Tonight is the annual Tower Lighting in Yuma, and our whole family is going to watch the performances there. The singing and dance performances there are to "open the Christmas season". My oldest son will be dancing with one dance company tonight, and he's very excited because this is the first time he's been asked to dance at the annual Tower Lighting. That's why all of our family wants to go watch tonight.

The local newspaper already has the article on its website, even though it doesn't come out in print until tomorrow morning. Here it is, with photos: www.yumasun.com/articles/play-54500-bergqvist-scout.html

A local woman named Pam (a stranger) called me this morning to read me a bible verse for the day: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Nice sentiment, but she seemed quite surprised that I listened and didn't hang up on her.

My youngest son went with me this morning on my daily walk, and we took our cameras with us. He got interested in this "dead duck" when he found it and wondered if we should take it home and try to fix it. The answer was NO. Instead we both took photos of this poor duck lying alone alongside the street.

www.amazon.com/U-Undertow-Kinsey-Millhone-Mystery/dp/039915597X/ref=sr_1_1

I was in the grocery store this evening after another busy day, and I saw this new book out. I got so excited and ran over to buy it. Can't wait to read the next in the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton. Just wondering when I'll find time to read between now and the play performance on Tuesday.

Tweaks and enhancements

1. In order to improve site security, we've temporarily suspended the ability to change passwords for old email addresses that haven't been used for over six months. For further information and support, please visit our customer care page.
2. We've launched a new mobile site with an enhanced UI at m.livejournal.com. View spotlights, post to your journal, read and post to friends pages, and more, no matter where you roam! Please let us know what you think, since this will eventually replace our existing mobile interface. You can update your mobile preferences on your account page.
3. We've upgraded from Beacon to Facebook Connect to improve dual posting. If you've already signed up for Facebook Beacon, you're good to go. If you wish to update your Facebook Connect setting, visit Account Privacy settings and scroll down to the option labeled: "Send information about my updates to Facebook." You can choose Always or Ask each time. Remember to save (on the bottom left corner of the page). To learn more, check out FAQ 249. While we're on the subject, if you happen to be visiting that side of town, please join our Facebook fan page for a touch of home away from home.
4. You'll now receive the Writer's Block Question of the Day in the body of email notifications. To sign up for Writer's Block notifications, visit writersblock and choose the Watch Community option. Next, update your Writer's Block notification settings by checking the box to the right of "Someone posts a new entry to writersblock."
5. Paid and permanent users can now view, add, and edit Notes of commenters. Notes will appear beside the username of comment posters (instead of stars) on S1-themed comment pages.

Send some lovin' thanks to your friends with our holiday vgifts!

Photos of the week

We're so delighted with the immense talent of our growing, global lj_photophile community that we've decided to introduce a poll. Each week, we'll choose a half-dozen photos (based on user comments and staff feedback) and ask you to select a photo of the week. The winning photo will be announced in the next newsletter. If possible, please limit photo size to 350x350 to ensure that images display properly on friends pages. We want to thank you again (and again!) for sharing your passion.

Check out this week's photo poll and more fantastic user content after the jump!

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Curtains

Thanks for joining us. To our American friends, have a fantastic Thanksgiving. To all of our international neighbors, we'll eat a little extra for you!

Here is what I'm hoping for tomorrow... a quiet day...

Today three of my sons were phtographed for the local newspaper. First my teenage son met the photographer for the article about his eagle scout project. In the background for his photos, we had 4 of the kids in the play he's producing, including my youngest son. Later in the evening, my oldest son went to dance rehearsal and was asked to stay for newspaper photographs. The photographer recognized our unusual (for the US) last name and asked if he was related to my tenage son. Those photographs are to promote The Nutcracker, which my oldest son will be performing in as the Nutcracker Prince in less than 2 weeks. I'll obviously need to buy the newspaper for the next week to watch for those 2 articles and photos.

65redroses
Eva is a vibrant young woman with Cystic Fibrosis who survived a double lung transplant. Read about her difficult recovery and personal triumphs over pain, isolation, and fear. Back in school, Eva now works part-time in a children's center and enjoys running and cross-country skiing. A documentary on her story, entitled 65 Red Roses, won three awards at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

meet_other_moms
A warm and welcoming "Add me" community for moms of all ages and backgrounds from around the world. If you're a mom, just post a little about yourself and start connecting with other mothers based on similar hobbies, musical interests, book/TV/movie preferences, or taste in humor! A great way for busy moms to socialize online.

kitchenfaq
Want to share a fabulous home recipe for coconut bread? Suddenly run out of confectioner's sugar with company on the way and need to find out a quick in-house substitute? Searching for tips on what to charge for a custom-designed wedding cake? Whether you're a professional chef, an aspiring culinary wizard, or a happy home-baker, you'll get delicious guidance from fellow and sister foodies.

Just playing around I made a wordle of the Optmist Creed. That was fun!

Today I went to an all-day training for scout leader trainers. Mainly it felt worthwhile to me to connect with other district scout leaders and help create goodwill for our troop.

In the evening I took 3 of my sons to dance rehearsal. They're practicing for the Dec. 18 Winter show.

The homeschool event that I organized tonight went well. We had 16 performances, including piano, song, violin, magic tricks, jokes and a puppet show. My assistant coordinator was fabulous! She ran the refreshments afterwards and did the best job ever! We had plenty of refreshments and people stayed to chat for a while. I was so pleased with the location we got to use, and for free! My sons were great at helping, too, as they set up the chairs and carried stuff for us all. The only thing my sons complained about was that people showed very little gratitude to me for organizing this event. I got one official "Thanks to Laurina for organizing this." That was all. They think the group should be more appreciative, since our family does so much to help out the group and most others do so little. Otherwise, a job well done.

naturesbeauty
Always on the lookout for compelling images, we were delighted to discover this flourishing community of artists who share a love of nature. Honoring the subject with photographs, paintings, sketches, prose, poetry, and
other creative works, you'll be simultaneously riveted to your monitor and inspired to run helter skelter towards the nearest wooded dale.

I really did enjoy myself tonight at the college Family Fun Night! Our whole family was there to help out. My oldest son and teenage son were with the scout troop, building something out of wood and ropes. My second son was working at the automotive table. My youngest son and I sat at the Toastmasters table. Although my youngest son did manage to run to the other booths around us to win candy and prizes. I had 2 other Toastmasters helping me, and they were both delightful! So glad I offered to do this, even though I am currently swamped because of my son's eagle scout project.

Postcard winners!

We wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude for sending so much joy our way. Frank is still blushing with excitement over the love notes, proposals, propositions, and occasional intimate photos sent from his admirers around the world (China, Norway, Japan, and Poland just this week)! At his request, we blindfolded Justin, one of Frank's BFFs, spun him around in five dozen counterclockwise circles, and asked him to point to ten random postcards/envelopes pasted to the wall. After a brief trip to the bathroom, he chose the following lucky winners, to whom we will give a six-month paid account token (for paid, basic, and plus users) or, for our permanent account holders, a $15 voucher for the LiveJournal gift shop.

So, without further ado, the winners are:

1. seraphene
2. fotog
3. boykitten
4. seshat_6
5. anti_aol
6. lisalees
7. katrinkacat
8. mistyboston
9. _woody_lein
10. another_slender

Bugs, Tweaks, and Enhancements

1. We fixed a bug from the last release that was causing screened comments to become unscreened if they were edited
2. If you happen to be gaming around the corner, check us out on Facebook and be sure to spread the word!
3. We've added new vgifts to celebrate Thanksgiving! Check out our feathered friend, below!

Give more with charitable vgifts

In honor of national adoption month, we're offering a charitable vgift (priced at $2.99) to support Love Without Boundaries, an organization that provides healthcare and adoption to orphans suffering from life-threatening diseases. LiveJournal will donate 100% of gross proceeds from the sale (we'll cover the cost of credit card transaction fees). To learn more about Love Without Boundaries, please visit lj_cares. You can purchase your Love Without Boundaries vgifts in the Virtual Gift shop. We'll keep you posted on how much we raise!

Photos of the week

We're delighted to showcase yet more incredible photos from some of our brilliant LiveJournal photographers around the world. Keep posting (and tagging). And be sure to show some love by commenting on the awesome view at lj_photophile.

Check out this week's photos and more amazing user content after the jump!

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Curtains

Thanks, again, for joining us. See you next week!

Here is one of the hand puppets we made last night. The boys were practicing their puppet skit this morning and had a great time. When we got home my teenage son made a "puppet theater" out of PVC pipe and fabric.

Tonight I sat with two of my sons and sewed three more puppets. These plus the two that I already made are for the boys to use in their short puppet show they're doing at the annual homeschool talent show on Friday night. The boys are going to do the story of the Little Red Hen. One of my favorite folk tales. Tomorrow I shall take my sons to practice with the other boy who will be doing the puppet skit together.

givesushope
It's that glorious time of year when we reunite with loved ones (we neglected all year), stuff our faces to excess, and pass out in front of the TV. Perhaps a recalibration of the thanksometer is in order. A spin-off of the popular GivesMeHope.com site, this community invites you to document moments of kindness, generosity, and pure human love.