A new goal for 2021 Did you ever think of becoming a social media influencer? I did, when I saw this photo on Pinterest the other day. As usual, whenever I see a cool idea on Pinterest, my first thought is, "I could do that!" Not that I thought I could redo my pantry to …
Building vocabulary with Foster and Panda When Panda and Foster's adventures became popular with the students at our church's Christian school, I realized that the stories could be a great way for kids to learn vocabulary. As a teacher (albeit retired) of both Spanish and English as a second language, I know that one of …
"Just add water!" So, if you've read "Just Add Water" (part 1) you know that it's easy to make your own cement. It comes in very handy for making cement spheres, which can then be painted and used as yard art. (Actually you don't want to know the story behind this "easy DIY" Pinterest project.) …
"Foster! Is that you?" I was standing in dismay, looking down the street where Panda had disappeared around the corner, when I heard my name. "Foster! What are you doing here in Tokyo?" Imagine my surprise when I turned and there was a penguin with sunglasses on, standing beside me! "Who are you?" I asked …
"Hiii-Ya! I heard Panda's voice from the ironing board and looked down at him, puzzled. "Umm...excuse me?" I said. "Would you mind telling me what you're doing down there?" "I'm practicing my karate moves," Panda responded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Watch this!" He executed a flawless flip and …
Christmas on the Western Front If you've read "(Not) Home for Christmas, Part 1", you've seen this photo, and you also know how Emil and the Augustana bandsmen had spent Christmas of 1917. Christmas, 1918 found Emil "billeted" with the Bougnot family in Doulaincourt, Hte Marne, with Theo Lenz as a roommate. The Armistice had …
"Remember the last time we went to outer space?" I asked the question as we were reminiscing about our first time in space. Panda was silent for a moment. "Yeah," he replied at length. "That was a wild trip!" I looked at him, raising my eyebrows. "Only because you got lost in space," I pointed …
"Date of birth?" "Seven, twelve, fifty-one." I quoted this phrase so many times throughout the final five years of my husband's life that sometimes I automatically started to say that instead of "Nine, sixteen, fifty-eight" when asked for my own date of birth. I would often be the "spokesperson" when we would be at his …
"Panda!" Foster exclaimed. "How did you get down there?" "Well, I'm not positive," I replied, trying not to sound irritated. "But I think it's safe to say somebody pushed me off the chair." "Aww, I'm sorry buddy," Foster replied sheepishly. "I didn't realize I was taking up the whole chair. Are you okay?" "Umm..." I …
My father was a man of many talents, as well as many interests. Recently, his antique bottle collection has found its way to me. What you are looking at here is a very small sampling of the bottles I now have at my house. When I was little, my dad and my uncles used to …