough culture shock for me.

One night a group of us had gone dancing at the Seahorse (GASP - Milligan students weren't supposed to dance). Scott had had a few beers (Double GASP-Milligan students were most definitely not supposed to drink) and came up to me and announced that "my three year old can ride a two wheeler without training wheels." (who'd have known how important cycling would become to Scott who would return 20+ years later to ride the mountains of Tennessee to train for competitive cycling.)

Scott finally asked me on a date. He picked me up in his Chevy Caprice. It was the biggest car I had EVER seen, but it was immaculate and had a cool stereo. We went to a local hangout - Poor Richards. I have a diet coke and Scott orders a huge sandwich, chips and sweet iced tea. I'm thinking "What's with the iced tea thing? Why does everyone in the south drink iced tea?" In NY, we drank the instant kind from a jar.

I remember going to the Valentine's Banquet with Scott and Lauren and Joel. As we stood in line to get our food, there was another couple standing a little to the side of us. I happen to look over just as Scott slips his hand into the girl's hand next to him, thinking he's holding my hand. They must have held hands a good 10 seconds or more before they realized it. I think it was when I walked ahead of Scott to get in line that he realized mine was not the hand he was holding. This is one of my favorite memories because we laughed 'til we hurt!

Spring Break. All the cool kids were going to Florida. I was so cool, I got to take my first trip to the midwest. Yes indeed, my first visit to the midwest was quite memorable. We drove to Edwardsville in the big Chevy Caprice. When we were almost to Edwardsville, we came to a train track with the arms going down. Scott stops the car, puts it in park, and turns the car OFF. OFF! The following conversation ensued:
L: What are you doing?
S: It's a train.
L: I know that, what are you doing?
S: It's a train.(with a slight "duh" tone in his voice)
L: I understand it's a train. What are you doing? (with hint of irritation in her voice).

Keep in mind that in NY, trains are for people and take about 20 seconds to pass. Twenty mintues later I understood what Scott had done.

The other part of that trip that is forever ingrained into my memory is sitting in church, with Mrs. Shaw (who turned out to be the very best mother-in-law EVER. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her!), Josh -the 4 year old son, and Scott. During communion, when it was VERY quiet in the sanctuary, Josh turns to me and says for all to hear "Are you going to marry my Daddy?" You could have wiped me up with a sponge I melted into my seat, all the while I'm thinking "Ummm, no."

Fast forward a few years. Scott graduates from Milligan and gets a job in Tennessee. I'm pretty sure he stayed for me ;) and I was pretty sure this was the guy for me. I continue to try and finish school. I remember one night going to Denny's with Sarah and Randy and a group of people to study. They all got A's, I barely made a C. School has never been my thing.

Scott and I went to the movies one night. We knew by this point that we were going to get married, we just didn't know when. While the previews are rolling, Scott is deep in thought. He finally turns to me and says "You know, if we got married, my car insurance would be a lot cheaper."

Scott and I were married March 25, 1989 at 10:30am in my home church in Hicksville, NY. Funny how the city girl never knew what the word "hick" meant until she went to the midwest.

Our friends Randy and Sarah were married on March 25, 1989 in Tennessee later that day.

This was a problem for our good friends Lauren and Joel , who were an old married couple by now, who wanted to be at both weddings. Location being a deciding factor, they stayed in Tennessee for the Small's wedding and then promised to move to the midwest to live happily ever after near the Shaw's

I love the memories this has brought back but I can honestly say, right now, this very point in our lives, is the best time of my life. As I look back to the young couple that we were, not knowing what life would hold for us, the joys and sorrows we shared, I can't imagine walking through this life with anyone other than Scott. My best moments are spent in his company.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SmallWorld (24.151.178.103)

Oh my goodness, Lindsay, I am totally teary-eyed with that last paragraph. And I did NOT remember that we got married the same day! How weird is that? Before you posted I was trying to remember how you and Scott got together, and I could not remember. It was as if you were always together. And then I remembered that girl who used to hide food, including cottage cheese, under her mattress!! What in the world? And do you remember watching the Challenger disaster on your little TV?

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - I hope it's not too late...

Posted by lcourtneymom (208.104.142.116)

I found my wedding pictures and posted an entry! Enjoy!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/lcourtneymom/

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - My Romance

Posted by Barb (70.105.66.93)

I don't have any wedding pictures to post - not that techno-savvy. But I did post how my husband and I got together - the bumps and bruises and highs and lows. Thanks for opening an avenue during this Valentine's season, to share our romances.
celticpole.blogspot.com

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by skdenfeld (66.220.116.110)

Hey, I entered too!

Kathi

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by sadie423 (69.247.28.184)

I finally came over to visit your blog...and thought I'd play along since I had time tonight....I posted my story:
www.homeschoolblogger.com/sadie423

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by pwdebra (205.188.117.19)

I posted our love story on my blog. Not quite sure how to post a link here though! My blog title is Peculiar People.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - The Story of Us!

Posted by Anonymous (74.37.176.233)

Here's the link.
Enjoy!
-Carole

http://thoughts-of-home.blogspot.com/2008/02/story-of-us.html

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by EEEEMommy (74.132.33.166)

I haven't stopped by in a long while, but when I saw StillHisGirl's entry, I thought this was a great contest. So I just posted my entry.
Thanks for the great contest. I enjoyed reliving our romance through the computer keyboard! :)
Here's the link: http://thesakeofthecall.blogspot.com/2008/02/our-love-story.html
Grace and Peace,
Angel

Edited by EEEEMommy on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 9:33 PM

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Thursday, February 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Lizzie (72.1.5.61)

I found your contest on Angel's blog.

I thought I'd enter even though I can't post a photo--I am rather anonymous;) So hopefully you'll forgive me. If not that's ok:)
You can read my story anyway.

Lizzie
http://adustyframe.com/2008/02/04/marriage-mondaymy-most-memorable-valentines-ever/

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Thursday, February 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by debbiecorley (76.114.75.180)

Hi Sarah,
As *usual* I have no pics, and I'm a day late, but since it's Valentine's Day I was inspired to write out our love story anyway. Thanks for hosting this contest. It has been a hoot reading all these stories!