Saturday, March 26, 2011

Special Needs Children

“There are people who spend their entire careers devoted to working with a very specific and isolated population of children in regards to their health, development, and education.  They spend hours and hours learning, observing, and researching in order to learn the best, most up-to-date and state-of-the-art methods for improving the lives of their subjects.  Their tireless efforts result in tremendous benefits to their subjects; and the trails they blaze and the lessons they pass on are extremely useful to others as well.  These experts are mothers. (Cynthia R. White)

This is an excerpt from my new book on special needs children.  I am so excited about this project, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.  It’s written by the “experts,” and from a Christian perspective … Very uplifting and inspiring, and full of practical help and moving, real life stories.  The title is based on a quote from Sarah Palin, but I’m keeping it under wraps until I sign a contract with a publisher.  Watch for it!

Reflections on Childhood Diabetes

http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60696-390-6

"In her book, Reflections on Childhood Diabetes, Mary Silverberg shares her wisdom and expertise from years of raising a family and children with diabetes together with her husband, Jeff.  Her book is a work of love, a gift filled with words of encouragement, as well as practical tips and pointers.  May God bless the Silverberg family.  Their spirit, goodness, and values are an inspiration for all."

Costa Voulgaropoulos, MD
Pediatric Endocrinologist, McNeely Center for Diabetes, St. Paul, Minnesota

"Reflections on Childhood Diabetes is the product of the heart and soul of Mary Silverberg, a courageous mother of six.  Scarcely have I known a family of more practical and genuine Christianity than this one, personified especially in their wife and mother, Mary.  This is her story of conflict, struggle, and overcoming faith.  It is a captivating and inspiring read."

Pastor Holmes Moore
Bible Baptist Church, Maplewood, Missouri

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Red-Neck Mixer





What do you call a drill with a beater attached to it?  A Red-Neck Mixer, of course.  My kitchen mixer gave out about three months ago.  Finances are really tight, so I decided to “rough it,” and mix things the old fashioned way: by hand.  However, some things are really hard!  So, when I noticed my teenage son making a milk shake, using his drill with a single beater attached to it, I thought, “Wow, that just might work.”  It actually does the trick pretty well as a substitute, until I can afford a new one.  Hey, maybe our politicians can learn a lesson from my “Red-Neck Mixer,” and stop spending money they don’t have, and just make do!

Button Jar





I was trying to think of a good use for this empty candle jar when I remembered my mother’s button jar from my childhood years.  It was a large glass jar filled with all sorts of buttons, kept in our kitchen cupboard, and always available when we needed to replace a lost button or for a craft project.  As a little girl I remember dumping all those beautiful buttons on the table and sorting and admiring them.  Any extra buttons from sewing projects or old, worn out clothes were placed in that jar, and it was quite handy.  I inherited my own button canister from my mother-in-law when she was cleaning house, and I’ve resorted to its contents many a time.  So, as I was looking at this candle jar, a button jar came to mind.  I decided to carry on the tradition, and give it to my oldest daughter with a few buttons from my own stash to get her started.  I promised the younger girls a jar of their own when I come across one.  Even if you don’t sew, a button jar is a great place to keep all those extra buttons that come with fine clothing.
                 We lived in this beautiful cabin in Missouri for two wonderful years.

                      We hiked around this lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.