Having Lots Of Kids Is Hip ::  The Christian Science Monitor
Great article by Meagan Francis.

A Leap Of Love :: Washington Post

Photo of two little girls leads to reunion in Congo :: MSNBC
Are you following the news stories out of the Congo?  They are unfathomable.

Views From Satellites
Grab the kids and look at this.  If you are afraid of heights, breathe deeply first.

Excuse Me, Automakers: Is That My Stapler? :: Anderson Cooper 360
It's an economics article that quotes the movie "Office Space".  How can you not read it?  (And it's spot-on, too.)

Math Magician
My son's second-grade teacher sent me this link this week.  Great math game.  And I don't generally use the words "great" and "math" in the same sentence.

Live On Less Than You Earn :: Amy's Humble Musings
Part 5 in an excellent series.

Life Magazine Photo Archive :: Google

Tongue Twisters
This ought to keep them busy for a while.  Busy, but not quiet, so proceed carefully.

Comments

[Holly]

The Congo story is so touching-my in-laws are missionaries in Congo. My father-in-law was a missionary kid there and his father is buried there. He and my mother-in-law have raised 3 children in Congo and are still serving these beautiful people. Their website is www.appointmentcongo.org. We Americans cannot fathom the horrors the Congolese live with every day and yet with Jesus they have hope.

[Mel]

Thanks for the awesome link to Leap of Love...it combined two things that are close to my heart.

[Melanie]

I clcked on "view earth" and saw a woman in yoga pants and a hair clippy reading Rocks In My Dryer. ;>)

[Meagan Francis]

Thanks for plugging my article, Shannon!

[Patty]

I just saw some photos of the Congo crisis that broke my heart ... http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/congos_crisis_worsens.html

[Jenn]

I am so thankful you posted the article about Congo. I just don't think enough Americans pay attention to what goes on outside the confines of our borders. But I know a lot of people read your blog and will read this article and know. Thank you.

[Ann Voskamp @ Holy Experience]

I sit here shaking head, lump burning in throat, tears brimming, all this emotion for Protegee and Response and Esperance.

Names, sisters, with such dreams.

And now I turn off the lights in this house and walk through a kitchen with a fridge and pantry full of food, past children sleeping safely in their beds, and find my pillow beside my husband, and go to sleep. With no fear of war, or hunger, or destitution.

Once we know, don't we have a responsibility to do?

[Carol]

And a little Smile linkage for you over at She Lives.

I just needed to add to your collection. That shelf's getting mighty full!

As is my heart.

[T with Honey]

Thanks for the last link!!! I have my children's choir sing tongue twisters as part of our warm up and I needed some fresh material.

[Laura @ Texas in Africa]

Shannon, thanks for the link on the Congo story. Your readers might be interested to know that "Protegee" means "Protection" in French. I used to live in the eastern Congo and you would not believe how many women in that place of dispair give their babies names that indicate hope for the future and a belief that God will deliver them. I even met a baby named "Blessing" one day, which is remarkable when you consider that the baby was conceived as a result of violent gang rape.

The crisis in the Congo is beyond the pale, and we should all be considering how much we "need" to spend on Christmas when a few dollars would make all the difference in a Congolese family's life.