Got snow flakes on the brain!

Ok everyone is doing it! lol  I got addicted last night to the one site everyone is posting in thier ~J.  Then today it was down so I went on a hunt for some other sites where I could make my own snow flakes.. you like???

Here are some links if you dare to get hooked too.

Snowflake Designer (where I made the above)

114 This one is like snowflakes made of stars.. very cool

Wonder for Site  This one is more geometrical

Make a snowfake pattern  This one is fun too

Make a flake  This one my son did at school today in computer class.. I give it a C because .. well you will see.

 

Yessss I know... Way too much time online today lol

OH YA!!! here is a site I got from watching PBS last week.  Actual pics of real snowflakes.. beautiful.. put that on my list.. and even tells how to make your own real one, not a pic lol.  Good science thing for the kids.

Sending a Thank You Note.

I have read on various job hunting websites that it is a good idea to send a Thank You Note to your interviewer within 24 hours of the interview.  There was tips and hints on what to say and the kinds of styles you could use.  I took those into consideration as I wrote the below note but I really just wrote what felt comfortable to me.  I think it sounds good and very professional, but not too professional where I come off snooty.  What do you think?? Ofcourse I did change the company name for privacy.

 

Dear Kathy,

 

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for the interview yesterday and for taking the time to see me. You made me feel comfortable and at ease, especially while going over with me my test results from the software testing.  I was very happy to see how strong my scores were in Word and reaffirmed to me a few areas for me to work on.  The whole process was very helpful.  I am ready to jump in and work on those tutorials you offered to send me.

 

ABC STAFFING seems to be a good match for me and I look forward to the possibility of working on the ABC STAFFING team. I am eager to be in the work force again and prove, given the chance, that I can be a dedicated and productive employee. The idea of working for various clients and getting in more experience in the clerical field interests me greatly but I also would like something consistent too. I will be checking the company's web site soon to see what is open and if there may be a position I am compatible with.  I also have looked over the group benefits information you gave me and will likely send you back the form for declining it.  The benefits I have threw my husband's work fills our needs but thank you for the opportunity to enroll.

 

Please let me know if you need anything else from me and what the next steps are in this process.  I look forward to talking with you again and thank you for your consideration.

 

Best Regards,

Mary B. Hamm

 

(I DID have my e-mail and phone and address info after my name here but I'm not posting all that HERE LOL)

Had to pass this e-mail along so you could watch this situation in the News..

From:  gatewaystobettereducation@app.topica.com

Gateways Campus Partner, Stephen Williams, to Appear On Hannity &
Colmes (FOX NEWS) Tonight!

Fifth-grade teacher Stephen Williams, will appear in front of a live audience of several thousand in Northern California on Hannity & Colmes (Fox News Channel). With Stephen will be Alliance Defense Fund attorney Jordan Lorence. The program airs Tonight, December 8 at 9 p.m. EST (6 p.m. PST)

On Thursday, December 9, they will appear on Good Morning America (ABC) at 7 a.m. (all time zones).

Stephen is suing his school district because of religious discrimination. He has been barred from teaching his students about America's Christian heritage because school officials think that, since he is a Christian, he may try to evangelize his students. However, Stephen has never tried to do this in his class and he has told his principal that he understands the prohibitions against proselytizing.

In my view, this is a case of a teacher who has the boldness to teach the truth about America's Christian heritage, and a school principal who is more concerned about "political correctness."

(By the way, during December last year, Stephen taught his students about Ramadan, Diwali, Hannukah, the Chinese New Year, and Christmas.)

PRAYER REQUESTS

I’ve been in communication with the Williams over the past few days, and I spoke with Stephen’s wife yesterday. One way to know the heart of people is to listen to their prayer requests. The Williams' prayer request was that people would stop sending hate e-mails to the school. Let’s join them in that prayer.

Also, I ask that you pray for Stephen’s colleagues at school. You can imagine the reaction he is receiving from some of his fellow teachers. Finally, pray that not only would Stephen be victorious in his lawsuit, but
that his example of courage and grace under fire would inspire thousands of other teachers to “come out of the closet” and be bolder. There are many legitimate ways that teaching about the Bible and Christianity can appropriately and lawfully be included in public schools. Pray that more teachers will move from fear to freedom in their schools (especially this Christmas).

Keeping the Faith in Public Schools,

Eric Buehrer
President
Gateways to Better Education

PS.  To send Stephen a note of encouragement, reply to this E-mail. I will forward it to him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WHAT THE LAW REALLY SAYS

Gateways has produced Christmas Restoration Cards to explain in
user-friendly terms how to lawfully teach about the birth of Jesus.

The eight-page booklets (designed to look like greeting cards)
include:

* A model holiday policy that has been endorsed by a federal court
(beating back an ACLU challenge). The policy clearly states: “Music,
art, literature, and drama having religious themes or basis are
permitted as part of the curriculum for school-sponsored activities
and programs if presented in a prudent and objective manner and as a
traditional part of the cultural and religious heritage of the
particular holiday.”

* A quote from the Supreme Court revealing that it assumes public
school children are singing religious Christmas carols.

* The national PTA’s endorsement of what it calls “sacred music” in
public schools.

* An answer to the question, “Don’t we have to allow equal time for
all religious holidays?”

* Eight Constitutionally sound lesson plan ideas.

* Excerpts from the U.S. Department of Education’s guidelines on
students’ religious liberties to express their faith while in public
schools.




Click here to order Holiday Restoration Cards
http://gatewaystobettereducation.c.topica.com/maacW39abcnFtcg3txtb/

That wasn't too painful..

WOW! My hair looks dark in that pic.  Must still be from when I dyed it a few months ago.. I think it is safe to try for a lighter blonde now? Don't you? Back to my normal color lol

Anyway.. I got threw that interview at that temp agency.  I was there practically alllll day and I missed my doctor's appointment.. note to self, call them tomorrow to reschedule... oh and e-mail the lady a thank you for the interview ( I read that somewhere).

We ofcourse over slept! Was there any doubt that we would? LOL Plus he kept me up later than I had planned...

(((((((I LOVE MY HUSBAND)))))  We got up at quarter to six, when the plan was for five.  So Josh kindly agreed to skip school this week and make it up some other time.  Oh, that made my life so so so so much easier!!  So I didn't have to drive him all the way to school and I didn't have to drop the girls off at Amy's and I didn't have to worry and fret if Zane and Annie got off to school ok.

I made it to my appointment on time, despite my shaky getting off point this morning.  I even followed the driving directions to the letter, shows I can follow directions (when I want to) and I didn't get lost. I got in and filled out a ton of paper work and also took a bunch of tests on their computer programs. I was a bit nervous over that.  For the office skills portion there was a bunch of math and spelling correcting and proper punctuation.  I think I did ok on the punctuation but for the spelling and math.. well needless to say I scored low on that compared to my other tests.  I was singing the praises of Pat's Grammar Corner when it came to proper use of apostrophes.. at least I know I got that part right.  But on the rest I am thinking.. NO way in real life would I do that in my head, calculator would be my best friend and also that is why we have nice things like auto correct and spell checker. Yes I know, lazy, that is how people get dumbed down and what a hypocrite I am, when I make my son work so hard on his math and spelling lol but that is different.  To quote my mother "Do as I say, not as I do" at least on the education stuff. I did real well on testing in the Word program and my typing skills (I knew I would) but I was real low on the 10 keys (I knew that was one of my weak points too). I have to give myself a slight pat on the back for testing well on Windows 2000, since what I mostly work with is XP.  They are basicly the same with just a few changes here and there.  I had never done a mail merge before and that was on the test. But it was sooo simple to figure out.. now I know how to do it for my Christmas cards .

OH YA! That reminds me JESS, I got your card today! THANK YOU!

The interview section went really easy I think.  She didn't ask any of the hard ones I had practiced last night, but I am sure at one time or another I will need to answer some of those. The lady seemed to like me, please I hope she liked me, and very understanding that I am re-entering the workforce after four years of being a stay at home mom.  I felt so at ease that I even asked if she thought the $10 an hour I was asking was typical for an entry level position and she said most of the jobs they send people out on start at that. So that is a relief. She said she will send me some links to thier tutors for excel and for me to work on  my 10 key stroke, but other than that I did well.

Ok so the next step is she is going to check my references and back ground and all that fun stuff that you pray you can trust the people you put down.  Then she will call me.  How it works is I am employed with them, but I still have to apply for and interview for the jobs they send you out to.  She said for the most part it is temp work, with a start date and a definite ending time but there are times when a company will hire you on permanent.  I don't mind that.  It would be neat to work at different places and not get board with the same scenery but I do need something consistent.

I want to thank all of my friends who commented on my hair & suit and sent prayers and love my way! aww you make me feel so special!

Also I think my husband has a thing for the power business women look lol I promised him I wouldn't repeat the comment he made about the suit, but he knows what it was!  All I have to say in response to it.. Heck no, then I would have to iron it and get it dry cleaned!

HELP!!!!!!! This is what I am wearing.. but Hair Up or Down??

I was playing with my camera and remembered I had a handy dandy remote to take the snap shots so I didn't have to hold the camera.. but oiy.. the lighting is BAD! I tried to enhance the pics as best I can but I know they still turned out blaaa..

Ok, so now you can see my short hair and Annie's.  Not too bad, not too short.  Annie loves hers!  I thought when we cut it she would cry and cry (like I wanted to do) but she was excited about it. That is what is IN now Mom don't ya know! Plus it is easier for her to take care of. But aww after we cut it she did ask to take a peice to tape in her journal. (the girl writes in it every night, she will be a blogger by 12 for sure)

So as you can see (well kinda) I got nice suit to wear.  It is greyish/tan color and a pink undershirt.  Amy came with me to Good Will to help me shop.  I HATE clothes shopping.  The suit is a 16 but I could probly fit a 14. And what is up with Good Will charging soo much for thier stuff! The suit was 25 and the shirt 6. Ok that isn't so bad, but still when I only have 40 bucks to my name it is steep.  I couldn't find shoes to go with it and I am still in need of a winter jacket.  Good Will had some jackets but the best one was $50 for crying out loud.  I can get a new leather one for that!

I think I am all ready for the interview. An online friend was quizing me from a job interview question site. So I have some idea what I am going to be saying. Whis I had saved the IM so I could review it lol.

Well I have a busy busy day tomorrow, mostly driving around from place to place...

Take Josh to school by 7 a.m (it is about 45min drive or so)

Get Sophia and Lilly over to Amy's and call to make sure Zane and Annie have gotten off to school.

Turn back around and get to my interview by 9:00

Then my doctor's apointment is at 11:45 (what was I thinking, an interview and a GYN examin in the same day!)

Then back over to Amy's to get the girls..

Than trun back around and get Josh

Home, Oh ya least I forget, shopping for some food for dinner.

Take Josh to work so I can have the car

Then Church so the kids can practice for the play

And then when I am all worn out and ready to nod off.. Get Josh from work.

I estimate I will log about 75 or so miles on the van.

I guess I need to get used to rush rush if I am going to geta job. : (

Ok! I am off to bed.  I will check back here in the morning to see how you voted for my hair.  PLEASE comment, even if you are lurker.. and PLEASE, PLEASE pray for me!

Oh yes and before I forget.. I wanted to do an entry on it but time got away Happy Hanukkah!!!! 

Alll rightyyyyy Thennn... Somewhat true.. but mostly not, I think

You Are a Peacemaker Soul You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can. War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace. You are a good mediator and a true negotiator. Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy. While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental. You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take. On the flip side, you've got a graet sense of humor and wit. You're always dimplomatic and able to give good advice. Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul What Kind of Soul Are You?  

Thought this intresting from the Laugh and Lift as I prepare to go shopping for interview clothes..

Have You Been Using Fig Leaves?
(by Rev. Eric McGrath, egmcgrath@sympatico.ca)

    The story of the fall in the Garden of Eden is pretty well known by most people. Most people know how Satan tempted Eve and she and Adam sinned by disobeying God.
    There is one little portion of the story that is often overlooked and it is unfortunate because it is really very important.
    Genesis 3:8-21, we read of how Adam and Eve hid from God initially, but then later appeared before God when He called for them. They had sewn fig leaves together to try make themselves acceptable before God.
    In the end God, provided them with coats of skin for them to wear.
    Now what is the significance of these verses? This is very important because it sets a standard that is consistent all the way through the Bible.
    The leaves sewn together were Adam and Eve's attempt to appear acceptable before God - in other words to appear righteous before God. They thought they could do something to be made acceptable in God's sight.
    But God established the principle that is carried all the way through the Bible at this point. That principle is this "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin". Man tried to make himself acceptable with fig leaves, but they needed to be made acceptable through the provision that God gave them, which involved the shedding of blood - the animal's blood in this case.
    In verse 15 of Genesis 3, we are first introduced to the fact that God was going to provide a Saviour through the seed of the woman - that was the first reference to Jesus Christ. The big word for this is protoevangelium.
    Jesus Christ would come to earth and shed His blood and he would once and for all be the sacrifice for man's sin. Only through personal and explicit faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, will we find right standing or righteousness before God.
    And yet today men still try and appear acceptable to God by putting together their fig leaves. They try through the fig leaves of being religious - fig leaves of being moral - fig leaves of being a good person - fig leaves of "church-ianity" - fig leaves of denominationalism, and so on. All of these amount to fig leaves of self-righteousness.
    It is interesting that in Isaiah 64:6, God says that all of these "fig leaves" that we can produce, thinking they will be found acceptable with God - are seen only as "dirty rags" by God.
    And all they end of doing is seeking to cover sinful hearts - hearts, like Adam and Eve's which would not and will not submit to and be obedient to God's will.
    "Garments of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10) can only be provided by God Himself, just as He provided coats of skins for Adam and Eve.
    And this He has accomplished through Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary, where He shed His blood for us.
    What kinds of "fig leaves" are you sewing together to cover your sinful heart?
    Why not accept the "clothing of righteousness" that God makes available to you in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ?
    "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).
    Our "fig leaves" fall short of the righteousness required by God. Jesus Christ is the only sufficient "skin" we can wear. When we accept Him as our Saviour, His righteousness is transferred to us and then we are found acceptable in God's sight.
    Are you accepted in the beloved, my friend? You can be with certainty.