Kidologist.com: Karl Bastian’s Personal Site and Blog
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Archive for December, 2007
December 31, 2007 at 1:25 pm · Filed under Adventures, Family, Friends
One of the best things about blogging faithfully is the gift you give yourself at the end of each year. You get to relive your year and enjoy memories that otherwise may have faded or been lost! And so, just as I did last year, it is time to review the year 2007. And while there are fun times and dates and more serious reflective times, or meeting up with friends or family or ministry trips, sometimes there is just humor, puzzles or simple complaining. My favorites are the purely sentimental. This is not to say the year was without hardship, heartbreak, or pain… (not everything is “blogable”) but through it all, God was an ever present help and showed Himself to be the best Friend, Redeemer and Savior anyone could ever want or need. So from God’s divine perspective, it was a great year for He accomplished His goals and continued to work on me to make me more the man and husband and father and servant of God He wants me to be.
So here are my highlights of 2007; It was hard to choose just one post per month, but here they are:
JANUARY:Â
Luke Turned One!
FEBRUARY:
Bears Lose, Sara’s Cake Wins!
MARCH:
Kid U’s 9th Anniversary!
APRIL:
Luke’s First Kiss?
MAY:
Luke Discovers WATER!
JUNE:
Luke Takes Off Walkin
(First Official Father’s Day!)
JULY:Â
Luke Turns 1 and a half!
AUGUST:
Heaven Discovered… in Mudelein!
SEPTEMBER:
Karl Makes CRAZY VIDEO!
OCTOBER:
Karls Waits in Line for an Operating System!
NOVEMBER:
A Colonial Thanksgiving!
DECEMBER:
Luke’s Second Christmas!
(but the first he really got into!)
2007 is almost over! What will 2008 have in store? Only God knows… but the good news is, He will be with us through it all. So HAPPY NEW YEAR! Walk with God!
December 27, 2007 at 12:17 pm · Filed under Christmas, Family, Luke
Christmas is a time of traditions and memories. Some are too special to allow to fade…
Every Christmas Eve I would climb on my dads lap along with my siblings and our dad would read us the The Night Before Christmas. It was a wonderful tradition that we continued even until grown adults were crowding onto his lap. When I finally became a father myself one of the things I was eager to do was start my own family traditions.
Last Christmas my dad surprised me by giving me the very book he read the story from during my childhood!
We both took turns reading to my son, but not until after my dad read us a poem he wrote as he passed this tradition down to his oldest son:
‘Twas Our Night Before Christmas
Every night before Christmas
In th’ young Bastian hom
Eager children were restless:
“Dad Santa” would roam.
It was mostly our secret
To play Santa’s game;
But we knew it was Jesus
Who down to earth came.
For the kids, it’s a mixture
Of shepherds and elves,
Of both chimney and manger,
And toys for their shelves.
So now I, without nightcap,
Would sit in my chair
‘Till our four grown children
Would smother me there.
Gath’ring kids had a purpose,
For Dad would then read
“‘Twas The Night Before Christmas”,
Warm mem’ry indeed!
This old book I now give you,
First son of my four,
Just to read to your children
Yet Christmases more.
Oh, I wonder, in Heaven,
When Jesus sits down,
If we’ll all pile on top of Him
And smother the Throne.
Written for my son Karl
by Dad Bastian
December 2006
Now I get to carry on this tradition in my home, with the very same book! So I was very eager this Christmas Eve to have my first fatherly reading of the story to my little boy.
Luke was delighted to sit on my lap as I proudly read to him the story my own father had read to me on so many Christmas Eves past when I was the one on the lap listening. But the bliss was not to last…
The story proved to be too long for Luke who soon considered Dad’s lap more a prison than a privilege. And eventually I had to surrender to the boy and let him down. (You can’t force a child into a loving tender momment!)
I dutifully finished the poem as Luke played with his new garbage truck.
Thanks, Dad, for being such a thoughtful Dad when I was a boy, and for still honoring me with your love and unshakable faith in me. I hope I can be half the dad you are to me still!Â
My Christmas Family 2007!
More pictures soon!
December 25, 2007 at 11:48 pm · Filed under 12 Days of Xmas TBT, Christmas
Well, the depression is setting in… Christmas is nearly over. But at least ONE VISITOR to my blog will still be getting another Christmas Present! THAT’S RIGHT! I still have to give away the GRAND PRIZE for the 12 Days of Christmas ToyBox Tales!
In fact, your 12th Christmas ToyBox Tale is one I JUST MADE TEN MINUTES AGO and is converting to flash as I type this! In this final Christmas ToyBox Tale the WINNER WILL BE REVEALED! So to win, you have to watch the video! There were 41 entries into the contest, and have no fear, the winner was chosen by Random, as you will see “LIVE” in the video. (Well, live during filming anyway!)
So… WHO WON?? Watch and Find Out!
CONGRATS TO THE WINNER! And what is the prize? It is the set used in Swine Control, but brand new in the box and includes three action figures! WOW, what a prize!
I hope everyone who watched had a Wonderful and Merry Christmas this year! There are some new things planned for ToyBoxTales.com in 2008… so stay tuned!
December 25, 2007 at 8:46 pm · Filed under Humor, KarlTube
Over the years we’ve known a lot of home school families… and may be one ourselves one day soon. (Not making that decision until the time comes. We see many of the advantages and disadvantages - so it will come down to what is best for Luke when that time comes.)
Anyway, I came across this video, and just had to post it here. Before any home schooler is offended, please know it was made by a home school dad and is just for fun! It does a good job of pointing out many of the stereotypes of home school families.
It is from www.timhawkins.net and there are some other funny videos there as well! ENJOY!
December 24, 2007 at 9:42 am · Filed under 12 Days of Xmas TBT, Christmas, Holidays
WHAT IS THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TOYBOX TALES? Read the Introduction!
Well, we are coming to the end of our 12 Days of Christmas! TOMORROW THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED RIGHT HERE ON THE SITE… someone will have a Very Merry Christmas with a special gift from me and toyboxtales.com! WHO WILL IT BE? TODAY is your LAST CHANCE to post a comment or post to be entered! So, what are you waiting for??
HERE IS YOUR ELEVENTH CHRISTMAS TALE: A ToyBox Tale Christmas
This was a fun tale to make. My entire K.C. Krew helped write it and did the acting, er, voicing of the characters. The angel, which caused the most controversy (not too bad) was done by the senior pastor’s son, so that helped. But overall the kids did a great job! And since this was made in my pre-Mac days, I need to give credit to Jim Crouter, the youth pastor at my previous church who did all the editing, music and title screens for me. It turned out fantastic! ENJOY!
From The ToyBox Tales Christmas DVD.
TOMORROW: The 12 Days of Christmas Toybox Tales… WINNER!
LAST CHANCE TO BLOG or COMMENT and WIN!
BLOG ABOUT THE 12 DAYS OF TOYBOXATALES or COMMENT on posts and you could win a very VERY cool toybox prize! WIN an orginal ToyBoxTales set used in a Toybox Tale! I’ll post the set and the tale it was used in half way through the contest. Every comment and post you make gives you another entry in the contest! So comment and post away! Just point your links to: www.kidologist.com/12-Days-of-ToyBoxTales so I’ll know you linked!
December 23, 2007 at 7:57 am · Filed under Blog World
Hello my fellow bloggers. As one of the first bloggers on the net (before there even were blogs), I have posted my own advice for bloggers in the past. Well, fellow blogger Todd McKeever tipped me off to a free online course on blogging from the folks at Simple-ology, but for it to be free, you have to paste some code on your site. So here is my required posting:
I’m evaluating a
multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they’re letting you
snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.It covers:
- The best blogging techniques.
- How to get traffic to your blog.
- How to turn your blog into money.
I’ll let you know what I think once I’ve had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it’s still free.
I apologize for some of the language on the site linked above. (Here on Kidologist.com we would prefer to say “kick bumbee” for something really really good.) But I will let you know in an update what I think of the course - whether it truly kicks bumbee, or kicks the can.
UPDATE: I never could get past the payment process due to PayPal issues (don’t even get me going) And SIMPLEOLOGY support was terrible. So I never got to try it. I finally canceled all the daily emails which were getting annoying because they all referred to stuff I couldn’t get into. sigh. It looked good, but they have big issues with the front door. So I’ll never know now.
December 23, 2007 at 6:22 am · Filed under 12 Days of Xmas TBT, Christmas, Holidays
WHAT IS THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TOYBOX TALES? Read the Introduction!
HERE IS YOUR TENTH CHRISTMAS TALE:
A Galactic Christmas Carol - Episode Three
From A Galactic Christmas Carol Series on Toyboxtales.com
TOMORROW: A Toybox Tale Christmas
REMEMBER: BLOG or COMMENT and WIN!
BLOG ABOUT THE 12 DAYS OF TOYBOXATALES or COMMENT on posts and you could win a very VERY cool toybox prize! WIN an orginal ToyBoxTales set used in a Toybox Tale! I’ll post the set and the tale it was used in half way through the contest. Every comment and post you make gives you another entry in the contest! So comment and post away! Just point your links to: www.kidologist.com/12-Days-of-ToyBoxTales so I’ll know you linked!
December 22, 2007 at 11:46 am · Filed under Adventures, Family, Luke
Yesterday Luke and I got to go on one of our “adventures.” (Every time we leave the house it is an “adventure” - Luke lights up and grabs his coat if we say “wanna go on an adventure?”)
The adventure this time wasn’t shopping errands or out to eat but to visit the 3rd grade glass of one of my employees (her daughter that is!) to do a little last-day-of-school-before-Christmas party entertainment.
After checking in to the office for our visitor stickers we were off!
They said to put the sticker somewhere prominent!
As you can see by these pictures taken by my bookkeeper, Patti, Luke never left my side!
He seemed a little overwhelmed by all the kids.
I hope he doesn’t figure out all my secrets from the close up spot!
Well, at least if he figures them out, he can’t tell anyone!
It felt funny to have him clinging to me the entire time.
Eventually he found the courage to venture within ten feet of me. I actually can’t wait until he gets older and officially be my stage assistant… poor Luke will be levitated, cut in half, vanished and (hopefully) reappeared when the time comes.
Until then, clinging to my leg is just fine. I know that won’t last forever.
December 22, 2007 at 11:32 am · Filed under 12 Days of Xmas TBT, Christmas, Holidays
WHAT IS THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TOYBOX TALES? Read the Introduction!
HERE IS YOUR NINTH CHRISTMAS TALE:
A Galactic Christmas Carol - Episode Two
From A Galactic Christmas Tale Series on Toyboxtales.com
TOMORROW: Galactic Christmas Carol - Part 3
REMEMBER: BLOG or COMMENT and WIN!
BLOG ABOUT THE 12 DAYS OF TOYBOXATALES or COMMENT on posts and you could win a very VERY cool toybox prize! WIN an orginal ToyBoxTales set used in a Toybox Tale! I’ll post the set and the tale it was used in half way through the contest. Every comment and post you make gives you another entry in the contest! So comment and post away! Just point your links to: www.kidologist.com/12-Days-of-ToyBoxTales so I’ll know you linked!
Seems the field of competition is pretty small! But all it takes is ONE comment or post to have a chance at winning a Muppets Pigs in Space set - BRAND NEW IN THE BOX - with three action figures, yes, Miss Piggy in her space outsite and her two co-pilots!! SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Register to win by commenting!
December 21, 2007 at 10:20 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, Entertainment
Saw my first Veggie Pirate Movie ad today since I went to the early screening. I was able to grab my camera and snap this out the passenger window while at a red light:
Since I first announced this film was coming I’ve been curious how the marketing would be. I get their e-mails regularly and IÂ , but I’m curious how the general public will find out about the movie since Universal is underwriting and marketing it. It is only a few weeks away… I hope I see more promotion. It really is a great film with a fantastic message.
HOW MUCH ADVERTISING HAVE YOU SEEN? Where? I do encourage you to see it in theaters. Christians whine a lot about the poor morals of films, and then when secular film production companies come out with something wholesome and truly good entertainment, we tend to yawn or wait until DVD. If that is the case, we really have no right to complain when the world “spices” things up to grow their audience.
Let’s show them we’ll come out for good wholesome fun. And it’s not like it is a mercy viewing, it really is a very fun and entertaining movie!
If you missed when we had the “Bob and Larry” on Kidology.org a few weeks ago, you can read the transcript of the Q and A we hosted as our part of helping to promote the film. Phil and Mike did a great job, and yes, I am saving my personal e-mails I got from them. I know they are “just men” - but they have made a profound impact on our culture and I was honored to be able to help them promote their latest effort to shine some Light into the world!
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