My favorite podcasts

Here are some of my favorite podcasts, in no particular order.

• Stand to Reason (weekly) "Christianity worth thinking about" with Greg Koukl


• Scrapbook Lounge (video) - latest techniques and tips in a step by step video class


• Best of YouTube - all the weirdest, funniest, most interesting YouTube videos without having to search through the YouTube site


• Saddleback Church Drive Time Devotionals - quick daily devotionals, but they focus on one book of the Bible at a time, so it teaches the Scripture as a whole and not out of context


• Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack - fan show about the TV show Lost


• Jay and Jack Ramblecast - All the great repartee between Jay and Jack, but no Lost talk (or at least very little)


• Nth Degree Creative - scrapbook and crafting video podcast


• PediaCast - pediatric podcast for parents


• ScrapHappy - scrapbooking humor and hijinks


• Allen Hunt Show - the pastor of radio

If you are interested in checking them out, you can click on the link for the feed and download individual episodes or subscribe. Alternatively, just go to I-Tunes and search for the title. There will be a podcast tab in your results window if you don't see it right away. Again, you can download them one-by-one to try, or subscribe. If you don't have an I-Pod, you can listen on your PC or burn them to CD (though many won't fit on one audio CD). I did this before I had my I-Pod.

What's a podcast?

I love podcasts. I think lots more people would love them too, if only people knew what they are. I have talked to many friends about my love of this medium, only to have them stare at me blankly. "What's a podcast?"

In simple terms, a podcast (notice the word is derived from the word broadcast) is like radio for your computer or handheld device (I-Pod, cell phone). Now you might ask yourself, "Why do I need radio for my computer when I have radio in my radio??" Ha ha. The cool thing about podcasting is that anyone can make a podcast, and so they are available on every imaginable topic. There are some podcasts that play music like your traditional FM radio stations, but most podcasts are more closely related to talk radio, and the beauty of podcasts is that they are available on topics that would never fly on advertising-driven radio where ratings are king.

There are podcasts for scrapbookers, teachers, Christians, readers, techies, knitters, fans of popular TV shows (and probably some unpopular ones, too), those that love humor or the news or politics. There are podcasts that offer advice, podcasts that teach (learning a language is a popular podcast topic), and podcasts that simply entertain. There are even video podcasts that show topics like yoga instruction or directions for crafting.

Many actual radio programs are also now available as podcasts, so if there is a favorite radio program you'd love to keep up with but either isn't available in your area, or isn't on at a convenient time for you, you can download the episodes and listen at your leisure.

The best thing about podcasts is that they are FREE! You can find them on the Web, on I-Tunes, or oftentimes, on the home page of the particular podcast (or radio show) that interests you.

Next up: A list of some of my favorite podcasts.

Aug & Sept Photos

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(Click any photo to see the full-size version.)
1. Maggie's first day of pre-k. Notice the class pet, a dove.
2. Jack's first time with solids. He wasn't too enthused at first, but LOVES to eat now. He eats like a champ.
3. Self-explanatory!
4. Every time Jack takes a bite, he follows with hands in the mouth. Very messy, but very cute.
5. Maggie is cute when she eats also. :o)
6. Maggie at the Yellow Daisy Festival. It was not a good day, but she sure looks cute! :o)
7. Maggie with Ms. Kelly, her speech therapist (since she was 1 year old). I hope she does not kill me for posting this photo. :o)
8. Sleeping prince. What a cutie.

September Updates

Where did the month of August go? I missed it somehow! Well we are really in the swing of things now with our new school year routines. It takes some serious concerted effort between all of us, but we manage to make it to school pretty much on time each day. Yeah, I said "pretty much." I'm still me, after all. :)

Maggie is loving pre-k and feeling very grown up. Her teachers are Ms. Ashley and Ms. Djulsema (pronounced like Jessima). She is learning to write her name! I will have to scan the current version to share.

Jack is the shining star of the infant room at daycare. Every time I talk to one of his teachers they all say, "Oh, we love him so much! He is so good! He is so happy!" They say the same thing at the church nursery. They are always telling us how lucky we are. We know it! We enjoy him too. I just hope that his being so "good" doesn't mean he gets less attention. You know, squeaky wheel and all that. But hopefully his winning personality helps in that regard.

My (Anna's) 15 year high school reunion is coming up in October and I am excited. We both had such a good time at the 10 year. Yes, even Mike--Mr. Antisocial--enjoyed himself amongst a roomful of strangers. This year we are going to take the kids with us to the family event as well, so that will be fun too. More people to tell us how good and happy Jack is and how lucky we are. :)

Maggie had her check-up with the orthopedist yesterday. He checked on her knock-knees (genu valgum) and her toe-walking. He said the toe-walking is okay for now. She has very good flexibility, but we should keep working on her flexibility in her achilles tendon to make sure it's not getting tight. If they decide to do anything about either that or the knock-knees, it will be several years away, maybe age 7 or 8. As of right now he is not sure whether they will need to do anything with it at all.

So I think that is all of the latest from us. We love to hear from all of you also, so don't hesitate to drop us an email, letter, card, smoke signal, phone call, carrier pigeon, etc. I'll get on and post some pics "soon." You know, "when I have time." LOL.