Did You Know?

The first Saturday of October is set aside as world card making day? October 1, millions around the world will participate in designing their own greeting cards. The idea of creating and exchanging handmade cards dates back to ancient Chinese culture. Today, in the United States 1 in 6 households is involved in the card making craze.

Why not join the fun by hosting a card party? Set a date and invite several friends or family members. Ask each person to bring a snack, a pair of scissors and 3 or 4 items to share with the group, such as paper, sketch pens, rubber stamps, ribbon, buttons, paint, fabric, etc... Don't forget the glue, and my personal favorite, glitter. Concerned you're a bit short on creative inspiration? Visit www.worldcardmakingday.com. Go to the about page under the how section, and click on inspiration avenue for tons of examples of cards you can make yourself.

What's in the Bag?

Whether it's your child's first day of school or your first day on a new job, here are some brown bag snacks to keep young minds sharp and alert. The first three were entries in spring's Women on the Go drawing.

Becky - My kid's best liked brown bag snack is fat free cream cheese in fresh celery stalks. I slip the cream cheese in each piece of celery then press two together to create a celery cheese sandwich. Keeps the mess down and my kids love them.

Valera - A fun and healthy snack for those brown bags our kids bring to lunch: Ants on a Log! Sread peanut butter on a washed stalk of celery and sprinkle with raisins.

Stefanie - Spread a quartered apple with peanut butter. Or try spreading veggies with ranch dressing or hummus.

Myself - half of a whole grain bagel spread with peanut butter. Snow peas or granola also make tasty, healthy and easy snacks.

Wisdom & Laughter of the Ages

"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkly the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." -- Samuel Ullman

"An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have: the older she gets, the more interested he is in her." -- Agatha Christie

"It is possible at any age to discover a lifelong desire you never knew you had." -- Robert Brault

"They say that age is all in your mind. The trick is to keep it from creeping down into your body." -- Author Unknown

"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." -- Mark Twain

Every season closes with an open door.

Sure, summer is saying farewell, but the beauty of fall is peeking through the cool morning mist. Autumn leaves rain upon the earth like giant pieces of colored confetti. Trees stand bare, revealing nests vacated by summer birds. And who can resist the juicy fragrance of blackberries cooking on the vine?

As sure as the geese migrate each fall, our lives are marked by seasons of transition. Whether faced with a sudden career change, an unexpected diagnosis, experiencing the birth of a new family member or the passing of a cherished relative, change confronts each of us.

Every morning greets us with an open door. And it's up to us to choose the attitude we'll carry as we journey through these doorways.

Don't forget to look to the master designer, ask for His help and wisdom, and give thanks for the beauty of the season.

Monster Cookies

1 Cup butter	2 - 1/2 Cups Oats
2 Eggs	1 teas. Baking Soda
1/2 Cup White Sugar	1 Cup Raisins
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar	8 oz. M&M's
1 teas. Vanilla
3/4 Cup chunky Peanut butter
1 - 1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup unbleached Flour

Drop 1/4 cup of dough on baking sheet and flatten into a round. Cookies do not spread much as they bake.

Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes until cookie bottom is golden brown. Remove from oven. Leave on sheet for a minute to set and then move with spatula to a plate to cool. Makes about 2 dozen.

Our kids loved making these fun cookies each fall!

Time Savers from
Women on the Go

Beatriz - Always have the diaper bag packed and ready to go by the door. Every night before bed I make sure to stock it up with essentials so when you rush out the door for an unexpected emergency you're ready to go.

Kay - I keep my home tidy by cleaning one room a day.

Stefanie - Designate a place in your home where you keep your keys and purse so you always know where they are. For kids, set up a backpack station where they pack all of their school belongings the night before. If they have special projects or lunches place a note on the backpack so they won't forget.

For a quick smoothie breakfast, combine all ingredients the night before in the blender and store the container in the fridge. In the morning, you just blend and go.

Pam - The day timer never really worked for me, but my new-found Google calendar that comes with gmail, is a tremendous help in organizing my time. I log virtually everything in it, and its set to remind me the day before. If I can't get to an item on the day set, I leave the reminder in my email and don't delete it until I've accomplished the task.

Lydia - I make a big pot of soup that we can eat for several meals. If we tire of it, I freeze it to use later. This cuts down on food preparation.

Kerri - To cut down on stress that I endure every morning trying to get my 7 year old son to school we've implemented a list he can check off. It only has 5 things on it but this makes getting in the car on time everyday easy not to mention I can actually remain calm while getting ready. He does receive a large reward, like a dollar or two, after completing 5 sheets. This works so well, I may implement this in other areas.

Linda - I never have enough time for praise and worship. So when I travel for my job, I turn off the radio and use the time alone to sing, praise and talk to God.