Pondering: The mystery of friendship.
Aside from feverishly working on book revisions this week (thus my bloggy silence) one thing that's kept us busy is having an extra ten-year-old in the house. One of Ramona's best friends is in town and she's been able to spend a lot of nights at our house.
The friendship between these two girls has grown up over the years despite living 500 miles apart. This friend -- I'll call her Faith -- and her family moved away when Ramona and Faith were just two years old. They didn't miss each other at first. "Friends" at that age, of course, are really just toddlers playing side by side and, we hope, not clobbering each other too much.
But as these two little girls have gotten back together on recurring visits over the years, they've found that they are like two peas in a pod, two sides of a coin, twins separated at birth, and every other cliche you can think of to describe kindred spirits. Faith's older sister still lives here in our little town, so Faith and her parents (with whom Atticus and I are friends, too) come back to visit at least a couple of times a year. Ramona and Faith have seized those opportunities, cemented their friendship, and sealed it with Skype. They've found ways to beat the odds that are in favor of long-distance friendships dying away.
In this post about friends who move away, I quoted C.S. Lewis:
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...
It has no survival value;
rather it is one of those things
that give value to survival."
Positivity: Instead of feeling sorry for myself about all the dear friends who have moved away, I am thanking God for the mystery, beauty, and gift of friendship. He has given me so many dear, close friends over the years. And though many have moved away, I am also blessed with dear, close friends who still live in my town, women who support and sustain me, and keep me sane. Women who share coffee and chocolate with me, and tears and laughter. Thank you, Lord.
Praise: Praising God for the happiness of ten-year-old girls. Praising God for the kind of happiness that makes little girls skip. Is there anything better than seeing a girl so delighted with her life that she skips everywhere?
(Photo thanks to Stock.xchng.)
3 comments:
That is indeed a joy :-)
I know you understand it well, Sarah. :)
From improving your grades in school to your play on the soccer field to just kicking back and having a good time, online games have so much to offer! In this article, we share ideas to help you find great games and rise in your gaming levels.
Turn off chatting capabilities on games for kids that are young. You should not expose your young kids to these types of communications. If the game won't let you disable chat, don't buy it. If you can't figure it out, search online for more information or talk to the people in the store.
It is important to understand the game rating system. Understanding this system allows you to better control what your child is exposed to. Before investing money into any game for a young person, check the ratings for appropriate age groups.
Try gaming with your kids. This can be a great way to bond with any children in the household and it's fun, as well as safe. You will also have the opportunity to ensure the games your kids play are appropriate for your family.
If you have children, be sure to limit the time that your child spends on online games. More than two hours a day can strain their eyes and interfere with other activities.
If you are frustrated, give the game a break for awhile. Often, you will not be at the top of your game, as you may want to choose another time to try to beat it. Don't sit there and get angry or frustrated when you should be having fun instead.
When playing online games, remember to exercise your arms and legs periodically. It's not good to sit doing the same thing for long periods of time. Additionally, if you sit immobile for long periods of times, you will get cramps and perhaps even blood clots. This is for your health.
It's best to try out a game alone first. There is no point playing a game online if you are having trouble playing the traditional version! If the game is too hard, trade it and get something you prefer. It is time to find a new game if you are getting frustrated and do not have fun anymore.
There are many consoles out on the market, so it may be tough to find the best one for you. First, you should determine what your needs are. Once you do so, search extra features that the system offers. Do your research by using the Internet. Reviews of the different systems can be easily found. Be informed before you buy your system.
Check the Internet for tips and tricks for you favorite games. When you get stuck somewhere in a game, it can frustrate you and maybe even make you give up. Consulting a walkthrough or asking other gamers on a message board is the surest way to conquer that tough level and start enjoying the game again.
Figure out how to operate the safety and parental controls of any gaming system that comes into your home. You can likely make adjustments that keep kids from viewing mature content. Some allow each gaming profile to be customized separately, allowing adults to enjoy games not meant for younger audiences.
Online Games were there in the past, they're here in the present, and they will be there in the future. It is unbelievable to see their evolution. It is astounding to think of what the future may hold. So much fun to thing about it and imagine all the possibilities of future games.
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