If you are fortunate enough to share a quiet dinner with your sweetie this Valentine's Day, here are some great conversation starters, courtesy of the marriage ministry at RockPointe Church.
* Tell your spouse what he/she did that won your heart. Explain why it worked.
* What is one childhood dream that has come true, and what is one that has not?
* How do you imagine God? In your mind, what does Heaven look like?
* What is your most prized possession, and why?
* What is one thing we can do as a couple to help someone in need?
* What is your all-time favorite meal?
* If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one thing would you want to have with you (besides your spouse)?
* What country in the world fascinates you most, and why?
* Do you prefer beach or mountains?
* What is your favorite book or verse in the Bible, and why?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Prescription for Fun
One day our preschooler found an "educational toy" catalog in the magazine basket and fell in love with the Doctor Kit on page 23. The kit included with a very realistic stethoscope, a well-stocked medicine cabinet, various exam tools, eye charts, checklists, and such. She poured over this single page for hours. She carried it around, showed it to everyone, and even took it to bed to peruse with a flashlight. This child had her heart SET on this toy.
The problem was, the kit cost $50, plus $20 for the monogrammed lab coat that of course she also wanted. That's a little steep for your average non-gift occasion toy purchase. I all but promised she would get it for her birthday (five long months away), hoping that would be the end of the discussion. It was not. She continued to ask about it, usually two or three times a day.
So the dilemma became, do we order it now, while it is available, or wait a few months, in case she loses interest. A friend suggested that I investigate the company's return policy, then buy it now. Good idea ... I found the website and selected the kit. The tragic response: "We're sorry. Due to unexpectedly high demand, this item is sold out."
I decided to break the news instead of putting it off, and the tears that followed were heartbreaking. She was very disappointed, so we quickly started an online search for an alternative. All we could find were very childish looking toy sets, not realistic ones. Still determined to find a substitute, we decided to make our own.
We started with a black like-new briefcase that came to us as a trade show giveaway. You could also use a large black purse or small suitcase. We added a clipboard ($.97 at Walmart) and gathered band-aids, cotton balls, ace bandages, and a medicine dropper from around the house. We asked at the pharmacy for a couple of empty pill bottles, which they gave us for free. We ordered a real, working stethoscope from the Flower Mound Herbal Pharmacy for $6. (Note that if you try this, for safety reasons your children must have supervision when using the stethoscope.)
The kids are having lots of fun doctoring their dolls and stuffed animals, and listening to each other's hearts. They are losing some of their enthusiasm for the coveted kit as time goes by, but this is less of a problem since we only spent about $15, instead of investing in the $50 version.
If our daughter continues her interest in science, it will be money well spent.
The problem was, the kit cost $50, plus $20 for the monogrammed lab coat that of course she also wanted. That's a little steep for your average non-gift occasion toy purchase. I all but promised she would get it for her birthday (five long months away), hoping that would be the end of the discussion. It was not. She continued to ask about it, usually two or three times a day.
So the dilemma became, do we order it now, while it is available, or wait a few months, in case she loses interest. A friend suggested that I investigate the company's return policy, then buy it now. Good idea ... I found the website and selected the kit. The tragic response: "We're sorry. Due to unexpectedly high demand, this item is sold out."
I decided to break the news instead of putting it off, and the tears that followed were heartbreaking. She was very disappointed, so we quickly started an online search for an alternative. All we could find were very childish looking toy sets, not realistic ones. Still determined to find a substitute, we decided to make our own.
We started with a black like-new briefcase that came to us as a trade show giveaway. You could also use a large black purse or small suitcase. We added a clipboard ($.97 at Walmart) and gathered band-aids, cotton balls, ace bandages, and a medicine dropper from around the house. We asked at the pharmacy for a couple of empty pill bottles, which they gave us for free. We ordered a real, working stethoscope from the Flower Mound Herbal Pharmacy for $6. (Note that if you try this, for safety reasons your children must have supervision when using the stethoscope.)
The kids are having lots of fun doctoring their dolls and stuffed animals, and listening to each other's hearts. They are losing some of their enthusiasm for the coveted kit as time goes by, but this is less of a problem since we only spent about $15, instead of investing in the $50 version.
If our daughter continues her interest in science, it will be money well spent.
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